Meet The Team

Amare El Jamii

After working for a number of years in multiple industries, Amare El Jamii enrolled in community college with the intent on pursuing a more fulfilling career. He obtained his associate degrees in both Mathematics and Computer Information Systems and his bachelor degrees in Statistics and Applied Mathematics from Norco College and UCLA respectfully.

Since graduating in 2013 he has worked in education, specifically with students from underrepresented communities. His work experience includes Non-profit organizations, Norco Community College, CSULB and UCLA. He is currently a partner in an educational consulting company named Cultivating Hope and also holds a position at Bridges Academic Center of Excellence as a Program Director where he oversees a number of college-bound based programs for local students in the Carson, Long Beach, South LA, Compton and the Watts communities.

Barak Bomani

Barak has over 20 years of experience in public and private education. He has served as a tutor, teacher, vice principal and principal for grades 6 through 12 with a 100% four-year college acceptance rate for his graduating classes of black and brown students.  Barak consults in education with school districts throughout California in Oakland, Compton, Los Angeles, Long Beach and Riverside to improve educational outcomes for students of color. Numerous organizations have invited him to speak including the internationally acclaimed House of Blues Foundation.  Barak was awarded a commendation by the Mayor of Inglewood for his service to the city’s youth and also recognized with proclamations by California Senator Don Perata and former Mayor Jerry Brown for his educational leadership in his hometown East Oakland. 

Barak co-founded Unearth and Empower Communities, a 501 c3 non profit organization dedicated to mentoring and teaching literacy, entrepreneurship and arts education to K-12 students in Compton.  He is the visionary behind Cultivating Hope, an educational consulting company that coaches educators to build the whole village through Math Proficiency, Equity, Diversity & Race and Social Emotional Learning. Barak earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from Dartmouth College and his Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from San Jose State University, where he graduated with highest honors.  Barak is currently working on his Doctorate in Ministry to provide affordable resources to communities interested in building the whole person through education. Barak is married and is the father of two sons.

Jann Whetstone

Jann Whetstone is a seasoned electrician with over 25 years of experience, hailing from Los Angeles. Aside from being a proud mother of twin sons, she has been actively involved in various building commissions and runs a construction program at LOCKE High School. She also owns JW Whetstone and Sons, a successful construction business, and serves as an MC3 instructor, sharing her knowledge and expertise in the field with aspiring professionals. Her dedication to both her career and the community demonstrates her commitment to empowering the next generation of builders.

Gay Gay

GG is a compassionate individual with a Bachelor's degree in Behavior Science, dedicated to supporting her community and promoting success for all. As a wife and mother of three, she brings a nurturing spirit to her personal and professional life, striving to make a positive impact on those around her.

Justin Bond

My passion for physics and math has allowed me to complete a B.S. in Physics at UC Santa Cruz and a M.S. in Physics at UC San Diego. My educational background therefore was highly math intensive and has given me wide knowledge and experience with advanced math subjects including Statistics, Calculus, Algebra, Complex Analysis, and many others.

During my four years at UC San Diego, I served as a teaching assistant, running the physics lab and giving lectures. That experience developed my ability to communicate complicated subject matter to students who felt uncomfortable with physics and math.

Hannah Floyd

Hannah is a dedicated student currently pursuing her education at the University of Texas at Austin, where she also holds the prestigious position of Senate President. With a passion for research and content creation, she excels in generating impactful and innovative ideas that contribute to both academic and extracurricular endeavors. Her enthusiasm for learning and leadership sets her apart as a motivated and accomplished individual constantly striving for personal and professional growth.

Jeffery Thomas

Jeffery Thomas is a dedicated Los Angeles native who balances family life with his wife and two children while working tirelessly in the non-profit and small business sectors. As the owner of Thomas Project, a media consulting company, he has played a pivotal role in education and community development initiatives over the years. Jeffery's commitment to making a positive impact is evident through his involvement with various programs and organizations, including JTM academy where he has been since 2019.