Our Team

Alina Hooper is the Vice President of Strategy & Operations at City Fund Action, where she works closely with the executive team to develop and implement strategic initiatives.

Before joining City Fund Action, Alina was a Senior Vice President at 270 Strategies, where she specialized in campaign design, organization building, and engagement strategy. She partnered with education advocacy groups, civic engagement organizations, and social justice initiatives, advising emerging and established institutions on expanding their impact. Her work included leading large-scale voter mobilization efforts during the 2020 election cycle, where her team executed data-driven outreach strategies to engage lower-propensity and persuadable voters. She also played a key role in securing the passage of Florida’s Amendment 4, which restored voting rights for 1.4 million returning citizens. Earlier in her career, Alina served as Digital Coalitions Director on a major presidential campaign, spearheading digital organizing programs to increase voter engagement and turnout among African American communities.

Alina earned her bachelor’s degree in History from Harvard College. A lifelong student of political and cultural movements, she is passionate about social change and civic activism. She lives in Chicago, where she enjoys reading, exploring the Art Institute, and planning her next trip.

Anne Dietterich is the Data and Analytics Manager at City Fund Action, where she leads research and evaluation initiatives that strengthen the organization’s data-driven approach to expanding high-quality public school options.

Anne is also a Strategic Data Project Fellow at Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research, where she is conducting a capstone project focused on developing more nuanced and equitable measures of school quality. Her expertise spans program evaluation, data visualization, and equity and inclusion analytics, with a deep commitment to leveraging data to drive meaningful educational outcomes.

Before joining City Fund Action, Anne worked as an Equity Analyst for the City of Cambridge, where she used data to assess policies and programs through an equity lens. She also has experience in program management and evaluation within higher education, helping institutions refine their impact and effectiveness.

Anne began her career in education working with young refugees in Durham, North Carolina, followed by teaching English language learners. She remains particularly interested in ELL and literacy education. She holds a B.A. from Duke University and an M.P.A. from the Harvard Kennedy School. Anne lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, with her husband and their dog.

Blair Mindak is an Executive Assistant at City Fund Action, where she provides critical administrative support, managing scheduling, operations, and logistics to ensure seamless workflow and efficiency for the team. With a strong focus on organization and process improvement, Blair is passionate about optimizing systems to enhance productivity and collaboration.

With over a decade of experience in executive support, Blair has worked in local government and early education, developing expertise in streamlining operations, managing priorities, and supporting leadership teams. She began her career in advertising before transitioning into administrative roles, where she discovered her passion for improving workflow and organizational efficiency.

Blair believes that all children deserve access to quality education in a nurturing environment, a commitment that drives her work at City Fund Action.

She resides in St. Louis, Missouri.

Chris Barbic is a Partner at City Fund Action. A lifelong educator and advocate for school transformation, Chris brings extensive experience in school leadership, charter school expansion, and district turnaround efforts.

Before joining City Fund Action, Chris founded and led YES Prep Public Schools, one of the nation’s most recognized charter networks and the inaugural recipient of the Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools. During his tenure, YES Prep grew into a nationally acclaimed model for high-performing public charter schools, significantly increasing college access for students from underserved communities.

Chris later became the founding Superintendent of Tennessee’s Achievement School District (ASD), overseeing the state’s effort to turn around its lowest-performing schools. Under his leadership, Priority Schools grew four times the state average, and the threshold for the bottom 5% of schools increased by 10 percentage points in just three years. During this period, Memphis saw a dramatic improvement, with the number of Priority Schools dropping from 68 in 2012 to 31 in 2018, reflecting significant academic progress.

Chris began his career as a Teach For America corps member in Houston, where he taught middle school before transitioning into school leadership. He holds a degree from Vanderbilt University and remains committed to helping education leaders scale innovative solutions that drive student success.

Originally from Georgia, Chris now lives in Nashville with his wife, Natasha, and has two adult children – Tatiana and Rami

Danisha Moore is the Communications Manager at City Fund Action, where she supports the organization’s strategic communications efforts to amplify its mission and impact. She plays a key role in managing messaging, brand positioning, and engagement strategies that advance City Fund’s work in expanding access to high-quality public school options.

