Jamal Skinner is originally from New York where he was personally impacted by the local cultural center in his hometown. His experience growing up in a primarily white town mirrors the experience of the young African American population in Fort Collins. Building a sense of community for young black people is his passion. He was the President of the Long Island NAACP Youth Program as well as a youth board representative for the Economic Opportunity Commission for Nassau County. He also served as a youth liaison between the Littig House and Schreiber High School in Port Washington, assuring that African American youth were afforded the resources they needed for success. He studied Philosophy at Howard University, where he was also a tutor for the Howard University Youth Empowerment Program. Jamal has extensive organizing experience in the African American community and a broad knowledge of African American history, making him a natural educator and advocate for cultural enlightenment. He is uniquely suited to teach and lead, bringing with it a desire to create opportunity for future generations. Jamal is the founder and Executive director of the CEC, where he works full time applying for grants, doing community outreach, and developing program curriculum. He has a great vision for the organization and aspires to bring the African American youth of Fort Collins a new level of opportunity and awareness.