Nicole JeanBaptiste is a resident and native of the Bronx, New York with Caribbean and Southern American parentage. She earned her B.A. degree in African and African-American Studies from Lehman College of the City University of New York. Nicole credits her professional experience at Sauti Yetu Center for African Women and Families, a community based organization in NYC, for much of her training in youth leadership and development work, as she started out as an intern with the Girls Empowerment and Leadership Initiative (GELI) program while still working to complete her undergraduate degree. After working as the Program Coordinator for the GELI program for over a year, Nicole left her position to accept a United States Student Fulbright Award to study and conduct research in Jamaica, West Indies. While there, she completed a project, which sought to explore the link between Rastafarian art and craftwork and traditional African art and craftwork. Upon her return to the United States, Nicole began her training in teaching English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) to a culturally diverse group of immigrant women living in the South Bronx. Nicole brings with her to OHMA an undeniable commitment to girls’ and women’s empowerment and a steadfast love and appreciation for all things cultural. She is a doula in training and a proud mama of a 6 year old son.