Shani Cooke is a Conflict Mitigation and
Management Specialist with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the Africa Bureau. She previously served as a former Associate Political Affairs Officer in the United Nations Department of Political Affairs Africa II Division.  She served as a Desk Officer for several countries in West, Central and North Africa, monitoring and advising on political, humanitarian and economic development, as well as supporting the senior leadership of the Department of Political Affairs and the Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in the areas of preventive diplomacy, peace-making and post-conflict peace-building efforts.

Shani has experience in supporting and monitoring elections, including Gambia (2006), Nigeria (2007), Sierra Leone (2007) and Ghana (2008). After leaving the United Nations,  she established an international management and development consulting practice, offering expertise in project management, business development, strategic partnerships and international affairs. 

Shani received her Bachelors Degree from Wellesley College and obtained Masters of Science Degrees in Middle East Politics and African Politics from the School of Oriental

and African Studies in London, England. 

Zoe Parkinson was born in Sierra Leone but is also of Sao Tome and Principe descent. At the age of five her family moved to Washington DC. She graduated with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Sociology from University of Maryland Baltimore County. In her junior year of college she interned for Free the Slaves. During the internship she met women from different countries who shared their stories on how they were deceived into becoming slaves in the United States. Due to the internship she participated in fundraising for the organization and hosted events to bring awareness about the existence of modern day slavery at University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore Community College and Arundel Community College.  

Zoe is currently volunteering, fundraising, and obtaining a grant for the organization A Brighter Africa. This nonprofit organization supports local institutes in Sierra Leone by providing food, clothing, medical attention and education to women and children. In continuation to extend the growth with this organization she will be traveling to Ghana beginning in October for six months to teach in a peace education program. The program focuses on non violent conflict resolution training for children. In working with this program in Ghana, A Brighter Africa hopes to extend its assistance in supporting local institutes that focus on educating and decreasing poverty.

She also works with the Literacy Council in Prince Georges County educating immigrant adults in reading and writing. Once she returns from Ghana plans on continuing her education by obtaining her Masters degree in International Development.