Our Leadership
Jean Marie GB Kouassi
Jean Marie Kouassi is a visionary leader dedicated to fostering inclusive, sustainable growth for youth immigrants and vulnerable local youth. As the Founder and Executive Director of Palms Solutions, he works to empower underserved communities in Philadelphia by advancing economic development, education, and health equity. Through Palms Solutions, Jean Marie bridges cultural and economic gaps, particularly between the African Diaspora and Greater Philadelphia, fostering cross-cultural partnerships that promote global collaboration and inclusion.
Jean Marie’s international experience includes leadership roles with USAID, the World Bank, and the Rockefeller Foundation, where he championed women’s empowerment, transcontinental education, and capacity-building initiatives in West and South Africa. His consulting work spans key organizations such as the Philadelphia School District, the Global Health Catalyst Summit at Harvard Medical School, and the German Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, earning him recognition for his impact on community development and youth empowerment.
In 2024, Jean Marie further strengthened his expertise by earning an Executive Diploma from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in Cultural Diplomacy, International Relations, and Global Governance. This intensive and selective program deepened his understanding of the intersection between local and international relations, enhancing his ability to drive change both domestically and globally.
Currently, Jean Marie serves as the Director of Academic & Community Partnerships for the Freshmen Exposure to Research in Biological Sciences (FERBS) program at the University of Pennsylvania, where he works to bridge the gap between academia and underserved communities. A graduate of Wharton Business School and the Nonprofit Leadership Program at Penn, Jean Marie continues to lead transformative initiatives that provide youth immigrants and vulnerable local youth with the tools to succeed and thrive.
Our Staff
Kristi Bezhani
Program Coordinator
Kristi is a passionate educator and academic who is dedicated to teaching and researching racial and cultural phenomena to bridge social gaps. Her experience of Albanian, German and American literacy and nationhood inform her interdisciplinary teaching approach and professional roles. Kristi’s volunteer work in Albania also enhanced her ability to teach across cultures. Kristi graduated from Temple University with a degree in Global Studies and a double minor in Psychology and Africology. In addition to her B.A., Kristi holds a certificate in Mental Health First Aid from Temple University’s Pan-African Studies Community Education Program. As an educator, her teaching experience inspired her to mentor and advocate for Philadelphia youth, providing them with the skills and support needed to be confident agents of social change in their communities.
Ahema Asare MBA
Grants Manager
Ahema is the Director of Grants Management at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Her role is to manage the grant’s portfolio and direct personnel in all phases of the grants program. Ms. Asare has previously served as Director of Programs for the PA/DE Valley Chapter of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, and as a health care consultant for Deloitte Consulting.
Beth Pittman
Public Relations Director
Beth is bringing to this position not only her professional attributes built over the years, as Risk & Underwriting Manager at Cigna Global Health Benefits, but also her unique ways of creating cohesive, impactful, and sustainable community driven programs. Mrs. Pittman focuses on developing and advancing the goals of Palms Solutions, as well as its strategic partnerships with local service agencies, non-profits, and academic institutions. Mrs. Pittman’s unique view on creating successful “community-organizational” synergy, as well as her advocacy for an integrated community development, has inspired her to lead such initiatives. Mrs. Pittman values giving back to her community, especially in support of youth, education, and women. Mrs. Pittman is a great addition to the team, as her enthusiasm continues to pave the way with innovative and successful endeavors for the betterment of the communities we are servicing.
Scott Winfree
Housing Development Coordinator
Scott has more than 15 years of experience in the real estate industry. He has worked as a tax lien redemption specialist and as a short sale negotiator. Mr. Winfree also has experience with tax and mortgage foreclosures, first-time homeownership counseling, deed transfer research, and resolution and mitigation assistance. He has helped pave the ways to freedom for so many of our constituents in the West and Southwest Philadelphia region. We are confident that Mr. Winfree’s honesty and integrity, along with his determination and dedication, for the well-being of our community, will catapult Palms Solutions to yet another milestone of leadership and professionalism.
Joshua Kouassi
National Student Coordinator
Joshua Kouassi is a senior at the Pennsylvania State University. He is majoring in Political Science with a minor in Environmental Inquiry. Joshua hopes to work with local communities to find interdisciplinary solutions to remedy the socio-economic and environmental disparities facing low-income neighborhoods
Katherina Bezhani
Executive Assistant, Sports Coordinator
Katerina Bezhani is an impassioned sports-based youth development (SBYD) teacher-coach and organizer helping kids succeed on and off the field.
As the founder of Kat Academy, Katerina works at the intersection of community, social entrepreneurship, and sports to focus on equitable access for all children to high-quality SBYD.
