Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is the driving force behind our vision of a world where youth are resilient, socially responsible leaders who advance human rights and strengthen communities. Due to their diverse backgrounds and expertise, our members bring a wealth of knowledge and lived experience. We are dedicated to developing young leaders, transforming bystanders into upstanders, offering mentorship opportunities, and advocating for prevention education.

board of directors and founder jowharah sanders portrait

Jowharah Sanders

Chair, Executive Director

Area of Expertise: Youth Leadership

Jowharah Sanders is an accomplished nonprofit executive director with nearly two decades of experience mentoring young people and families dealing with the effects of bullying, questioning their gender identity or sexual orientation, or overcoming stigmas associated with mental health support. She is a children’s advocate, a bullying prevention expert, and the founder of National Voices for Equality, Education, and Enlightenment (NVEEE), a nationally recognized bullying and suicide prevention organization that provides direct service, mentoring, and prevention education.

After surviving bullying and two suicide attempts, Ms. Sanders founded NVEEE with the goal of preventing bullying, suicide, and school violence. NVEEE has assisted over 30,000 youth and families over the last 14 years, has been recognized by Congress on multiple occasions, and has been featured on national media outlets such as NPR, “Secret Millionaire,” and “NBC’s Education Nation.”

Ms. Sanders’ dedication and hard work have been recognized by her community through multiple awards including:

  1. 2019 SAVE Luminary Award Recipient 
  2. 100 Outstanding Women Award  – Boys & Girls Club of Broward County (2018)
  3. 2016 Legends Award presents by Unity Coalition
  4. “Top 100 LGBT Movers and Shakers” for 2015 “Women in Excellence” 2015 Award presented by Women in Network (WIN) at the 20th Annual Charity Golf Tournament
  5. 2014 Aqua Foundation for Women Community Award
  6. 2013 Ujima Leadership Award presented by Black Gay Pride South Florida
  7. 2013 Outstanding Leadership in the LGBT Community presented by Safe Schools South Florida
  8. 2012 Community Leadership Award presented by Kimberly Shenkar-Bacardi
  9. 2012-2013 Member of the Broward County Public Schools Diversity Committee
  10. 2011 Visionary Award presented by NVEEE

She is a fierce advocate for today’s youth, empowering them to confront difficult realities, find their voice, engage in difficult conversations, and take charge of their lives. Her work has made a difference in the lives of thousands of young people and families across the country.

Dr. Joshua Caraballo

Secretary

Area of Expertise: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

Accomplished human capital professional with a solution-focused mindset driven to enhance decision-making by fostering opportunities for growth, engagement, productivity and organizational and personal well-being. Experienced in organizational research and design. Skilled at training and program evaluation and management, performance improvement, and leadership development. Excellent problem-solving and project management skills. Expert-level research design and data analysis skills, with a strong attention to detail. Highly adaptable, self-motivated, and a committed life-long learner. 

Professional Affiliations:

  1. Professional Member, SIOP (Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology)

Tomeka Napper

Treasurer

Area of Expertise: Business Development 

Tomeka Napper is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ViJIEN Enterprises Corporation (VEC), a strategic business design and management company for emerging businesses, nonprofits, and entertainment professionals. Surpassing the highest standards of professional integrity, she has served the corporate, higher education, and non-profit and private sectors for over 16 years in the areas of administration, television, brand-marketing, procurement, creative content, production, project management, and entrepreneurship.

She earned a Masters in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University in 2009, a BM from the University of Miami with a minor in Business Law in 2004, and an AA from MDCC in 2000, where she served as President of Phi Theta Kappa (2-yr International Honor Society) and MEISA (Music Entertainment Industry Student Association).

Prior to VEC in 2005, Ms. Napper assumed the role of Vice President of Business Operations for Demo Entertainment Group (DEG). As a Managing Partner, she is involved in all aspects of strategic planning, contract negotiations, and event coordination for the company. 

Jessica Saiontz, Esquire

Board Member

Area of Expertise: Business Law

Ms. Saiontz graduated from both the University of Miami and Florida International University College of Law.  She was admitted to the Florida Bar and the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida in 2017.  She joined Rubinstein & Associates, P.A. as an Associate for the firm, practicing in the areas of business law, commercial litigation, real estate law, and estate planning. Previously, Ms. Saiontz served as the firm Manager for 14 years.

She is a Founding Board Member and Vice-Chairman Emeritus of National Voices for Equality, Education and Enlightenment, Inc. (NVEEE). Ms. Saiontz is an active member of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, the Dade County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and is a past participant in the 39th Class of  Leadership Miami hosted by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

Professional Affiliations:

  1. The Florida Bar
  2. American Bar Association
  3. Florida Association of Women Lawyers (Miami-Dade) – Public Relations Chair (2018-2019)
  4. 100 Outstanding Women Award  – Boys & Girls Club of Broward County (2017, 2018)
  5. Leadership Miami, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (2017-2018)
  6. Dade County Bar Association
  7. Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity
  8. Delta Delta Delta Sorority

William “Tom” Lohman

Board Member

Area of Expertise: Conflict Resolution

William “Tom” Lohman was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. Tom is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator and a Senior Associate at Rubinstein & Associates, P.A., in Miami, Florida, where he focuses on Business Agreements/Contracts, Complex Business Litigation, Employer/Employee Disputes, Landlord and Tenant, Leases/Deeds, Negligence, Personal Injury and Accidents, Real Estate, and Civil Litigation.  

Tom graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Classics, and received his Juris Doctorate from the Florida International University College of Law in 2011, where he graduated 4th in his class.  Tom has volunteered at organizations aimed to help children including NVEEE, CHAMPS and Florida Baptist Children’s Homes. He resides in Brandon, Florida.

Kattia Morera

Board Member

Area of Expertise: Women in Leadership

Kattia Montero is Vice President of Customer Delivery team for Mexico and Central America at Mastercard, leading the deployment of MasterCard products and services to the markets and hold direct accountability for the customer experience and readiness assessments in new program launch. She will also provide dynamic consultation and management of all facets of the product/ service deployment, both business and technical, and lead internal and external partners towards successful execution.

She leads the Women Leadership Network for Central America with special focus in Women development, she has been leading important programs regarding Financial Inclusion demonstrating being a force for good in the community. She won the “CEO Force for Good Award” for her outstanding community and public service contributions.

Kattia earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. She also holds two Master´s degrees: one with focus on Technology Projects Management from Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica and the second, an MBA with focus on Economics and Finance from INCAE Business School.