Charles is a relationship builder, connector and strategic thinker; devoted to using his skills for the advancement of marginalized communities – especially those of us impacted by poverty or the criminal justice system. For almost a decade, Charles was a zealous criminal justice organizer in New York State. Through various volunteer stints and his position as a Community Advocate for Youth Represent – a non-profit law firm – Charles worked on the passage of multiple state and local bills. Since then, he has taken his natural organizing skills to the philanthropic sector. Previously, Charles was a program assistant for Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, Racial Justice Program (RJP), which focuses on the deconstruction of the criminal justice system and cultivating and nurturing Black political power. Charles earned his bachelor’s in science from City College of New York; he graduated with honors and was a recipient of the Skadden, Arps Honors Program Fellowship. Charles is currently working on his master’s in science from The New School, with a concentration on Urban & Public Policy.