Jean Marie Kouassi, Founder/Executive Director       
Jean Marie Kouassi is currently founder and Executive Director of Palms Solutions. Chair of the Sports committee at the Mayor’s Commission for African and Caribbean Affairs, Parks and Recreation Commissioner for the city of Philadelphia, Independent Consultant at the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AFDB) and the Women Campaign International, and a guest Lecturer at the University of PENN.

He is a dedicated bilingual professional with more than twelve years of experience in education, global policy, economic development, and capacity building. He is among the pioneers African leaders advocating for immigrants as well as special ed students linguistic inclusion and cultural diversity acceptance.  He is passionately involved in social policy writing aiming at both, reducing educational inequality among students from diverse economic and social and cultural backgrounds. Founder and President of the African Diaspora Global Initiative, bridging immigrants from emerging economies and post conflict African regions to their new environment in Philadelphia, and facilitating their civic, social, cultural, and educational integration. He is an adept at building communities and managing partnerships with academic institutions such as PENN, Drexel, as well as aid agencies and donors including USAID, Rockefeller Foundation and UNICEF. Mr. Kouassi Manages multiple assignments concurrently, and delivers projects within defined cost and timelines. He Works in highly diverse environments with people from varied backgrounds.

ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONAL DISTINCTIONS/AWARDS 

  • Philadelphia Council Chamber’s Citation for the successful 1st Annual Greater Philadelphia Linguistic and Multicultural Disability Summit, aiming at multicultural, Linguistic, and Disability inclusion in all schools. 3/20/2018
  • Signed Resolution by the Philadelphia Council recognizing Greater Philadelphia Linguistic and Multicultural Disability Initiative, as the bridge between the officials, the Public Schools, and the communities 3/27/2018
  • Recipient of the 2017 Echoes Of Africa Community Service Award for his leadership in youth education 8/18/2017
  • Appointed by Mayor Keeney as Board Member, Philadelphia, Commission on Parks and Recreation, 6/26/2016
  • Certificate of completion, Cultural Diplomacy in Germany, for my work in education’s cultural integration 5/27/2016
  • Recognized as one of the influential immigrant Leaders in the fight against cancer in the developing African countries 4/29/2016, (Global Health Catalyst Summit at Harvard Medical school) 4/29/2016
  • Guest speaker at the 5th anniversary of the United Nations Education Global Impact 3/15/2015
  • City Citation for community civic engagement. Bringing 16 African countries to celebrate Peace and cross cultural integration through ”The Philadelphia African Cup Of Nations for Peace (PACONP) since 2011 (10/2014)
  • Peace Warrior Award from the City of Philadelphia 9/2014
  • Our Summer school program, Global Enrichment Leadership Academy (GELA) was featured in the Inquirer as one of the best program in facilitating the immigrant immersion into the educational system of Philadelphia, 8/2014.
  • WCI’s Global Ambassadors Award featured in Philly in Focus, 2/2013.
  • Winner, Marketing Strategy Contest, The Wharton School, 2000.

