Marilou Chanrasmi, CARE Center Chief – Northern Tier

Marilou has been collaborating and partnering with Minnesota tribal communities since 2008. She has deep connections and relationships with proximate leaders at Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Red Lake Nation and Little Earth of United Tribes. Collaborating with her Anishinaabe friends in Minnesota, she has been building an expanding circle of indigenous proximate leaders and trusted partners committed to animal and human well being. She is deeply committed to honoring the wisdom within the community, building authentic relationships, and elevating the voices of indigenous people and those from marginalized communities. She has served as a liaison, mentor and guide to trusted allies wanting to learn a new way of listening and being in their work with tribal communities. 

Marilou is a somatics coach and an experienced facilitator of circles with a process that creates space that is participatory, experiential, healing, reflective, equitable and meets people where they are, and also challenges them to see with more than eyes and hear with more than ears.

Marilou is a founding member of Deep Listening for Social Change/DLSC. DLSC is a peaceful action that members of the Twin Cities BIPOC mindfulness community initiated  in response to the murder of George Floyd. DLSC uses the practice of Deep Listening as an anti-racist tool for having difficult conversations, healing from the wounds of systemic and community-specific racism, and creating a greater sense of interconnection in order to facilitate sustained social change. 

Marilou shares her home with her 3 dogs: Legacy and Ishkode (from Leech Lake Nation) and Migizi (from Mille Lacs Nation). Marilou continues to be guided by her spirit dog, Ahnung (a Red Lake Nation dog) who crossed over to the spirit world in 2013. She has a daily meditation, nature hiking, qigong, and centering practice.

Morgan Chynoweth, Executive Administrative Assistant

Morgan grew up in the quaint town of Rising Sun, Maryland. After graduating high school, she moved across the world to Sydney, Australia, where she was an au pair for 9 children and studied early childhood education. After nearly 4 years overseas, Morgan returned to Baltimore City, Maryland and found a passion working in the field of substance use disorders. She started working as a Clinical Technician at Ashley Addiction Treatment Center where she became aware of the lack of resources, not only for women in recovery, but specifically in the BIPOC community. Morgan soon thereafter trained to become a Certified Peer Recovery Coach. This enabled her to better support the patient community by running process groups, meeting patients for individual sessions, and connecting women with resources to ensure they had a solid support network post-treatment.

After 2 years in this role, Morgan transitioned into a Clinical Case Manager, where her main focus was to establish patient aftercare plans. By providing resources to psychiatrists, psychotherapists and primary care physicians, as well as securing sober living environments, Morgan was able to set her patients up for the highest chance of success. She coordinated with her patients’ families and loved ones to ensure the maximum amount of support and security following their discharge from inpatient treatment. During this time, Morgan continued to battle against the lacking resources for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. She has advocated for these underserved communities by locating financial housing scholarships as well as work opportunities. Morgan’s primary goal is to now utilize her experience to support the CARE mission and continue to learn how to best advocate for these communities.

Akisha Townsend Eaton, Chief of Policy, Environmental Justice Division

Akisha brings over a decade of animal law and policy experience to her current role as Chief of Policy, Environmental Justice Division at CARE. Prior to joining CARE, she worked as a managing attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund and as legislative attorney and policy advisor at various other national and international animal protection organizations. Akisha is an AmeriCorps alumni and is currently an active contributor to the Black Appalachian Coalition (BLAC) as well as the legal redress, environmental justice, and economic development committees of her local NAACP chapter, which recently awarded her the Prince and Cora Mack Humanitarian Award. 

