2009-05-19T18:47:00.000-07:00

JAMEEL GHUARI
Since 1993, Jameel has been the Executive Director of the Bray Center. Before this post, he was Program Manager for the Urban League's Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse prevention programs. In prior years, Jameel worked with youth for the Racine Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (now F.O.C.U.S.). His professional social service career started at what was The Taylor Home for Adjudicated Youth.

After graduation from Washington Park High School, he attended UW-Parkside and later, after several years of traveling the world and playing international basketball (was once contracted to play NBA basketball with the Buffalo Braves/now the LA Clippers), Jameel graduated from UW-Parkside with a degree in Communications. He developed writing and speaking skills, which he has fine tuned over the years on behalf of the people and causes to which he is committed, displaying skill at grant writing and program development. For ten years Jameel wrote the monthly column, "A Minority Report", for the Racine Journal Times. He then developed video media projects, most recently airing on Racine's local cable access channel, CAR25.

Jameel was once a teacher, professionally, at The Prairie School as well as at schools in Tokyo, Japan and Manila in the Philippine Islands. His passion remains in the genre of teaching, whether it be those communication skills, basketball and all the life skills related to competitive sports, or mentoring young men always with the eye toward further education.

Various awards and volunteer community service highlights in Jameel's past include: Inductee - UWParkside Basketball Hall of Fame, first annual UW-Parkside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award, Mayor's Gang Task Force (80's), NAACP Committees (Executive Committee, Prison/Drug Subcommittee).

Personal details: The loving son of Charlie and Annie Mae Chambliss (both deceased), Jameel is devoted to his faith, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, and his family.

JEHAN GHUARI
Recently moved to new position as Assistant Head Start Director with Racine/Kenosha Community Action Agency(yet still helping as a volunteer), Jehan began her work at the Bray Center in 1993, part-time as the Associate Director responsible for helping lift the agency into renewed strength of programming and financial stability. She grew into the administrative position of Operations Director, combining managerial and program service delivery responsibilities. She kept a trophy on display in her office commemorating her accomplishment as RBA Coach of the Year after an undefeated season and an unlikely championship fielding players from the neighborhood who never played varsity basketball. Jehan was a frequent program staff participant in varieties of direct service activities. This seems in keeping with her history of teaching (RUSD & UW-Parkside), and working at the Urban League as Program Manager for Gang Diversion programs, all of which was preceded by positions working with young people at the Racine Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and earlier the YWCA.

A teacher by profession, Jehan graduated from UW-Lacrosse with a degree in English and Teacher Certification for grades 8-12. She later received her Masters of Science in Cultural Foundations in Education: Race/Gender/Class from UW-Milwaukee. As a long-term substitute teacher for Racine Unified School District and an interim instructor in the UW-Parkside Multicultural Education Department (Cultural Differences in Language/Learning/Teaching Styles) providing continuing education coursework for educators in Racine and Kenosha, she then took time from her teaching profession to be a mother. She still volunteered on behalf of youth as a volunteer for six years serving on the board and a weekly shift on the Crisis Hotline at what was then Innovative Youth Services (now Safe Haven).

Jehan was deeply involved in the operation of the agency's GEAR UP program. The main focus of GEAR-UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), is to encourage and support students to remain in school, graduate from high school, and go on to obtain a post-secondary education. Support and mentoring has included:
- Post-secondary Admissions
- Financial Aid and Scholarships
- ACT preparation, Pre-testing and Fee Waivers
- College Tours and Field Trips
- Academic Support
- Life Skills Training
Jehan's daily presence and impact will be missed.

VINCENT THOMAS
The Bray Center's Building Supervisor, Vincent came into regular full time employment through determination, a strong work ethic, and the ability to lead. His dependability, loyalty, and willingness to solve problems are strengths benefitting the Bray Center and those it serves. (picture and more bio details to come...)

You are invited to have a conversation with staff.

2009-02-12T19:19:00.001-08:00

Please feel free to ask questions or make suggestions to staff through this post. We look forward to hearing from you.

Staff Bios

You are invited to have a conversation with staff.