Before joining City Fund Action, Danisha served as Communications and Engagement Manager at A Better Chicago, a venture philanthropy organization focused on improving education and life outcomes for Black and Latinx youth from low-income backgrounds. In this role, she led brand storytelling and engagement initiatives to elevate the organization’s mission and partnerships. During her tenure, she led digital marketing campaigns, including Giving Tuesday efforts, that significantly increased brand awareness across Chicago’s philanthropic community. 

Before transitioning into the education and nonprofit sector, Danisha worked in brand management at Target, where she developed marketing strategies and campaigns to strengthen consumer engagement across Chicago’s South Side district.

Danisha holds a master’s degree in Public Relations and Advertising from DePaul University. She currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, where she enjoys exploring the city’s diverse neighborhoods and catching live performances.

Donna Prentice is the People Operations Manager at City Fund Action, where she provides high-level administrative support with a primary focus on people operations, HR administration, and event planning.

With more than a decade of experience in executive administration across the consulting, medical device, and real estate industries, Donna is known for her expertise in managing complex schedules, coordinating engagements with high-level board members and national partners, and driving operational excellence. Her ability to anticipate needs, streamline processes, and provide executive-level support allows leadership to remain focused on strategic priorities and long-term goals.

Donna is a proud graduate of Purdue University. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and three children and enjoys spending time in the mountains.

Dorsey Hopson is a Partner at City Fund Action. In his role, Dorsey draws on his extensive leadership experience to drive sustainable, community-centered educational reforms.

Before joining City Fund Action, Dorsey served as Superintendent for the Memphis City and Shelby County School Districts, leading the largest school merger in U.S. history. During his tenure, he prioritized early literacy, expanded high-quality school options, and fostered authentic community engagement. He also worked with the school board and philanthropy to grow the district’s non-profit school sector and develop reform-oriented policies. Under his leadership, the district managed a $100 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and launched the I-Zone, one of the nation’s most successful school turnaround models.

Earlier in his career, Dorsey served as General Counsel for multiple school districts, including Memphis City Schools, where he led a landmark funding lawsuit that secured a $57 million judgment for the district. He began his career as a corporate defense attorney in Atlanta, serving as lead trial lawyer and arguing cases in federal and state appellate courts.

Dorsey holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Memphis and graduated magna cum laude from the Georgia State University College of Law. He serves on the boards of several education organizations, including the Georgia Charter Schools Association and the Memphis Education Fund. Hopson lives in Memphis with his wife and children.

Gary Borden is a Partner at City Fund Action.

Before joining City Fund Action in 2019, Borden led policy and political initiatives for the charter public school community in California. As Executive Director of CCSA Advocates and Senior Vice President for Civic Affairs at the California Charter Schools Association, he managed a multi-million-dollar political program targeting state and local government. His work included advancing legislation and initiatives that elevated educational opportunities for California’s students. Previously, as Deputy Executive Director of the California State Board of Education, Borden played a pivotal role in shaping the state’s standards, assessment, and testing framework, establishing clear and ambitious quality measures for public schools statewide.

A licensed attorney, Borden began his career by providing legal and governance support to emerging school leaders. He holds a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center and a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University. Borden resides in Oakland, California, with his wife and son, where they embrace the vibrant culture and natural beauty of Northern California.

Isral DeBruin is the Vice President of Capacity Building at City Fund, where he leads the systems, programs, and communications that help local education leaders grow more skilled and more connected. He draws on a background spanning education, communications, fundraising, nonprofit strategy, and policy to strengthen the organizations working to transform public education for students and families.

Prior to joining City Fund, Isral played a key role in launching and leading City Forward Collective, an education advocacy organization in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As the organization’s leader in strategy, communications, and fundraising, he advanced initiatives to improve educational opportunities in the region. Earlier in his career, Isral taught at a Milwaukee charter school through Teach For America, where his students achieved the highest math and reading gains of any classroom in the school.

Before transitioning to education, Isral was an award-winning education reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s NOW Newspapers. His journalism and opinion writing have been featured in numerous local and state publications in Wisconsin.

Isral holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and an M.Ed. in Educational Policy and Leadership from Marquette University. He resides on Milwaukee’s Upper East Side with his wife and five children.