CORE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Part of the core group that contributed to the new revised School District Language Policy 8/6/2017
  • DNC Disability Council Member
  • For the last 14 years I have been the Youth Soccer Coach of the Friends of Clark Park, teaching students, and special Ed the importance of leadership through Soccer.
  • Created the “Side by Side” program in collaboration with Drexel University.  The program examines the   relationship between civic engagement, democratic participation and community change in urban settings.
  • Invited at the International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin (Germany) 5/27/2016
  • Advocate for many years about the need to revise the SRC’s policies and actions
  • Palms Solutions represented at the World Bank Trade & Competitiveness in partnership with the African Development Bank Group and U.S. Chamber of Commerce to contribute on the topic” Convening Stakeholders for Entrepreneurship, Investments, SME and Skills Development in Africa” 5/3/2016.
  • Invited to speak at the Global Health Catalyst Summit at Harvard Medical school, regarding the impact of the immigrant leaders in the fight against cancer in the developing African countries 4/29/2016
  • Invited by The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson to discuss possible policies to drive progress on sanitation, in the lead up to the 2015 target date of the Millennium Development goals and beyond (5/28/14).
  • Invited to attend the United Nations High Level Forum on The Culture of Peace and social change organized by the President of the 67th UN General Assembly (11/6/2013).
  • Co founder of the annual Philadelphia Plays for Peace (P3), a multi cultural soccer tournament 7/2013
  • Chair of the Economic Development and Housing at the Mayor’s Commission for African Caribbean Affairs (1/2013)
  • Guest speaker at the Annual Right to Education Benefit Night 2012, organized by Conflict Free Campus Initiative (Students- led organization) from Temple University to speak on the topic ”Value of Education”.
  • Presentation made on behalf of WCI to the Women of Courage (guests of Mrs. Hilary Clinton (3/2012)
  • Facilitator of a discussion relating to impact of the Diaspora and African musicians in the African Countries Capacity Building, Annenberg Center University of Pennsylvania. (5/2010)
  • Facilitator at one of the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) Town Hall Meeting in Washington, aiming at boosting the economic development of the African continent
  • Invited as a consultant by the Organization of the African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) to the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa to Advise the African First Ladies on capacity building through community and grassroots development in their individual country (7/2009).
  • Moderator, Wharton Business School: Ethics and Responsibility in Microfinance. Panelists included representatives from The U.N. Capital Development Fund, CGAP, and Women World Bank. (6/2009)
  • Invited to the World Bank to speak on the Diaspora’s impact on the Economic Development of Developing Countries. (9/2008)

Katharine Beals, PhD, Deputy Director: Katherine Beals is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education and the School of Education at Drexel University. She is an expert in teaching English as a second language and trends in math and technology instruction. She is the author of “Raising a Left-Brain Child in a Right-Brain World”, and the creator of Grammar Trainer, software that teaches English grammar through words and pictures.

Ahema Asare, MBA, Program and Grants Manager: Ahema Asare is the Director of Grants Management at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Her role is to manage the grant’s portfolio and direct personnel in all phases of the grants program. Ms. Asare has previously served as Director of Programs for the PA/DE Valley Chapter of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, and a health care consultant for Deloitte Consulting.

Beth Pitman-Brown, Public Relations Consultant: Mrs. Pitman’s expertise includes her uniqueness in creating cohesive, impactful communication and media relations programs, that enhance the organization’s image, as well as her sense to details, and her Skillful ways  to develop and nurture a strong networks. Mrs. Pitman intends to leverage her expertise for the betterment of the communities serviced by Palms Solutions.

Zeineb Anouar, Director of Capacity Building: Zeineb Anouar, focuses on strengthening Palms Solutions by developing and advancing organizational goals as well as facilitating strategic partnerships with local service agencies, non-profits, and academic institutions. Her unique view on creating successful community-organizational partnerships and educational background has inspired her to lead such initiatives. She is excited to use her innovative strategic skills and experience to further Palms Solutions’ impact domestically and globally.

Feuzeu Y. Jacquino, West Africa Regional Director of Sports and Culture Diplomacy: In his position, Raymond Feuzeu focuses on strengthening the diplomatic and social relationships among African communities in the U.S, and bridging the gaps between our host country and immigrant local organizations, through sports and cultural activities. As former president of the Cameroonian association of Philadelphia, Raymond played an important role in the creation the Philadelphia-Douala Sister city resolution, after successfully mitigating the complexities of cultural, structural, institutional, and societal challenges related to the project. He is a strong advocate for the respect of the inherent worth of each individual from all races, ethnic backgrounds, gender identity or expression, religions, and brings  many years of diversity and inclusion experience.                                                                                                        
Miranda Alexander, Caribbean Regional Director of Sports and Culture Diplomacy: Miranda is a social entrepreneur with diasporic connection to the Caribbean through Caribbean Community in Philadelphia. Her grassroots organization, UROC of Philadelphia, spearheads this subsidiary program.  She is from Trinidad and Tobago and performs community service to her community in Philadelphia and in her Trinidad Community of Carenage. Through education, health, culture and sports, she strengthens the community, while using her networking platform to build capacity between immigrant communities, particularly African, Caribbean and African American communities of color.  She is actively involved in Caribbean American Heritage Month (June), both locally in Philadelphia and in Washington DC. She’s an active member of Amnesty International, Philadelphia Chapter. The Arts & Culture co-chair of the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs and a member of AFRICOM. She continues to consult with many groups and organizations providing many human and social services redistribution.