About Us

Our Staff

Founder and President

Makini Nyanteh

For more than 25 years, Makini Nyanteh has been a communications leader in the public and private sectors, working with internationally prominent brands in a range of industries including pharmaceuticals, utilities, consumer goods, consumer packaging, financial services, and the federal government. She is an innate strategist well versed in senior executive consultation, change management, issues and crisis management, media relations, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion communications.

Having served on many professional and advisory boards, many of which were committed to serving youth, Makini established the Kojensen Foundation in 2020 to serve a much more personal interest and passion. Being aware of and sensitive to the many factors adversely affecting young people throughout the country, she has been most moved by the fragile conditions of unpreparedness and lack of support for youth who age out of the foster care system at age 18. She is passionate about advocating for this vulnerable population, to ensure that their needs are seen and heard.

Makini earned her B.A. in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and earned a graduate certificate in Leadership Development from Johns Hopkins University. Outside of Kojensen Foundation, she enjoys adjunct teaching at the collegiate level and is an avid volunteer and advocate for many youth causes.

Chief Executive Officer

Orlando Xavier Hixon

Orlando Xavier Hixon (Xavier) is a distinguished leader with more than a decade of executive experience in business, non-profit/foundation development, education, financial management, media production, non-profit management, and community action. As current board director and president of operations for the James Brown Family Foundation, and previous board director for singer Chris Brown, he is charged with building the first Performance Arts Center honoring and maintaining the James Brown legacy. With accomplishments too expansive to list, they include but are not limited to developing a STEM academy in Ghana, the production of their TV show (Color of STEM), coalescing with A-list celebrities to develop performance arts institutes and nonprofits in Greater Campinas, San Paolo, Brazil; and high-profile projects in Canada and the USA in sports with professional sports leagues.

Having held multiple executive titles (e.g., President, VP, CEO, COO, and Chair) in Prince George’s County, MD agencies, Xavier also provided oversight of $35 million in services for the Metro Regional Planning Council in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. With directorships and over fifteen years as professor, senior director, financial liaison and fellow at the University of the District of Columbia, Xavier has profoundly leveraged his BS from Southern University, and his MPA and MBA from the University of the District of Columbia to exemplify what it means to contribute to the support, stability, and enrichment of diverse communities and their growth.

Outreach and Operations Director

Dyanne Street

Dyanne Street is the Outreach and Operations Director for the Kojensen Foundation. In this role she leads the design and implementation of KJF programming and oversees the Foundation’s partnerships.

Dyanne, affectionately referred to as “Miss Dee,” is a retired marketing consultant and business owner who has worked with small businesses throughout the U.S. by helping them design strategic marketing campaigns and joint ventures to gain traction in their distinctive marketplace. She has created, directed, and been an assistant director of youth programs prior to establishing her business and has countless volunteer hours even during that time. She also served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer for nearly ten years.

She continues to make contributions to youth empowerment programs and small businesses in the Washington Metropolitan area.

Human Resources Manager

Tyerell Warren

Tyerell Warren is a results-focused leader who strives for achievement and delivers talent acquisition, retention and motivation solutions that help companies and organizations harness the full potential of one of their most valuable assets. Tyerell is dedicated to creating vigorous company culture that promotes the development of continuous business growth and acculturates customer loyalty by delegating and influencing employees to understand their full potential in bringing the best quality out of each individual.

Tyerell spent a number of years in customer service centric roles learning the significance of communication and partnership for business needs. Currently, Tyerell is the Human Resources Specialist/Business partner, advisor and thought partner to leadership teams for AppleTree Early Learning Public Charter School located in Washington, D.C. While working with AppleTree, Tyerell’s duties include institute recruitment, employee eelations, performance management, COVID program administration, employee engagement, etc.

Tyerell attended Bowie State University earning his Bachelor of Science in Sociology. In 2020, after earning his graduate level studies in Cybersecurity Technology he went on to complete his Master’s in Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus. He continues to work in the community by volunteering at homeless shelters, teaching youth about financial literacy, and volunteering.

