PSE’s Growth Continues with Addition of New Team Members
The Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE) is pleased to announce the newest group of individuals to our team. Together, these individuals add to the growing bench strength of professionals we have at PSE – committed and ready to carry out our mission to advance racial equity in metropolitan Atlanta and the American South. Their appointments are noted below.
Jo Cromartie, Director, Marketing, Development and Gift Compliance
Jo Cromartie brings to Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE) over thirteen years of experience in communications and policy. Her passion is driven by translational research and program development. Jo has co-authored, published, and presented in areas that promote diversity and highlight innovation at local, national and international levels.
In the spirit of advocacy, partnering with others has enabled her to serve in countries such as Bosnia I Herzegovina, Haiti, Greece, Dominican Republic, and Mexico by implementing new community programs or training others how to grow existing ones. Bridging theory to best practice, Jo continues to lead an enriching career spanning from academia, to healthcare, and most recently city government, where she played a pivotal role in updating policies and procedures for oversight and monitoring of grant funding.
As a 2020 participant in PSE’s Resident Leadership for Equity Academy, Jo could not be more excited to join the organization’s efforts in elevating just policies in multiple areas with strategies for prosperity and equity as its core.
Jo Holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Winston-Salem State University and a master’s degree in Communication Science from North Carolina Central University. She also holds specializations in Content Marketing Strategies, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, and Cultural & Linguistic Diversity. Jo recently obtained Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification from the Scheller College of Business at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Jo is also a member of the National Grants Management Association,
On the weekends, you’ll likely catch Jo volunteering at local urban farms and gardens in the
Atlanta Metro area.
Kaziem Woodbury, Just Solutions Director
Kaziem Woodbury is an experienced economic development practitioner with a proven track record in attracting social impact investment and job growth to local communities. He is no stranger to challenging, complex and controversial issues. In his new appointment with PSE, Kaziem will oversee the Just Solutions portfolio, the consulting arm of the Partnership for Southern Equity that offers organizational and leadership capacity to understand and address racial equity and other systems of privilege and oppression that produce inequitable outcomes across historically disinvested communities of color.
Prior to his current appointment, Kaziem served PSE as an equity consultant. His previous work includes three years as assistant vice president of external affairs at the Alliance for Downtown New York, and previously directed an IKEA-funded community benefits agreement. He spent four years as Regional Vice President of Operations for Memberr Enterprises, LLC., where he was responsible for operational oversight of a $4 million U.S. based beauty-supply company with locations in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Arizona and e-commerce.
Kaziem holds a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and marketing from Purchase College, State University of New York, and a master’s degree in Social Enterprise Administration & Planning: Nonprofit Management from Columbia University.
Karan Pol, Manager, Just Energy
With a background in climate policy, energy economics, and human rights, Karan Pol joins PSE as the Just Energy Manager. In this role, he will advance the work of PSE’s Just Energy portfolio, which represents an equity ecosystem of frontline communities, subject-matter experts, houses of worship, youth movements, and academia organizing together to engage marginalized communities and communities of color to mobilize advocacy around energy equity issues. Karan is committed to ensuring that the global energy transition is one that centers the people first.
Prior to joining PSE, Karan worked for a start-up in Washington, D.C. providing geopolitical risk, economic, and financial analysis to bring small, modular, nuclear power to market as a solution for energy poverty and carbon neutrality.
Karan holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, and a master’s degree in International Policy, both from the University of Georgia.
Solomon McBride, Manager, Just Energy
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, specifically the West End, Solomon McBride has a long history of advocacy and organizing, bringing an interdisciplinary perspective on the systems change required to develop equitable, healthy, and sustainable communities. He brings this unique perspective to our work as Just Energy Manager.
Before joining PSE, Solomon served in leadership roles at Georgia Institute of Technology, The Clubhouse Network, and Massachusetts General Hospital. Additionally, Solomon has continued to root himself in political advocacy work, particularly in regard to racial equity, education, and climate policy and energy.
Solomon holds double bachelor’s degrees in African and African-American Studies and Health Science/Policy, both from Brandeis University.
Charles Peterson, Just Opportunity Associate
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Charles Peterson’s childhood was filled with history lessons provided through the lens of his maternal great-grandparents. These history lessons, filled with the values of love of self, the discipline of hard work and the necessity to love others, shaped how Charles has shown up throughout his life.
His work experience was first enriched through internships with General Electric Capital in Atlanta, and Morgan Stanley in New York. He represented the Bethune-Cookman University School of Business in conferences around the country with partners such as Key Bank and Unilever. Through his participation with the non-profit Management Leadership for Tomorrow, Charles noticed the lack of representation in executive positions, and this ignited his desire to ensure diversity and inclusion for Black and Brown people.
After completing his degree at Bethune-Cookman University, Charles was led to embody the charge of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve”. His first assignment brought home to serve in the Atlanta Public Schools’ Autism Unit as a Behavior intervention Specialist for non-verbal learners. Charles’ journey has taken him to the City of Atlanta’s Office of Recreation as a Youth Development Coordinator and Community Facility Manager. He also served as Program manager for the At Promise Youth Initiative. As Charles’ understanding increases, he now knows that inclusion and diversity are not enough, and equity is a necessity. Charles brings this understanding to PSE as Associate with the Just Opportunity portfolio.
Charles is a proud product of the Atlanta Public School System, graduating from Benjamin Elijah Mays High School. He received his bachelor’s degree in business from Bethune-Cookman University. Charles is a proud husband and father of four. His hobbies include family time, reading, and enjoying music. Charles has a passion for community work and fatherhood initiatives. He is currently the co-host of the Fathers Inspired Restored and Motivated podcast, a platform where folks share and gain wisdom through conversation, guided by the perspective of two Black fathers.
