Deion J. Brown, M.Ed, M.B.A
Founder
Deion Brown is a native Houstonian, Morehouse College graduate ('08) and long time educator and activist. Currently serving as Deputy Head of Schools at KIPP Texas: Houston, Deion believes education to be the liberating factor for ensuring the success of Black and brown students from historically underserved communities.
In the Summer of 2020, in the wake of George Floyd's murder, Deion founded Black, Proud & Problematic as an ally of the Black Lives Matter Movement to bring light to the plight of Black Americans nationwide and to support communities of color through six key pillars: voter registration, license to carry registration, property ownership and management, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and mental, physical and emotional health and wellness.
At his core, Deion believes that if the Black community is to experience enduring progress and success, it will take those from and of the community to pool knowledge and resources together to create necessary communal solutions.
Robin Owens is a native Texan currently residing in Houston, Texas. She is a strategist, educator and entrepreneur, and is the co-founder of The Odom Consulting Group where she specializes in operational efficiency, organizational structure and strategic relationship development for businesses of all sizes. She also serves as a Project Manager for MPact Strategic Consulting, LLC. Ms. Owens earned her bachelor’s in business from Howard University and her Master’s in education from the University of Michigan.
She has traveled around the world extensively for both business and leisure, drawing inspiration from the various cultures she encountered in Africa, Central America, Europe and the Caribbean. As a lifelong educator working with learners from Houston, to Ann Arbor, Cameroon and beyond, Ms. Owens is passionate about exceptional delivery of high-quality educational materials. Whether seeking a connection with adult learners, unlocking a pathway for high school students, or igniting the curiosity of elementary and preschoolers, Ms. Owens ensures that student success is the primary objective, and no child will fall behind.
Throughout her career, Ms. Owens has been a business, education and nonprofit leader managing multi-year and multi-million-dollar grants, contracts and projects in the public and private sector. In addition to her business and educational accomplishments, Ms. Owens is a busy mother of three, a fitness enthusiast and an active community volunteer for a variety of civic, political and social causes. Robin’s most recent entrepreneurial venture is Meal Prep With Me. A new concept in healthy eating, Meal Prep With Me combines the fun and festive elements of Saturday brunch or Sunday Funday with a curated and healthy menu.
Robin Owens
President of the Board
Dr. Cece Cook, PT, DPT
Dr. CeCe Cook is the COE/Founder of Busybody Fitness & Rehab, a boutique-style physical therapy clinic, providing rehabilitation services to clients with various injuries and impairments. Dr. Cook is a proud native of Atlanta, GA. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Mississippi State University and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from The University of St. Augustine in Florida, which has been the foundation of her commitment to advocating for health and wellness across the globe.
Dr. Cook is driven by adversity, for it creates the road to success. The power in the word "NO" has led Dr. Cook to excel in her professional career and mentoring many minority students/young adults to pursue a career in medicine. She is a testament to the phrase "KEEP GOING", as she knows far too well that the countless number of NOs can turn into your one YES.
Supporting her community, mentorship to young men/women, and teaching health and wellness is Dr. Cook's passion. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The American Physical Therapy Association, Texas Physical Therapy Association, National CHeerleaders Association, Houston Junior League, and she has a distinguished background in clinical entrepreneurship.
Dr. Cook is an excellent example of the power that exists in each of us and how one person can make a resounding impact on the world when committed to a cause.
Hailing from southeast Houston, Darrell Brown has enjoyed an illustrious 17 year career in Oil and Gas, culminating with his current position as Analytical Chemist with ExxonMobil Corp. Darrell possesses a BS in Biochemistry from The UT-Austin and recently obtained a MBA in Finance from Tulane University. Specializing in process optimization and automation, Darrell brings a technical acumen and business savvy to BP&P’s executive panel.
Similar to many young, black and educated professionals, Darrell has experienced his fair share of personal setbacks and professional barriers. However, through an unwavering determination, he provides a solid example of navigating the corporate landscape.
Darrell fully aligns with the 6 pillars BP&P seeks to uphold and to that end, Darrell’s dedication lies with empowering the community via access to information and resources and providing the necessary support framework to flourish.
