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OUR BOARD MEMBERS

The board members of ACEs Matter constitute the heartbeat of the organization. They are dedicated to leading an organization that provides culturally specific education geared toward healing the mind, body, and soul for those living in under-resourced communities.
They each bring a diverse set of skills, expertise, and experience from sectors such as government, nonprofit, mental health, and private practice. By leveraging our expertise and networks, our board will be able to transform the way generations view childhood trauma, abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. We appreciate each one of them and we love them and their great service. 

Cendie Stanford
Board President/Chair​

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Cendie Stanford is a “Triple Eagle” scholar, becoming a first-generation college graduate to earn two Masters Degrees, one BA Degree, and a business certificate from the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University. 

A Texas native & former public-school educator, she is extremely passionate about Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) education and trauma awareness. 

Cendie’s Stanford has lived experiences with childhood adversities, most of which were experienced in zip code 79403. Unaware that her childhood adversities played a role in how she responded to stressors in her career as an educator, relationships, and even parenting, she sought out the why. 

Two decades of experience working in the public education sector, Cendie traded in her classroom keys in order to secure a business license to spread the message of ACEs in corners of the world that needed to hear it most. 

Living with the consequences of childhood wounds for over four decades, Cendie took a leap of faith to start ACEs Matter as a not-for-profit organization because she believed everyone deserved access to this science.  

Cendie says, “Seeing adults who are struggling due to the templates from their childhood and seeing children being reared in similar environments motivate her to work harder at this vision for ACEs Matter.”  

Since 2021, Cendie has made several public appearances discussing the impacts of ACEs as a lived experience survivor in underserved and professional communities. 

Her long-term goals include empowering Title 1 schools and communities with research backed practices that aid in nurturing the neurons of students, parents, and educators that have been affected by adverse childhood experiences. 

Cendie serves as a mentor for youth and rising education entrepreneurs. She has also conducted more than 10,000 hours of professional development training and over 150 hours of online interviews.

Renee Granata​
​​Board Secretary
Executive Administrative Healthcare Professional​

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​Renee Granata is a Connecticut native who has extensive administrative experience in the healthcare sector. Renee holds a Master of Studies in Law with a concentration in Health Law and Policy from Wake Forest University School of Law. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Health Management from Northeastern University, and an Associate of Science in Digital Multimedia from Middlesex Community College. 

Fun fact: Renee had a significant fear of flying starting from childhood, and as an adult, she overcame this fear by becoming a private pilot with a tailwheel endorsement before flying as a passenger commercially. 

Renee considers herself a lifelong learner, and being of service to others is her mission.

Matt Perelstein
Board Director
EQ4Peace Worldwide

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Matt Perelstein, co-founder, CEO
EQ4Peace Worldwide, Inc. - California

Matt has been teaching people about their emotions, and how to understand, manage, and heal them, for almost 40 years.  He believes our lack of emotional education is the #1 biggest problem in the world today, causing our deepest social problems -- including violence, abuse, addictions, gangs, divorce, suicide, mental health issues, many physical health issues, and even war.  So, in 2019, Matt co-founded EQ4Peace Worldwide, Inc. to help provide emotional intelligence education (EQ), social emotional learning (SEL), and positive mental health (PMH) training to people everywhere, for the purpose of Peace.
 
After learning that multiple ACEs in children can be the predictors and precursor to severe behavioural, medical, and mental health issues in adults, Matt joined ACEs Matter to help create and provide trauma-informed emotional education and support for the masses.
 
Please join us in teaching kids, teens, and adults about their emotions.  Their lives may depend on it.

Laura Romanoff 
​​Board Director
​Senior Regional Youth Partner (NY)

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Laura Romanoff is a compassionate leader who strives to provide a space for others to feel heard. Her experience navigating the mental health system for herself has given her the ability to assist others. As a teenager Laura struggled with anxiety and without the understanding of how her ACES impacted her she began to suffer. It was during her undergrad at Stony Brook University where she began seeking services to get the support she needed. With a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Human services she actively and consistently is strengthening her leadership to educate and empower youth not only on Long Island NY but everywhere. Before joining ACES Matter Laura worked with children/young adults who have been diagnosed with various Intellectual, Developmental Disabilities and complex mental illness comorbidities. Laura is committed to becoming that anchor for those in the community who feel alone while showing them the power they have to navigate and thrive in these systems.

Michael Stegall 
Board Director
ER For Traumatized Children

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​Michael is the founder of E. R. for Traumatized Children (E.R. stands for Emotional Rehabilitation). Currently a resident of Tupelo, Mississippi, Michael spends his time working with adolescent boys in a youth home. Michael has  also served a pastor and co-pastor for a Baptist church congregation.

