The Brawta Project Team
Board of Directors
Leon J. Johnson, BComm, MEd, CHRP
Founder and Executive Director
Leon is a community development professional with extensive experience volunteering with charities, non-profits and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). He is passionate about working with communities as a co-builder in creating impactful, transformative, and sustainable change. Leon has this to say about his view on community development:
“As I travel the world, I do not travel aimlessly...I travel with a purpose in mind. I ask myself, ‘What small change can I make within communities that will make the world a little better than when I started my journey?’”.
The African proverb says, “Small sparks start big fires”. He believes if everyone contributes in a small way based on their own skills, abilities, life-stage, and economic status, it would result in a significant impact for generations to come.
He started The Brawta Project to be a force of change within communities as the organization addresses the needs of the future generation - our children.
Leon holds a Master in Adult Education & Community Development from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, a Bachelor in Commerce (Human Resources), a Diploma in Financial Planning, and he’s a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP).
Charlene Hughes, BComm, R.H.N
Board Director
Charlene has over two decades of experience working in and collaborating with non-profit organizations. She developed and facilitated Black heritage programs for youth; has planned and implemented various outreach initiatives such as coordinating the delivery of essential items to new parents, visiting shelter residents to participate in game nights and distributing care packages to people living on the streets. She has developed fundraising strategies to assist families in need and contributed to various charities. As a public servant working in Human Resources (HR), Charlene has received various awards which is a testament to her dedication to service excellence. She has collaborated with an organization to recruit youth facing barriers to employment, and acted as a mentor to the new hires.
She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a focus in HR Management from Ryerson University. She also has a designation in holistic nutrition, enjoys spending time with her daughter, traveling and cooking.
Corina Sumaway-Escudero, BComm, MEd,
Board Chairperson
Corina is experienced and passionate in the areas of coaching, mentoring, virtue-based living, listening, teaching, facilitating, training and development, process development and implementation, change management, and continuous learning from those around her. Corina joined Catholic Family Services in 2017 as a part-time Marriage Preparation Facilitator after she married her husband, Derek, in 2016.
In her past life, Corina was in the field of Human Resources (HR). She has 10+ years of HR management experience in various industries including health & wellness, non-profit, public sector, manufacturing, and retail. She has managed all HR functions from recruitment & selection, training & development, HR reporting metrics & Key Performance Indicators, health & safety, and restructuring.
Corina obtained her Master of Education from Brock University in Teaching, Learning & Development. While studying full-time, she was working part-time as a Graduate Research Assistant. She co-authored a published article with two primary researchers on the subject of children’s gendered perceptions of peer teasing in the classroom.
Yaw Okyere
Board Director
Yaw arrived in Canada from Ghana in 1988 alongside his mother. Growing up in Scarborough, ON, Yaw would often spend his days lost in the world of cartoons TV shows, film and music envisioning the day he would see one of his creative visions come to life. This energy and vision would nurture his interest in graphic design and creative direction.
Throughout his education in graphic design, Yaw would take on the task of submerging himself in the world of videography and film production during his time away from the classroom as he felt a need to broaden his knowledge of audio, visual, and film production. Yaw has had a hand in countless projects across the City of Toronto including the likes of George Brown College.
Abdul Sami, CPA, CGA, MBA (C)
Board Treasurer
Abdul is an accounting and finance professional with over 14 years of industry experience in strategic management, internal and external reporting, and performance management. Abdul has worked in different industries such as public accounting, financial services, property management, oil gas, and manufacturing and led various large-scale strategic initiatives to drive sustainable strategic growth for companies.
Abdul is currently pursuing a MBA in Strategic Management from Lazaridis School of Business at Wilfrid Laurier University. He holds Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) and Canadian Investment Manager designations, Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) degree, and a three-year advanced diploma in Financial Planning Management along with various financial services industry certifications such as PFPC, DFC, IMT, PMT, BCO, CSC and CPH.
Abdul is very enthusiastic about leveraging his knowledge and experience from the for-profit sector for the public benefit and specifically wants to focus on human development in the less-privileged communities around the world. Abdul’s dream of public service and human development naturally aligned with The Brawta Project’s vision and mission and resulted in a partnership to make a positive contribution to the communities in need.
Caroline Martin, BComm
Board Secretary
From an early age, Caroline Martin has a passion and love for serving others. This transcends throughout all aspects of her life. As a former Public Servant, she led with high integrity, passion and vision. As a Christian, she supports the different initiatives at her church which helps others to grow and develop themselves. And as a wife and mother she serves her family with love and joy.
Caroline has served on various committees and at different levels in not-for-profit organizations. She brings with her the ability to put creative solutions in the mix and a knack for getting the job done and connecting with people.
Caroline attended Ryerson University and holds a Bachelor of Commerce. She takes joy in inspiring others to be the best person they can be. She embraces new opportunities and new challenges and looks forward to always helping others. She currently resides in rural Ontario with her husband and son where she enjoys working their hobby farm and taking care of her young son.
