MEET
OUR TEAM
We are a team of Liberation Leaders who understand how education impacts the Black experience. We partnered to create opportunities and open pathways for young people, particularly Black students.
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
Aiyeshia Hudson-Wong
Founder & Executive Director
Aiyeshia Hudson-Wong is the founder and executive director of Liberation Journeys. She has dedicated the past 15 years to serving thousands of Black families and students and challenging white dominant power structures. As a community organizer, she mobilized Black parents to demand their landlords and local housing authorities provide safe, quality, and affordable housing for their families. As an 11-year classroom teacher, she prioritized affirming her students’ identity through culturally relevant texts and experiential learning; taught students intersectional approaches to examining inequity and critiquing white supremacy and patriarchy; and created space for Black joy, curiosity, and exploration through international student travel. As a micro-school leader and founder, she combated systemic racism by providing access to an innovative globally-focused school model primarily serving families living in one of Chicago’s most isolated and under-resourced communities. For almost half her life, she has been listening to her community’s most unheard voices and fighting alongside them to challenge the dominant power structures that tell them to be quiet. Those unheard voices were louder than ever during the aftermath of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd’s murders. The 6 institutions that have been deaf to our cries are finally listening, and as an education leader serving Black students, families, and educators, she believes she has a responsibility to maximize this moment and fight to keep our education institutions listening and accountable.
Dr. Richard Glass
Board Chair
Dr. Richard Glass is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. He is skilled in lesson planning, educational technology, facilitating professional learning communities, and adult education. He is a strong business development professional with a Doctor of Education degree in instructional leadership and a Master of Education degree with a focus in Special Education. Richard has 20+ years of experience in education.
Akilah Hawkins
Treasurer
Akilah Hawkins is a senior level organizational director with leadership experience utilizing instructional methodologies to positively impact a diverse learning audience. She is skilled in developing engaging and effective training for professionals in the education and business sectors and rigorous academic curriculum for secondary students. Akilah has 15+ years of experience in the education and finance sectors.
Rupa Ramadurai
Secretary
Rupa Ramadurai is a systems-change agent with an unwavering commitment to work with and in service of marginalized, low-income black and brown communities to help them actualize, activate, and build their own visibility. She is a former educator and legal counsel and a current policy analyst with numerous years of experience in project management, program design and coaching. Rupa has 10+ years of experience in the private, public and non-profit sector.
PROGRAMS + OPERATIONS.
Brittany Shelton
Operations & Communications
Coordinator
Telisha Catchings
Program Coordinator