As a parent of 2 daughter's, one of which has special needs, it is my mission to ensure that not only my children, but all children receive a high quality all-inclusive enriched education. Being a Board member at Launch gives me the opportunity to give back to my community which has been undeserved for far too long. More importantly, I will be a part of an organization that cares deeply about the education of young scholars as well as addressing the systemic issues such as racism and equity that exist in our communities.

Mr. Hazelwood is an attorney at Proskauer Rose LLP, where he specializes in negotiating sports, entertainment and media transactions. Before beginning his work as an attorney, Mr. Hazelwood was a teacher at the Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts where he was a teacher, coach and advisor for middle school and high school students.

Nicole is a financial executive, advisor and investor, having worked for over 25 years in the finance industry. She has had significant experience over the course of her career executing complex transactions, managing diligence processes, raising capital and structuring balance sheets. Nicole has worked at several large financial institutions, including Lehman Brothers and The Carlyle Group.

Nic most recently served as President at American Express, serving as Chief of Staff for the head of the Consumer business. He was responsible for a range of business planning and strategic activities and partnered with leaders across the organization. Prior to this role, Nic played a central role in payment security with the launch of chip cards and contactless payments and helped improve customer satisfaction globally.

Casey is a Vice President on Transwestern’s Nonprofit Advisory Group, which helps nonprofits of all sizes minimize occupancy costs and capitalize on the tremendous savings uniquely available to tax-exempt organizations. He provides a full range of tenant advisory and agency services to the city’s nonprofit community, with a particular focus on the government sector.

Katherine is a Senior Program Officer at the Wallace Foundation working in the Learning and Enrichment unit, which focuses on equitable access to high quality summer and out of school time experiences for all children. Her background includes both research and direct service to young people, working at a range of educational non-profits over the years.

Nkenge is an equity-driven educator and school leader currently serving as Dean of Students at Poly Prep. She brings deep experience in student support, diversity work, and learning strategy from her time at Avenues: The World School and The Nightingale-Bamford School. A graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, she is also the founder of the Christmas Hope Toy Drive, a Brooklyn nonprofit that has distributed thousands of toys and books to children in East New York and Brownsville. Her work reflects a strong commitment to community, belonging, and youth empowerment.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkengewalcott/