Programs Manager

Programs Director

Mediation and Education Manager

Executive Director

Wilford Pinkney Jr. has spent the last 34+ in the criminal justice sector promoting safety, education, policy development and training. He currently serves as the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention for the City of St. Louis. The Office of Violence Prevention provides strategic direction and oversight for the City of St. Louis’ efforts create safe and healthy neighborhoods free of violence.

Mr. Pinkney previously served as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Children, Youth, and Families for the City of St. Louis. He has overseen the development of a Crisis Management System focused on building healthy and vibrant communities by addressing trauma and increase access to care. Prior to joining the administration, Pinkney was a FUSE Executive Fellow leading a cross sector group of stakeholders in the development of a comprehensive pretrial reform plan in the City of St. Louis. He also served 20 years as a member of the New York City Police Department and is founder and CEO of Puissance Management & Consulting LLC.

Ismail Botchway is a rising senior at Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience. He helped create the Saint Louis Peer Meditation Program. Ismail worked on designing the curriculum as well as the name and logo. He is our current Youth Ambassador and works to facilitate and promote peer mediation methods throughout St. Louis to resolve conflicts and reduce violence.

Dr. Chris McGee serves the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District located in the St. Louis suburban area as the Assistant Superintendent. His thesis was entitled “The Correlation of Standards-Based Grading and the Performance on Standardized Assessments.” Since his first year of teaching he has been a leader in innovation and the technological advancement of education. He served his alma mater as the president of Webster University's alumni association's board of directors. His passion for professional learning has inspired him to start a non-profit organization called Connected Learning, for which he serves as the CEO. He has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator, a Google Certified Innovator and a Phi Delta Kappa Emerging Leader. For more information on Dr. McGee visit his website www.chrisrmcgee.com, or connect with him on twitter at https://twitter.com/cmcgee200.

Olivia Walton is a dedicated community advocate, committed to supporting individuals in recovery from substance use & mental health disorders. As a mother of three young children, she brings a unique perspective to her work, emphasizing the importance of creating a safe and nurturing environment for individuals to rebuild their lives. With a passion for making a positive impact, Olivia actively volunteers with various nonprofits in the community, demonstrating empathy and a genuine desire to uplift those in need. In her personal time, she enjoys golfing, hiking, and cherishing moments with her family.

Dr. Grace Lee (she/her) is the Dean of Faculty at Mary Institute St. Louis Country Day School (MICDS), an independent school in St. Louis, Missouri. Previously, she served as a school social worker, ELA teacher, assistant principal and principal in the Jennings, Parkway, Webster Groves and University City School Districts. In every aspect of school leadership, Dr. Lee brings her social work lens to her role as an educator. She works to create systems to ensure equity and access. She recognizes that change only comes when systems are examined, dismantled and reimagined. She relentlessly confronts white supremacy when analyzing and reimagining systems and challenges not only her team but herself to continually confront the biases that influence decisions made, especially those impacting children. The core of her beliefs centers around elevating student and teacher voices to leverage leadership to shift the educational landscape for change. Her work focuses on moving away from incentive based and punitive consequences that only perpetuate the school to prison pipeline but truly engage children as active, equal partners in upholding a school community that fosters a sense of belonging, purpose and recognition of self-worth.

Dr. Lee has presented across the region and country at various conferences around character education, restorative practices and racial equity. She has shared the outcome of her work and what a school looks like when students and teachers feel seen, heard and loved. She continues to reimagine school for children in her current educational home, empowering and supporting students and teachers. She hopes that everyone understands they are worthy and encourages people to walk unapologetically in their purpose.

Dr. Candace Anthony is a St. Louis native who navigates her field with a passion for advocating for others as they strive to reach their next level. With over 15 years of experience in the mental health field and over 10 in program development and management, she has mastered a niche for working with the community to increase mental health awareness and guide organizations to improve program effectiveness and impact.

Dr. Candace is licensed in Missouri and Georgia and has earned the Board Certified-TeleMental Health (BC-TMH) certification, expanding her reach beyond the office. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Southeast Missouri State University, a Master's degree in Community Counseling from the University of Missouri - St. Louis, and a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Maryville University.