In response to the murder of George Floyd, he emerged as a community leader of color to address systemic racial issues and oppression in his hometown of Ithaca. After hearing the outcry of his son to take action, he organized and led rallies of almost 2000 people. Feeling like his hometown had to be pushed towards change, he knew the people in attendance, mostly white, would require of him a compelling story about a young black boy who was deprived of “Gorges” Ithaca and left to overcome Ithaca’s nightmare. That young black boy would persevere defying the odds and capture the heart and soul of an entire city.

Jordan, with love and compassion, challenged local residents from different cultural backgrounds to band together and help allocate resources to the underserved communities of Ithaca’s West Hill. He founded Unbroken Promise Initiative, Inc. a grassroots neighborhood revitalization and racial justice nonprofit dedicated to uplifting Black and Brown and underserved communities. For now, Jordan and UPI has a focus on the youth and families on West Hill, but plans to create a model which would give every disadvantaged population the ability to move upward and onward, safely.

A Mother to three amazing children; Sincere, Selena, and Cartier. Although she is Obsessed with #MomLife, Sully’s great passion is bringing healing to women who have been through a traumatic/stressful experience and struggle with anxiety and/or depression. She helps women on their wellness journey by sharing her own personal journey; empowering and inspiring. She provides functional fitness and nutrition services at home to help women heal from the inside out, providing a healthy space of accountability and support. She is the Founder of She Bee Wellness. 

Don’t get it twisted though, Sully LOVES fitness, but she LOVES chocolate too!

Sully found her love for helping people in her community when she began working for nonprofits about 10 years ago. First working in finances for Alternatives Federal Credit Union (AFCU), then in housing with Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) and now in education with the Ithaca City School District (ICSD); which has brought her to volunteer her time at UPI.

David is a husband, a father of three boys, nonprofit leader and a frequent youth sports coach. He and his wife Pam moved to Ithaca from Brooklyn, NY in 2010, hoping to build a life in a community where their children would have a good education, where they could find meaningful work, and secure the financial stability to support buying a home for them to live in.  

Years later, David has become more keenly aware of how important it is to make sure everyone in our community has the same opportunities and is inspired by causes that seek to address educational, housing and economic disparities, that address poverty, inequality and the oppression of historically marginalized people, and/or lift the voices of new leaders that have aligned values.

Tyrone is a long-time community activist and youth advocate. Tyrone has for many years enjoyed giving his free time in the community, when not being an amazing father to his children. Not shying from being a person of integrity, conviction, and accountability, put him in the right place to uphold UPI's standards.

Ellen is newly retired after being in the nonprofit world for 35 years. Before that, she was a cabinetmaker and carpenter. Ellen has a deep passion for food and racial justice and is pursuing those passions by serving on the Food Justice Projects and UPI boards. Ellen enjoys her house and land where she and her partner raise chickens and sheep. They also have huge vegetable gardens and eat from it throughout the summer, fall and winter. Ellen's favorite place to be is on a walk/hike, preferably in the woods. Best of all is their dog, Sunny Baer, who brings love every day.