MORIAH RAY - CO-FOUNDER

Moriah completed her undergraduate career at the University of Maryland College Park where she studied Government and Politics with a minor in International Development and Conflict Management. She is currently in graduate school at New York University pursuing a Masters in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Moriah has had various travel opportunities throughout the globe studying and researching the African Diaspora. She has traveled to numerous countries but most recently Cuba and Costa Rica.

JASMINE HALL - CO-FOUNDER

Jasmine holds a B.A with honors in African and Black Diaspora Studies and Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies with a concentration in International Studies from DePaul University, Chicago, IL. After graduating in 2015, Jasmine lived in Havana for three months where the seeds for African Diaspora Alliance were first planted. She has had extensive travel and research opportunities to study the African Diaspora from her travels to over 13 countries throughout Africa, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and Europe.

DR. YARITZA AZCUY M.D. - HAVANA OPS. MANAGER

Yaritza is a proud Afro-Cuban physician from Havana, Cuba where she currently practices. While she was a student in medical school she co-founded an organization that connected the African Diaspora students at the Latin American School of Medicine in Cuba. The student led group facilitated successful events bringing together the various countries of the Diaspora that are represented at the school. She is responsible for assisting ADA in organizing educational programs in Havana.

CHENISE CALHOUN - INTERN

Chenise has her B.A. in French literature and International studies. She is developing her fluency in other languages as well, such as Arabic and Portuguese. She currently works for Towson University's Study Abroad office as a Peer Student Educator, where she encourages other students to study abroad and see the world.

BRIENNE FRANCOIS-DUGANS - INTERN

Brienne Francois-Dugans was born in Hackensack, NJ on November 29,1996. Growing up, Brienne was very involved with basketball. Her passion grew so strong for sports and sports rehabilitation, she later decided to attend Morgan State University to study Physical Therapy. During her time at Morgan State, Brienne served as campus events chair for Females United to Uplift Reshape and educate (F.U.T.U.R.E.), during the 2015-2016 academic school year. During her junior year of undergrad, Brienne served as campus events chair for Uplift Fitness Club. The following year, she was selected to lead the organization as President. The purpose behind the organization's events, were to promote fitness and nutrition. In her last semester of undergrad, Brienne had the opportunity to travel to Havana, Cuba along with professors and students from Morgan State and the African Diaspora Alliance. She describes her time there as "life changing." Brienne received her undergraduate degree in Physical Education, Physical Therapy track in May of 2019. Since then, she has received a full time job offer in her field! She is planning to enroll in Sports Medicine school in the Fall of 2020.

SHOMARI MAYNARD - CURRICULUM SUPPORT COORDINATOR

Shomari was born in New Jersey and raised in California, U.S.A. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations with minors in African Diaspora Studies and Spanish & Spanish American Studies from Mills College in Oakland, California in 2015. In 2016 Shomari served as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant at FURG in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Prior to that, she was a Global Leadership Fellow and English coach for U.S.-Brazil Connect, serving technical high school students in Piauí, Brazil. Most recently she has worked in the philanthropic sector supporting work in African education. During her undergraduate career she studied abroad in Ecuador, Hong Kong, and Ghana, and has traveled to a host of other countries.

DAVID GOITIZOLO CARABALLO - HAVANA BASED TEAM LEADER

My name is David Goitizolo Caraballo. I am 35 years old. l was born and raised in Marianao, La Havana. My mother is a teacher for kids with special needs of education and my dad is a mechanical engineer. I have a major as telecommunications engineer.I have studied English and Right now I'm studying German language in which i have a B1 level. I have work as flying traffic control stations engineer and right now i work in the cuban biotechnology industry. My passion are languages and outdoors sports. I have climb all the highest cubans mountains and been traveling throughout many parts of the cuban countryside .I consider myself as a fan of cubans sea bottom and a passionate of nature in general.