Board

Jen has a passion for helping people realize their strengths in transforming their own lives. She works within the Durham community to assist students in reaching their academic and behavioral goals. One of her missions is to dismantle the stigma of mental health and strengthen the community. She utilizes a strength-based approach when working with youth and families. She also incorporates restorative practices to help build relationships. She believes that everyone possesses the ability to be better but may need assistance on the journey, which is where she steps in.

Jen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York and a Master of Social Work from North Carolina Central University. Jen is a self-identified lover of ice cream, dream chaser, and difference-maker.

Dr. Lorenza Wilkins is an equity-driven servant leader and inductee into the National Society of Leadership and Success. As a 2018 participant in the National Opportunity Youth Forum hosted by the Aspen Institute (Aspen, CO), Dr. Wilkins is forever committed to philanthropy and service to the common good of all humanity. As a former Consultant with Clemson University’s South Carolina Coalition for Mathematics & Science, Dr. Wilkins fully supports raising student achievement and advocating for STEM literacy to prepare our young people to compete in an evolving 21^st Century global marketplace. Dr. Wilkins previously served as Executive Director at Rebound, Alternatives for Youth, Senior Director of Programs and Operations at Made in Durham, Program Manager at the Triangle Literacy Council, and Talent Advisor at CSX. Dr. Wilkins credits projects with NCCU BRITE/Fab Lab, Duke University’s Design Thinking Team, and Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship with solidifying and validating the programmatic infrastructure at Compass Youth Center. As a graduate of Leadership Triangle, Dr. Wilkins is proud to be a Goodmon Fellow and change agent across the Triangle. Leadership Triangle is a nonprofit organization established in 1992 to educate and promote regionalism across the separate communities of the Triangle. As a former student-athlete at North Carolina Central University, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Master of Business Administration, and Doctor of Business Administration from Columbia Southern University. Dr. Wilkins is a native of Lake Gaston, N.C., and enjoys spending time with his wife, four children, and family. His hobbies include volunteering, gardening, weight training, boating, fishing, and swimming.

Caroline Clodfelter is a UNC-Chapel Hill undergraduate and director of the TEACH Initiative, a non-profit aiming to curb harm caused by mental illness and substance use in North Carolina through youth education. She has long been involved in youth service, social justice interventions, mentorship projects, and substance use prevention, leading her to look critically at the existing substance use education programs. It is apparent that we need a different approach to youth substance and mental health education. The organization’s near-peer approach to harm reduction education encourages trust and comfortable conversation changing how we teach young people about substances and overall well-being. Under her leadership, the TEACH Initiative received the 2022 Robert E. Bryan Fellowship in social innovation, where the team was advised by the Carolina Center for Public Service on developing its program. Caroline also has research experience in studying opioid withdrawal and the effects of CBD and THC treatment on HIV-related neurodegeneration. 

Sophie Suberman is the co-founder and executive director of Grow Your World. Suberman has an educational background in Spanish, education, law, restorative practices, and coaching. She is passionate about equity and sees technology as a tool to provide quality programming and mentorship opportunities to youth across the world. In 2019, Suberman and Soteria Shepperson co-founded Grow Your World to provide equity-oriented relationships across ages and backgrounds that expand everyone’s access to new personal and professional opportunities. Suberman enjoys finding creative solutions to entrenched problems that keep people and communities from thriving.

Julie Boler is a bridge builder and problem solver, whose nonprofit career focuses on creating opportunities for fruitful collaborations between widely divergent cross-sections of Americans. She prioritizes pursuits that expand access to civic engagement and illuminate shared goals between groups who see themselves as opponents. Julie reaches across lines of division to inspire confidence in win-win scenarios. She believes that by investing resources and support where they are most needed, we can discover the hidden gifts and strengths that enable individuals to reach their full potential and society to evolve towards abundant well-being for all. 

“My passion for working with nonprofits comes from my desire to see and experience organizations making a difference in their community. I consider myself a learner and love to learn from others. In nonprofits, my strengths are in finances, development, fundraising, organizing, and translating. I currently work for 5 local nonprofits in the Durham community and have been working in the nonprofit sector for over 10 years. 

I’ve found that my own success comes directly from aligning with the organizations’ mission and goals. I understand the need for nonprofits because I, myself have benefited from nonprofit services in the past. By aligning my mission with the organizations’ mission, I am able to make the biggest impact and that is why I do what I do – to impact more people for the better.

In 2016, I was awarded the Steve Schewel Award for being a Triangle resident who does fabulous work for their local nonprofit.

When I’m not working hard, I love to travel, try new restaurants, take a day trip to the ocean, and experience new things.”

Dorel Clayton is a peer support professional with practical, life-changing experience, who works to assist individuals with chemical dependency, mental health disorders, and other stressors. Dorel has helped peers of all ethnic groups but has focused on African Americans. As a result of his real-world experience, Dorel has expertise that professional training cannot replicate. He has the mentality and ability to reach today’s youth, providing assistance with articulating recovery goals, learning and practicing new skills, helping with monitoring progress, assisting in treatment, modeling effective coping techniques, and implementing self-help strategies based on his own recovery experience. He also assists individuals with increasing self-advocacy to obtain necessary and effective services.

Dorel spent 5 years working on a crisis unit and has been trained in health care counseling and Peer Bridging. Dorel is certified in Peer Support by the State of North Carolina and also received certification as a facilitator with Cardinal Innovations, in addition to certifications in CPR, First Aid, and EBPI, as well as being well-versed in WRAP® intervention. Dorel’s experience, compassion, and previous justice involvement led to him becoming a Supervisor for Durham’s implementation of the cure violence model designed to prevent gun violence. Today Dorel continues employment with Durham County and is the Community Health Worker for the FIT Program (formerly incarcerated transitions). Dorel is a dedicated Husband and Loving Father. He’s also commitment to reducing recidivism and the stigma associated with Substance use disorder and Mental health in the Black community.

Tom McQuiston, a Doctor of Public Health, retired in 2015 from 30 years of work in the labor movement where he focused on health, safety, the environment, and participatory education and research. During his career he worked for international labor unions where he developed, directed, and evaluated national public health programs involving international labor unions, universities and hundreds of workplaces. For over 13 years, Tom has volunteered and sponsored residents at Orange Correction Center, a NC state prison. He is also a co-founder of Wounded Healers NC, a peer mentoring and support program for those transitioning from prison back to the community. In addition to being RSN’s Founder and Board Treasure, Tom also serves as RSN’s Senior Advisor. Tom brings his Quaker values to every aspect of his life and work.