CAC@SJB Advisory Team Members

We'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the team of wonderful individuals who have been assisting us at CAC@SJB behind the scenes. Each of these individuals have two things in common; they care deeply about their community, and their contributions at the Center over the past 6 years have been invaluable to the growth of the Center. They have been generous with volunteering their time, and have been extremely supportive of the Center's existence at St. John's parish, here in Bedford-Stuyvesant, where we all feel the Center fills a great need in this under-served and overlooked part of the community; providing an open, safe, and nurturing environment for all youth and adult residents of this community, and the communities outside of St. John the Baptist parish, where we all can gather and celebrate the impactive gifts of art, our cultures, and community activism.. FREE OF CHARGE!

This dynamic team includes long-time members of St. John's parish, and a special group of individuals from the greater community, some of whom have been dedicated to assisting the vision and mission of the Center from the very beginning in 2002.. and help keep the Center alive today.

The CAC@SJB Advisory Team Members are..

Mr. Richie Robles

Musician, SJB Parish Representative

Richie Robles is a long-time member of St. John the Baptist Parish and resident of Bushwick, Brooklyn. A gifted musician, Richie has dedicated most of his life in serving his community at St. John's as an active parishioner for over 15 years. He is a founding member of CAC@SJB since it's early conception and has performed at the Center many a time since 2002. He has also offered guitar lessons for beginners and has even stood in as an assistant curator during many of the Center's past art exhibitions. Richie's love and support of art in all forms is a clear indication of his belief in the art of expression that educates and brings people together. His multitude of gifts and amazing talent, along with his fighting spirit and will for us to continue by any means necessary, have been such an important source of inspiration for all of us at the Center. His commitment to his community at St. John's is unquestionable.. and his presence at the Center is simply invaluable.

Mr. Howard Folk

SJB Parish Representative

Howard Folk and his family have been long-time members of St. John the Baptist parish community. Howard can always be counted on for support and assistance whenever the need arises. His love for his parish, his community, and concern for the youth have led him to become part of the Center's very core. His belief of the need for community spaces for youth and adults, like we have at the Center, have geared him to become one of our mentors and greatest examples of faith that we have come across at the Center since day one. He  is always present and assists with all of the Center's activities and events, and has been an Advisory Team member since 2004. His volunteer efforts and continued support of the Center and our mission have been vital.. but it's his commitment, his humor, and his presence behind the scenes that is the greatest source of inspiration for us all.

Mr. Luis Bernard / The In Progress Group

Mr. Luis Bernard, known as "Mr. B", is the Co-founder and President of The In Progress Group; a non-profit organization dedicated to utilizing poetry and writing workshops for the empowerment of today's greatest resource and tomorrow's future leaders, the teens and young adults of our inner city communities. He is a resident of Queens, NY .. and has been a staple of the NYC poetry scene for many years. Luis is an amazing and powerful spoken word poet who has performed at many of the top slam poetry venues around New York City, including the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and hosts highly successful poetry events in Mount Vernon, NY. He has been an Advisory Team member since 2006, has facillitated a number of wonderful poetry workshops for teens and adults at the Center, and hosted a number of our special poetry events since 2006 as well. His leadership, dedication to youth, and firm belief for the need of more active community spaces in our neighborhoods have led him to become one of our greatest motivational speakers and examples of dedication at the Center. It's great having him on our team, but even more special having him as a member of our Center family.

Mr. Malik Canty

Educator, Writer, Poet

The Word Bird.. Malik Canty has been a special part of the CAC@SJB family since 2002. His many appearances at our special events, where he performed his straight forward, unique style and offered powerful messages through his amazing gift of poetry, have been nothing but awe-inspiring. An author of 2 poetry books, an educator at Eastern District High School for Legal Studies, and mentor to many gifted young poets who attend his poetry workshops in Brooklyn, have made Malik a positive force in our community and at the Center. His soul-stirring and thought-provoking poetry, along with his deep voice, have made a lasting impact and added great substance to our efforts at the Center since he joined us. It's been a pleasure having Malik as one of our team members. His sharing of ideas and keen insight have been such a source of knowledge and inspiration for all of us at the Center, and we are blessed to still have this great warrior with us. We are forever grateful for Malik's undying support and commitment to the Center's mission.

Ms. Jeorlaine Hill

Community Outreach, Promoter and Writer

SJB Parish Representative

Jeorlaine is a long-time resident and parishioner of St. John the Baptist Church in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. She's a dynamic young woman with a deep passion for her community and a strong desire to help make a positive impact in young people's lives.  We are happy and most proud to have her come back home to bring a special added element to the Center that could only come from a young adult who grew up right at St. John's parish, and is looking to give something back to the community she cares so deeply about.

In her own words:

I've been a member of St. John the Baptist since I was 3 years old.  At a young age, I followed my mother's example of stewardship in the church and the community, and was called into ministry early on.  In 1992, when Pope John Paul II gave the ordinance, I became the first female Altar server at SJB.  Prior to becoming an altar server, I was the youngest lector at SJB as well.  Under the leadership of Ms. Elaine Catherine Hopkins (R.I.P.), I served as a member of the now defunct Black Ministry Committee.  Under Ms. Hopkins' guidance, we were a strong voice in the parish community; carrying out and implementing various cultural activities, Kwanzaa celebrations, revivals, and traditional African ceremonies where we would remember our ancestors.  While serving on the Black Ministry committee, as a teenager, I joined the youth group "C.L.U.B." (Christ Loves You Baby!) at SJB that was led by our beloved Br. Joseph Tauraso, CM (R.I.P.).  I can't begin to expound on the many different volunteer activities that we carried out in our community and outside communities that we never dreamed needed our help.  I share all this to say St. John's was very much a major part of my life as a child and teenager.  I grew up in St. John the Baptist Church and in this community.. and now, as an adult, I've been called to be a part of a different ministry.  I plan to give my all to the Center for the Arts & Culture @SJB, and to the community of Bedford-Stuyvesant.  I look forward to seeing you there at our future activities and events.  Stay safe and stay blessed.

Msgr. John Powis, Special Counsel

Msgr. John Powis is a long-time advocate for the needs of the poor and a legendary community activist in Brooklyn, NY; a lifetime ministry of community service that has earned him the moniker "Bushwick's Bulldog".  The former pastor of St. Barbara's Church in Bushwick, Brooklyn, he is still active at the parish through his dedicated work as the Director of Bushwick Housing Independence Project; a non-profit organization that addresses the housing crisis that is plaguing our community and helps struggling families that are being threatened with eviction to maintain their homes.  Although he holds no formal position with us at CAC@SJB, he has been a great source of inspiration for us and so many others in the community, and has assisted us at the Center with his great knowledge of community activism and healthy leadership.  He has been generous in providing us with his special counsel and has given us great support for what he believes the Center is truly offering to the community youth and adults of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bushwick.. a safe haven, a beautiful space to create, and many different forms of art to experience and enjoy.  We are so grateful to Fr. Powis for his great support, his spirit of love, his inspiring example, and his faith.       

We greatly appreciate each one of these dedicated and caring community individuals for all their support, the gift of their time, talents, input, and their presence behind the scenes. We at the Center for the Arts & Culture @ SJB are extremely fortunate and very proud to have each one of these wonderful individuals as colleagues, but most of all, as part of our family. May God bless you all.  

This special list of individuals is growing.  Why don't you join us?