Anthony became Cities United’s first Executive Director in October 2015, charged with building out the organization and expanding the network. Before joining Cities United, he led the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods in Louisville, working with the community to build out the city’s One Love Louisville Plan. Throughout his career, Anthony has made it a priority to cultivate up-and-coming leaders.
Marcus Ellis is a subject matter expert in the field of Community Violence Prevention and Intervention with a solid track record of success focusing on public safety, community engagement, and youth rehabilitation. Serving as the Deputy of Impact, Marcus uses his love for community and years of experience leading public and private work to ensure Cities United and the jurisdictions it serves are leading the way to the future we want to see.
Brittanny believes that advocacy is a collaborative effort and feels privileged to be part of an organization that effects change. She has more than 15 years of experience in the administrative support field. Outside of work, Brittanny enjoys traveling and collecting experiences with her family.
Alesisia Cobb-Minnis leads strategy, regional mobilization, and leadership development to strengthen the next generation of CVI leaders and advance public safety through a public health lens. She holds a Master of Jurisprudence in Child Law and Policy from Loyola University Chicago and a Dual B.A. in Justice Studies and Inner-City Studies from Northeastern Illinois University. Alesisia continues to champion restorative justice, cash bail reform, and children’s policy.
Interim Deputy of Impact at Cities United, where she drives data‑informed strategies to create safe, healthy, and hopeful communities for young Black men and boys. With advanced training in quantitative methods, participatory community‑based research, and a passion for storytelling and data visualization, she leads the design and evaluation of innovative violence‑prevention initiatives and jurisdictions’ enhanced ecosystems.
Rachel aligns people, projects, and priorities to advance Cities United's mission and vision. Rachel is proud to call Tacoma, Washington home, and in her spare time she enjoys traveling, playing with her nephew, and finding the best food in her city.
Prior to joining Cities United, Monica has served as a practitioner in community development, organizational development, program development and management, and grant writing for 25 years, with local government, various nonprofits, churches, and neighborhood-based organizations. She loves serving people and believes that her daily purpose is found in how much she is willing to give away!
Kirby is a natural convener with a deep passion for uplifting community-centered approaches to justice and public safety. She brings extensive experience in advancing local and national policies and programs focused on reimagining public safety, violence prevention and intervention, jail reduction strategies, reentry for returning citizens, and young adult justice.
With a strong foundation in community development, nonprofit leadership, and education. Ashley Harrell brings years of experience creating inclusive, empowering environments where people and communities thrive. My background includes leading initiatives centered around equity, collaboration, and strategic engagement, always with a heart for service and impact. Ashley is deeply passionate about empowering individuals, cultivating meaningful relationships, and supporting mission-driven work. Whether through program development, community outreach, or team leadership, Ashley focuses on building authentic connections and driving positive change.
At Cities United, Paul partners with our executive director and deputies to advance our mission by growing and strengthening relationships with strategic partners and local elected officials. His prior roles include Government Affairs and Community Engagement Director at SoundThinking, and Mayoral Outreach Manager at Everytown for Gun Safety. As a strategic partnerships and community engagement professional with over 10 years of experience, Paul has honed his ability to mobilize grassroots efforts, manage programs, advocate for legislative changes, and maintain strong public relations.
Seryn is a Louisville native, poet, public speaker, and community activist dedicated to empowering youth and amplifying voices often left unheard. She has also been part of the Cities United ecosystem for many years. And as a 2022 Cities United Young Leader Fellow, connector, and evaluation consultant, she bridges art, advocacy, and strategy to drive meaningful change.
Please join us in welcoming Heather Bland to the Cities United team as our new National Engagement Coach! With more than eight years of experience in program management, leadership development, community engagement, and public safety, Heather brings a deep commitment to strengthening communities and expanding opportunity. Most recently, she managed the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy, supporting violence intervention leaders from across the country. In her role at Cities United, Heather will help lead the development and implementation of national initiatives, providing coaching, project ma
Ahmaad is an ordained minister, public servant, and community advocate dedicated to building safe, healthy, and hopeful communities. In his role, he supports the Office of the Executive Director by coordinating scheduling, assisting with day-to-day operations, and helping strengthen the effectiveness of our work alongside the Chief of Staff. A graduate of Hampton University and Harvard Divinity School, he is committed to mobilizing faith institutions and fostering civic partnerships for long-term community impact.
The Senior Associate of Creative Impact supports Cities United’s narrative, storytelling, and cultural activation efforts by executing high-quality creative assets and experiences that advance the organization’s public safety mission. This role focuses on translating strategy, data, and narrative direction into visual, digital, and experiential outputs that elevate Cities United’s work across the network.
Monique Mozee, a Louisville native and seasoned federal administrator, brings deep experience in operations, training, and civic liaison work to her role as Senior Associate of Advancement at Cities United. She manages grant operations, advancement systems, fundraising coordination, and cross‑department deliverables that keep the organization running smoothly. As the first hire in a growing Advancement team, she supports the Executive Director’s strategic focus while shaping a function that will expand under her leadership.
Andria is a dedicated and goal-driven professional with a strong work ethic and a passion for growth. With over 20 years of experience in providing administrative support, Andria is a detail-oriented and organized professional skilled in managing daily office operations and streamlining processes for maximum efficiency. Known for her fun-loving spirit, she enjoys laughing, dancing, and singing, while also thriving behind the scenes—though she occasionally steps into the spotlight. She continuously pushes herself beyond her comfort zone, aspiring to grow her personal and professional horizons within Cities United.
Ashley supports the Senior Director of Finance with budgeting, financial tracking, and reporting that informs internal decision-making and strengthens our financial systems. She is excited to apply her passion for numbers and financial systems to support Cities United’s work toward measurable impact, and outside of work she is a devoted, family-oriented mother of four boys.
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