Two New Board Members Join CIS Board of Directors
Communities In Schools, the national organization dedicated to empowering at-risk students to stay in school and on a path to a brighter future, today welcomed Isaiah Pickens, PhD, and Darilyn Olidge, Esq., to its National Board of Directors. Dr. Pickens is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in consulting, counseling, and educational services for families, teens, and young adults. Olidge is a Partner, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Brightwood Capital Advisors.
“These new directors represent the best and brightest in law and academia and we are excited to add their incredible talent and clear passion to work for our kids,” says Elaine Wynn, CIS National Board Chairman.
Isaiah Pickens is currently the Assistant Director of the Service Systems Program at the UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (NCCTS), the coordinating site of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). In this role he is responsible for supporting diverse national, cross-disciplinary, and collaborative efforts to make child- and family- service systems more trauma informed. Dr. Pickens is also founder of iOpening Enterprises, a multi-media company that specializes in health messaging through the creation of books, films, and life skills workshops for youth and the adults who care for them.
“Transforming the world around us begins with transforming the world within us. I live by this statement and truly believe CIS has been transforming schools because it takes time to build itself from within,” said Dr. Pickens. “I'm tremendously excited to join the CIS family and continue that internal growth so we can maximize our impact on schools throughout the country.” