Meet Our Team

Founder

My name is Mujahideen Muhammad.

I have spent nearly two-thirds of my life incarcerated, including juvenile and adult sentences. Halfway through a 25-year bid as an adult, I awakened and decided to expend all of my focus and efforts on improving through education. Thus, at the end of twenty-four-and-a-half years of imprisonment, I entered society at an intellectual peak, bearing a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science from Mercy University and a Master’s degree in Professional Studies of Urban Ministry from New York Theological Seminary. Within the first month of my release, I was hired by my former professor Dr. Geraldine Downey to be a research assistant at the Center For Justice at Columbia University and tasked with researching and writing a report about the Second Look Act before the next legislative session.

This particular research provided a significant means for me to express the feelings of guilt and compassion I held for the remarkable individuals I left behind in prison, who may never get the opportunity to taste freedom due to excessive sentences. Driven by an intense passion to help rehabilitated individuals who are serving long prison terms, I established Pillars of Promise. This organization consists of skilled men and women who have been previously incarcerated and are now dedicated to making positive contributions to our communities.

Together, we work towards our common goal of reintegrating valuable resources back into society, taking it one policy, one action, and one day at a time.

Co-Founder

Terel Overton is a formerly incarcerated individual who served 22 and a half years. During his incarceration, he gained literacy skills and passed his GED. He is now pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree at Hudson Link through Mercy University. Released in 2024, he immediately began working as a youth advocate, violence interrupter, and campaigner for criminal justice reform. Terel, co-founder of The Pillars of Promise, continues to work as a fervent champion to help pass the Second Look Act proposed by Senators Julia Salazar and Latrice Walker, while also challenging the erroneous conviction for which he spent so many years incarcerated.

Senior Advisor

Ismael Diaz Jr. is a formerly incarcerated individual who served nine and a half years of a twelve-year sentence. When he was released from prison in 2016, his single focus was to find a steady job that would allow him to take care of his family and rebuild his life, while satisfying strict parole requirements.

Today, Ismael is the Downstate Community Organizer at the Center for Community Alternatives (CCA). Ismael is so proud to have played a part in passing the Clean Slate Act and building a more equitable and prosperous New York. CCA’s work aims to end mass incarceration and promote safety and justice in New York State. CCA knows that it is investments in housing, education, jobs, and community-based services—not perpetual punishment—that keep communities safe and allow them to thrive.

Ismael Diaz Jr.’s journey is a testament to resilience and determination. Overcoming the challenges of reentry after incarceration, he has not only secured employment but has also become a pivotal figure in advocating for criminal justice reform as the champion he is.

Senior Advisor

Wilfredo Laracuente comes to position as Senior Advisor at Pillars of Promise with a history of serving people affected by incarceration and violence in a variety of capacities.

Before coming home three years ago, he served as a Peer Educator and Facilitator for the Council for Unity, as well as Administrative Clerk for the Osborne Association’s family-focused programs at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. Using the lessons he learned as part of turning his own life around, he used his time to assist others in their own journeys of redemption and rehabilitation. Wilfredo received his Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science from Mercy College in 2019.

In all of these roles, Wilfredo has utilized skills and education acquired during his incarceration and anticipates that this experience will enable him to engage successfully with community members regarding the issues relevant to impact change. Mr. Laracuente’s work as a Community Organizer for the Office of the Community Liaison allow him an opportunity to connect with community members post-incarceration. Most recently, Wilfredo is a Work Readiness Instructor with Opportunities For A Better Tomorrow in Brooklyn, New York.

Previously, he facilitated for Fedcap IMPACT in Queens, providing Reentry Transitional Workshops for people returning from prison. He also served as Mentor for the Justice Ambassadors Youth Council and the New Settlement Community Center, focusing on improving the lives of New York’s most vulnerable youth and ending gun violence.

Over the last six months, Wilfredo also worked as a Teaching Assistant for Columbia University’s Prison Education Program, and has credited higher education in prison as a key factor in his own transformation.

Marketing Director

I’m Eric Adejuwon and I’m absolutely thrilled to join the Pillars of Promise team as the Marketing Director. It’s an incredible opportunity and I can’t wait to make a positive impact. As the head of the department, I am responsible for managing the development and implementation of our brand strategy, as well as overseeing the creation and execution of campaigns. With my exceptional analytical skills, marketing acumen, and passion for the cause—I am fully confident in my ability to develop a platform that caters to all the communities we serve. Let’s work!

Content Director

Andrew Spencer, known to many as Smiley, hails from a tough, drug-infested area where surviving meant being both smart and resilient. When others doubted him, he relied on faith, family, and sheer determination to carve out a path to success. Today, he stands as a devoted husband and father of three, a testament to his perseverance.

As the Director of Content Creation for Pillars of Promise, Andrew has honed his ability to craft stories that resonate deeply with audiences. He believes that education and a creative mind have the power to change the world, and he’s dedicated to using his skills to make that belief a reality.

Community Liaison

My name is Kevin Kareem Brooks. Having spent over two decades behind bars, I have recently regained my freedom. I am grateful for the opportunity to use education to bring communities together, and I feel privileged to be able to do so at Pillars of Promise. I excelled in my studies and specialized in nonverbal communication, allowing me to connect with individuals I may not have interacted with otherwise. With this skill, my goal is to raise awareness about the hidden suffering in the world, with the support of the POP members.