Get to Know Us
About Us
Staff
Melonie Perez
Staff Organizer, Behind the Walls Committee
she/her
melonie@daretowin.org | 401-291-0465
I am a Colombian-American woman who was born and raised in South Providence; eventually moving down the street to the Edgewood-Cranston area. I have a 23 year old son who is serving life at RIDOC for protecting me in an abusive relationship. He was a juvenile when the crime occurred, so juvenile sentence reform is important to me. I have been around incarcerated individuals my entire life. My family members and loved ones have always struggled with racism and prejudice in Washington Park, so fighting for equality in all walks of life has been a lifelong struggle. I have a business degree, real estate license, CNA license and have always been in the hospitality industry. Helping my son and others like him is what drives me every day to help make a change with prison reform.
Kinverly Dicupe
Staff Organizer, Tenants and Homeowners Association
she/her
kinverly@daretowin.org |401-291-0847
Kinverly is an Afrolatina, community organizer, fighting for everyday people! She has served as co-chair of the Providence Democratic Socialists of America, and for years she’s organized with countless groups calling out politicians who ignore the needs of the poor and vulnerable.
Jazzlyn Jaxzyn
Tenant Outreach and Case Manager
She/her
jazzlyn@daretowin.org | 401-291-0183
I was born and raised in Providence by a single mother. I have been in and out of jail since the age of 18. I was released a couple of years ago after serving 15 months and a friend brought me to DARE for help with court debt and I became a member of the Behind the Walls committee. I was very optimistic about the work and got hired as the Communications Specialist in 2022. I’m bilingual in English and Spanish.
Debra Harris
Event and Outreach Coordinator
she/her
debra@daretowin.org | 401-291-7980
I have worked at DARE for eight years. I did Data Entry for the first 4 years through Maturity Works and also became a volunteer member of the Behind the Walls Committee. I was eventually hired as Outreach & Recruitment Coordinator.Â
I started my own organization, Teen Matters Suicide Awareness in 2008, and I am also an event organizer and promoter.Â
I am formerly incarcerated and in recovery for eleven years. I love what I do to help the incarcerated population.Â
Dee Wojcicki
Administrative Coordinator
she/her
dwojcicki@daretowin.org | 401-351-6960
Mixed-race woman, mother and grandmother, experienced in finances and keeping people organized, advocates for the elderly. Board of Directors Secretary for RI Black Storytellers. I enjoy teaching and sharing gardening knowledge.
Board of Directors
Sheila Wilhelm
Vice Chairperson
Sheila Wilhelm is a DARE co-founder, mother and grandmother and long-time resident of the West End, fighter around schools, neighborhood issues, police injustice, and prison reform, and is an ice cream connoisseur.
Brandon Robinson
Secretary
Brandon Robinson was born and raised in South Providence. He served extensive time in the ACI, came home in 2019 and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Development from College Unbound in August 2020. He is now working on his Master’s degree at Roger Williams University in Public Administration and is scheduled to graduate May 2024. He is also the Campaign Manager and Lobbyist at Open Doors for the Stop Torture RI Coalition and is a DARE member. He also is the CEO/Founder of his own Nonprofit organization called Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Initiative (JDPI), which he founded in 2019. JDPI works with at-risk youth to help them avoid the school-to-prison-pipelines. JDPIRI.ORG.
Michael-Evan James
Treasurer
Michael-Evans is a scholar, educator, and dedicated community health activist. As a first-generation American with roots in Dominica and Trinidad, he exemplifies diverse cultural influences and a strong commitment to social justice. Holding a B.S. in Health Science and a Master of Public Health degree from Boston University, he has worked closely with activist organizations as an organizer and street medic. Raised in Florida and Georgia, he currently studies to become a physician at Brown while contributing as a member of DARE’s Behind the Walls committee. He also volunteers at the Rhode Island Training School, teaching sex ed and physical and mental health education to incarcerated youth.
Ramaar Logan
Sergeant-at-Arms
I am a lifetime resident of Providence RI and a member of the community, a family man and a great friend that is willing to listen, pay attention to detail and the concerns of my peers. I am very dedicated and at times take on more tasks than one can handle but manage to get them done. I’m a part of the Bail on 32 campaign and the Behind the Walls committee. I got connected with DARE at the age of 14 through community service, but as I got older I fell back for a while. Then I heard about the restitution program that helped pay for past fines and after that I’ve been back attending. I respect everyone at DARE, new and old to the organization and hope it lasts for another 30+ years!
Brenda Taylor
Tenants and Homeowners Association Committee Representative
Black Woman. Born and raised in Boston where she was a youth activist during the Civil Rights Movement. Member of the Tenants and Homeowners Association. Stands for love, compassion, and solidarity. Brenda lives in Providence, RI.
David Chavez
Board Member At-Large
My name is David and I am currently doing social outreach and am an active member of society. I am in CCRI becoming a social worker and have two part-time jobs.Â
Joe Benton
Board Member At-Large
Joe is a graduate of Community College of RI and a graduate of Leadership Rhode Island. He’s received a number of awards throughout his divinity education and one of those awards is the spirituality award from the Lamp Stand Institute. He has a Citizen’s Citation from David N Cicilline, when he was Mayor of Providence, for outstanding contributions to Providence and its residents. He also received a Proclamation from former Mayor and current state representative, John Lombardi. He worked for MAP, alcohol drug and rehab center where he was a counselor and developed several re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated and substance abusers. He also worked for Amos House, counseling young men from the community and who were residents at Amos House and coming in from prison. He loves this community and these people and they’re part of his life. He also served a substantial amount of time in prison but came back to be part of a community solution, as opposed to a community problem.
