Get to Know Us
About Us
Staff
Marcus Mitchell
Executive Director, DARE
he/him
mmitchell@daretowin.org |401-291-0847
With over 25 years of experience in economic development, grassroots organizing, coalition building, and community advocacy, Marcus Mitchell brings a wealth of expertise and a passionate commitment to social justice to his role as Executive Director at Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE). A visionary leader, Marcus has a proven track record of driving transformative change through strategic leadership, collaboration, and innovative problem-solving across a broad range of sectors, including government, healthcare, community development, and nonprofit work.
Throughout his career, Marcus has been driven by a dedication to public service, advocating for marginalized communities and fostering environments of equity and inclusion. Whether through his leadership in policy development, his work with community organizations, or his contributions to state and federal projects, Marcus Mitchell has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to social justice, economic opportunity, and community empowerment.
Dee Wojcicki
Administrative Coordinator
she/her
dwojcicki@daretowin.org | 401-351-6960
Mixed-race woman, mother and grandmother, experienced in finances and keeping people organized, advocates for the elderly. Advocate for Keep Metacomet Green, a group of organizers working to preserve Metacomet and nearby areas green. I enjoy teaching and sharing gardening knowledge.
Debra Harris
Event and Outreach Coordinator
she/her
debra@daretowin.org | 401-291-7980
I have worked at DARE for eight years. I did Data Entry for the first 4 years through Maturity Works and also became a volunteer member of the Behind the Walls Committee. I was eventually hired as Outreach & Recruitment Coordinator.Â
I started my own organization, Teen Matters Suicide Awareness in 2008, and I am also an event organizer and promoter.Â
I am formerly incarcerated and in recovery for eleven years. I love what I do to help the incarcerated population.Â
JOB OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE
Staff Organizer, Tenants and Homeowners Association
she/her
kinverly@daretowin.org |401-291-0847
Kinverly is an Afrolatina, community organizer, fighting for everyday people! She has served as co-chair of the Providence Democratic Socialists of America, and for years she’s organized with countless groups calling out politicians who ignore the needs of the poor and vulnerable.
Melonie Perez
Staff Organizer, Behind the Walls Committee
she/her
melonie@daretowin.org | 401-291-0465
I am a Colombian-American woman who was born and raised in South Providence; eventually moving down the street to the Edgewood-Cranston area. I have a 23 year old son who is serving life at RIDOC for protecting me in an abusive relationship. He was a juvenile when the crime occurred, so juvenile sentence reform is important to me. I have been around incarcerated individuals my entire life. My family members and loved ones have always struggled with racism and prejudice in Washington Park, so fighting for equality in all walks of life has been a lifelong struggle. I have a business degree, real estate license, CNA license and have always been in the hospitality industry. Helping my son and others like him is what drives me every day to help make a change with prison reform.
Jackie Kennedy
THA Case coordinator
Jackie has studied business management and marketing, and is currently a CPC + CPB with American Association of Professional Coders and CCS with the American Health Information Management Association. Jackie recently founded a non-profit organization aimed at empowering formerly incarcerated women to reintegrate into society successfully. Committed to making a meaningful impact through advocacy and service. Eager to leverage diverse experiences to contribute effectively to make changes in the community. With a background in business and a passion for social justice, Jackie brings a unique perspective and drive for positive change to our board.
Board of Directors
Joe Benton
Chairperson
Joe is a graduate of Community College of RI and a graduate of Leadership Rhode Island. He’s received a number of awards throughout his divinity education and one of those awards is the spirituality award from the Lamp Stand Institute. He has a Citizen’s Citation from David N Cicilline, when he was Mayor of Providence, for outstanding contributions to Providence and its residents. He also received a Proclamation from former Mayor and current state representative, John Lombardi. He worked for MAP, alcohol drug and rehab center where he was a counselor and developed several re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated and substance abusers. He also worked for Amos House, counseling young men from the community and who were residents at Amos House and coming in from prison. He loves this community and these people and they’re part of his life. He also served a substantial amount of time in prison but came back to be part of a community solution, as opposed to a community problem.
Deeann Guo
Vice Chairperson/Secretary
She/her
Deeann@daretowin.org | 401-291-0183
DeeAnn is a first-generation Chinese-American and has lived in Providence for the past 8 years. She is proud to be a member of the Tenant and Homeowners Association committee and has work experience in local news, food systems, and community organizing. She tries to fight against any manufactured scarcity in our day-to-day lives and believes in food, clean water, and housing on top of dignity for all.Â
Melanie Patterson
Treasurer
Melanie is an Indo-Jamaican & American artist and designer hailing from Miami, Florida. She is passionate about the ways critical thinking and making can help to ignite empathy, shape perception and inspire perspective. Her work exists in digital contexts, but is unyieldingly informed by handmade and traditional processes.Â
Melanie’s commitment to a life of loving and giving led to her involvement at DARE, where she began as a member of Behind the Walls in 2024. Her passion is in using creative tools to help amplify DARE’s message.Â
An alum of Rhode Island School of Design, Melanie has lived in Providence for over 15 years
John Prince
Board Member At-Large
John is a long-time community organizer. He worked at DARE for over 14 years with the Behind the Walls Committee, fighting for social justice for prisoners around the country. He is native to Providence and his favorite saying is “NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!”
Toni Wallace
ex-oficio
Black woman. Mother and grandmother with experience in finances and property management. Homeless rights, domestic violence, and women’s health activist.
Sheila Wilhelm
ex-oficio
Sheila Wilhelm is a DARE co-founder, mother and grandmother and long-time resident of the West End, fighter around schools, neighborhood issues, police injustice, and prison reform, and is an ice cream connoisseur.