Akisha has contributed to numerous publications. Her most recent chapters have appeared in the Palgrave Handbook of Animal Ethics, Career Paths in Human-Animal Interaction for Social and Behavioral Scientists and People, Pets, and Policies: Towards Community Supported Animal Sheltering.  She served as a consultant editor and contributor to the Journal of Animal Ethics and associate editor for the Journal of Animal Law.  Akisha has been an instructor, guest lecturer and speaker at numerous law schools, including Georgetown, Duke, Harvard, Lewis and Clark and Tulane University’s International Legislative Drafting Institute.  Her publications have been included in the courses of international law schools.  She has presented at multiple national, state and local animal welfare conferences on recent developments in animal law and advocacy.  She is a former contributor for the Huffington Post and the Dodo and former Diversity Vice-Chair for the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee within the Tort, Trial, and Insurance Practice Section. She is a Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics.

Akisha received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, where she was recognized as a Law Center Scholar and her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University where she graduated with distinction. 

Sheila Donya Kouhkan, Chief of Engagement

Sheila started her professional career in animal welfare in 2009, working on compassionate legislation for the City of Los Angeles. She assisted with the passage of such measures as the bans on the commercial sale of puppy mill dogs, cat declawing, and the use of bull hooks on elephants in traveling shows. She began working in the world of animal welfare nonprofits in 2015 when she joined the team at Best Friends Animal Society, collaborating with local rescues to make Los Angeles a no-kill city. In 2017, Sheila accepted the Maddie’s® Fund Executive Leadership Fellowship and joined the teams at Austin Pets Alive! and Austin Animal Center in Texas, where she learned the ins and outs of animal welfare leadership and gained a passion for disaster response. Sheila is committed to using her diverse background and the resources available in her current role to bring vitality to lives furry and otherwise.

Sheila is thrilled to be a member of NACA and finds that it is a great way to connect with partners across the country. Through this organization, Sheila has been able to connect with leaders who have been in the industry for many years. These connections are extremely valuable when understanding how and why the industry has evolved into what it is today. Animal welfare is a dynamic industry and being a part of this group is like having a lifeline to the realities of our society and where we are headed. Gaining a deeper understanding of animal welfare through NACA has facilitated Sheila and the Pethealth team to ensure a focus on tools and resources to support shelter partners with their lifesaving goals and to keep pets with their families.

Sheila lives in San Diego, CA with her Husky mix, Ziba, and enjoys fostering for local shelter partners.

James Evans, Founder & Chief Executive Officer

James is a multi-awarding winning creative strategist and leader with 25+ years of experience developing relationships between organizations and their constituents. His expertise has been utilized across a diverse group of brands, both non for profit, and for profit. Specific brand experience includes: Timberland, Disney, The Mills Corporation, NAACP, Baltimore Health Department, Maryland Health Department, Kennedy Krieger Institute, CVS Caremark’s Project Health, Safe Streets Baltimore and many other brands.

James and his team have initiated several programs, including the groundbreaking Gulf Spay/Neuter Campaign and HSUS’ Pets for Life. He has also played an integral role in HSUS’ Adopters Welcome, Outdoor Cats Research, Stop Puppy Mills, and HSUS’ Spayathon, as well as Best Friends Animal Society’s Outreach Action Team.

In 2019, inspired by Chetana Mirle and supported by Spring Point’s Life of Riley, James founded Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity [C.A.R.E.].

James is a husband, a proud father of five children [two four-legged], a brother, and part of a great group of friends, family, and colleagues.

Winner of the 2022 Maddie’s Fund Avanzino Leadership Award

Jennifer Evans, Chief Operating Officer

Jennifer Evans studied studio art in school and has over 20 years experience in marketing and publishing as both a designer and Art Director. She is the COO and Art Director for Illume Communications and is a wardrobe stylist. 

Jennifer is also the Chief Operating Officer for CARE. As a highly organized logistics expert, she manages CARE’s staff and workflow. Aside from her visual communications and organizational skills, Jen brings an in-depth knowledge of social media marketing strategies and narrative production. Much of her recent work within the animal welfare field has included innovative campaign strategies and production for large scale projects such as Breaking Bias for HSUS Expo 2019, Stop Puppy Mills Video campaign, Petstablished, Let’s Fix This, HSUS’ Spayathon, and HSUS’ Adopter’s Welcome toolkit.

