Your Queens is nonprofit organization where our mission is to evaluate, educate, and express the dynamic lineage of historic Queens and Kings. Below are the members of our Board of Directors.
EKIUWA ASEMOTA - PRESIDENT
Ekiuwa Asemota also know As 'Eki', is A Designer, Choreography and Founder of Eki's Famous LLC a Jewelry and Performing Arts Company that is renowned, celebrated and inspiring. Eki, Teaches children and adults to follow their dreams through fashion and Performing arts.
In 2015 Ms. Asemota founded and serves as creative director of Your Queens, an African royalty character company that teaches the historic legacy of African queens such as Queens Amina of Zaria-Nigeria, Queen Makeda of Ethiopia, Queen Nzingha of Angola, as well as Queens Cleopatra, Nefertiti, Goddess Isis and King Tut of Egypt through storytelling, song, and dance. Each Queen and King adorned in royal costume, share their dynamic history with the audience, while bringing joy, building self-esteem and confidence through beauty, legacy, and power. In the past 9 years, Your Queens have provided our services to over 400 organizations including public schools, counseling centers, special events, art/music festivals, colleges and more. We have also been featured in NY Newsday, Elle Magazine, The Village Voice, YV Magazine, The Huffington Post, Essence, The Root, Hot97, CUNY TV, News 12, NY 1, Pix 11 and various online coverage through our social networks.
Whether it's through her entrepreneurship, her passion for teaching and her ability to inspire people through her Performances, Eki continues to make an impact in the lives of many people daily.
RASHEENA THOMAS - ADVISOR
Rasheena Thomas is from Far Rockaway, Queens in New York. As a child, Rasheena saw some of the most violent sights possible, but with a strong family, she was able to rise above. Believing there is more to life, outside of what you can see was a daily mantra that kept her striving for more!
Rasheena is a graduate of Hofstra University in Hempstead, Long Island. Having studied Sociology and Anthropology, Rasheena is well versed in the affairs of human interactions, cultural and societal influences. She is an early childhood educator, teaching from Preschool to 2nd graders, her energy level remains high. She is also an independent broker for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.
Rasheena makes it her duty to enjoy every moment of life, each and every day. She enjoys listening to music, dancing, being a freelance model, tutoring and performing with ‘Your Queens, Inc. Being a proud black woman means wearing many hats. She is no stranger to assuming several roles throughout her busy life and would never change it for anything less. Stay true to yourself, because you are the only one who can be you!
MARILYN JOSEPH - VICE PRESIDENT
Shirley Chisolm’s quote “Service is the rent you pay for room on this earth.” are words Marilyn lives by. She has deposited into this coffer as a Social Service Executive, Politician and Community Stakeholder. With more than 20 years of early childhood, outreach and managerial experience, she remained obsessed with innovating new ways of engaging underserved communities and creating amazing program content. This was proven through surpassing the enrollment, programmatic and budgetary goals of the six programs annually while building capacity.
Marilyn also has a hand in politics. She has served as the first female and youngest President of the Frederick E. Samuel Political Club. Subsequently, she was elected to the office of District Leader for the 70 th Assembly District in Harlem. Over time, she has successfully campaigned for a number of elected officials on the city, state and federal levels.
Currently, Marilyn serves on the Board of Uptown Grand Central, Neighborhood Women’s Collective and Harlem Advocates for Seniors. Marilyn is also the Deputy Executive Director for the Samuel Foundation which has two programs: Slam Jam girls’ basketball program and Harlem Got Talent a music appreciation afterschool program.
Marilyn received her B.A. from the College of New Rochelle and has completed the Developing Leaders Program at Columbia University Business School. She is married and raising her daughter--a future queen in Harlem.
All roads have led to a Board appointment to Your Queens, Inc., one of her greatest accomplishments where she plans to support the development of its strategic planning and operations.
OSA BARTHOLOMEW - VICE PRESIDENT
Osa Bartholomew, a passionate advocate for maximizing talents and seizing new opportunities, brings a wealth of experience to her role as Vice President of the Board of Your Queens, Inc. Born in New York City and raised between Brooklyn, NY, and Lagos, Nigeria, to Nigerian and Dominican parents, Osa's upbringing instilled in her a deep appreciation for education, entertainment, and economic empowerment.
As the Founder/CEO of The Gift Agency LLC, a communications and marketing management consultancy, Osa is dedicated to helping clients achieve their inclusive goals and objectives through strategic alignment and expert execution. Her leadership skills and commitment to successful program execution underscore her diverse career, which spans various industries including Commercial Real Estate, Law, Non-Profit, and Media/Entertainment.
Throughout her career, Osa has demonstrated a keen ability to deliver impactful solutions. Her strengths lie in strategic planning, partnership development, and event management. With a multifaceted background enriched by diverse experiences, Osa is deeply committed to driving positive change and empowerment within Your Queens, Inc.
ANJANETTE MERRIC - ADVISOR
Anjanette Merric, a Bronx Native, is currently a Footwear Merchandiser at Foot Locker, Inc. Corporate Office in New York City. She is also a member of Your Queens Inc., the first African Royalty character company depicting real African Historic Queens/Kings through storytelling, song and dance. Prior to working at Footlocker, she was employed by NYU Langone Medical Center.
Additionally, with a demanding schedule between working and the pursuit of her education, she always takes the time to volunteer. Merric volunteered with New York Cares by assisting with various projects that deals with education, fitness and feeding the homeless. She also volunteered at Columbia University as a TASC Community Impact Instructor teaching young adults to prepare for obtaining their GED. Parochial School educated throughout her primary and secondary education.
Merric recently received her second Masters, January 2018, in Entrepreneurship from Purchase College. Additionally, she obtained her M.B.A., from Iona College.
MERCEDES ASEMOTA - Treasurer
Mrs. Asemota considers herself an advocate for children and families. She loves reading community newspapers to gather information and resources which she shares with the school children’s parents and everyone else she interacts with.
In her capacity, as a previous administrator, Mercedes loves working with the parents to encourage them to check the children’s work after school and provides them with follow up resources for the children’s continuous development.
Mercedes Harrigan-Asemota considers her role as a wife, mother, grandmother and a teacher as the greatest achievements of her life.
She is a member of St Pascal Baylon Catholic church. She loves her church family and is always involved in activities in the church. When encountering life’s great challenges, she relies on her faith in God to carry her through.
BARBARA HERNANDEZ - BOARD MEMBER
Barbara Hernandez is the wife to a wonderful man, Jason Hernandez, and feels blessed to have married her best friend. She is the mother to two wonderful, talented, and intelligent daughters, Nataliah, 9 and Abigail, 7. As an active member of The Greater Allen Cathedral of New York for over 15 years, she has always allowed her faith to guide her way.
Barbara’s call for education came several years after working in the medical field. She got hired as a teacher with the NYC Public Schools, and two years later was asked to start the school's very first STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) department. She has since encouraged her students to love it and consider STEM majors in High School and College, especially her female students, who been inspired because of her love and dedication to the field. Many of her students have won Science Fair awards throughout the districts and in New York City.
Throughout the years, Barbara has provided professional development and guidance to teachers and families at her school. She feels blessed to work under her Principal, who also serves as a mentor and inspiration to become a building/district leader in the future. Barbara is also a lead participant of the District Science Committee. She plans educational activities that promote science in the district. This participation is really important to her. It allows her to work towards her mission to bridging the achievement gap. She believes that all students deserve educational success. Barbara desires to continue to push and assure that quality education is accessible for all of our future leaders of tomorrow.