Jessica Peña is a Partner at City Fund Action. As one of our founding team members, Jessica has worked with organizations and stakeholders in cities across the country, helping to advance efforts that improve student outcomes and increase opportunity.

Jessica brings deep experience in philanthropy, education strategy, and nonprofit advising. Prior to City Fund Action, she served as a Partner at Education Cities, where she provided strategic support to local nonprofits working to improve education outcomes. Before that, she spent eight years at the Philadelphia School Partnership, where she managed a $100 million fund to launch, replicate, and expand proven school models. Her career has been rooted in investing in what works, launching new organizations, and helping local partners build strategies that drive results for students in underserved communities.

Earlier in her career, Jessica worked on criminal justice, immigration, child welfare, and housing issues, both inside and outside of government. She is a graduate of NYU School of Law and Trinity College in Connecticut. Originally from New York City, Jessica now lives in New Jersey with her husband and two teenage children.

Kameelah Shaheed-Diallo is a Partner at City Fund Action.

Before joining City Fund, Kameelah served as the Senior Vice President of Strategy & Community Engagement at The Mind Trust, an Indianapolis-based education nonprofit. During her tenure, she led the organization’s strategic plan for community engagement. She played a pivotal role in establishing a partnership between The Mind Trust, the City of Indianapolis, and the city’s largest school district. This collaboration supported district-charter cooperation and enabled the growth of Innovation Network Schools, improving educational opportunities for thousands of students. Kameelah has extensive experience in policy development and coalition-building to advance education equity and community-driven change.

Kameelah began her career practicing law in New York and Indianapolis before transitioning to education. She holds a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University and a law degree from Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law. A dedicated community leader, she serves on the boards of Rochester READY, City Forward Collective, The Indianapolis Foundation, and Christel House International. Kameelah resides in Indianapolis with her husband and two daughters.

Kevin Shafer is President of City Fund Action, where he leads the organization’s efforts to expand access to high-quality schools for all students nationwide. Kevin leads both the City Fund Partner Team, which provides direct support to city leaders, and the Impact Team, which evaluates organizational progress and supports the network of education leaders working to accelerate progress and improve outcomes.

With over 15 years of experience in philanthropic and school system leadership, Kevin has dedicated his career to transforming urban education. Before becoming President, he served as a Partner at City Fund Action, where he provided strategic support to cities and states and played a pivotal role in launching the organization’s communications workstream.

Prior to joining City Fund Action, Kevin was the Chief Innovation Officer for Camden City School District, where he spearheaded the district’s school transformation efforts. His work led to the development of Renaissance Schools, a partnership between district and high-performing charter schools that expanded access to high-quality education. In Camden, he led citywide school construction and renovation projects, securing over $300 million in improvements, and launched a citywide enrollment system to ensure equitable access for all students.

Kevin began his career in Bridgeport, Connecticut, teaching 7th-grade social studies before transitioning into education leadership. He later trained new teachers and served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Bridgeport Public Schools, supporting district-wide strategy and operations.

He serves on the board of The 74 Million, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to covering education policy and reform. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and History from Wake Forest University, where he graduated magna cum laude with honors and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

Kevin currently resides in Philadelphia with his wife, Marianne, and their two sons, Emerson and Fletcher.

Kristen Forbriger is the Vice President of External Engagement at City Fund Action, where she oversees communications, partnerships, and movement-building efforts.

Before joining City Fund Action, Kristen served as the lead for external relations at the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, where she worked with federal and state policy teams to ensure charter school quality and effective oversight. During her tenure, she advanced strategies to strengthen charter school authorizing practices nationwide, improving access to high-quality schools for students. Earlier in her career, Kristen managed communications and parent engagement at the Philadelphia School Partnership, where she supported initiatives that connected families to better educational opportunities and advocated for systemic improvements in Philadelphia’s schools.

Kristen began her career in education at YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, where she witnessed the transformative power of high-quality education to change the trajectory of a student’s life. This experience fueled her passion for expanding educational opportunities to underserved communities. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. Kristen lives in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and three sons, while remaining a dedicated fan of Philadelphia sports teams.

Leilani Matāsaua Pimentel is the Director of Development at City Fund Action, where she partners with national and regional funders to advance the organization’s mission of ensuring every child has access to a world-class education.