Over the past 8 years, her work has taken her across the United States and 13+ countries, working with collective impact teams representing business, community, and youth leaders to build young people as confident agents of social change in their communities through sport and movement. Today, Katerina leverages her experience to mentor and coach children ages 6-12 through soccer, tennis, and leadership instruction at Kat Academy.
Our Board of Directors
Carol McLaughlin, PHD, M.D, M.P.H.
Physician at HIV/Infectious Diseases Clinic, Philadelphia VA Medical Center
She is senior advisor for global public health, and Adjunct Faculty of the School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) in the University of Pennsylvania. She is a public health specialist and primary care/infectious disease physician with experience in research, community engagement, and global program implementation.
Mrs. Frances Walker
Woman Activist
Mrs. Frances Walker has been a community activist and organizer for over 60 years, working diligently to improve the quality of life for residents across Philadelphia. Frances has received over 100 awards and citations in recognition of her achievements and dedicated service, including an acknowledgement from the White House for her outstanding work in leading a child immunization campaign in 1991.
Renee McBride-Williams
Manager, WPEB Radio Station
A native of West Philadelphia, Renee has become one of the leaders in her humble Cedar Park community. Ms. McBride-Williams received the 2014-2015 Dorothy I. Height Award from the National Council of Negro Women, Philadelphia Chapter for her community service and leadership. Renee McBride-Williams is the General Manager to West Philadelphia’s only community radio station, WPEB 88.1 FM.
Dendridge Collins, PHD
Psychologist
As a psychologist, Dr. Collins has zeroed in on a most critical element of the human condition. So many people attempt to manage lives that are encumbered by the heavy weight of trauma. Too many are children. Such trauma clouds their minds and fills their heart with fear. Collins’ book is an encouraging and constructive work on the healing of trauma that can be found through the courageous, disciplined, and prayerful trust of God and those He sends to walk with us.
Thomas Henry Massaro
Former Deputy Mayor of Economic Development
Thomas Henry Massaro, the city’s former deputy mayor of economic development is well known for his dedicated public service in providing a free, in-depth orientation to newly elected Philadelphia City Council members to promote good government. Mr. Massaro attended Harvard University and shortly after graduation, became the Director of Newark’s housing program at age 23.
Gabriel Sembo
Accountant Manager
Mr. Sembo is an Accountant Manager at Habitat for Humanity, a global, Christian-based nonprofit organization seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat brings together people of all faiths and people of no faith to build homes, communities and hope. Working alongside each other, we help families and individuals build and improve places to call home and achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves.
Alvaro J. Madrid, Esq
Alvaro J. Madrid, Esq
Mr. Madrid, Esq is originally from Columbia, graduated from Temple School of Law in 2002, and for the last 18 years Mr. Madrid’s practice has been involved in litigation that pertains to Immigration, Personal Injuries, Family Matters, and criminal Cases. Mr. Madrid feel deeply connected to his West community for not only having lived in the area for more than a decade, but for also having raised his children there.
Our Advisory Board
George Ayittey, PhD
American University
Dr. George Ayittey was a Distinguished Economist at American University, in Washington, DC. (USA). In recognition of his scholarship on Africa, he was made a National Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University in California in 1988 and a Bradley Resident Scholar at the Heritage Foundation in 1989. Dr. Ayittey has written several books including Africa Betrayed which won the 1993 H.L. Mencken Award for “Best Book for 1992.”
Mecky Pohlschroder, PhD
Professor of Biology, Undergraduate Chair
She is deeply involved in the multifaceted array of outreach activities, particularly in the under-served neighborhoods of West Philadelphia. Her department not only designs and implement professional development modules for high school teachers, but also provides in-class instruction to West-Philly students, and encourage them to visit the labs.
Youma Ba
Woman Entrepreneur
Youma, who is of Fulani descent, is also President of Echoes of Africa, an organization that grows to bridge communities of newly arrived Africans with African Americans. Part owner of Kilimandjaro, a Senegalese restaurant located on 4317 Chestnut Street, Youma is a native of Senegal and currently the president of “Echoes of Africa,”. Youma is also president of the Pulaar Speaking Association in Philadelphia, promoting the Fulani culture.
Our Wise Council
A limited group of seven (7) African people carefully selected for their influence, respect, dignity and leadership among their peers in the community but also with regard to their geographical location to create a true sample representative of the given homeland. The Wise Council embodies wisdom, stability, loyalty, and unwavering commitment to the cause; institutions can come and go or change their priorities, but the Wise Council will still remain strongly attached to its commitment, which will provide sturdiness in direction and trust needed by the Diaspora to get involved.
