Meet Our Alumni

Essence English is an Afro-Latina and first-generation college graduate from New York City, plus holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management from CUNY Baruch. During her three-year tenure at CUNY, she served as the Vice President of Women Empowered for Success, participated in the Financial Women’s Association mentorship program, and excelled as a scholar student in the SEEK program. Notably, in the summer of 2023, she led the SEEK Academic Success workshop, helping over 150 high school graduates transition into first-generation college students and equipping them for success.

With over five years of extensive marketing experience across various industries, including finance, hospitality, beauty, fashion, and entertainment, Essence is the founder of Brands Endeavor, a company that specializes in branding, design, and digital marketing services. In all, her passion lies in educating individuals on the pivotal role branding and marketing play in achieving personal, professional, and business success. Essence was also featured on CUNY’s 50 Under 50 Alumni list in 2024.

Shaffiou Assoumanou is the Trade, Investment, and Innovation Associate in the NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs. In this role, he supports the Deputy Commissioner for Trade, Investment, and Innovation in executing strategic efforts to engage New York City with International businesses and trade commissions. He also facilitates partnerships and collaborations to promote economic growth and innovation within the city.

Kimberly Kazdal is a first-generation Nicaraguan-Turkish American from Long Island, New York. She graduated from Baruch with a B.S. in Public Affairs and minors in Sociology and French. Kimberly is currently a Pickering Fellow training to join the United States Foreign Service, completing her Masters in International Affairs at Columbia University and is working for the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

Closing the advocacy gap in marginalized communities through intergenerational civics training and grassroots mobilization.

Jibreel Jalloh founded The Flossy Organization to dismantle inequities through local change-making tactics, civic engagement, and collective action. Through his work, Jibreel is building a grassroots movement of informed advocates who have the skills they need to change their communities from within. Their partnership with local residents in Canarsie successfully prevented the installation of a pesticide facility in their community, and they have trained hundreds of New Yorkers to lead issue-based movements on causes ranging from anti-gun violence to climate justice. Jibreel plans to build on his work by leveraging AI-powered technology to enhance The Flossy Organization’s advocacy work and expand its reach to marginalized communities. Jibreel seeks to use the Scholars program to develop this novel blend of technology and grassroots advocacy in an effort to transform passive community members into active changemakers.

Jibreel is a social entrepreneur and veteran community organizer, recognized through numerous awards and fellowships, including the New York City Urban Fellowship, New Leaders Council Institute, Edwin Gould Foundation Accelerator, Communitas Ventures Accelerator, and the 4.0 Fellowship. His experience includes participating in the Edward T. Rogowsky program, where he served in the U.S. House of Representatives on Capitol Hill. Previously, he worked in the President’s Office at the Open Society Foundations and in the Mayor’s Executive Office at New York City Hall. Jibreel contributes a weekly column for the Canarsie Courier. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from CUNY Baruch College and is a candidate for a master’s degree at New York University.