Boston Strive: Prepared to Work / Determined to Succeed

Staff

Charmane Higgins, Executive Director

Charmane Higgins was named Deputy Executive Director of STRIVE in December 2005 and Executive Director on August 1, 2008. Prior to joining STRIVE, Charmane was Director, Cultural Health Initiatives at the American Heart Association, Framingham, Massachusetts. From 1999 to 2003, she served, first, as Career Services Manager and, then, as Assistant Director of Operations for Boston Private Industry Council. Before this, she held positions at Cellular One in Boston and at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. Charmane serves as a senior fellow at the Institute for Non-Profit Management & Leadership at Boston University’s School of Management. Charmane holds a BA degree from Wellesley College and an MA degree from University of Texas at Austin. In 2003, she earned an MBA degree from Simmons School of Management, Boston, MA.

Deryck Reid, Community Partnerships Manager

Deryck Reid became a member of the STRIVE staff after completing the program in 2010. He served as trainer for the ex-offender workshop from 2010 to 2013. In January 2014 Deryck assumed management of STRIVE for the Future, the agency’s youth employment and training initiative. He was recently promoted to Community Partnerships Manager. In this capacity Deryck identifies, develops and leads community engagement strategies in fulfillment of STRIVE’s mission and organizational priorities. He also oversees all internal program staff in program supervision, training, case management, support services and job development.

Aisha Barnes, Case Manager

Aisha Barnes began her career in human services in 2008. She joined STRIVE in 2014 as Case Manager for the organization’s youth employment and training initiative. In this role, she helps at-risk and court-involved youth by linking them to supportive services including transportation, housing, mental health services, child care and full-time employment. Aisha is dedicated to serving young people whose lives mirror the life she once lived. In May 2015 Aisha will attend Springfield College to attain her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services.

Rupert Saunders, Senior Placement Specialist

Rupert Saunders was appointed Placement Specialist in March 2002, after serving 14 years of a 20 year sentence at federal penitentiaries in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and Otisville, New York. While in prison, Rupert obtained a BS degree in Science and Behavioral Health from University of New York as well as an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Mercy College of New York City. At Lewisburg, he co-founded an attitudinal program, “Doing Time with the Right Mind,” for young inmates. Prior to incarceration, he served as a youth crisis counselor at Vera Institute of Justice and as a youth counselor at Covenant House in New York City. In January 2009, he became Senior Placement Specialist.