Prior to joining City Fund Action, Leilani served as the lead fundraiser at APIA Scholars, where she helped double the organization’s revenue, enabling its expansion beyond scholarships to include research, advocacy, and partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions. Earlier in her career, Leilani held legislative and communications roles in the office of the late Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, collaborating with educators and schools in American Sāmoa to address educational needs. She began her professional journey in AmeriCorps, teaching preschool and leading early literacy programs for families in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood.

A daughter of immigrants and a first-generation college graduate, Leilani is deeply committed to creating equitable educational opportunities for all students. She earned her degree from Stanford University and serves on the board of Mana Academy Charter School. Leilani lives in Reno, Nevada, with her husband, mother, and two daughters.

Liset Rivera is the Director of Convenings & Engagement at City Fund Action, where she works to foster a national network of education leaders dedicated to maximizing their impact in their local communities.

For more than a decade, Liset has worked in the nonprofit education space, producing events, building communities, and strengthening collaboration among education leaders. Prior to joining City Fund Action, she held roles at the KIPP Foundation and Education Cities, where she produced events, built communities, and fostered collaboration among diverse education stakeholders.  Earlier in her career, Liset worked at NASA Ames Research Center, where she partnered with scientists to translate cutting-edge innovations into real-world applications, an experience that shaped her ability to bridge ideas with impact.

Liset holds a degree in Business Marketing from San Jose State University. She lives in San Luis Obispo, California, with her husband, son, and their border collie, Cooper.

Marcos Porras is an Executive Assistant at City Fund Action, where he provides critical administrative support to partners and colleagues, ensuring seamless operations and efficiency across the organization.

With extensive experience supporting senior-level executives in fast-paced environments, Marcos is known for his proactive problem-solving and attention to detail. He has played a key role in developing several operational systems, including a comprehensive calendar management system, which significantly reduced scheduling conflicts and improved executive productivity.

Marcos began his career in customer service in Culver City, California, where he developed strong organizational and interpersonal skills that continue to shape his approach to operations and logistics. A proud public school graduate from Los Angeles County, he is passionate about supporting efforts to expand access to high-quality public schools for students.

He currently lives in Los Angeles, California, with his twin children, Summer and Marcos.

Maria Castillo is the System Administrator at City Fund Action, where she supports agreement administration, compliance, data management, and both internal and external communications.

She brings extensive experience in administrative support, executive assistance, and project coordination, approaching her work with a blend of precision, efficiency, and strategic thinking.

Outside of her professional role, Maria is deeply committed to animal welfare and volunteers regularly at her local shelter. She is the proud mother of three children and lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with her beloved dogs and cats.

Mariam Bouricius is the Director of Advocacy Strategy & Analytics at City Fund Action, where she provides expertise in advocacy and politics to empower local leaders across the network.

Prior to joining City Fund Action, Mariam served as Data & Analytics Director at FWD.us, where she led efforts to protect federal programs like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS), ensuring stability for immigrant communities. She also supported criminal justice reform through policies like the First Step Act, advancing equity through advocacy. As Managing Director of Analytics at the California Charter Schools Association, she directed statewide initiatives to elect charter school supporters, leveraging data and strategy to strengthen the movement and improve educational opportunities. Earlier in her career, Mariam collaborated with national partners at the KIPP Foundation to secure increased federal funding for the Charter Schools Program, enabling the growth of high-performing charter schools in communities with the greatest need.

Mariam holds a degree in Mathematics from Scripps College. She lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, son, and rescue pup.

Marlon Marshall is the Chief Executive Officer of City Fund Action. He leads the organization’s efforts to ensure all students have access to high-quality public schools. In his role, Marlon brings a wealth of leadership experience from the highest levels of government, campaign strategy, and organizational development to advance City Fund Action’s mission.

Before joining City Fund Action, Marlon was a founding partner at 270 Strategies, helping organizations build impactful campaigns to mobilize communities and achieve meaningful change. He previously served as Special Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Director in the Obama White House Office of Public Engagement, where he worked to connect everyday Americans to the policymaking process. He served in leadership roles in the 2016 Hillary for America campaign and the 2012 Obama reelection campaign, overseeing grassroots operations that engaged millions of volunteers across the country.