Janel Griffieth, CARE Center Senior Director – Southeast Tier

Janel is a passionate non-profit leader who has dedicated almost a decade to human and animal well-being. She is committed to ending the racial inequities that have plagued the animal care industry and is devoted to elevating diverse voices in the movement. She is excited to join the CARE team and continue the work of creating more inclusive spaces.
 
Janel is a first-generation college graduate that achieved a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of South Florida. Her interests included viral and bacterial diseases and epidemiology. She was active in a social justice organization that focused on ending/preventing domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. With the organization, she brought awareness to the cause, created campus safety changes, and provided support to survivors.
 
In 2014, Janel started her professional animal care career at a doggy daycare. While she was there, she quickly learned the nuances of dog body language to keep pets and people safe (overseeing a big pack of dogs has been her greatest lesson in dog behavior). In 2015, Janel began working at the Oklahoma Humane Society – the largest animal non-profit in the state – as a Pet Adoption Specialist, where she also began fostering. She found her niche in neonatal animal care. This led her to become the Neonatal Volunteer Coordinator, where she grew a volunteer and foster training program for neonatal kittens and puppies. From the success of the training program and the dire need from the shelter and community, she was tasked with creating a more comprehensive neonatal program. As the Neonatal Nursery Program Manager, Janel created a kitten nursery that housed 2to 6-week-old orphan kittens and queens with litter, expanded the neonatal fostering program to increase puppy and mom dog lifesaving, provided lifesaving medical care, and managed a six-figure program budget. 

Under her leadership, the neonatal program saved thousands of neonatal kittens and puppies, and hundreds of moms. She represented OK Humane on the local news, to donors, and to the community to bring more awareness to the needs of neonatal animals. Janel has assisted in the transport of hundreds of dogs to other states, consulted on the behavioral panel for the organization, and was awarded two Maddie’s Funds apprenticeships. 
After relocating back to Florida, she pivoted to her other passion in life-ending domestic violence. Hired as an education coordinator at CASA Pinellas, she was quickly moved into a role created for her, Community Engagement Manager. She revamped and oversaw the adult community education and volunteer programs in this role. She developed relationships with local businesses and community partners (first responders, social workers, nurses/doctors). Janel created and facilitated impactful presentations across Pinellas County in an engaging, inclusive, and thought-provoking manner. She shifted the narrative to focus on holding abusers accountable and that survivors cannot just leave – they must escape.
 
Before coming to CARE Janel was the Manager of Grassroots Advocacy at Best Friends Animal Society. She enjoys hanging with her dogs and continues to foster in her free time. To date, she has fostered over 190+ animals, mainly neonatal animals, and behavioral rehabilitation dogs. Janel loves to remind herself and others that everything is temporary, but the Wu-Tang is forever.

Johnny Jenkins, Chief of Staff and Research & Development

Johnny Jenkins has twenty-five years of experience in grassroots community engagement and professional non-profit experience. His talents have been used to support mission-driven efforts across movements ranging from animal welfare and LGBTQ+ equality to racial equity, diversity and inclusion. He has had had the opportunity to provide leadership as an organizer, a non-profit board and program director, and a multi-million-dollar grant portfolio manager. As an experienced strategic grant-maker, Johnny has led philanthropic initiatives that support racial and economic Justice while also advancing social justice inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity. Recently, he served as the adoption grants manager responsible for PetSmart Charities’ U.S. East Region to support shelters and rescues in finding homes for homeless pets.

Mr. Jenkins holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Western Michigan University, and is currently pursuing a graduate level degree from Arizona State University. His research interest includes organizing strategies, coalition-building, cooperative economics, leadership development (community wisdom), racial equity and social justice. He draws from lived experiences to engage people and communities to promote equity and access to opportunities that improve the quality of life for marginalized families and their pets.

