Advisory Council Directors

In March 2003, the Board of Directors of Community Solutions, Inc. resolved to expand the influence and credibility of the organization by developing an advisory council comprised of respected community, business, and arts professionals. The Council is comprised of the following members (as of May 1, 2003):

Ninfa Segarra, Esq.
Joe Holland, Esq.
Lisa Trevino Cummins
Rudy Carrasco
Chris Frederick

Ninfa Segarra, Esq., has worked as the executive director of the NYPD Museum since January 2002. Born and raised in the Lower East Side, Ninfa's distinguished career in public service has seen her rise through the ranks of indigenous community organizations to the highest levels of City government. Most recently, she served as Deputy Mayor for Education and Human Services under Mayor Giuliani, as the Board of Education president, and as a member of Mayor Bloomberg's transition team. As deputy mayor, she had oversight responsibility for many City agencies, including the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and others with whom Xcel hopes to develop more meaningful collaborations. Ninfa first interacted with Xcel in 1998, when Mayor Giuliani asked her to resolve the dispute with NYCHA concerning Xcel's space. The second-longest serving Deputy Mayor in the history of New York City, Ninfa Segarra is a graduate of New York University and the New York Law School. Prior to joining the Giuliani Administration, she served as the first Executive Director of the New York City Voter Assistance Commission, Senior Legal Consultant at the Hispanic Federation, Director of the Center of Latino Leadership and Organizational Excellence, and Legal Counsel for the Mayor's Office of People with Disabilities.

Joe Holland, Esq., is an attorney, consultant, and community leader who has been a pioneer in the area of faith-based initiatives and has been a mentor to Generation Xcel co-founder Jeremy Del Rio since 2000. Upon graduating from Harvard Law School, Joe rejected lucrative law firm offers in order to devote himself to rehabilitating and creating economic opportunity for the homeless in Harlem. He co-founded the Beth-Hark Crisis Center to counsel substance abusers and the HARKhomes shelter for the homeless, where he developed an educational and transitional curriculum called Holistic Hardware. Joe also opened the first inner-city American Express Travel Office and Ben & Jerry's ice cream franchise. He has been recognized by two U.S. presidents, two governors, and a NYC mayor, and has served as Housing Commissioner for New York State. He has also been a partner in a major law firm, a motivational speaker and a playwright.

Lisa Trevino Cummins is a social entrepreneur who is passionate about building on the strengths of grassroots faith-based organizations to affect change in neighborhoods and individuals. Prior to founding Urban Strategies, Cummins served President George W. Bush as Associate Director of the White House Office for Faith-Based Initiatives. Additionally, she served as Deputy Director of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Center for Faith-Based Initiatives. Cummins helped lay the foundation for many of the initiative's non-legislative strategies and was key to engaging the leadership of community-serving African-American and Latino faith communities. From 1988-2000, Cummins enjoyed a career in the private sector as Senior Vice President of one of the country's largest financial institutions where she pioneered strategies aimed at improving inner-city neighborhoods throughout the country.

Rudy Carrasco, serves as executive director of Harambee Christian Center in Pasadena, CA. A Stanford University graduate, Rudy writes extensively on a variety of topics related to civic affairs, youth development, Internet and computers, Gen X and Postmodernism, and conflict resolution. His opinion articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times and Salon.com, and through the syndicates Religion News Service and Pacific News Service. Other articles have appeared in more than 20 different magazines and numerous newspapers. Rudy has appeared on CNN Talk Back Live, KCBS News, Fox 11 News, and MSNBC's web site, and on numerous radio programs. In 2002 Rudy was inducted into the Hispanic Scholarship Fund's Alumni Hall of Fame. In May, 2001 he joined a group of nine Hispanic religious leaders who met with President George W. Bush to advise on the faith-based initiative. In 1996 Rudy was selected as one of 50 Leaders Under 40 to Watch by Christianity Today magazine. A lifelong resident of Los Angeles County, Rudy frequently consults organizations and churches on outreach work to Latinos, and serves as an associate pastor at Northwest Fellowship Church in Pasadena.

Chris Frederick has been a supporter and friend of Generation Xcel's since being introduced in 1999. Chris has been a writer, director, producer, and actor in film, television, and theater for 20 years. Currently, he produces "God Squad" for WLNY and Telecare, a daily talk show hosted by Monsignor Thomas Hartman and Rabbi Marc Gellman aka "The God Squad," commenting on relevant social issues. He's also the Producer of KiNG BABY and POPS, sketch comedy troupes that have toured nationally. Chris volunteered on the production of the 9/11 anniversary "Tribute to Grace and Hope" at Madison Square Garden, scripting the announcer's voice-overs and the "Thanks to Heroes" speech. He also co-wrote, directed, and produces the stage adaptation "Run Baby Run" for Nicky Cruz Outreach; and has worked as Producer for The Family Channel and PAX Networks, among others. Chris holds an M.A. in Film Directing from Regent University.