About Us

Born and raised in New York City, Jerrell A. Horton, lived in public housing throughout the majority of his life, specifically the Vanderveer Projects of Brooklyn, New York and the West Brighton Projects of Staten Island, New York. Realizing that his external circumstances could not thwart his inner strength or determination, Jerrell made the conscious decision during high school to aspire to be great. Nothing would stand in the way of his ambition to attend college and pursue the path success uncharted by most of his peers. Nothing; not even living in an Emergency Assistance Unit (EAU) in the Bronx, New York during his senior year would shake his confidence. In fact, it was in this same homeless shelter where he studied for his International Baccalaureate (IB), advanced placement exams.

Recognizing his extraordinary academic and leadership potential, the renowned Posse Foundation selected Jerrell as one if its scholars and awarded him a prestigious, four-year, full-tuition college scholarship to DePauw University. During his time at DePauw, Jerrell majored in religious studies, minored in chemistry, and spent his summers interning at Bloomberg LP and Lehman Brothers – back in New York City, but worlds away from the housing projects where he spent his formative years.

Jerrell also served as an active member of the student body and, as a college sophomore, was inducted into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Upon graduating from DePauw University, Jerrell launched his career in corporate finance at JP Morgan Chase. He now serves as Director of Business Development for Celebrity Match Maker Paul C. Brunson,Vice President at BNY Mellon and President and Founder of the nonprofit organization Suit Dreams.

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Charles Kuykendoll grew up in the pre-gentrified Westside area of the city. Surrounded by poverty and violence on a daily basis, Charles’ parents provided him with an upbringing focused on scholastics and making a difference in the community. As a high school student at Lane Tech, Charles was a member of Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network, serving as a key member of the “Hands Without Guns” taskforce; providing peer mentorship to troubled youth on the Chicago’s Westside. It was through those efforts that his philanthropic drive was born.

Charles went on to receive a prestigious four year full tuition scholarship through the Posse Foundation to attend DePauw University. During his college years, he was an active member of the student body serving as President of the Rho Tau Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Presidential Ambassador to Dr. Brian Casey, Vice President of Student Affairs for the DePauw Student Government, Teach for America Campus Campaign Coordinator, as well as other leadership positions to be an example to those he grew up with also aspiring to be something greater. With a major in Communications and a solid academic record, Charles was afforded internship opportunities with U.S. Cellular Corporate as well as Lehman Brothers propelling those experiences into a Full Time offer with Barclays Capital.

Charles is now leveraging his Financial Services experience as a Corporate Recruiter for International Market Recruiters. His non-profit efforts include the Connections Council for Infinite Family Networks from 2011-2012 and also Vice President of Suit Dreams since inception.

Gabriel Fraser, is the founder of Refrased Inc., a creative company that has been the derivative of excitable ideas, ads, online interviews, short film and music videos. In his day to day Gabriel is a Vice President at Citibank driving business for 35+ branches in the New York City area.

Considered a tireless workaholic, the middle child of ten has continued to make strategic steps in his career after leaving professional football he became a sagacious piece of a powerful talent agency responsible for several multi-platinum artists.

Born in Harlem, NY, Brandon was raised primarily by his grandmother who instilled a social consciousness that continues to drive both his career and philanthropic endeavors today. A product of public school and positive mentorship, Brandon seeks to provide similar guidance to those from a paralleled upbringing. A pillar of the Harlem community, Brandon’s high school alma mater, Frederick Douglass Academy, afforded him the opportunity to have lunch and learn conversations with the likes of (then) mayor Michael Bloomberg and Anderson Cooper among others. These one on one conversations with such influential men, helped cultivate Brandon’s desire to ensure that reaching back was something he did throughout his career ascension and not only at the culmination.

In 2004 Brandon was awarded the full tuition Posse Foundation Scholarship to attend DePauw University. As the first person in his family to attend college, Brandon was determined to make the most of the opportunity both in and out of the classroom. A sociology major and natural leader, Brandon was heavily involved on campus. His proudest moment was a fundraising effort called the “Stand Off” where he and a friend stood at the busiest intersection of his campus for 24 hours without food, sleep or sitting down, ultimately raising over $2000 that was sent to 3 families who were displaced from their New Orleans homes as a result of the storm. During his college tenure, Brandon also landed several corporate communications internships at companies such as MTV, NBC and HBO; positions that helped shape his current passion for multi-cultural marketing.

Graduating in 2008, Brandon worked full time at the very organization that put him through college, The Posse Foundation.  Recruiting thousands of students via New York City high schools and community organizations and ultimately selecting them for the scholarship. Brandon was able to work with youth from similar circumstances as his upbringing, preparing them for their matriculation into top colleges and universities as well as continuing to support them on campus. Wanting to take his skillset to the corporate sector, Brandon transitioned into multi-cultural marketing, becoming an Account Supervisor at UniWorld Inc., the longest-standing multicultural advertising agency in the United States. Supervising targeted marketing for clients such as Colgate-Palmolive and Ford Motor Company, Brandon seeks to continue to inspire youth of color, but from a different angle. Constantly pushing his accounts to make insightful African American advertising, Brandon hopes young men of color will become more confident seeing more positive images of themselves in the media.