Terrence Coffie

CB4J founder Terrence Coffie is a 2017 graduate of New York University’s Silver School of Social-Work, where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in social-work, focusing on criminal justice reform. As an advocate, activist and educator, Terrence is committed to creating social and political change within the criminal justice system. CB4J is one of several initiatives in collaboration with the Social Justice Network, which Terrence also founded.

Terrence is an Adjunct Professor at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work, where he teaches Forensic Justice in Problem Solving Courts, as well as NYU Prison Education Program. In 2017 he made his debut as a contributing author in Race, Education and Reintegrating the Formerly Incarcerated Citizen (Lexington Books).

After spending over 19 years going through the revolving door of incarceration and recidivism, he entered a transitional reentry program that assists formerly incarcerated people with changing their lives. Here he not only broke the cycle of incarceration but also “found his purpose". As a formerly incarcerated person, Terrence brings an insightful, distinctive and unique perspective surrounding these issues, specifically in the area of reentry. Terrence believes that “those who are close to the problem are also those who are closest to the solution”.

Get in touch with Terrence via email at tcoffie@sjnus.org

Founder

ELAINE FULD

Elaine Fuld is the Donations Project Manager at the CB4J. Elaine has a passion for social justice, having served in both administrative and clinical roles for a variety of Not-For-Profit Organizations. During college, she worked at a domestic violence shelter helping women navigate emergency domestic situations. Elaine also volunteered at Women in Need, assisting women and children who were experiencing homelessness. In addition, Elaine was Co-Chair of a public school grant foundation. And last but not least, Elaine is the proud mother of two incredible young men and is married to fellow SJN volunteer, Joseph DeMatteo.

Get in touch with Elaine via email at efuld@sjnus.org

Programs & Donations Project Manager

Patrick Schelle is a seasoned social worker with over 15 years of expertise in the tristate area, primarily in New York. Determined to address racial disparities and utilize a trauma-responsive approach, Patrick aims to work alongside young people to transform the lives of youth, specifically youth impacted by the legal justice system.

In addition to advocacy work in the US and Haiti, his primary job functions include adaptive leadership and program development in the non-profit sector.

Patrick is an active member of many committees and coalitions, including Alternatives to Incarceration Coalition, AntiRacist Alliance, Westchester Coalition for Police Reform, and the White Plains Police Reform Task Force. Patrick has future goals as a PhD student with CUNY’s Graduate Center Social Welfare program, utilizing participatory action research methodologies to transform youth systems, with young voices leading the charge.

Get in touch with Patrick via email at pschelle@gradcenter.cuny.edu

Director of Research & Impact

PATRICK SCHELLE

Catherine Schuller has made significant contributions in fashion and entertainment. Upon moving to New York from Pittsburgh, she studied acting and dance, forming a comedy troupe called The Nerve! which tackled the absurdity of corporate conformity and giving voice to the importance of the individual. Though initially rejected by Ford Models for her weight, Catherine’s persistence led to a successful modeling career in the mid-'80s when Ford signed her to their Special Sizes division. She championed size diversity and inclusivity, eventually becoming an editor at MODE magazine, where she created retail training programs like Shape Shopping with Figure & Fit.

Catherine’s advocacy extended to her role as Image and Style Advisor for Divabetic, a charity supporting women with diabetes, and her creation of Runway the Real Way, promoting fashion diversity. Her personal life intertwined with her career when she married Mark Gruenwald, Senior Executive Editor at Marvel Comics from 1978 to his untimely passing in 1996. Together, they bridged the comic and fashion worlds and produced a combined concept best described as Fashion Week X Comic Con, CosMODA: Cosplay Runway. With her love of sustainability and eco conscious philosophy, Catherine also rescued water logged comic books from a flood in a store launching Power Pieces: Heroic Adornment, an upcycled accessories line, in honor of Mark.

Catherine is also dedicated to mentoring upcoming models through her Model Maker Mentors platform. She is known as The Fashion Godmother, continually inspiring and supporting through her many opportunities and unity-driven collaborative projects.

Get in touch with Catherine via email at catschuller11@gmail.com

Founder of Power Pieces: Heroic Adornment

Catherine Schuller

Maryellen Kernaghan has over 35 years of dedicated service in the non-profit performing arts sector with a Masters of Fine Arts from Columbia University. She has worked with the nation's most esteemed performing arts companies, including The Acting Company (founded by John Houseman), The Shaliko Company at LaMaMa E.T.C., The Big Apple Circus, and The Limon Dance Company.

A passionate advocate for the healing power of the arts, Maryellen has created and implemented arts programming addressing issues such as partner/domestic/elder violence, caregiving, Alzheimer's awareness, and home and traffic safety for organizations like HIP, FDNY First Responders, NYCHA, Henry Street Settlement House, and domestic violence safe houses nationwide.

Following the untimely passing of her brother, renowned Worker and Human Rights activist Charles Kernaghan (celebrated for his pivotal role in launching the anti-sweatshop movement in the United States), Maryellen has become a Legacy Advocate in his honor.

Artistic Director at ArtsCare

Maryellen Kernaghan

Sean White is a multimedia creative specializing in freelance writing and project management. From a young age, he developed a deep passion for anime, manga, and comic book characters. Series like Spider-Man, Fairy Tail, Hunter x Hunter, and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures have significantly inspired his creative journey. He is fascinated by worlds filled with characters possessing supernatural powers, which ignited his desire to write his own stories and express himself through his creativity.

Even in elementary school, Sean created comic strips for his friends to enjoy. This passion, combined with the tragic loss of his father to cancer, fueled his determination to make the webcomic “Psychosis” on Webtoon, in collaboration with two other artists, Eljay Morrison and Jawuan Chandler. The comic follows a young Black boy grappling with the trauma of witnessing his father's murder. After this harrowing event leads to a psychotic break, the boy discovers he has superpowers. Through this story, Sean aims to address mental health issues within Black and Brown communities. He hopes to inspire readers with action-packed narratives that resonate with their experiences, helping them understand that they are not alone by providing relatable characters who learn to cope with and manage their struggles.

Get in touch with Sean via email at swhite@sjnus.org

Lead Artist for CB4J Workshops

Sean White

Sami Rye is a visual artist and storyteller focused on creating artwork that resonates on a deeply personal level. He is the creator of the "Neo Chrome" multimedia universe and the author of "Green Magic" and "Welcome to Neo Chrome City." With a background in music and visual media, Sami is dedicated to telling new stories that showcase what is possible when people believe in themselves and each other. His work bridges emotion, imagination, and visual innovation, inviting audiences into richly crafted worlds.

CB4J Resident Artist

MEET THE Team