Nguzo Ogbodo, founded The Hope and Dreams Initiative with the belief that more than any other single skill, the ability to read, and read well, allows a child to succeed in school. It affords them the opportunity to learn about the world, function in society, and someday have decent job options. Nguzo is committed to changing the poor reading culture among children in her home country Nigeria, Africa.
Nguzo Ogbodo is an Attorney and has worked in various top law firms in New York.
Jonathan Schneck is the president of Reading Reflections, a nonprofit organization that donates books to underserved local and international youth. Jonathan is a senior at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School in Long Island and plans to matriculate at Dartmouth College in the fall.
He has received the Daily Point of Light Award honoring individuals who create meaningful change in communities and is a Regional Finalist in the Coca Cola Scholars Program.
In addition to his passion for reading and creative writing, Jonathan is an avid tennis player, enjoys mathematics research and is an active member of his schools Varsity Tennis, Math and Model Congress teams and the Anti-Bias Task Force. He is thrilled to be part of The Hope and Dreams Initiative team and to help improve the reading culture in Nigeria through improved educational resources.
May Fitch is a seasoned educator with more than 20 years of teaching in New York, NY. May is grounded in the belief that every child deserves the right to all the basic things including a library in their school. We are pleased to have her on board The Hope and Dreams Initiative.
Rev. Cora W. Taitt is passionate about making a difference in the lives of girls and women. Through various initiatives Pastor Taitt has participated in community outreach, domestic and foreign missions, providing education and spiritual formation for the Highbridge Community, Bronx, New York and beyond. She has been recognized for making a difference for women and girls through her charitable effort. When Pastor Cora is not working and inspiring others to make the world a better place, she is reading, walking and spending time with family. Pastor Taitt is excited to bring her vast experience and network to Hope and Dreams Initiative, and says, “It is a privilege to work with hope and dream initiative,” and I am excited to have her on our team.
Jessica Reinhart is a Pharmacy Specialist in New York. She currentlyworks with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a global non-profit organization that provides care to over one million people living with HIV in 43 countries.
Reinhart is passionate about girl’s issues and would like to expand her advocacy work to reach girls and women.
Lebechi Uchechi is the Kindergarten Lead teacher at the LEA Primary School, Aleytia, where she has been teaching for over 8 years. In addition to teaching history, Lebechi is the Program Manager for Hope and Dreams Initiative. Lebechi is committed to Hope and Dreams Initiative’s vision which is serving the under-served and marginalized youth through our educational programs. She is passionate about empowering youths, especially girls to be change agents
Julia Foster leads the Marketing & Communications team at City Harvest, New York City’s first and largest food rescue organization. She oversees brand marketing, advertising, digital, messaging, media relations, and crisis communications to position the organization as a leader in sustainability and in the anti-hunger movement, and raise awareness of their work locally and nationally. A native New Yorker, Julia joined City Harvest in 2013 after serving as the Director of Marketing & Communications at the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF). Prior to that, she worked in marketing at a variety of consumer facing brands, such as Next Jump, Plum TV, SpaFinder, and Organic Style Magazine.
