BOARD CHAIR

President & CEO, Equity Impact Center

Leigh Solomon Pugliano is an entrepreneur, educator, musician, and experienced strategist whose expertise has supported and advanced entrepreneurs, creatives, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Leigh has supported organizational and leadership development through consulting, strategic planning, coaching, and facilitation. For over a decade, Leigh served as Principal Consultant at Straightforward Consulting, centering equity and justice-based principles in strategies designed to achieve operational efficiency and effectiveness. She is dedicated to creating collective learning and collaboration spaces– emphasizing transformative leadership, research, data-driven solutions, and community engagement.

VICE CHAIR

Research Manager, Duquesne University Center for Integrative Health (DUCIH)

Lisa Ripper is the Research Manager at Duquesne University Center for Integrative Health (DUCIH), where she uses her skills in community-engaged research and evaluation to support DUCIH in addressing rural and urban health care disparities and improving health equity in the Pittsburgh region and beyond.

Lisa received her Bachelor of Science in Sport and Exercise Science from Gannon University in Erie, PA, and her Master’s in Public Health in Behavioral and Community Health Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

SECRETARY

Operations Director, Center for Shared Prosperity

Marlene Williams is a native of Pittsburgh and graduated from Westinghouse High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Carlow University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

At the Center for Shared Prosperity, Marlene is the new Operations Director. CSP was made possible by a $30 million grant (over six years) from the Heinz Endowments. It is a new initiative to address long-standing barriers to equity and foster economic empowerment in the greater Pittsburgh region.

ADVISOR

President, Demeatria Boccella Productions/Founder Fashion Africana

Demeatria Boccella is a producer and curator of style, culture, and design.

Through her production company, DEMEATRIA BOCCELLA PRODUCTIONS, LLC, she and her team of experts curate global multi–media productions and programs—and provide high-end creative services across multiple sectors.

ADVISOR

President & CEO, Consultant, Executive Coach

Lisa J. Perry is a collaborative leader with 30 years of experience in executive management and education administration. She is a servant leader who brings passion and compassion to her work. Ms. Perry is a lifelong learner, strategic thinker, and a community collaborator.

Lisa is a community connector and successfully works to leverage relationships with local and regional stakeholders, the foundation community, and multiple partner agencies.

In recent years, Ms. Perry launched Take Flight Productions, an executive and nonprofit consulting firm serving individual leaders and organizations looking to build capacity.

MEMBER

Workforce Development, Career Programs and Training, UPMC

Mallory is passionate about Workforce Development with experience in business, community outreach, and social services - along with a dual Bachelor's degree in Business Management and Psychology from Penn State University. She has skills in program coordination, training, coaching, and mentoring. She currently helps run the Pathways to Work program at UPMC, sitting within the HR/recruitment teams.

MEMBER

Founder, VisionByJG.com
Music Art Equality

J.G. is a musician, artist, and entrepreneur who has been losing his sight for years due to a rare condition called retinitis pigmentosa.

A friend once said to him: “Hey, J.G., you may be going blind, but you have great vision.”

J.G. took that to heart and founded VisionByJG.com to share his vision and help others do the same.

J.G. has over 20 years of experience at the nexus of arts, education, and advocacy.

MEMBER

Commissioner, Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs & Program Director, Intergovernmental Affairs at UPMC

Martell Covington is a distinguished community advocate and former public official. Recognized as one of the City & State PA 2025 Black Trailblazers, Covington has built a career at the intersection of legislative strategy and grassroots advocacy, dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers in his native Pittsburgh and beyond.

As a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Covington represented the 24th District with a focus on "environmental justice, public safety, and educational equity". His legislative tenure followed years of high-impact service as a senior aide to Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, where he was instrumental in shaping major regional initiatives such as the Oakland Plan and the Oakland Business Improvement District’s Strategic Plan. His transition into public office was a natural evolution of more than 12 years spent at the Community Empowerment Association (CEA), where he rose from a participant in youth programs to the Chair of the Board of Directors, overseeing mission-critical services for at-risk families in Pittsburgh's East End.

Covington’s leadership is further distinguished by his commitment to millennial and minority political engagement. He made history as part of the first Black leadership duo to serve as Vice President of the Young Democrats of Allegheny County, where he pioneered judicial forums designed to demystify the legal system for everyday citizens. A graduate of Howard University with a degree in Business Administration and an alumnus of the Leadership Pittsburgh Development Initiative, Covington combines a sophisticated understanding of policy with a lifelong dedication to mentorship, making him a powerful voice for transformative change.

MEMBER

Award Winning Leader, Strategic Program Manager, Author

Tiffany T. Huff is an award-winning writer, strategic storyteller, and community leader based in Pittsburgh, PA. As Founder and CEO of When She Thrives (2014-2024), she built a regional nonprofit that served single mothers and their families, creating the Scenes From a Single Mom Book Project through which nearly 100 women became published authors across seven anthology volumes. She is also the author of 30 Day Stay: One Woman’s Story of Escaping Death, Healing from Heartbreak and Finding Hope in Homelessness.

Tiffany’s expertise in strategic communications has supported nonprofits, leaders, and entrepreneurs in crafting compelling narratives that drive both income and impact. She has been recognized as a 2024 Woman of Influence by Pittsburgh Business Times, 2024 Jefferson Award honoree by Multiplying Good, and 2023 Woman of Excellence by New Pittsburgh Courier.

Currently on a professional exploratory sabbatical, Tiffany is focusing on her writing practice while continuing her board service and community leadership work.

MEMBER

Program Director, UPMC Health Plan Neighborhood Center

Thomas Washington Jr. is a dynamic board leader with a proven record of guiding cross-functional teams and advancing community-focused initiatives across Western Pennsylvania. His board service spans education, youth empowerment, and family advocacy, reflecting a deep commitment to collaborative governance and impactful change. Thomas has held strategic roles—including Board Chairman and Vice Chairman—at Urban Pathways Charter School K-5 and the Fathers Collaborative Council of Southwest PA, where he has fostered innovative programs that strengthen organizational vision and community outcomes.

As a board member of JADA House International, Thomas contributes expertise in organizational strategy and community engagement, supporting initiatives that empower underserved populations. His leadership is marked by a focus on connecting resources, building consensus, and driving sustainable impact. Thomas brings a unique ability to unite diverse stakeholders and leverage collective strengths for regional progress.

With an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Business from Point Park University, Thomas combines practical business acumen with a passion for board-level mentorship, service, and equality. His contributions continue to shape collaborative efforts and inspire meaningful action throughout Western Pennsylvania.