BEHIND BSF
DeMilo Young
CEO/Executive Director
DeMilo (she/her/hers) is a lifelong advocate of racial justice and equity. In 2015, she organized peaceful vigils and marches for families who were victims of racial violence. Her work focuses on improving diversity in entrepreneurship and promoting economic growth for historically underrepresented persons. DeMilo is a lifelong advocate of racial justice and equity. In 2015, she organized peaceful vigils and marches for families who were victims of racial violence.
Additionally, DeMilo has 20 years of experience in customer relations and sales. She is a people manager who has overseen brand ambassadors, performers, and staff for South by Southwest, Pechanga Arena, and events such as San Diego Comic Con International.
Abby Reynolds
CFO/Treasurer, Executive Committee Member
Abby Hidalgo Reynolds (she/her/hers), a Latina San Diego native, has been homeschooling her 3 children since 2004. She enjoys gardening, planning road trips, and watching her kids perform. Over the years, she has taken on many active roles in her community such as a board member of a non-profit youth theatre group, a Girl Scout leader, and a historical reenactor at Old Town State Park (to name just a few). She is thrilled to work with this amazingly passionate team helping support BIPOC businesses and families.
Starmeshia Jones
Board Director, Social Media Director
Starmeshia (she/her/hers) is passionate about social justice, mental health, all things travel, and wellness in all forms. An old soul from the East Coast, She deeply affirms that all facets of Black Lives Matter and believes that BIPOC businesses are the lifeline of their communities. She is honored to stand beside those called to do this work.
Kerry-Ann Maddox
Board Secretary
When Kerry-Ann (she/her/hers) reflects on BIPOC, she thinks about the social differences between Jamaica and the United States. In Jamaica it was class, not race, that she felt was the more dominant issue. This distinction is the driving force behind her involvement with BSF. She wants to be a change agent for future BIPOC generations.
Brandi Sasore
Board Director
Brandi Sasore is an Indiana native with deep roots in the Indianapolis community. Her 15-year background in program development, planning and marketing for Indianapolis nonprofits gives her a unique perspective on what drives people to think, do and act.
Brandi is the Co-Founder and Chief Branding Officer of Buzzworthy, a boutique marketing, communications and branding firm focused on building purpose-driven brands. She founded Buzzworthy as a way to marry her passion for helping her community with her desire to make a larger impact, and affect real change. She firmly believes when we put people and community first, everyone thrives.
Sanjana Vora
Volunteer Coordinator, Executive Committee Member, Executive Assistant
Based out of Brooklyn, NY, Sanjana Vora (she/her/hers) is a volunteer coordinator and President DeMilo Young's Executive Assistant. In 2018, she graduated from NYU with a B.S. in Global Public Health and Applied Psychology. She is passionate about human rights and mental health, particularly among BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. She also loves working with children and adolescents in both academic and recreational contexts. She hopes to work in social justice for a long time to come, with people from every walk of life.
Cassiopeia Guthrie
Advisory Council
Cassiopeia (she/her/hers) is a mother, educator and performer. Outside of her work with this organization, Cassiopeia serves as an Ed Tech TOSA and on the executive boards of Patio Playhouse, More Than Apples, and Theatre Alliance (SDPAL). Cassiopeia is actively engaged in equity work in education and the arts and is committed to being an advocate and ally for change.
Esther Baldwin
Advisory Council Member
Esther Baldwin (she/her/hers) is an attorney, activist, and artist based in Baltimore, Maryland, who is passionate about racial and economic justice. As an Executive Committee Member of BIPOC Support Foundation, Esther focuses on strategic partnerships and community engagement.
Emily Dragon
Board Member
Emily is a business owner and welder with an interest in economic research. For the past twelve years she has worked in several industries, as fight choreographer for theater, ghost writer and editor now for her publishing company (Reflective Publishing), underwater photographer (Water Dragon Photography), and fabrications welder. She is proud to be a part of a foundation that is well-organized, soundly structured, and has a clear goal for decisive change.
Emily Hoolihan
Advisory Council Member
Emily (she/her/hers) is a graduate student based in New York City, studying Jewish leadership and Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. As a leader of the progressive liberal movement of Judaism, Emily is constantly working to be a better ally to the BIPOC community, while actively engaging with anti-racism tactics in her daily life. Emily is endlessly grateful for the opportunity to join this amazing multicultural team of inspirational folx from around the United States.
Peter Ronchetti
Advisory Council
With 37 years of corporate management experience, Peter believes in balancing leadership, teamwork and partnership as essential ingredients, having delivered sustained growth for LEGOLAND California Resort over a ten year expansion phase. He continues to serve as an Executive In Residence at CSUSM, being a volunteer coach/mentor with the College of Business Administration. He lives in Carlsbad from where he loves hiking, photography and exploring local craft breweries with his wife Liz and sons.