Our Team
Beverly Leon
Beverly graduated from Columbia Business School with a focus on social entrepreneurship. She received her BA in History from Columbia University and an MSc in Social Policy from the University of Oxford with a focus on Education and Labor Market Policy. Beverly has over 10 years of experience as a youth educator and coach, serving as a program coordinator for Level the Field NYC and a Teaching Fellow for Columbia University’s ‘Freedom and Citizenship’ Civics Education Program.
Caitlin Gallagher
Caitlin leads Local Civics’ growth strategy and manages curriculum development and measurement & evaluation. Caitlin taught middle school math in Hartford, CT, and brings 10+ years working in urban networked improvement communities that support students’ diverse postsecondary pathways. Caitlin holds a BA from Georgetown University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She is currently a COVID-19 Response Fellow with Education Pioneers.
John Mueller
John manages Local Civics’ school and district partnerships, helping us to scale our impact. John received his BA in Psychology from Cornell University, and he has been an educator in the New York City Metropolitan area for over 8 years. He has designed and refined specialized curricula for students at Bronx Bridges High School, including individualized instruction for English Language Learners & Students with Learning Disabilities.
Percee Goings
Percee is Local Civics’ Head of Engineering. He earned his BA in Computer Science from Columbia University, and his expertise in web design and data architecture led him to spearhead application development for both private and public institutions including Columbia University and Naval Surface Warfare Center. His technical knowledge extends to multiple languages and platforms: C, Java, Python, Javascript, PHP, HTML, CSS, Django, Laravel, & React.
Colin Leon
Colin is our lead data analyst. He is passionate about using data-driven approaches to power student learning and discovery. His work helps us to connect students to new opportunities across diverse interests. At the University of Chicago, he studied philosophy and economics and brings a wealth of knowledge about data structures and evaluation techniques.
Whitney Stephenson
Whitney is a curriculum designer for Local Civics. In addition, Whitney is a student at Mount Holyoke College, a representative of the Association of Pan-African Unity, a co-founder of Teens Take Charge, and has appeared in TIME Magazine as one of “16 People & Groups Fighting for a More Equal America”.
Jihad Dennis
Jihad Dennis leads our design efforts at Local Civics. A graduate of Pratt Institute, Jihad has produced work for SLAM Magazine, Milk Studios, and Redscout. His work is multi-faceted, displaying proficiency in design software, UX/UI, photography, and animation. He is passionate about elevating youth voice through various design mediums.
Tara Powell
Tara is a UX Designer with Local Civics helping us create an intuitive and enjoyable experience for students and educators. Tara received her BS degree in Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a graduate of UX Academy with Designlab. Tara has also worked in video production for Black Entertainment Television.
Jalen del Rosario
Jalen is a digital marketing strategist, social media coordinator, and web designer for Local Civics. In addition, he is currently pursuing a BA from Columbia University in Business Management and Human Rights. Jalen has also worked in curriculum design and development for Columbia’s Center for Justice as well as policy consulting for the Delaware Department of State’s Division of Small Business to uplift minority, women, veteran, and disabled small business owners.
Dulce Marquez
Dulce is an artist-in-residence for Local Civics. Dulce is also a sophomore at New York University majoring in International & Global Studies. She is passionate about eliminating obstacles to educational, economic, and social advancement opportunities for students in urban environments, and in addition to her work at Local Civics and her studies at NYU, Dulce is also a former student director for Teens Take Charge.