Our Board

Yildirim Sivar is a small business owner and President of Global Business and Educational Consulting Group. He previously served on the board of ONEJAX Institute of UNF and Baptist Hospital Foundation. Before coming to Jacksonville, Yildirim served as chief of staff for the Secretary of Culture and Tourism in the Republic of Turkey. He earned his graduate degree at NYIT in New York.

Dr. Parvez Ahmed is a Chief of Analytics and Special Advisor to Mayor on Economic Mobility and Social Belonging, City of Jacksonville, Office of Mayor. He is Professor of Finance at the Coggin College of Business, University of North Florida and a former Fulbright Scholar. He previously served as a member of Jacksonville’s Human Rights Commission and as Board Chair of the Museum of Science and History (MOSH). In 2010 Folio Weekly named him “Person of the Year.” In 2014 he was awarded the Silver Medallion Humanitarian Award by OneJax. In 2015 he was named Arthur Vining Davis Fellow to the Aspen Ideas Festival.

Rev. Bill Hoff was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1984 and, after 16 years in non-profit leadership, has served six churches in the Jacksonville area. Born in Detroit, Michigan, with sojourns in Toledo, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta and Miami, Bill has called Jacksonville home for most of his life. A product of the public schools here, Bill attended Vanderbilt University and earned three masters’ degrees in ministry, theology and mental health counseling. He recently retired but still serves as a consultant for community outreach and youth ministry. Bill and his wife of 47 years, Peggy, have four sons and seven grandchildren.

Anny was born in Venezuela and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She completed a B.A. in Psychology from the University of North Florida and earned her JD and MBA from the Florida Coastal School of Law. While in law school, Anny was the president of the Volunteer Immigrant Student Association and worked at Human Rights & Immigration clinics handling pro-bono cases such as human trafficking, asylum, and U-visas. She volunteered at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid as a translator and legal intern and participated in the Juvenile Street Law clinic working closely with troubled youth in the community. Prior to joining the firm, Anny practiced immigration law. She also has a background in administrative law assisting clients with maintaining their security clearances through federal employment. Anny is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Leah Palestrant is Director of Alumni Strategy for Teach For America Jacksonville and Central Florida. Non-profit leader by day, roller derby skater by night, Leah Palestrant currently serves as the new Director of Alumni Strategy for Teach For America Jacksonville and Central Florida. When she’s not strategizing on how to build a powerful alumni network, Leah spends her time volunteering for local organizations such as coaching basketball with Special Olympics and rescuing manatees with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. As a member of Congregation Ahavath Chesed, the Jacksonville Jewish Federation Young Professionals and Families Board, and the Daughters of Abraham book club, Leah is passionate about Judaism and interfaith dialogue. Last year, Leah was also accepted into the 2020 Class of Leadership Jacksonville and also recently started a local chapter of Bend The Arc here in northeast Florida. Leah’s vision is for all students in her beloved community to have equitable access to education and lifelong learning.

Sukhbir Singh is a small business entrepreneur with a bachelor’s degree in Statistics and master’s in Computer Science. Sukhbir and his wife, Sargum, are the founders of the Sikh Society of North East Florida and practice Sikhism as a path to humanity and salvation. He has been an architect in creating awareness and educating the Jacksonville community about Sikhism and Turbans through lectures, presentations in schools, colleges, universities, temples, churches, hospitals and more. The Singh family is a strong believer of “There is One Father and we are all his children.”

Susan Ticker has over 35 years of experience working with non-profit organizations, including schools, synagogues, community centers, and summer camps. She is an accomplished change agent, creative strategist, and keen observer of people and processes. Susan has held leadership roles in organizations in New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Illinois, bringing her optimism and expertise to spur experimentation, assess outcomes, and support growth. Susan has been involved in interfaith community work for many years and believes it is essential to achieve mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration. She began her professional career in financial analysis and investment banking, and applies a business lens to her vocational and volunteer work. She earned an undergraduate degree in Religious Studies from Brown University where she majored in Judaism and Early Christianity, and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Rutgers Graduate School of Management. Susan moved from NYC to Mandarin in November 2021 with her husband, Cantor Henry Rosenblum, to be near their three grandchildren and two of their three children. In addition to travel and musical theatre, Susan enjoys staying active by practicing yoga, brisk walking, and water sports..

Od’Juan Whitfield is the Organizing Manager with Faith and Public Life, based in Jacksonville, Florida. After leaving his home in Indianapolis, he served in the United States Army, stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, GA, and served in Iraq and Kuwait following 9/11/2001. After the military, Od’Juan worked in various social services and political organizing roles in Jacksonville like the Sulzbacher Center and Hemming Plaza Social Services.