Executive Board
Brittany Baines
Brittany Baines, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Phenomenal I Am, Inc., is a born and raised resident of New Haven, CT. Brittany is a 2015 Alumni of Quinnipiac University, where she earned a Master’s of Science in Organizational Leadership: Nonprofit/Public Service. Brittany Baines is also a 2010 Alumni of the University of Connecticut, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies:
Concentration in Individual and Families: Services and Counseling.
Brittany has worked with a diverse population of individuals with special needs for over 8 years, helping others through mentoring and counseling. She is currently a Resource Assistant for a private nonprofit organization, Group Home Supervisor and a Mentor. Thinking of her own community and reflecting on her childhood, Brittany felt the need to establish a meaningful way to give back and help girls that she can relate to. Being an active youth through participating in programs such as, Gear-Up, LEAP, Youth Rights Media, HillHouse Track and Field, H.O.N.E.Y, Teen Crisis Connection etc., Brittany feels the need to provide the same opportunity that she once had when she was a youth.
Brittany believes that every girl is phenomenal in their own rights and decided to do the work necessary to help them too see just how phenomenal they are. Brittany believes mentorship and empowerment enrichment services can ultimately change their outlook on life. Brittany is inspired to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloudy sky because….
“When you learn, teach… When you get, give….”. ------Maya Angelou
Tawana Lofton
Tawana Lofton born and raised in New Haven, CT. in the Newhallville area, graduated from Albertus Magnus College in May 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, concentration in Child Development/Mental Health. She then went on to receive her Masters of Science in Human Services specializing in Criminal Justice from Capella University in March 2008. Tawana was affiliated with American Psychologically Association from 2003-2006. She then began her journey with a passion for at-risk youth in the community. Her priority was working with at-risk youth who suffered from mental health, substance abuse, mental and/or physical abuse. Tawana became more involved with the Juvenile Justice Department and Department of Children and Families while working at North American Family Institute (NAFI) as a Clinician from August 2009 to April 2011 providing individual and group therapy.
Tawana Lofton then moved to Maryland in May 2011 to work as a Care Coordinator with Maryland Choices. Tawana was responsible for strength-based assessments for each youth, developing a plan of care, overseeing the implementation of the plan, identifying providers for services or family base resources, and facilitating monthly meetings. She also monitored progress toward treatment goals and assuring that all necessary data for evaluation was gathered and recorded.
Tawana sat on the Board for Montgomery County Local Collaboration for Children, Youth and Families as a representative of Maryland Choices from 2011-2013. Tawana continues to advocate, support and volunteer her time to youth and families. She has moved into a new role in her career as the Community Services Case Coordinator for the City of Gaithersburg in Montgomery County, MD.
Lakisha Jordan
LaKisha Jordan was raised in Bossier, LA. She moved to the New Haven area after High School where she attended Southern Connecticut State University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies with concentrations in Psychology, Sociology and Public Health. While completing her undergraduate studies; she stumbled into the world of financial services which led her to obtaining her Master’s in Business Administration at Southern Connecticut State University. LaKisha has over fifteen years of experience in financial services and Banking. Presently she works as a Relationship Officer for a Regional Bank meeting the needs of Commercial Clients.
LaKisha believes, it takes a village to raise a child. Prior to joining the Board of Phenomenal I Am; she served and continues to serve as a mentor for young ladies that are enrolled in the program. LaKisha is also a proud member of the Order of the Eastern Star and volunteers in their community service programs and in her community regularly. LaKisha is the proud wife of Cherron Jordan and super-mom to three energetic little children – Aidan, DeShawn and Amaya.
Tomi M. Veale
Tomi M. Veale is the Program Coordinator for Youth@Work at the City of New Haven where she is responsible for ensuring the success of the Youth@Work initiative to provide summer and year-round employment and career exposure to youth of New Haven. She also works at Gateway Community College as an adjunct Professor of Sociology in the Social Services Department. Prior to working at the City of New Haven, Tomi was the Alumni College Dean for Amistad Academy where she provided college support services to postgraduate non-traditional students and students transitioning from two-year to four-year colleges through the college application process. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Central Connecticut State University and later earned her Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of New Haven.
Tomi is an active member of the Order of Eastern Star and chairs her chapter’s scholarship committee along with being the State Youth Director. She lives in New Haven where she was born and raised.
Jamie Boussicot
Jamie Boussicot earned her Bachelor's degree in Business from Bay Path College in 2003 and graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 2007 earning her Master's in Business Administration (MBA). She is born in New Haven, CT and recently moved back to CT after residing in Boston for almost 10 years. There she worked in Housing and Judicial Affairs at Mount Ida College and was the Director of Multicultural Affairs at Wheelock College. While Wheelock, Jamie was the founding director of the Multicultural Center and created a student leadership position that solely focused on issues related to Diversity & Inclusion.
Jamie is currently a College Success Counselor at Achievement First Amistad High School (AFAHS) in New Haven, CT. In this role, Jamie works to ensure AFAHS Alumni are accessing campus supports, thriving on campus, and successful through to college graduation. In Jamie's spare time, she does Diversity & Inclusion Consulting at various Secondary and Higher Education institutions in the New England Area.
Jamie is passionate about urban education, college access and success for urban scholars, youth advocacy and mentorship. She's especially excited to serve on the Board of Directors for PIA!
Chanel Rice
Chanel Reneé Rice earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Connecticut, double majoring in psychology and individualized in Children at Risk. She also holds a Master of Arts in School Counseling from Fairfield University. She is currently in her 6th year of private practice work, focusing mainly on children and adolescents. She truly enjoys helping inner-city youth to ensure academic and personal success in difficult environments. Chanel is also currently serving her eighth year in the New Haven Public Schools (as a School Counselor) and has served at many different schools in the district, gaining a diverse background of experience. She is involved in many school and district-wide working groups. Chanel is also the Varsity Assistant Girls’ Basketball Coach for the James Hillhouse High School Lady Academics (in New Haven, CT). Prior to becoming a school counselor, she served as a clinical therapist at the Children’s Center of Hamden in the Extended Day Program, as well as a part-time clinical therapist at Behavioral Management (North Haven, CT), where her work included individual and group therapy, family therapy and community collaborations/partnerships. She is a currently a member of both the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) and Connecticut Counseling Association. Chanel truly loves her work and enjoys being able to work both within the mental health field and school field.
