Kentara John

Kentara joined the Foundation in September 2022. Kentara has extensive experience in Brooklyn nonprofits. She was initially hired as a Program Coordinator for the Brooklyn Networks program in 2013, one of the skilled based programs that Brooklyn Workforce Innovations (BWI) offers to NYC underemployed and unemployed individuals.  Prior to coming into the role, she worked on the Project Hope grant which connected survivors of Hurricane Sandy to housing and redevelopment services and provided counseling to students that had been directly impacted by the storm. Kentara has experience working as a Talent Manager, recruiting individuals to work for New York City Department of Youth and Community Development funded afterschool programs in the East New York and Cypress Hills neighborhoods of Brooklyn. From working with people with disabilities, empowering adults to access high school equivalency diplomas as an Adult Education Instructor she understands the importance of partnering with underserved populations.

Kentara returned to BWI as the Program Director of the Brooklyn Networks workforce development program in 2018, where her responsibilities included program development, supporting recruitment and job placement efforts, and general oversight of Brooklyn Network’s daily programmatic operations. She graduated magna cum laude with her MPA at Long Island University and is a proud graduate of Queens College. Kentara seeks to continue echoing the importance of equity and quality access in the spirit of social/racial justice and beyond.