MEET THE CB4J TEAM

TERRENCE COFFIE FOUNDER

CB4J founder TERRENCE COFFIE is a 2017 graduate of New York University’s Silver School of Social-Work, where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in the field of social-work, with a focus in criminal justice reform. As an advocate, activist and educator, Terrence has committed himself to creating social and political change within the criminal justice system. CB4J is one of several initiatives in collaboration with the Social Justice Network, which Terrence also founded.

Terrence is employed as an Adjunct Professor at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work, where he teaches Forensic Justice in Problem Solving Courts, as well as NYU Prison Education Program. He is the Founder and CEO of the Social Justice Network, a grassroots organization that raises awareness surrounding criminal, racial and social justice reform. He host his weekly talk show It’s Coffee Time on Spotify. During his tenure at NYU, Terrence interned at the prestigious McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research. In 2017 he made his debut as a contributing author in Race, Education and Reintegrating the Formerly Incarcerated Citizen (Lexington Books). He was named the 2017 NASW-NYC Alex Rosen Student of The Year, the 2017 Excellence in Leadership Award Recipient. and NYU’s 2016 President’s Service Award Recipient & Excellence in Leadership Award Recipient for his development of the College Pathways Program, which assists young men of color in obtaining educational opportunities.

Terrence has appeared on numerous venues such as: Yahoo News with Katie Couric and NY1 News - In Focus with Cheryl Wills discussing relevant topics in relations to criminal justice reform in America. He has been published in USA Today regarding Reentry and Voting Rights for the formerly incarcerated. Through his efforts he also gained the support of famed activist Michelle Alexander, author of the New York Times bestselling book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, he is currently in the process of producing the documentary Caged Roses, that focuses on the juvenile justice system in America. Terrence has gained national recognition for his commitment to criminal justice reform.

After spending over 19 years of his life going through the revolving door of incarceration and recidivism, it was in 2009 when he entered a transitional reentry program that assists the formerly incarcerated with changing their lives, it was here that he not only broke the cycle of incarceration, but as he shares “found his purpose!” As a formerly incarcerated person, Terrence brings a very insightful, distinctive and unique perspective surrounding these issues, specifically in the area of reentry. Terrence believes that “those who are closer to the problem, are also those who are closest to the solution” in creating a more fair and equitable system of justice. Email: tcoffie@sjnus.org

Program Manager LUISA COLÓN grew up in the world of comics, as the daughter of famed cartoonist Ernie Colón. Ernie was responsible for illustrating countless comic books over his 65-year career for various publishers such as DC and Marvel, as well as co-creating titles like Damage Control (in collaboration with writer Dwayne McDuffie) and Amethyst (in collaboration with Dan Mishkin and Gary Cohn). Growing up, some of Luisa’s favorite comics were Amethyst (of course), The New Teen Titans, The Outsiders, and Wonder Woman; as a tween, she also became a Love & Rockets superfan, particularly the Locas series by Jaime Hernandez. Luisa is also an artist—she has two murals at the World Trade Center that are currently on display, and her comic strip The Mizerable Misadventures of Morrissey & I has appeared in Creem magazine—as well as an author and journalist. Luisa has written for numerous print and online publications such as The New York Times, USA Today, Glamour, New York, Elle, Latina, Family Circle, and many more. In August 2023, her first novel, Bad Moon Rising, was published by Cemetery Dance Publications. Her second novel, The Burning Class, will be published by CDP in 2025.

Luisa believes that so often, “those closest to the problem are closest to the solution."As someone with an incarcerated loved one, Luisa’s unique insights into the daily struggles of incarcerated citizens have informed her work at CB4J and her vision for I, COMIC.

Email: luisabcolon@sjnus.org

ELAINE FULD is the Donations Project Manager at the Comic Books for Justice Initiative. Elaine has a passion for social justice, having served in both administrative and clinical roles in for a variety of Not-For-Profit Organizations. During college, she worked at a domestic violence shelter  helping women navigate emergency domestic situations. Elaine also volunteered at Women in Need, assisting women and children who were experiencing homelessness.  In addition, Elaine was Co-Chair of a public school grant foundation. Elaine also worked on the New York Women’s Building project, owns an ebay business and has experience running online auctions.  And last but not least, Elaine is the proud mother of two incredible young men and is married to fellow SJN volunteer, Joseph DeMatteo.

Email: efuld@sjnus.org

With over 35 years of dedication to the non-profit performing arts sector, MARYELLEN KERNAGHAN, the Artistic Director at ArtsCare, has made a significant impact as a director, producer, manager, and advocate. Holding a Master of Fine Arts from Columbia University in NYC, she has worked with some of the nation's most esteemed performing arts companies, including The Acting Company (founded by John Houseman), The Shaliko Company at LaMaMa E.T.C., The Big Apple Circus, and The Limon Dance Company. Her contributions extend to Off-Broadway and regional theatre productions.

A passionate advocate for the healing power of the arts, Maryellen has created and implemented arts programming addressing issues such as partner/domestic/elder violence, caregiving, Alzheimer's awareness, and home and traffic safety for organizations like HIP, FDNY First Responders, NYCHA, Henry Street Settlement House, and domestic violence safe houses nationwide.

Maryellen has been a sought-after speaker at prestigious institutions, including the Knight Foundation, Columbia University, Teacher's College, The New School for Social Research, and Adelphi University. She is a proud member of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Family Caregivers Association, The Institute for Global Labour, The Sentencing Project, and Artivism, as well as a spokesperson and professional model for women over 50.