Johnny has an extensive record of service in the LGBTQ+ and Detroit communities which has resulted in multiple community awards. In addition to his many community accomplishments, Johnny is also an accomplished spoken word artist who has produced and served as Slam Master for two national Detroit Poetry Slam Teams. In addition, he is a proud co-founder and former producer of one the oldest Black LGBT pride celebrations in North America – Detroit’s Hotter Than July (1996) which continues to operate today.

He is grateful for the opportunity to share his lived experiences and expertise to increase racial equity, diversity and inclusion in animal welfare. This is shared through his service as Co-Lead of PetSmart Charities’ Racial Equity Advisory, Steering Committee Member of PetSmart’s MOSAIC Associate Resource Group, Vice President of PetSmart’s Pride At Work (PAW) Associate Resource Group, and as a Co-Chair of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA) DEI Committee. 

Stephen Parker, Assistant Director, Narrative Division

Stephen Parker is a Musician, A/V tech, and Community leader with 15+ years of experience that has allowed him to build relationships with artists, and organizations worldwide. Stephen is also the founder and CEO of E Way Productions. The E Way started out as a program to reach young scholars in High School and teach them the fundamentals of music and art. E Way eventually transformed into a city-wide school tour where local artists, Musicians, and entrepreneurs came together to mentor children and performed. E Way helped reignite the interest in the arts and music programs across Philadelphia public schools, helping to generate thousands in funding and help keep music and art in school. “After touring the world with music what better way to give back !” 

Stephen continued his work in the community by joining the Humane Society Pets For Life Program in 2012 as a community organizer and dog trainer. Stephen’s role was to organize door-to-door outreach, host weekly training classes, as well as organize the community for our spay and neuter events in Hunting park. Those events serviced over 700 people and their pets with free shots, free pet food, and free spay and neuter appointments. Stephen then went on to help develop the community outreach toolkit and several PSAs that would help reach communities worldwide. 

Stephens’s expertise as a Musician & A/V tech allowed him to work for artists like John Legend, Jasmin Sullivan, Mc LYTE, and many more. Stephen has used these skills to help his local community, churches, and schools achieve their goals. Stephen currently serves as a mentor to Esperanza Academy training the students in the field of production in dance, theater, and live Concerts. 

While serving as a Production manager, and Audio Engineer since 2011, Stephen has been certified as an engineer through Full Sail University, as well as several certifications in Software such as Logic, Davinci, and other DAWS. Stephen received awards from the National Science Achievement Academy for his accomplishments in Computer Science in 2002. 

Stephen is now continuing his journey by joining CARE as the Assistant Director, Narrative Division in which he plans to use his love for pets, community, and audio-visual technology to help produce stories that celebrate diverse companion humans and their pets. Stephen’s goal is to help shape the narrative; BIPOC love their pets too. “There is no catch, continue to love your animals and I’ll be here to continue to help you do that.”

Mueni Rudd, Senior Director of Research & Development

Mueni is a Kenyan American scholar advocate with years of experience in racial justice, social activism, and evaluative research. She graduated from Huston-Tillotson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Then went on to earn a Master of Social Work graduate degree from Texas State University. She has a consistent history of membership and participation in professional academic associations and service organizations. She is a published writer and proud TEDx speaker committed to filling the gaps of current Western training and approaches that avoid issues of racial diversity and ethnic cultural differences. She prioritizes Black and other historically marginalized group liberation in all her professional and community contributions. Her focus on accountability can be seen in her efforts to acknowledge systemic and institutional oppression by centering these populations. Mueni is always willing to dive deeply into literature and lived experiences to suggest equity centered and research informed recommendations. Her work amplifies historically oppressed communities, promotes authentic multicultural dialogue, and creates cross-cultural communication which fosters awareness and healing.

