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Dr. Jeremy Christopher Kohomban is the President and CEO of The Children’s Village and the President of Harlem Dowling. The Children’s Village, founded in 1851, and Harlem Dowling, founded in 1831, provide a broad continuum of residential and community-embedded programs, serving 15,000 children and families each year. Dr. Kohomban is an author, sometimes an activist, and always a pragmatic leader. He has played a lead role in the family support and residential treatment reforms that are transforming children’s care. Dr. Kohomban is driven by the belief that every child, regardless of age, deserves a family, and he is outspoken in his recognition of the social justice antecedents that drive child welfare and juvenile justice. Under his leadership, The Children’s Village, the nation’s oldest and once the largest children’s residential treatment center, has been transformed into a national model for community-embedded family support. The Children’s Village is the Gold Prize winner of the New York Community Trust-New York Magazine’s Nonprofit Excellence Awards, the US Congressional Coalition Angels in Adoption award, the Child Welfare League of America Exemplary Innovative Leadership Award and the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, Samuel Gerson Nordlinger Leadership Award. Dr. Kohomban’s contributions are noted in the Congressional Record and successes recognized by many, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Fox Business, and NPR. City Limits magazine identified him as a leader with a “clear vision for the future”; David Tobis, in his book, From Pariahs to Partners, How Parents and their Allies Changed New York City’s Child Welfare System, describes him as “one of the most parent-focused, reform-minded, and effective administrators in the field.” Dr. Kohomban testified before the US Senate Finance Committee on the need for finance reform that supports children, families and communities and, in March of 2018, with the passage of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), The Chronicle of Social Change noted that Dr. Kohomban was one of the most important off-the-Hill boosters of the FFPSA, described as the “biggest federal overhaul of foster care in decades.” He is chair of the Human Services Council of New York, the national co-chair of the Children Need Amazing Parents (CHAMPS) campaign, and a Trustee of Save the Children. He is a graduate of Emporia State University, Kansas, and holds a Masters from Long Island University, New York, a PhD from the School for Business and Leadership at Regent University, Virginia, and a LittD (Honorary Doctor of Letters) from Mercy College, New York.

Tibisay Guzman is a CEO/Executive Director at Westchester Arc. She has worked as COO/Associate Exec Dir at Westchester Arc. Tibisay works or has worked as Executive Vice President at Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc.

Miguel A. Meléndez Jr. is a Rochester native with significant experience in community development and grassroots organizing. Professionally, Miguel is the Chief Community Engagement officer at Ibero-American Action League, sharing his time and talents to improve planning efforts, create partnerships, enhance case management services, and support residents in their quest to improve quality of life in their neighborhoods. Miguel has an extensive background in Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), organizing various efforts by building on community strengths. He has the proven ability to address community concerns and has worked collaboratively to improve the built environment, safety, access to food, neighborhood play, and other essential health supporting activities. In the community, Miguel can be seen organizing, leveraging, and advocating with residents. Miguel has led various efforts of the Ibero-American Development Corporation such as Project HOPE (Healthy Outcomes through Participation, Education & Empowerment) addressing the social determinants of health and Project CLEAN (Community, Law Enforcement & Assistance Network), a Department of Justice funded effort to tackle the opioid epidemic in Rochester. In 2016, the El Camino Revitalization Area Charrette & Vision Plan was developed under Miguel’s leadership, creating a visionary roadmap for the El Camino neighborhood. Since that time, exciting projects have emerged, such as the LaMarketa at the International Plaza project, upgrades to Don Samuel Torres Park, and the Pueblo Nuevo housing project. Miguel is a product of the Rochester City School District and a graduate of East High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in philosophy at St. John Fisher College. He is a husband, father of three, and a proud Northeast Rochester resident. Miguel enjoys spending time with his family and finding other ways to serve his community through various boards and volunteer opportunities.

Gregor Bigalke is a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Bible Broadcasting Network (BBN) and is based in San Francisco, California.