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Meet the gems coaches
Director Lavii
Director Lavii
Director Lavii
My name is Laura "Lavii" Okafor is one of the co-founders and directors of the Bronx GEMS. I have a passion for teaching and youth empowerment. Creatively, I have experience in step from the elementary level to the college level. I enjoy interacting with the GEMS and helping to carry out the mission of sisterhood.
Director Tee
Director Lavii
Director Lavii
My name Tunisia Fields and everyone call me Coach Tee the co / founder Director / choreographer for Bronx Gems, where I combines my passion for the performing arts with commitment to community service. Growing up in the Bronx, I developed a love for dance and performed both competitively and non-competitively. Her experience includes stepping in high school and cheerleading in middle school and college. With a strong dedication to mentoring youth, I seek to inspire the next generation through the arts, fostering creativity and resilience within my community.
Director Marcey
Director Lavii
Director Marcey
My name Marcey Brooks and I am the co-founder Director / choreographer for the Bronx Gems. I have over 18 years of experience working for Administration for Children Services (ACS). Along with working in Mosholu Montefiore Community Center and PS. 9, I received my master's degree in criminal justice. My love and passion for dance happen in middle school and high school as a I was a former cheerleader for DeWitt Clinton alongside Coach Shantel. As a teenager, teaching dance in the PAL created a path to greatness.
I am so blessed to be able to share my goals and dreams with the youth, helping to shape lives in a meaningful way.
Coach Jazmin
Coach Shantel
Director Marcey
My name is Jazmin Rivera (Coach Jaz), I’m from the Bronx (yerrr) where I grew a passion for step and dance at the early age of 9 years old. When I was 11, I joined a well known step team called “Teens In Motion” where I actually got to exercise my passion for what literally made me feel safe. Step and dance saved my life as a child. Being apart of a family outside of my family with peers who shared a common interest was something that always stuck with me. As an adult with children I was a team mom for my sons football team for 4 years and I met some really cool young men and dedicated parents. My goal is to help build confidence, implement discipline for structure, stress that dance is an art form and sisterhood is something that can last forever. I’m all about the art but more for the youth.
Coach Shantel
Coach Shantel
Coach Shantel
My name is Coach Shantel and I am certified by New York State Education Department in Childhood Education, Grades 1-6 and Students with Disabilities, Grades 1-6. I am also certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools and 4Rs curriculum which engages the imagination and creativity of children to help develop critical skills including empathy, community building, and conflict resolution.
I was a cheerleader throughout Junior High and High school (DeWitt Clinton) and worked as a Cheerleading Coach for John Phillip Sousa Jr. High School, P.S.196 and North Bronx Cowboys.
Life Coach Dion
Parent Coordinator Zalika
Life Coach Kaleema
Life Coach Kaleema
Parent Coordinator Zalika
Life Coach Kaleema
Hi, I'm Kaleema, a Bronx native with Caribbean roots. I'm currently studying Human Services at Monroe University and serve as the Secretary of the Women’s Department at my church, CJC. My goal is to pursue a career in counseling and therapy for youth, with hopes of opening my own practice that emphasizes mental health awareness and provides support for children in urban communities. Dance has always been a passion of mine, starting at age 10, and even though I've been away from it for a while, it remains a core part of who I am. Bronx GEMS has reignited my love for dance reminding me why you should never let your passions die. Through all my achievements, with God at the center, dance will always be home for me.
Parent Coordinator Zalika
Parent Coordinator Zalika
Parent Coordinator Zalika
Hey guys, I’m Zalika but when it comes to the Bronx G.E.M.S everyone calls me Coach Zee. I was born and raised in the Bronx. Although I have spent a few years down south where I found a love in music. From middle school to freshman year I was apart of the the concert band, jazz band, and marching band playing 1st chair clarinet. After 9th grade I moved back to the good ole bronx and went to in-tech academy. During that time I was taking African dance classes and dancing in my church dance ministry “warriors for Christ”. When it was time for college I went on to try out step, so I joined the Buffalo State step team “Step Expressions”. Trying all these different dance forms helped me to express myself in a time when I really needed it and it gave me skills that I would not have had without dance. These days I teach preschooler, Where I’m able to come up with he best graduation performances, whether it be a dance number, fashion show, or skit. Self expression comes in many forms but dancing has always been a big one for me. I’m so glad I will be able to combine my love for dance and teaching as a coach on the Bronx G.E.M.S’s step, dance, cheer, sisterhood, counseling, everything under the sun squad.
Secretary Renee
Assistant Nakisha
Parent Coordinator Zalika
My name is Reninnea Brown (Renee) raised in Bronx, New York and currently reside in Mount Vernon, New York for the past twelve years. My desire to come a guidance counselor for that youth has led me in to the role of a Paraprofessional for the New York Department of Education; Activity teaching and guiding grades 3K-%. While continuing my studies in Liberal Arts. I’m a parent of two daughters who share a passion for dance. I transitioned into the role of a secretary at my daughter’s dance school with the strength and multitasking, keeping track of deadlines and maintaining a filing system for the Bronx Gems. As my passion follows the mission to empower the youth, I strive to service the community of the south Bronx.
Assistant Nakisha
Assistant Nakisha
Assistant Nakisha
I started out as a mom and transitioned into the role of coach because I believe in the vision of the Bronx Gems for our youth. I have a background in understanding how the body moves and activity analysis as an occupational therapist. I have worked as an Occupational Therapist for 11 years five of which have been children 5 -14 years of age with autism and other disabilities. In addition, I love the art of art dance and giving back to my community.