Board of
Directors
Meet the CityKids Board of Directors
The CityKids Foundation is guided by a passionate and visionary Board of Directors—leaders, creatives, educators, and changemakers who are deeply committed to our mission of youth empowerment, multicultural bridge-building, and creating safe spaces for self-expression. With decades of combined experience across industries such as media, education, finance, public health, the arts, and social justice, our board members bring invaluable insight, leadership, and heart to everything we do. Their dedication helps ensure that CityKids continues to uplift young voices, build transformative programs, and lead with purpose as we move boldly into the future.
Executive Board
Chairman of the Board,
Terry Hummel
Partner, Vashon Island Partners
Terry Hummel is a semi-retired national broadcast, print, and digital media executive, having held leadership positions at Primedia’s Channel One News, AOL Time Warner, and Wenner Media, where he served as Publisher of Rolling Stone magazine. Currently producer of Eric Clapton Crossroads Concert and Events. A dedicated supporter of The CityKids Foundation for over thirty years, he has served multiple terms as both a member and Chairman of the nonprofit's volunteer Board of Directors.
Founder & President
Laurie Meadoff
The Citykids Foundation
Laurie Meadoff is a multi-award-winning and three-time Emmy-nominated Executive Producer, globally recognized for her work in media and youth engagement. She has produced content for MTV, VH1, ABC, Sundance Channel, and National Geographic. A recipient of a Rockefeller Fellowship for Next Generation Leadership, she co-created Chat the Planet, a groundbreaking television series connecting young people worldwide, reaching over 350 million viewers. Laurie founded The CityKids Foundation in 1985 and has collaborated with notable figures such as Goldie Hawn, Demi Moore, Michael Bolton, Robert De Niro, Herbie Hancock, Keith Haring, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Her innovative work in youth leadership, media, and cultural diplomacy has earned her an international reputation as a leader in social change.
Treasurer
Micheal Sternberg
Managing Director, BlackRock
Michael Sternberg is a Managing Director at BlackRock. He previously served as Head of the Analytics & Modeling Group (AMG) supporting the Aladdin platform and as Global Head of Quantitative Analytics at RBC Capital Markets, co-leading a team of 120 quants and implementing trading technology for complex products. He spent 20 years at Morgan Stanley in similar roles and began his career at First Boston in the Mortgage Department, specializing in securitization structuring. Michael holds a BA in Economics from UC-Berkeley and an Executive Master’s in Public Administration from NYU Wagner.
Secretary
Catherine Phillips
CEO and Founder, Ethos Innovation Partners
Catherine Phillips has a diverse background in responsible innovation and climate tech. She has held leadership roles at Business in the Community and Heathrow, where she developed strategies on digital ethics, biosecurity, and net-zero initiatives. Currently, she works with Manufacture 2030 to drive decarbonization in global supply chains. Catherine has dedicated over 20 years to volunteer work, mentoring youth in the London care system, supporting rehabilitation programs for women offenders, and working with organizations addressing homelessness. She is also a member of the Global Mental Health Taskforce, addressing trauma, conflict, and climate change-related mental health issues.
Vice President
Patrick Freeman
General Manager, JPMorgan Chase
Patrick Freeman is the General Manager for Small Business Deposit & Cash Management Products at JPMorgan Chase, holding profit and loss ownership of these businesses. He has 20 years of FinTech experience spanning strategy, product development, and corporate finance. Previously, he was Senior Vice President of Partnerships & Distribution at Credibly and worked for 10 years at American Express, specializing in merchant financing and alternative lending solutions.
Board Members
Jamal Joseph
Writer, Director, Producer, Poet, Activist, & Educator
Jamal Joseph is a renowned writer, director, producer, poet, and educator. A former member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army, he was prosecuted as one of the Panther 21 and later earned his BA from the University of Kansas while incarcerated at Leavenworth. He is a full professor and former Chair of Columbia University’s Graduate Film Division and the Artistic Director of the New Heritage Theatre Group in Harlem. Jamal is the author of Tupac Shakur Legacy and Panther Baby, his autobiography. He is also the Executive Artistic Director and founder of IMPACT Repertory Theatre, which has collaborated with The CityKids Foundation for decades. Jamal served as Artistic Director of CityKids for over ten years.
