National CARES Mentoring Movement
Our Leadership
National CARES Board Chairman,
Reginald Van Lee, Executive Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton
Reginald Van Lee leads Booz Allen Hamilton’s public health and not-for-profit business- es. He has deep expertise in building the organizational capabilities that make his clients resilient to potential shocks to mission accomplishment and growth. For 26 years, he has helped numerous private and public organizations transform to better achieve their missions and assisted in driving growth in not-for-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and numerous foundations. Prior to Booz Allen, he worked as a research engineer with Exxon Production Research Company in Houston, Texas, where Van Lee was born. Today he lives between New York City, Washington, DC, and Hous- ton. He received a bachelor of science and master’s of science degrees from M.I.T. and a master’s in business administration from Harvard University.
Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO, Harlem Children’s Zone
In his 20-plus years with Harlem Children’s Zone, Inc., Geoffrey Canada has become nationally recognized for his pioneering work helping children and families in Harlem and as a passionate advocate for education reform. Since 1990, Mr. Canada has been the President and Chief Executive Officer for Harlem Children’s Zone, which The New York Times Magazine called “one of the most ambitious social experiments of our time.” In 1997, the agency launched the Harlem Children’s Zone Project, which covers 100 blocks and aims to serve over 10,000 children by 2011. Mr. Canada grew up in the South Bronx. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Bowdoin College and a master’s degree in education from the Harvard School of Education.
Johnny Furr, Jr., President, Furr Strategy Group;
Former Vice President, Urban Marketing and Community Affairs,
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
Johnny Furr, Jr., led the development of objectives, strategies and actions focused on the Anheuser-Busch company’s Community Affairs, Community Outreach and Sup- plier Diversity departments. In this marketing-support role, Furr developed consumer- outreach programs, partnerships and cause-marketing initiatives with community- based organizations across the nation. He was a corporate officer, board member of Anheuser-Busch, Inc. and served as Chair of the Executive Diversity Council. Recently retired after a 30-year career with Anheuser-Busch, he has turned his attention fully to ensuring vulnerable children and consulting with corporations on community engage- ment. A native of St. Louis, Mr. Furr received a bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing from Saint Louis University.
Susan L. Taylor, Founder and CEO, National CARES Mentoring Movement and Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, Essence Magazine
Susan Taylor is synonymous with Essence magazine, the brand she built as its chief editor for nearly three decades. A legend in the magazine publishing world, her focus and passion today is the National CARES Mentoring Movement, a call to action, which she founded in 2005 as Essence CARES. The CARES mentoring movement is a massive campaign to recruit able adults to help secure the many Black children who are in peril and losing ground. The goals of National CARES are to increase high school graduation rates among African American students, end the violence in Black communities and the over-incarceration of our young. Susan Taylor is a native of Harlem. She received a bachelor of science degree from Fordham University.
