2025 Black Power Players

Marjorie D. Parker, CEO and president of JobsFirstNYC, is a transformative leader with over 25 years of experience in workforce development. She has held leadership roles at Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, CUNY Research Foundation, and New York City DYCD. Marjorie holds a bachelor’s degree from Fordham University and a master’s in public administration from NYU. She has earned numerous high-profile recognitions that underscore her impact on economic and workforce development.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
My family is my biggest inspiration. As immigrants from Jamaica in the 1980s, we embraced the American dream while staying rooted in our cultural values. Our upbringing instilled a steadfast belief in hard work, mutual support and ambition. These values guided each of us to pursue our unique dreams. We are fortunate to have benefited from the diverse opportunities that America has to offer and the foundations laid by those who came before us. 

Is there a Black-owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
Cornbread Farm to Soul, an immigrant and Black women owned fast farm-to-table restaurant with authentic soul food and a family friendly dining experience. They source their ingredients from local farmers and shops. Eda Henries, former investment Banker, who is a partner, owner and chief financial officer is very invested in giving back to the community. There are three restaurants in New Jersey and one In Brooklyn. They are opening a new location in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

What is the proudest moment in your career so far?
In 2017, I became part of the less than 20% of Black women leading nonprofit organizations in NYC – a milestone that deepens my commitment to fostering the next generation of women leaders. It fills me with pride to see more women stepping into leadership roles at institutions dedicated to serving their communities and creating meaningful change in the lives of young people and their families.

In 2018, Speaker Carl Heastie elevated Peoples-Stokes to majority leader of the New York State Assembly, becoming the first woman and African American (since 1777 inception) to do so. Serving Buffalo’s 141st District since 2003, Crystal leads with clear and principled service, always putting people and policy before politics. Victories include $250 million statewide for the Community Schools Act; decriminalizing possession of cannabis and passing the “Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act” (MRTA), legalizing adult-use cannabis.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. Proud of who she represented… Everyone. I believe in many of the same values, advocating for women’s rights, BIPOC and social justice, education, and more.

Is there a Black-owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
There are numerous black-owned businesses and organizations in the 141st District that deserve recognition, many of which have been in business for more than 50 years. The African Cultural Center, Colored Musicians Club, Doris Records, Thomas T. Edwards Funeral Home, Hobson Cleaners and Jim Bell Cleaners, WUFO Radio and many more. Thank you!!

What is the proudest moment in your career so far?
I would say the decriminalization of cannabis and the legalization of adult-use cannabis. Over 400,000 New Yorkers with criminal records from minor possession of cannabis have had their records expunged and/or sealed. That means 400,000 more New Yorkers have access to public housing, student loans and better employment odds to better themselves and their families. Legal NYS cannabis sales recently surpassed $1 Billion, with 40% of revenues being reinvested back into afflicted communities.

Errol L. Pierre is the SVP of state programs at Healthfirst leading product, sales, and community engagement. He graduated from Fordham University, NYU, and Baruch College.  He is an adjunct professor at NYU, Columbia University, and Baruch College and serves on the board of the Citizens Budget Commission and Arthur Ashe Institute of Health. Errol is the author of The Way Up: Climbing the Corporate Mountain as a Professional of Color, published by Wiley.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
My father, Stuart Pierre, is my biggest inspiration. He migrated to the United States from Haiti in 1969 and taught me perseverance, work ethic, and the importance of humbleness in both word and deed. I aspire to be even half the man he is, and I’m very thankful for the morals and values he instilled in me as a young man. 

Is there a Black-owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
I support both The Apollo Theater and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater every year and raise funds for The Arthur Ashe Institute of Urban Health, One Hundred Black Men, the Haitian Education Leadership Program, and Medinova. 

What is the proudest moment in your career so far?
The two proudest moments of my career so far have been helping more than 1 million Healthfirst members recertify their Medicaid coverage at rates that exceeded the statewide average in 2024 and helping to ensure Healthfirst’s COVID vaccination rates were higher than the New York City average in 2021.  

Dr. Jocelynne Rainey is a seasoned nonprofit leader and executive with over 25 years of experience. She led the transformation of Brooklyn Org from Brooklyn Community Foundation, creating a more inclusive and accessible model for community philanthropy. As president and CEO, Dr. Rainey has led over $125 million in giving, pioneering participatory grantmaking. Previously, she was a key executive at Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, driving workforce development and economic growth across multiple sectors.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
My greatest inspiration is the drive to dismantle structural racism that has disproportionately affected Black and Brown communities, contributing to the racial wealth gap, and preventing many from achieving the American Dream. I am motivated by the belief that our country would thrive if everyone had equal opportunities to succeed.

Is there a Black-owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
I’ve been especially inspired by TechFin, one of our Brooklyn Org Spark Prize winners this year, led by Nigel Frankson and a remarkable Board of Directors. TechFin refurbishes computers and distributes them to families in need, helping to close the digital divide. It’s an incredible organization, and you can learn more about their work at wearetechfin.org. This is truly transformational work.

What is the proudest moment in your career so far?
I’ve had many proud moments, but my proudest is the team I’ve built here at Brooklyn Org (BKO). I am incredibly proud of this passionate, hardworking group that deeply cares about racial justice, nonprofits, and Brooklyn communities. I’m also amazed by the caliber of work they produce. Together, we’ve reimagined philanthropy, and none of this would be possible without the dedication and talent of the BKO team.