Marlon serves on the board of the Equitable Facilities Fund, an organization dedicated to improving access to affordable facilities financing for public charter schools. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and a master’s in Policy Management from Georgetown University. A passionate fan of all things Kansas Jayhawks, Marlon serves on the Alumni Association Board. He resides in Denver with his wife, Stacy, and their two daughters.

Maura Marino is a Partner at City Fund Action.

Before joining City Fund Action, Maura supported citywide efforts to improve public schools in Washington, DC, as CEO of Education Forward DC and Managing Partner at NewSchools Venture Fund. During this time, DC became the fastest-improving city in the nation on student outcomes—a reflection of the collective efforts of educators, families, and community leaders across the city. At Education Forward DC, Maura helped guide investments and initiatives focused on elevating parent voices, supporting teachers and school leaders, simplifying enrollment processes for families, and expanding innovative school models. Over the course of her career, she has directed more than $150 million in philanthropic support toward initiatives designed to expand educational opportunity and improve outcomes for students.

Maura began her career as a teacher at Aspire Public Schools’ first high school in East Palo Alto, California, where she developed a deep commitment to serving students in underserved communities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Columbia University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. A longtime resident of Washington, DC, Maura is a Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow and an Education Pioneers alum.

Naeha Dean is a Partner at City Fund Action. With a background in education leadership, policy, and nonprofit management, she brings deep expertise in school improvement, talent development, and strategic investments that drive meaningful change in public education.

Prior to joining City Fund Action, Naeha served in senior leadership roles in Camden, New Jersey, including Chief of Staff at Camden City School District, where she played a key role in driving significant gains in student achievement and supporting the development of new, high-quality school facilities. She later founded Camden Education Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening Camden’s school system by building talent pipelines, providing grant opportunities, celebrating outstanding educators, and advancing education policy.

Naeha began her career as a math teacher, an experience that continues to inform her approach to education policy and leadership.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Naeha lives in Philadelphia with her family.

Noor Iqbal is the Vice President of Research & Evaluation at City Fund Action, where she ensures the team has the data, insights, and analytical tools needed to drive strategies that expand access to high-quality public school options in urban communities. She leads efforts to assess the impact of City Fund’s initiatives, ensuring that decisions are informed by rigorous research and evidence.

With over a decade of experience in impact evaluation and philanthropy, Noor has dedicated her career to using data to improve educational outcomes. She previously served as a Director on the Education team at the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, where she managed a multi-million-dollar grant portfolio focused on K-12 public education and played a key role in launching City Fund. Earlier in her career, Noor worked at the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at MIT, helping policymakers integrate rigorous evidence and research into education policy decisions.

Noor holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and a master’s in Development Studies from the London School of Economics. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and two children and serves on the board of Étoile Academy, a public charter school in southwest Houston.

Oliver Sicat is a Partner at City Fund Action.

Before joining City Fund Action, Oliver spent 25 years in public education. He began as a mathematics teacher in Boston, then joined the founding expansion team of the Noble Network of Charter Schools in Chicago, helping open its first 10 expansion campuses. As Chief Portfolio Officer for Chicago Public Schools, he oversaw 675 schools and more than 425,000 students, balancing the mix of school types to improve student outcomes.

In 2013, Oliver co-founded Ednovate with the University of Southern California and led it as CEO for over a decade, growing it to eight public high schools and a virtual school across Los Angeles and Orange County at a time when districts and charter networks alike were contracting amid declining enrollment. With colleagues, he built the Whole Child Report Card, a broader measure of student success, and MyClassroomCoach, an AI instructional coaching tool.

Oliver is the author of Catching Genius: What the Report Card Can’t See (Forbes Books, 2027), which traces how the report card became the hidden architecture of American education and proposes what schools might build in its place.

He holds degrees from the University of Southern California and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, serves on the Pahara board, and lives in Southern California with his wife, Alissa, and their three children.

Patrick Dobard is a Partner at City Fund Action. In his role, Patrick draws on his extensive experience in education leadership, policy, and nonprofit management to drive sustainable change in public education systems.

