The Board

Oliver Beasley is a strategic leader advancing economic opportunity across the Pittsburgh region. As Senior Director of Economic Opportunity at the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, he brings a dynamic blend of public- and private-sector experience to drive regional competitiveness and expand access to opportunity for all residents.

Prior to his current role, Oliver served as Senior Policy Analyst in the Office of Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto, where he developed and implemented policy solutions aimed at broadening economic access and addressing structural disparities. His work through the Office of Equity was pivotal in shaping strategies that fostered more inclusive participation in the region’s economy.

Earlier in his career, Oliver served as a consultant with a Fortune 500 firm and the United States-Japan Council, gaining expertise in strategic planning, cross-sector collaboration, and international economic development.

Recognized for his collaborative leadership and results-oriented approach, Oliver is deeply committed to building a thriving regional economy that offers opportunities for all. His forward-looking perspective and dedication continue to position him as a respected voice and catalyst for progress in Pennsylvania’s economic landscape.

Phebe Brako, PhD, LMFT, LMHC, NCC, an award-winning therapist, was born and raised in Ghana. Her passion for helping immigrants build a home away from home led her into private practice in 2016, and in 2021 she founded 253 Therapy and Consult in University Place, WA to mentor the next generation of therapists.  She is also the founder of Mahdeena Consulting, LLC, a consulting firm that supports clinicians in filling the gap between their education and their identities as business owners. Her research interests include transracial adoption and mental health experiences of immigrants and Africans in the diaspora, with a number of current and pending journal publications. Phebe is a graduate of Salem College, Seton Hill University and Antioch University – Seattle.

EJ Sharif is an attorney based in Western Pennsylvania who has more than 10 years practice experience. He primarily focuses on contract and commercial litigation, having represented individuals, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies across the Commonwealth. He is also admitted to practice in US Federal Court, Western District of Pennsylvania.

In addition, EJ holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Management and has extensive experience dealing with healthcare policy and insurance providers.

Spencer L. Scott brings over a decade of experience at the intersection of education, mental health, and restorative practice. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Stillman College and a Master of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh, where his work focused on mental health.

Spencer currently serves as Dean of Students at Penn Hills Charter School for Entrepreneurship and has held leadership roles across school-based, nonprofit, and university settings in the Pittsburgh region. His professional work emphasizes restorative cultures, relationship-centered systems, and healing-informed approaches that support both individual and collective well-being.

Most recently, Spencer served as a Restorative Practices Coordinator with the Just Discipline Project at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work, supporting schools in developing sustainable, equity-centered practices grounded in youth voice and accountability, with the goal to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline.

Tina Russell-Brown has been in the field of mental health for over 25 years. She holds a BA in psychology from the University of Virginia, a master’s degree in counseling from Old Dominion University, and a Doctorate in counseling psychology from Howard University.  Her clinical training was completed in the college counseling centers of Old Dominion University and Howard University, with inpatient and forensic rotations. 

Dr. Russell-Brown has worked as a psychotherapist in outpatient mental health as well as a professor for various higher education institutions.  As a psychotherapist, she has counseled adolescents and adults with varying mental health diagnoses and social identities.  She is currently licensed as a professional counselor in the states of South Carolina and Pennsylvania.    She has been a psychology professor for undergraduate and graduate courses at colleges in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and South Carolina. Presently, she is an Assistant Professor in the department of graduate psychology at Chatham University.  In addition to teaching she serves as field placement coordinator  and associate program director for the master’s and doctoral programs.   Alongside her academic journey, she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., Jack and Jill of America, Inc., the American Psychological Association, and the Association of Black Psychologists.  She is married to Milan and the mother to Nyla, Sanaa and a rescue dog, Mr. Buddy Barkley Brown.

Justin James is an accomplished higher education fundraising professional with more than a decade of experience advancing major gifts and strategic philanthropic initiatives. He serves as a Major Gifts Officer at the University of Pittsburgh School of Business, where he leads development strategy for a national portfolio of alumni and stakeholders, securing support for student success, faculty excellence, and institutional priorities.

Justin previously advanced fundraising efforts at Pennsylvania Western University California, his alma mater. His work across the higher education landscape reflects a strong record of building meaningful donor relationships, aligning philanthropic interests with mission driven goals, and enhancing institutional impact through strategic outreach and engagement.

In addition to serving on the Board of the Center for Relational Change, Justin serves on the boards of the PennWest California Alumni Association, where he is Chair of the Finance and Scholarships Committee, Young Black Motivated Kings and Queens as Board Chair, and the Kappa Scholarship Endowment Fund of Western Pennsylvania. He also serves as Polemarch of the Pittsburgh (PA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

Justin holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Sports Management from PennWest California and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration at Slippery Rock University.