Hakeem Ruiz, Director of CARE Centers Philly/Camden

Hakeem Ruiz is a 29 year old born and raised in Philadelphia. While attending Lincoln High School, Hakeem and other friends started a group called The Block. Years later that friend group went on to become a very successful non-profit called ” The Block Gives Back”. Hakeem became the Vice President and was given the task of hosting block parties, street cleaning events, and networking with the adults and youth of the community. In 2019 the group was recognized by KYW radio as a winner of the Black History Month “GameChangers” award, for the continued efforts in minority communities. 

Aside from community volunteering Hakeem formerly worked in the social work field as a Case Manager before joining the CARE team. Spending parts of 3 years working with at risk youth from ages 13-17 to earn expungement of permanent charges. Hakeem will now be the CARE Center Director of Camden/Philly. He looks forward to being able to continue to create and build connections for more organizations along with CARE and being able to assist an unaddressed need in a forgotten area. Having raised a 13 year old stray dog, Gucci, Hakeem has seen the low points of the animal care system locally and is determined to change it for the better of the community. 

Alina M. Luna, Ph.D., Chief, Circle of Learning & Leadership

Alina is an Emeritus Professor of English with twenty-five years of experience in higher education. The first-born American citizen in her Filipino family, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Russell Sage College in Troy, New York, and her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the State University of New York at Albany. Prior to her departure from Western Colorado University, she was the most senior tenured faculty member of color.

Alina values the importance of helping to maintain others’ integrity and pride; aspects that can be so thoughtlessly dismissed, taken away, or (worse yet), perceived to be non-existent among the marginalized by those in power. She has been dedicated to the well-being and success of her students and honored with seven awards in teaching and mentoring.  She has served as advisor to student groups; coordinator of scholarships and academic curricula; evaluator of faculty performance reviews; Chair of the Communication Arts, Languages and Literature Department; panelist in DEI discussions; and Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Committee. She was also appointed to Colorado’s 2020-2021 Water Equity Task Force by Governor Jared Polis.

Alina’s teaching record includes the delivery of 40+ different courses within English studies ranging from Greek Drama to Postcolonial Literatures, as well as the creation of the Humanities and Diversity Minor which promoted the study of literature and related disciplines in the liberal arts through perspectives and representations primarily informed by diversity, identity, and lived realities.  She has little patience for performative activism especially in the area of racial equity as it can allow institutions to think that those who are BIPOC fail to see how disingenuous their “actions” are.  The leadership of such organizations are deluded since BIPOC are intimately experienced with the machinations of power, in addition to the means and extent to which they have been denied power and paths to efficacy.

A baker and photographer, Alina has been an animal lover since childhood and had regularly volunteered at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. She lives with her husband and their wiggly pup, Ivy, in Colorado.  Alina is deeply honored to be joining the proudly-led BIPOC team that is C.A.R.E. and looks forward to assisting in its comprehensive approach to companion and animal well-being.

Dr. Azalia Boyd, Chairperson, CARE Veterinary Advisory Committee

Dr. Boyd will serve as the committee’s first chair and is a double graduate of the Historically Black College & University (HBCU), Tuskegee University. There, she received a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and a Bachelor of Science in Animal and Poultry Science. After earning her degrees, Dr. Boyd completed an emergency, surgery, and internal medicine internship, strengthening her medical skills. Once getting out into the work field, she has served as a valued associate at multiple clinics and hospitals within metro Atlanta, held leadership positions as medical director and mentor, and continues to provide high-quality veterinary care day to day. 

Dr. Boyd has enrolled and completed courses in leadership, positive psychology, and cultural competence, all of which she uses to help her connect with the people of the pets she serves.  “Every day, I have the opportunity to touch a very small part of the world and make a difference- the importance of my position extends outside of the clinic setting but affects the lives and happiness of people, pets, and the individual relationships with each other,” says Dr. Boyd. Dr. Boyd has been a longtime supporter of CARE and shares the same mission within the field and, most importantly, outside within the community. Her unwavering compassion is evident, and we are excited to build a positive and lasting effect on the world.