Prior to joining City Fund Action, Patrick served as Superintendent of the Louisiana Recovery School District (RSD) from 2012 to 2017, where he led the transformation of some of the state’s most chronically underperforming schools. Under his leadership, New Orleans nearly eliminated all failing schools, implemented a governance model focused on accountability and autonomy, and established an equitable funding system to support students furthest from opportunity. In 2016, he spearheaded the reunification of schools under the local school board, ensuring continued oversight grounded in the reforms enacted during his tenure. Following his time at RSD, Patrick became CEO of New Schools for New Orleans (NSNO), a nonprofit dedicated to educational equity. Under his leadership, NSNO raised more than $72 million to support school improvement efforts across the city.

Patrick’s work has been featured in The New York Times and Education Week, and he has written op-eds for Education Week, The 74, and various Louisiana publications. His leadership in education reform is also highlighted in the book Charter School City.

Patrick began his career as a social studies teacher in Louisiana, where he taught for a decade before serving in state government roles for 16 years. He holds a master’s degree in history from Southern University.

Ranjana is the Vice President of Schools and Strategy at City Fund Action, where she works to ensure that the organization’s investment strategy—across and within cities—achieves its goal of providing all students with access to high-quality schools.  

With 20 years of experience as an educator, founder, and systems leader, Ranjana has dedicated her career to educational equity. Most recently, as KIPP NJ’s Managing Director of Operations, Ranjana led growth, financial planning, enrollment, and operations for the network’s 19 schools, serving 8000+ students in Newark and Camden. In this role, she led the expansion of KIPP’s Camden region, opening 3 new school facilities ($80M+) and growing the region to serve more than 10% of the city’s students. 

Ranjana began her career as a middle school science teacher in the South Bronx and then helped found KIPP’s second Newark middle school, Rise Academy. Later, as the Priority Projects Manager at the Connecticut Department of Education, she led the redesign of Connecticut’s school accountability system to better capture student growth and improvement. She then launched the Connecticut region of Educators for Excellence as the Founding Executive Director, leading the new team to elevate the voices of teachers on behalf of their students in Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford.

Ranjana is a graduate of Stanford University and holds a J.D. from Yale Law School. She recently spent a year with her family traveling internationally and “worldschooling” her two sons, Akshay and Ishaan. She now lives in Boulder, CO. 

Sarah Eberhard is the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at City Fund Action, where she oversees operations, legal strategy, and governance while building efficient systems that expand access to high-quality public schools.

Sarah began her legal career as a corporate lawyer at Jones Day. After a decade in the private sector, she transitioned to nonprofit, serving as General Counsel at After School Matters, a public-private partnership providing out-of-school programming for Chicago teens. In this role, she navigated legal and operational challenges to support expanded educational opportunities for students.

Expanding her leadership into the political sphere, Sarah went on to serve as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at 270 Strategies and Higher Ground Labs, where she managed legal and operational strategy for organizations focused on political innovation and advocacy. Her experience across law, nonprofit management, and political operations gives her a unique perspective on driving impact through strategic leadership.

Sarah holds a B.A. from Colgate University and a J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. She lives in Chicago with her husband, two children, and two dogs. Sarah also proudly serves on the boards of several organizations in Chicago, including the Woman’s Board of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. 

Sherae Dinkins is an Executive & Events Assistant at City Fund Action, where she supports the planning and execution of convenings, meetings, and special events that bring together education leaders from across the country.

Prior to joining City Fund Action, she served as an Administrative Coordinator for a radio conglomerate, a local government office, and a nonprofit family foundation, where she developed strong operational, communications, and leadership skills.

Outside of work, Sherae enjoys indulging in culinary adventures with family, cheering for her beloved Philadelphia Eagles, and advocating for herbal and homeopathic lifestyles. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Damont, and is a proud mom to her son, Cairo, and fur baby, Gizmo.

Steven Cruz is the Director of Communications at City Fund Action. He brings expertise in philanthropy, public policy, and digital advocacy.

Prior to City Fund Action, Steven led communications at Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE), supporting a coalition of over 50,000 policymakers, advocates, and elected officials working to expand opportunities for all students. With extensive experience in advertising, digital advocacy, and political campaigns, Steven also played a pivotal role at Stand Together, where he led digital operations to engage and mobilize key stakeholders, advancing policy advocacy and securing legislative victories at the local, state, and federal levels.