John Fuentes
Deputy Director with Bay Area Community Resources
John Fuentes brings over 25 years of experience in youth development. Before relocating to the Bay Area in 2005, he was an active member and eventually Director of Coalition at The CityKids Foundation (1992-2005). John contributed to all aspects of CityKids programming, including leadership conferences, performances, and youth engagement initiatives. Currently, he serves as an Expanded Learning Program Grant Manager and Quality Support Coach with Bay Area Community Resources, partnering with middle and high schools across Oakland, Alameda, and West Contra Costa, CA. He has received multiple awards for excellence in education and community leadership
Cenophia Mitchell
Voice-Over Actress & CityKids Alum
Cenophia Mitchell is a successful voice-over actress, lending her talent to numerous commercials, audiobooks, and television shows. A CityKids alumna, she began performing with the CityKids Repertory Company in the early 1990s and later served as a writer, mentor, and coach. She continues to support CityKids by leading social media strategy efforts and playing a pivotal role in the development of The CityKids Training Manual.
Shari Foos
Marriage & Family Therapist, Founder of The Narrative Method
Shari Foos is a Marriage and Family Therapist, educator, activist, writer, and founder of The Narrative Method, an award-winning program promoting human connection through empathy and storytelling. She co-founded the Bridge Program at Antioch University Los Angeles, offering accredited humanities courses for adults without access to higher education. Shari is also an adjunct faculty member at Antioch, where she teaches The Narrative Method.
Amber Paquette
Healthcare & Education Leader
Amber Paquette, a Brown University alumna, holds a bachelor's degree in biology and was a member of the Track and Field team. Amber has had a distinguished career spanning over a decade in the healthcare sector, specializing in oncology. Her professional journey took a transformative turn as she dedicated herself to family and nurturing her three children. Amber is deeply invested in empowering youth and fostering community welfare through coaching, mentorship, and volunteerism. Her involvement in the nonprofit realm includes serving as the Executive Director of the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute and the Interim Executive Director of the City Kids Foundation, both in New York City. Amber's relocation to California saw her transition into education, teaching K-2 physical education and coaching track and field. Currently, Amber serves on the boards of Greens Farms Academy, the Mateo Family Foundation, PeacePlayers U.S., and the College Advisory Council for Brown University. Amber, along with her husband Tony, expanded their household in 2019 to include a displaced 17-year-old, embodying their character of compassion and inclusivity. Her family of six, reside in Darien, Connecticut.
Don Hoffman
Director & Senior VP,
DKC Public Relations
Don Hoffman is a two-time Emmy Award-winning producer, journalist, and public relations expert. Currently, he is a Director and Senior VP at DKC Public Relations in Manhattan. He has an extensive background in health, arts, and nonprofit media coverage and has won national awards for public relations and communications. Don is also a published children’s book author, with A Very Special Snowflake selling over 1.5 million copies.
BC Bierman
Founder & Creative Director, Heavy
BC Bierman holds a PhD in Intermedia Analysis from the Universiteit van Amsterdam and has worked as both a digital artist and academic. A pioneer in interactive augmented reality art design, BC’s work explores the intersection of emerging technologies and semiotics, with a focus on social, political, and ethical impacts.
Yenna Hill
Visual Artist & Muralist
Yenna Hill is an innovative artist specializing in Henna, line art, multimedia surface work, murals, and jewelry design. Inspired by her uncle, Keith Haring, she brings a unique artistic perspective that reflects personal and societal narratives. Her work, which she describes as "time capsules of creation," is highly distinguishable and deeply introspective.