“Why must we wait for others to do for us what we are capable of doing for ourselves?” - Farakkan
Darrell L. Brown, M.B.A
Dr. Rian Wright, EPP
Dr. Rian Wright has over a decade of experience supporting K-16 public education. Rian is currently Deputy Head of Schools with KIPP Texas Public Schools supporting high schools. Prior to becoming a Deputy Head of School, Rian was as the School Leader of KIPP Sunnyside High School (from 2016-2020). Under her leadership, KIPP Sunnyside High School has earned state distinctions in mathematics and science, increased ACT performance, expanded AP access, and increased AP Performance.
In fact, in the 2019-2020 school year, 100% of students at KIPP Sunnyside High School took at least 1 AP class. Prior to joining KIPP Texas Public Schools she worked for The University of Texas at Austin in various roles support first generation college students. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Central Michigan University, her master’s degree in High Education Administration, and a doctorate in Education Policy and Planning from The University of Texas at Austin.
When she is not supporting the important work of educating kids, she spends time with her two children, Makenzie (15) and Jaxson (3), and her husband Kevin Wright.
Dwayne E. Curtis Jr. began his career in the financial industry in 2008 after graduating with a Bachelor in Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Houston. Dwayne specializes in retirement income planning, financial diversification, long-term care, and life insurance. Dwayne strives to provide his clients with the best service and advice possible each and every day in an effort to prepare them for financial freedom in the future.
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, Dwayne lead discussions and shared personal experiences with racism by way of panel discussions in his office as well as in church. He believes that sharing your experience with others is vitality important to disrupting the false narrative often pushed by those who seek to delegitimatize the existence of racism by way of the exceptionalism argument.
Outside of work, Dwayne believes in sharing his knowledge of financial planning and literacy with others. He accomplishes this by co-leading a financial stewardship group through his church called Legacy. He believes that knowledge is the key to change and growth and he seeks to provide his community with the tools needed to leave behind a legacy of wealth: both financial and in wisdom.
Dwayne Curtis
Terence Frederick, M.B.A
Destiny Woodbury, M. Ed
Destiny Shantell Woodbury is from Providence, Rhode Island. She is in her 14th year in education and is the Founder and CEO of The Anchor School and a Doctoral Student at Vanderbilt University. She began her teaching career with Teach for America in 2007 and has worked at the Teach For America Houston Institute in various roles for 10 years. Previously, she was a School Leader at YES Prep where she reduced the suspension incident rate (students with 1+ incident) from 44% to 15% and the total number of incidents from 637 incidents to 144 incidents from August 2017 to March 2018.
Prior to joining YES Prep, she was a School Leader in Achievement First in Brooklyn, NY. Destiny was a Manager of Teacher Leadership Development (MTLD) with Teach For America Houston, where she coached 37 first and second-year STEM CMs within KIPP Houston and YES Prep. She taught for 5 years as a fifth-grade science teacher on KIPP Houston, now KIPP Texas, and was also the grade level chair, science content chair, MS Science teacher leader and curriculum leader, robotics coach, and the head track and field coach.
She received her B.S. and B.A. in Chemistry and Secondary Education with a minor in Leadership Studies from the University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI and received her Masters in Education in Educational Administration and Supervision from National-Louis University, in Chicago, IL. She was a professional track athlete who trained for the 2008 and 2012 Olympics in the 400 Meters. Destiny enjoys cleaning, organizing, working out twice a day, and spending time with the people who love and support her.
Tanisha Manning, J.D.
Known for her vibrant personality, Tanisha Manning has always been a passionate young lady, with an ambitious mindset. Her passion lies in advocating for marginalized groups, pushing for change in the current justice system, and bringing out the best in everyone she meets. She hopes that she inspires others to recognize their dreams and actually aspire to achieve them.
She loves to acknowledge her HBCU background, as she is a graduate of Philander Smith College where she earned a Bachelors of Business Administration. She then went on to attend law school and in May 2020 earned her Juris Doctorate from Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, LA. Her home is Houston, Texas, where she currently resides and works as a Policy Advisor for Harris County.
Outside of her career job, she is a Professional Career Coach where she helps others create and build their professional brand. In 2020, she created a Voter Engagement organization, Engaged Voters, to inform citizens on what each position on the ballot is responsible for and how to engage with officials for change after they’re elected. It is an organization and platform that teaches, encourages, and reaches all Americans, but especially those in Houston, Texas. One of her greatest achievements is becoming an author and publisher of her newest book, “Starting A Business as a Black Millennial,” a five step guide providing key pointers for black millennials who wish to create or revamp a small business.
Tanisha is a middle child of an older sister and a younger brother. She’s very outgoing and loves to read books or go to brunch during her free time.