Dr. Patricia Ramsey became the sixth president of Medgar Evers College (MEC) in 2021. She’s the first woman and first scientist to serve. Dr Ramsey secured a $20 million grant in just six weeks as president. She testified before a Congressional committee, representing PBIs nationally and received the White House Lifetime Achievement Award from President Biden. Dr. Ramsey was inducted as honorary chaplain of WSC International and NYPD. As a biologist, Dr. Ramsey collected 110 Agave species in the Sonoran Desert.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
The students are my biggest inspiration because of their amazing stories of perseverance to obtain a degree, despite the odds.

Is there a Black-owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Medgar Evers College is named for Medgar Wiley Evers who served as field secretary for the NAACP. He was slain by an assassin’s bullet, in his driveway in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1963. He would have been 100 this year. His widow, Mrs. Myrlie Evers Williams, served as the NAACP board chair from 1995 to 1998 and continues to be a highly respected voice.

What is the proudest moment in your career so far?
The proudest moment in my career was when I wrote a proposal in less than 24 hours that resulted in a $20 million grant, after having been president of MEC for just 6 weeks. This grant provides paid internships and tuition assistance up to full cost, for Medgar Evers College students.

Vaughn Ratchford serves as senior vice president and chief real estate officer at New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe), where he manages strategy and future growth for the organization’s national real estate portfolio of 70-plus assets. Among Ratchford’s priorities are completion of a new 187,000-square-foot Rye, NY campus in early-2025 as well as the development of an Upper East Side life sciences building, new blood donation centers, and the NY BioGenesis Park on Long Island. 

Robert Reffkin founded Compass in 2012, drawing inspiration from his mother, Ruth, a longtime real estate agent. Under his leadership, Compass became the country’s #1 real estate brokerage in the United States by sales volume. Robert holds a B.A. and M.B.A. from Columbia University and previously worked at McKinsey and Goldman Sachs. Beyond his business endeavors, he has run 50 marathons in 50 states, raising $1 million for charities.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
I grew up in Berkeley, California, and was raised by a single mother who was a real estate agent. Her dedication inspired me from a young age as I saw the entrepreneurial spirit she embodied. I founded Compass with the vision of revolutionizing the real estate industry and empowering other agents like my mom with the tools and resources they need to serve their clients better and grow their businesses.

Arva is president and CEO of the New York Urban League, an organization that has a long legacy of service to New Yorkers. Arva has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit arena, ranging from working with entrepreneurs in a microlending program to working with young people as a counselor, mentor and tutor. Arva served as interim chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board and current co-chair of the City Council Charter Revision Commission.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
It may sound like a cliché, but I am so inspired by my mother. Raised by her maternal grandmother, she grew up picking cotton in Arkansas. But during the school year, my grandmother insisted her grandchild go to school. The example of valuing education was passed on to my mother. She made sure her four children were able to attend and graduate from college. She taught us hard work, responsibility and to give back.

Is there a Black-owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
Ngozi Okaro is the founder of Custom Collaborative. Custom Collaborative is a nonprofit that trains, mentors, and advocates for and with no/low-income and immigrant women to build the skills necessary to achieve economic success in the sustainable fashion industry and broader society.

What is the proudest moment in your career so far?
Every year I am happy to see the girls in our programs light up for Young Women’s Empowerment Day. NYUL partners with a range of corporations to provide young women with an engaging career exploration day. I love sharing all the fabulous people I have met in this role, with these young ladies. The day also connects to my personal mission to make a difference in the life of a girl.

Donovan Richards Jr., a lifelong resident of Southeast Queens, was elected borough president in November 2020. As Queens borough president, he has been a tireless advocate for The World’s Borough, allocating more than $272 million in capital funding across Queens’ schools, cultural institutions, hospitals, libraries, parks and more. Borough President Richards lives in Rosedale with his wife, Tameeka, and his son, Donovan III.

Jovan currently serves as the president of the NYS Young Democrats; media and government relations associate director for the NYS Society of CPAs; the executive director for the Westchester County Democratic Committee; the vice chair of Operation Prom National Network; and the chair of the Association of Chartered Unit Presidents (ACUP) for the Young Democrats of America. Jovan studied film/video at Five Towns College and political science at Southern New Hampshire University.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
I always seem to find inspiration from the remarkable women in my life. They push me to aim higher, thrive harder, and do whatever I can to make them proud. Being raised in a single-mother household, I am forever in awe of my mother’s resilience. It’s why everything I do in politics, I examine with the lens of a single mother attempting to feed her children and survive in every capacity.

Is there a Black-owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
As a mixology expert and a level-one sommelier, I have to give some praise to some of the greatest black distillers and wine makers in this nation. First, Uncle Nearest bourbon not only comes with an amazing story, but the bourbon is top-notch. Pair that with any bottle of McBride Sisters Black Girl Magic wine collection, and you have one hell of a cookout.

What is the proudest moment in your career so far?
It’s hard to claim just one of my proudest moments. I could say helping NY CPAs reach their full potential by helping them pass a bill that has been in the legislature for more than a decade, but I truly think one of the proudest moments is working with young democrats from across this state and nation to ensure our democratic values are upheld in every corner of our nation. #YoungGetsItDone