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. 

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.”

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
Saul Zaentz Film Fellow 2024