Michael says that if we equip caregivers with the knowledge of how to develop a healing relationship with traumatized children, their traumatic experiences will not follow them for a lifetime.

Michael has a passion for working with children from adverse backgrounds because he believes that it only takes one mentally healthy adult to help steer a child on the right path. 

Corey Jackson
​​Board Director
​​K-8 Charter
School Principal​

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Corey M. Jackson is a K-8 Charter School Principal at Seaside Consortium in Jacksonville, FL.
 
He attended the University of North Carolina At Charlotte, earning a bachelor’s degree in history in 1998.  Corey has extensive experience as a classroom teacher and public school administrator.
 
In August 2001 Corey began his career in public school education as a middle school social studies teacher and was quickly promoted to a principalship position.
 
Corey brings professional and personal experience to the conversation of staff, student, and parent emotional wellness.  
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ADVISORY & COMMITTEE MEMBERS

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Kai Dupe, EdD
Diversity Inclusion Advocate
Spirituality Committee Member

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Kai Dupe is an international advocate for tech diversity and digital literacy. As a technical trainer and software development engineer with over 30 years of experience in the information technology industry, he has dedicated his life to helping underrepresented communities reach their full potential.

Kai is an expert in cloud computing and software development. He has trained thousands of people all over the world on software development and cloud computing. Kai earned his doctorate in educational technology from Pepperdine University where his research study Coding While Black focused on the lack of African American software development engineers in the tech industry.

Dr. Dupe is an advocate for technology integration in urban schools and is dedicated to encouraging African Americans to participate in the digital society via workshops, seminars, and speaking engagements.

Tiffany West -
​Emotional Care Coach
Connection Committee Member

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Tiffany West is the proud Owner & CEO of Interior Health Design LLC, an inner wellness Life Coaching company that promotes healthy living and soul-based healing from the inside out. She is an Emotional Care Coach who specializes in helping women overcome anxiety and self doubt. With her unique approach, she helps them navigate through difficult emotions with ease so they feel less overwhelmed and experience more peace and resilience in times of high-stress.

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Safiya Omosanya, OTR/L​
Self-Empowerment Coach
Connection Committee Member

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​Safiya Omosanya OTR/L Licensed Occupational Therapist for 23 years, Emotional Freedom Techniques Practitioner for the past 10 years. 

She has impacted thousands through her continuing education seminars for Health Care Professionals, community workshops, and individual sessions. 

Safiya currently works for a company called Ableto as a Behavior Coach teaching Mind, Body Healing Techniques to clients with Anxiety, Depression, and Chronic Pain.

Safiya recently Tapped into her Life’s Purpose which is to help women stop self abandoning, come back home to themselves, reclaim their sovereignty and power and express their truest most authentic self in the world.

Jessie Graham, M.S.
​Certified Master Coach
Connection Committee Member

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Jessie is a Certified Master Coach who has been studying and practicing Speech Language Pathology with a Master’s Degree in Communication Science and Disorders, since 1991. She believes that effective communication and healthy relationships are the keys to happiness and a fulfilled and purposeful life. By undertaking and understanding her own self-empowerment process, she supports others through their transformational journey. Her practice in Speech Pathology working with children and families has helped her to understand that people’s lives change when they choose to.

Jessie chose to focus her career on inspiring and empowering others to explore their potential for change and focus their actions toward success.  

Jessie has experience working in the fields of Mental Health, Early Childhood Care and Education, Public Education as well as with Individuals who want to explore their personal creative expression.

She lives in Maine, near her daughter and family and enjoys exploring, gardening, reading and writing.  

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Tricia Steege, M.Ed
Organizational Growth and Change 
Board Advisory Member

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Tricia Steege is a well-respected senior organizational development practitioner and consultant. Coupling her extensive work around the globe in the Technology, Financial, Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical, Healthcare and Publishing and Non-Profit sectors with her undergraduate, graduate and continuing educational studies about living systems, Tricia distinguishes herself as an astute change management strategist serving large and small, multinational and domestic businesses.
 
Known for her ability to strategically understand the inner workings of businesses, quickly diagnose gaps and guide towards impactful solutions, Tricia is frequently sought after to help leaders with complex transitions. ​
 
Tricia brings over 30 years of practical business experience to her work and has held several key leadership roles within organizations and professional associations.
 
Holding certifications in Organizational Development, Change Learning Styles, the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and DISC Profile, she has taught in the continuing education program of Penn State University Great Valley and Temple University.
 
​Tricia has been published in several professional journals and reference books. She has been a featured speaker at numerous conferences for including the Association for Change Management Professionals (ACMP), the Project Management Institute (PMI), the American Society Training and Development (ASTD) and Meeting Planning International (MPI).​  Tricia’s firm, Transformation Strategies, was named a Top Ten Change Management company in 2021 by HR Magazine.
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