Following the untimely passing of her brother, renowned Worker and Human Rights activist Charles Kernaghan, in 2022, Maryellen has become a Legacy Advocate in his honor. Charles, known as “the pit bull of 7th Ave” by WWD and eulogized in major publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, is celebrated for his pivotal role in launching the anti-sweatshop movement in the United States. The Kernaghan Trust and Kernaghan Associates continue his legacy, merging fashion and social justice.

PATRICK SCHELLE (Research Intern) is a seasoned social worker, having worked for over 15 years in the tristate area, primarily in New York. Determined to address racial disparities and utilize a trauma-responsive approach, Patrick aims to work alongside young people to transform youth, specifically the youth justice system.

In addition to advocacy work in the US and Haiti, his primary job functions include adaptive leadership and program development in the non-profit sector.

Patrick is an active member of many committees and coalitions, including Alternatives to Incarceration Coalition, AntiRacist Alliance, Westchester Coalition for Police Reform, and the White Plains Police Reform Task Force (2021). Patrick has future goals as a PhD student with CUNY’s Graduate Center Social Welfare program, utilizing participatory action research methodologies to transform youth systems, with youth voices at the helm).

Email: pschelle@gradcenter.cuny.edu

CATHERINE SCHULLER, founder of Power Pieces: Heroic Adornment and a trailblazer since moving to New York City from Pittsburgh in 1975, has made significant contributions in fashion and entertainment. Initially arriving with her then-boyfriend, who became Blondie's first drummer, Catherine quickly found her own niche. She studied acting and dance, forming a comedy troupe called The Nerve! which tackled the absurdity of corporate conformity and giving voice to the importance of the individual. Though initially rejected by Ford Models for her weight, Catherine’s persistence led to a successful modeling career in the mid-'80s when Ford signed her to their Special Sizes division. She championed size diversity and inclusivity, eventually becoming an editor at MODE magazine, where she created retail training programs like Shape Shopping with Figure&Fit. Catherine’s advocacy extended to her role as Image and Style Advisor for Divabetic, a charity supporting women with diabetes, and her creation of Runway the Real Way, promoting fashion diversity. Her personal life intertwined with her career when she married Mark Gruenwald, Senior Executive Editor at Marvel Comics from 1978 to his untimely passing in 1996. Together, they bridged the comic and fashion worlds, which has since become the impetus lifelong goal of Mark’s biggest fan, Daniel Hort, of Onomatopoeia Arts, producing a combined concept that is best described as Fashion Week had a baby with Comic Con now in their fourth season named CosMODA: Cosplay Runway. With her love of sustainability and eco conscious philosophy, Catherine also rescued water logged comicbooks from a flood in a store launching Power Pieces: Heroic Adornment, an upcycled accessories line, in honor of Mark.

She always wanted to become the person she wishes she had met when she first moved to New York, she is also dedicated to mentoring upcoming models through her Model Maker Mentors platform. Catherine is known as The Fashion Godmother, continually inspiring and supporting through her many opportunities and unity-driven collaborative projects.

Email: catschuller11@gmail.com

SEAN WHITE is a multimedia creative specializing in freelance writing and project management. From a young age, he developed a deep passion for anime, manga, and comic book characters. Series like Spider-Man, Fairy Tail, Hunter x Hunter, and JoJo’s Bizzare Adventures have significantly inspired his creative journey. He has always been fascinated by worlds filled with characters possessing supernatural powers, which ignited his desire to write his own stories. Writing became the best creative outlet for him to express himself.

Even in elementary school, Sean created comic strips for his friends to enjoy. This passion, combined with the tragic loss of his father to cancer, fueled his determination to make the webcomic “Psychosis” on Webtoon, in collaboration with two other artists, Eljay Morrison and Jawuan Chandler. The comic follows a young Black boy grappling with the trauma of witnessing his father's murder. After this harrowing event leads to a psychotic break, the boy discovers he has superpowers. Through this story, Sean aims to address mental health issues within Black and Brown communities. He hopes to inspire readers with action-packed narratives that resonate with their experiences, helping them understand that they are not alone by providing relatable characters who learn to cope with and manage their struggles.

Email: swhite@sjnus.org

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY JAIL & PRISON SERVICES delivers a range of library programs, including circulating book service at New York City jails and Let’s Read Together!, a book-recording program where incarcerated parents participate in an early literacy workshop to explore the lifelong benefits of reading; parents then make an audio recording reading a favorite picture book so their children can enjoy the book at home, while following along with their parent's voice.

NYPL Jail & Prison Services is proud to publish Connections: A Free Guide for Formerly Incarcerated People is an annual reentry resource guide and the most exhaustive reentry guidebook in New York City. Connections is available to help people coming home after incarceration. Connections also serves as a guide on preparing to apply for jobs after release.

Visit www.nypl.org/help/community-outreach/jail-prison-services for more information.

HUDSON LINK FOR HIGHER EDUCATION was founded in 1998 and is the only 501(c)3 non-profit in the US run by formerly incarcerated individuals to provide college degree-granting programs inside prisons. Their staff consists of more than 50% formerly incarcerated people who dedicate their lives to giving people like themselves a second chance. Hudson Link’s holistic program structure follows each student from pre to post-release, providing alumni with a variety of reentry supports to reduce recidivism, restore families, and rebuild communities. Hudson Link’s pipeline model provides services from the time a student is incarcerated, through transition, to reentry.

Partnering with accredited New York State colleges, Hudson Link delivers quality undergraduate education that is cost-effective. Educating a full-time undergraduate student is estimated to cost $5,000 annually. Nationally, over 67% of formerly incarcerated people return to prison within three years of their initial release date. However, less than 2% of Hudson Link graduates return to prison for a new crime within this three-year period. Hudson alumni return to their families and communities as role models, and 85% are gainfully employed in the field of social services within three months of release.

Visit https://hudsonlink.org/ for more information.