Advisory Board

Sylvia Ramirez Benatti

Sylvia Ramirez Benatti, Nonprofit Standards of Excellence Professional, brings more than twenty years’ experience in the nonprofit sector as a trainer/consultant and university professor in nonprofit management. She is the producer and host of the Nonprofit Edge, a weekly interview show on the University’s cable station. She co-developed and successfully delivered the Mentoring Partnership Model as a program for the ASTD DC Metro Chapter. Sylva co-presented “Sustaining Engagement & Succession Planning through Intergenerational Conversations” at ASTD ICE 2009.

As the Director of Training for the Support Center of Washington, D.C., she planned, scheduled, published, and managed a full-time public training program with an average of 60 workshops per quarter. She taught at the University of the District of Columbia for fifteen years and has certification in Coaching and Standards of Excellence.

Sylvia holds a doctorate degree in Organizational Leadership in Nonprofits from Nova Southeastern University, and a Master’s degree in training and professional Development from Mount Vernon College, an affiliate school of the George Washington University. She proudly promotes the contributions of a volunteer group called “The 55+ Entrepreneurs,” which focuses on coaching to build community. They teach small groups to support each other and to learn from each other. She champions service and collaboration in building strong communities.

Advisory Board

Leslie Rodriguez

Leslie Rodriguez has established a veritable arsenal of credits and distinctions. She is a national census partnership executive, a radio celebrity on Radio One, a multimedia professional with solid experience and innovative ideas. She has developed skills with a variety of media formats including a high proficiency in the production of digital audio, video, and eLearning products.

Leslie is recognized for providing solid subject matter direction and possessing strong interpersonal communications skills that allow her to contribute to a higher team performance of professionals who are committed to producing high quality products. With all of her accomplishments and recognition, she says that her greatest achievements come from working where the need is greatest. She has established an orphanage in Haiti that offers education and solar ovens for food efficiency. She currently serves on the board of CLC Learning Center. Leslie emphasizes her passion for working with older children and the elderly, who are often overlooked. She is also starting a new record company whose music is dedicated to giving glory to God. She says that “service” is her specialty.

Advisory Board

H. Duane Taylor

H. Duane Taylor (Duane) is recognized by Worldwide Branding for Excellence in Operations Management. He writes grants and proposals for the benefit of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health centers. He is a seasoned healthcare executive with 20+ years of experience in managed care, health system administration, and management consulting, leading organizations focused on practice transformation, change management, and developing growth strategies with associated execution plans, new business models, innovation capabilities, and business development.

Though his career has been in the C-suite, Duane considers himself more of an “operations” person. His deep functional experience in the areas of strategy, operations, planning, finance (mergers and acquisitions), business development, law, and information technology in both Fortune 100 and emerging organizations has established him as an accomplished business leader who bridges domains to drive profitability and market share for domestic and global ventures in health care. His skills and experience are his genuine and intentional gifts of service with a special interest in working with young people whom he advises need to be listened to more often to gain insight and advantage in the development of solutions. His commitment is to be of service wherever he can.

Advisory Board

Antomius Wise

Antomius Wise is the classic definition of a renaissance man. His achievements have reached many plateaus and each plateau has been a springboard for personal growth as well as opportunities to benefit others. Graduating from Lambuth University with a BS in Sports Management, his professional football career with the (now) Washington Commanders and the Arena Football League gave him insight and awareness of the importance of financial independence beyond football.

He started his own asset protection company, Wise Protective Services LLC. Through his business he learned how to provide greater benefits to society by learning the tax system and providing that knowledge to help his clients to make a greater contribution to their communities.

Antomius earned an MBA with an emphasis on non-profits and opened his own non-profit, Wise Protective Service and More, Inc. to assist victims of domestic violence, prevent youth obesity through sports, and to mentor youth whose parents had died of HIV/AIDS. He did this while advancing his career as a Federal Special Agent. He has incorporated these achievements into becoming a high-valued lifestyle expert, and founded Life Strategies 2.0, where he volunteers through his website, courses, and social media channels to bring value, raise funds, and spread awareness about domestic violence to the broader parts of our society. He describes himself as a mover and a motivator who seeks to help good become great.