Anthony became Cities United’s first Executive Director in October 2015, charged with building out the organization and expanding the network. Before joining Cities United, he led the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods in Louisville, working with the community to build out the city’s One Love Louisville Plan. Throughout his career, Anthony has made it a priority to cultivate up-and-coming leaders.
Marcus Ellis is a subject matter expert in the field of Community Violence Prevention and Intervention with a solid track record of success focusing on public safety, community engagement, and youth rehabilitation. Serving as the Deputy of Impact, Marcus uses his love for community and years of experience leading public and private work to ensure Cities United and the jurisdictions it serves are leading the way to the future we want to see.
Brittanny believes that advocacy is a collaborative effort and feels privileged to be part of an organization that effects change. She has more than 15 years of experience in the administrative support field. Outside of work, Brittanny enjoys traveling and collecting experiences with her family.
Arnitta, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Professional Coach (CPC), and Certified Grief Educator, is a healer-strategist, international speaker, and adjunct instructor with over two decades of experience. Her expertise integrates mental health, violence prevention, clinical insight, community wisdom, and policy change to champion healing, wellness, safety, and justice. She is dedicated to advancing Black-centric policy, systems change, and healing-centered practices. She holds an M.S. in Clinical Psychology and a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Criminology and Law Studies, both from Marquette University.
Jonathan McMillan brings over 30 years of expertise in gang intervention, policy, community violence intervention, and youth violence prevention to the forefront of his mission to cultivate safe and vibrant communities. His expertise extends to developing community-led violence intervention programs that have garnered recognition for their impact and his leadership. He now serves as Cities Uniteid's Sr. Advisor of Statewide Engagement, where he will support statewide comprehensive public safety planning.
Alesisia Cobb-Minnis leads strategy, regional mobilization, and leadership development to strengthen the next generation of CVI leaders and advance public safety through a public health lens. She holds a Master of Jurisprudence in Child Law and Policy from Loyola University Chicago and a Dual B.A. in Justice Studies and Inner-City Studies from Northeastern Illinois University. Alesisia continues to champion restorative justice, cash bail reform, and children’s policy.
With a strong foundation in community development, nonprofit leadership, and education. Ashley Harrell brings years of experience creating inclusive, empowering environments where people and communities thrive. My background includes leading initiatives centered around equity, collaboration, and strategic engagement, always with a heart for service and impact. Ashley is deeply passionate about empowering individuals, cultivating meaningful relationships, and supporting mission-driven work. Whether through program development, community outreach, or team leadership, Ashley focuses on building authentic connections and driving positive change.
Kirby is a natural convener with a deep passion for uplifting community-centered approaches to justice and public safety. She brings extensive experience in advancing local and national policies and programs focused on reimagining public safety, violence prevention and intervention, jail reduction strategies, reentry for returning citizens, and young adult justice.
Ahmaad is an ordained minister, public servant, and community advocate dedicated to building safe, healthy, and hopeful communities. In his role, he supports the Office of the Executive Director by coordinating scheduling, assisting with day-to-day operations, and helping strengthen the effectiveness of our work alongside the Chief of Staff. A graduate of Hampton University and Harvard Divinity School, he is committed to mobilizing faith institutions and fostering civic partnerships for long-term community impact.
Prior to joining Cities United, Monica has served as a practitioner in community development, organizational development, program development and management, and grant writing for 25 years, with local government, various nonprofits, churches, and neighborhood-based organizations. She loves serving people and believes that her daily purpose is found in how much she is willing to give away!
Clara Sloan is Cities United's Advancement Director, specializing in philanthropic partnerships and funding initiatives for Black communities. She has a proven track record of fostering impactful collaborations and mobilizing resources to enhance community well-being. Previously, Clara served as a Program Officer at the Community Foundation of Louisville and as an Assistant to the President of the Louisville Metro Council. Her roles involved strategic program development, budget management, and stakeholder collaboration. Clara combines financial acumen with a deep understanding of nonprofit and public safety landscapes.
André manages Cities United’s portfolio of national initiatives. He is a past president of 100 Black Men of Greater Knoxville and co-founder of several social justice organizations. He is also a widely published writer and a former Cities United young leader and youth advocate.
Kim is a nationally recognized expert troublemaker, licensed mental health professional, and social worker experienced in providing direct clinical services to at-promise youth, young adults, and families who have experienced community violence. Kim has worked upstream to promote community-driven solutions to system-created problems through cross-sector collaboration. When she's not stirring up trouble, Kim enjoys moving freely, reclaiming her rest, watching Tubi movies, and listening to trap music
Prior to joining Cities United, Jessica Butler was the Program Operations Manager at 414 LIFE, where she was responsible for overseeing program effectiveness, ensuring compliance with funding requirements, and maintaining accurate data collection and reporting. A passionate advocate for her hometown, Jessica has dedicated her life to serving the Milwaukee community, that dedication now extends nationwide. Born and raised in Milwaukee, she began her journey in servant leadership at a young age and has remained committed to making a positive impact ever since. Jessica now serves as Director of Culture in the department of People and Culture.
At Cities United, Paul partners with our executive director and deputies to advance our mission by growing and strengthening relationships with strategic partners and local elected officials. His prior roles include Government Affairs and Community Engagement Director at SoundThinking, and Mayoral Outreach Manager at Everytown for Gun Safety. As a strategic partnerships and community engagement professional with over 10 years of experience, Paul has honed his ability to mobilize grassroots efforts, manage programs, advocate for legislative changes, and maintain strong public relations.
LaToya works to strengthen communities’ efforts in violence reduction and public safety. Delk is a Native of Smithfield VA, received a B.A in Political Science from Norfolk State University and M.B.A from Averett University.
Senior Associate of Research & Innovation at Cities United, where she drives data‑informed strategies to create safe, healthy, and hopeful communities for young Black men and boys. With advanced training in quantitative methods, participatory community‑based research, and a passion for storytelling and data visualization, she leads the design and evaluation of innovative violence‑prevention initiatives and jurisdictions’ enhanced ecosystems.
Rachel aligns people, projects, and priorities to advance Cities United's mission and vision. Rachel is proud to call Tacoma, Washington home, and in her spare time she enjoys traveling, playing with her nephew, and finding the best food in her city.
Seryn is a Louisville native, poet, public speaker, and community activist dedicated to empowering youth and amplifying voices often left unheard. She has also been part of the Cities United ecosystem for many years. And as a 2022 Cities United Young Leader Fellow, connector, and evaluation consultant, she bridges art, advocacy, and strategy to drive meaningful change.
Andria is a dedicated and goal-driven professional with a strong work ethic and a passion for growth. With over 20 years of experience in providing administrative support, Andria is a detail-oriented and organized professional skilled in managing daily office operations and streamlining processes for maximum efficiency. Known for her fun-loving spirit, she enjoys laughing, dancing, and singing, while also thriving behind the scenes—though she occasionally steps into the spotlight. She continuously pushes herself beyond her comfort zone, aspiring to grow her personal and professional horizons within Cities United.
Jerrilyn is a native of Dallas,Texas dedicated to her quest to collectively heal Black communities across the globe. She has served as a community organizer in various communities in Texas and abroad. Jerrilyn now serves as the Associate of Young Leader Programming with Cities United, where she continues her quest to create healthy and safe spaces, specifically for Black men and boys.
Ashley supports the Senior Director of Finance with budgeting, financial tracking, and reporting that informs internal decision-making and strengthens our financial systems. She is excited to apply her passion for numbers and financial systems to support Cities United’s work toward measurable impact, and outside of work she is a devoted, family-oriented mother of four boys.
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