Our Team

Yodit Mesfin Johnson

Momma Bear. Activist. Black Feminist. Nonprofit Know It All. Founder, @BlackMenRead

Yodit Mesfin Johnson (she/her) has been working at the intersections of racial justice and liberatory practices for women and black, indigenous and other people of color for nearly two decades. Recently, she has been facilitating dialogue with individuals, organizations and communities of people who wish to explore race, anti-racist practices and smashing white dominant culture. As a champion for equity and social change, she believes there is no greater antidote for hate than love and liberation. She founded Black Men Read and leads the organization’s culture and strategy work. In her spare time she is actively trying to decolonize her mind.

Charmin Archer

Program & Curriculum Director, Educator, Writer, Analog Collage Artist

Charmin is an educator and curriculum writer with a passion for global literacy and youth empowerment. Over the past 20 years she has taught on the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels nationally and internationally and is the co-founder of the Heidelberg Arts Leadership Academy (HALA) where she serves as the Director of Education. Charmin holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan in American Culture and Africana Studies and an MA in Elementary Education from the City College of New York. Owner of Bow & Archer, a collage journal and home goods company, Charmin draws inspiration from her love of travel, nature and the African Diaspora.

Tamara Tucker-Ibarisha

Ph.D.Science Nerd. Crafty Creative. Dancer. Cultural Enthusiast. Educator. 

Tamara Tucker-Ibarisha holds a doctorate in Cell and Molecular Biology and has been teaching at the college level for over a decade. She has a passion for education and has developed and been involved in STEM education outreach initiatives for children, college students, and the general public. She is a co-founder of Black Men Read and focuses on the educational and creative aspects of the program.

Kate Williams

(she/her)

Program Coordinator, artist, educator, and advocate for youth and community voice

Kate is an education professional working in Southeast Michigan. She instructed K-12 visual art for eight years. While teaching, Kate focused her career around student centered learning, culturally relevant teaching, and community engagement through the arts. She believes in arts and culture as meaningful avenues for learning and changemaking. One of Kate’s favorite children’s books is The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, and she loved reading it to the students in her art classes.