Meet the Board of Directors

  • Tanya Hernandez is the family policy advisor in the western New York region for the Office of Children and Family Services, where her role is to amplify the voice of parents and caregivers who have experienced the child welfare system by incorporating them within New York State’s child welfare structure.

    With a passion for advocacy and building bridges, Tanya uses a DEI framework and lived experience to help bring the family voice to the child welfare system.

    Tanya is a bilingual, credentialed family peer advocate with almost 20 years of experience in child protection, juvenile justice, domestic violence, and health care. She worked most recently as an advocate for Muslim and refugee families in western New York.

    As a priestess within the Santeria religion, Tanya assists individuals in the quest for self-discovery, personal growth, connecting to ancestors and spiritual transformation. Tanya has also served as a facilitator for Red Tent, a sacred space where women gather to honor femininity, stand in their truth and find support as they navigate the intricacies of their emotions.

  • Dr. Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, EdD., is Executive Director of the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC), an inclusive, social justice community center in the City of Ithaca.

    During her 20-year tenure as a member of the Tompkins County Legislature, she created and chaired the Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Committee and co-authored legislation to make Tompkins County a living wage employer, one among several equity-centered legislative actions she initiated. For two years, she also chaired the Legislature.

    Educated both abroad and domestically, Leslyn holds two Bachelors of Science degrees (K-12 Education and Intercultural Communication/Adult Education), an MBA, and a doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership.

    She is a 25-year veteran facilitator, mediator, and a certified mediation trainer.

    For over 12 years, Leslyn ran her own training and consulting business providing coaching and speaking engagements for several agencies, universities, and governments on developing internal communication and conflict-management procedures, diversity, inclusion and empowerment, as well as race relations.

    She has lived her entire life on the premise that it is important to stay involved in organizing and advocacy, and committed to dismantling systemic barriers impacting marginalized and minoritized communities through local organizations, public office, public schools, and volunteerism.

  • Tilisa Stubbs is the founder of Home Equity Real Estate (HER) Investments LLC. She chose HER to represent her business because women are doing some truly miraculous things in the real estate space and she is ALL THE WAY here for it! After a chance encounter with her first private money lender who gave her $100k, Tilisa knew that having an endless amount of capital would give her the fuel to take her business to the highest of heights.

    One thing that she loves as much as real estate is being able to help women succeed in life and business, which is why she is a proud board member of Amplify Equity.

  • Asia Johnson is a writer, storyteller, and filmmaker who has worked with several organizations in the criminal justice reform space, including The Bail Project, Shakespeare in Prison, Prison Creative Arts Program, Hamtramck Free School, and the Michigan Prison Doula Initiative. Asia is a 2019 Right of Return Fellow, 2019 Room Project Fellow, 2021 Brennan Center for Justice Fellow, 2022 Art for Justice grantee,2022 Highland Leader, and a 2024 Galaxy Gives Fellow. Her Chapbook, An Exorcism, was released in 2018 and her directorial debut, Out of Place, was released in 2022.

    Asia studied at University of Michigan-Dearborn and is the Manager of Storytelling and Media Productions at Zealous. When Asia isn’t helping to uplift the stories of those impacted by the criminal legal system and making her dream of a world without cages come true, she is writing poetry.

  • Mike Katz is a retired entrepreneur who has owned and operated many businesses including a screen-printing company, a travel agency, a marketing consultancy, and a number of franchises.

    In addition, Mike has done Major Gifts fundraising for a number of local not-for-profit organizations including Hospicare, the Sciencenter, and SUNY Cortland. I am a native New Yorker, a resident of Ithaca, NY, and a graduate of Princeton University.

    Mike is passionate about helping provide support and resources for people who have great ideas for starting a business but feel that the opportunity to do so is not open to them.

Interested in joining AE’s Board of Directors? We’d love to talk!

Click here to fill out a very brief interest form, and you’ll hear back from us soon.

  • Kevin Mietlicki is the President and CEO of Alternatives Federal Credit Union (AFCU), a CDFI Community Development Credit Union in Ithaca, New York.

    Kevin has spent 32 years in the credit union industry delivering on the credit union model of “People Helping People”. During his tenure at AFCU, the credit union has made many changes to its services and products in order to better serve historically underserved communities in the financial system.

    Kevn uses his industry knowledge and position at AFCU to advocate for low-income and minority communities in the financial services industry at the local, state and national levels of government; he also volunteers his time as board member for several local service organizations.

    Kevin has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the State University of New York at Albany and earned his MBA in Finance from SUNY Buffalo.

  • Rev. Corey Cooke is a dynamic leader whose life is dedicated to serving his community through various roles that span public service, religious ministry, and social advocacy. As the Elmira Second District City Councilman, he tirelessly champions the needs and aspirations of his constituents, advocating for transparent and inclusive policies that enhance the quality of life for all residents.

    In his spiritual roles as Pastor of Monumental Baptist Church and Reflection Remnant Church, Rev. Cooke is a guiding light, delivering sermons that inspire and uplift, while fostering communities built on faith, love, and service. His pastoral work is complemented by his efforts on the Elmira Downtown Development Board, where he supports initiatives to invigorate the city's economic landscape and the Local Waterway Revitalization Plan Planning Board, promoting sustainable environmental practices.

    Rev. Cooke's commitment to social equity is further demonstrated through his involvement with Amplify Equity's Board of Directors and as a member of the Elmira/Corning NAACP. In these roles, he actively works to dismantle systemic barriers and promote inclusivity, ensuring equal access to opportunities and resources for all individuals. His advocacy extends to global platforms through his membership in Lions Club International and the Los Angeles Ministry Alliance, where he participates in humanitarian efforts and interfaith dialogues.

    As the Director of Perfected Pursuit Music Academy, Rev. Cooke nurtures young talents, fostering personal development and cultural expression through the arts. His affiliation with the American Baptist Churches and the Living Waters Association connects him to a broader network of faith-based organizations, strengthening ties within the religious community.

    Rev. Corey Cooke's multifaceted roles reflect his unwavering commitment to creating a just, equitable, and vibrant society. Whether he is advocating for civil rights, preaching to his congregation, or mentoring young musicians, his impact is profound and far-reaching, inspiring others to pursue their own paths of service and leadership. 

Emeritus Members

  • Richard Furnas served over 15 years on Amplify Equity’s Board of Directors. He is a Teaching Associate at Cornell University, and Owner of Microcomputer Power. Richard is a passionate advocate for social justice, transparency in organizations, financial equity, and extending business support services to a broad and diverse community. He has long experience advocating for diversity and its measurements in contexts ranging from natural habitats and biodiversity to personal identity and ethnic diversity.

    Academic credentials: BA Biology, MS Biology, MS Mathematics, PhD Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.