A recognized thought leader in digital media and public policy, Steven frequently shares his expertise in both English and Spanish-language media. In 2019, he founded the Institute for Science, Media + Technology at Florida International University, a philanthropic initiative focused on enhancing the public’s understanding of science and technology in public affairs.

Steven holds a Bachelor’s in International Relations from Florida International University and a Master’s in Public Administration from The George Washington University. He lives with his husband, Kristien, their twins, William and Penelope, and their dogs, Porto & Rio.

Tyler Whitmire is a Partner at City Fund Action. With two decades of experience in political advocacy, community organizing, and education policy, she has played a pivotal role in strengthening the political and advocacy infrastructure of the education reform movement.

For the last twenty years, Tyler has led efforts to build durable political and advocacy infrastructure that supports education reform. She has extensive experience in electoral work, candidate development, lobbying, and grassroots organizing, helping to shape policy environments that support school choice and education equity. As the founder of the community-organizing wing of the California Charter School Association, she helped transform the organization into a powerful political force at both the state and local levels.

Tyler began her career as a community organizer in Portland, Oregon, where she developed grassroots engagement strategies that continue to inform her work today. She currently serves on the boards of AZ Leads, Futuro San Antonio, and Charter Schools Now, supporting initiatives that expand education opportunities for students nationwide.

She is a graduate of Brown University and lives in Sacramento, California, with her husband, two children, and two dogs.

John Arnold is Founder and Co-Chair of Arnold Ventures. The philanthropy’s core mission is to invest in evidence-based solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice.

Mr. Arnold is also Founder of Centaurus Capital LP, a family office investment fund with a specific focus on the energy industry.

Previously, Mr. Arnold founded and was CEO of Centaurus Energy, a multi-billion dollar energy commodity hedge fund.  Prior to founding Centaurus Energy, he held various positions within Enron’s Wholesale Division, including Head of Natural Gas Derivatives. In May 2012, John announced his retirement from Centaurus Energy to concentrate on philanthropic activities.

Mr. Arnold serves on the boards of Breakthrough Energy Ventures, an investor-led venture capital firm dedicated to funding transformational technologies that will reduce global greenhouse gas emissions; Civica, Inc., a nonprofit generic pharmaceutical company; and City Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting new governance models in K-12 education.  He holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and lives in Houston, Texas with his wife and three children.

Neerav Kingsland is the former CEO of New Schools for New Orleans, where he helped rebuild the public school system after Hurricane Katrina. Neerav is a graduate of Tulane University and Yale Law School. Neerav lives in San Francisco with his wife and two children.

Reed Hastings co-founded Netflix in 1997. In 1991, Reed founded Pure Software, which made tools for software developers. After a 1995 IPO, and several acquisitions, Pure was acquired by Rational Software in 1997. Reed is an active educational philanthropist and served on the California State Board of Education from 2000 to 2004. He is currently on the board of several educational organizations including KIPP and Pahara. Reed is also a board member of City Fund. Reed received a BA from Bowdoin College in 1983, and an MSCS in Artificial Intelligence from Stanford University in 1988. Between Bowdoin and Stanford, Reed served in the Peace Corps as a high school math teacher in Swaziland. Reed is married with two children.

Romy Drucker is director of the Education Program at the Walton Family Foundation. In this role, she oversees the foundation’s initiatives to improve K-12 education for all of our nation’s children by empowering parents with quality options. She also leads team operations and grantmaking strategy. Prior to joining the foundation, Romy was the co-founder and CEO of The 74, an award-winning nonprofit news organization focused on education. Prior to launching The 74, Romy worked at the New York City Department of Education on Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Klein’s transformational Children First reforms. Romy served as chief of staff for the Division of Portfolio Planning, working on efforts including new school development, school improvement and accountability, and early childhood education. Prior to that, Romy served as the special assistant to Chancellor Joel I. Klein and as deputy to the Chief Executive Officer of The Fund for Public Schools, which has raised several hundred million dollars for innovative educational programs serving New York City’s 1.1 million students.

Romy graduated cum laude from Yale College with a B.A. in Literature and Spanish language and earned her M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.