Interns
Erick Grajeda
Willie Thomas
Jazmin Lopez
Ogechi Onyenechehe
Aaron Randle
Diana Huerta
Cathy Ochoa
Lesly Padilla
Daniela Perez
Ivette Rodriguez
SummerInterns
Omi Coronado
Milan
Joaquin Bargan
Board of Directors
Board Chair | James Kale
James Kale is a Bronx native and seasoned educator with experience spanning from elementary education to higher education, international education, and community-based organizations. He obtained both his BA in Applied Psychology & Human Development and Sociology, and M.Ed in Curriculum & Instruction and Teacher Education from Boston College, being the first in his family to graduate from college. James is a Fulbright alumni and the former regional manager for the Fulbright program in Brazil. He is currently serving as the Chief of Staff for a founding work-based learning charter high school, centered on computer science in the South Bronx and consults in college admissions, educational equity & inclusion, organizational development, and translation services all rooted in and for the liberation of Black and Brown minds and bodies.
Co-Founder | Co-Chair
Marquell Byrd
Born and raised in Virginia, Mark moved to New York City at an early age to study at LaGuardia Community College for Music Recording Technology. He is currently studying at Berklee College of Music for Production.​ Mark is a writer, audio engineer, educator and founder of The Variety Group who currently is living bi-coastal and is passionate about giving back to his local community.
Secretary | Rafaela Garcia
Rafaela, a Compton native, attended UC Santa Cruz and earned a B.A. in American Studies and an M.A. in Special Education from Loyola Marymount University. She’s been teaching high school and middle school for the last several years, and has participated in various parent engagement efforts. She is adamant about helping students and families access resources throughout school and their community.
Chief Financial Officer | Terry Allen, PhD
Terry Allen is currently a Ph.D. candidate in education and J.D. student at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is also a graduate student researcher for the Million Dollar Hoods project at UCLA. Terry received his B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley and M.A. degree from Columbia University. Immediately after his undergraduate studies, Terry interned for the White House and later served President Barack Obama as an advance associate. He has worked in various research positions at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, RAND Corporation, U.S. Department of Education, Denver Public Schools, Education Pioneers, and Pacific Gas & Electric Company. He currently holds research positions at the School of Law and Academic Advancement Program. Terry’s research is concerned with structures of inequalities, and the important role of education, law, and policy.
Founder | Executive Director, Abigail Lopez-Byrd
Growing up in Compton, Abigail quickly became passionate for the arts and social justice. She is the first in her family to go to college and the first to obtain a masters degree. Abigail holds her BA in Sociology and Art from the University of California, Santa Cruz, her MA from Columbia University and is currently pursuing her PhD in Education, Society and Culture from the University of California, Riverside.
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Abigail founded Color Compton in 2019 with a goal of bringing programming and curriculum around local black and brown history and art to Compton and South LA youth. As the Executive Director, Abigail oversees programming, curriculum and partnership initiatives.
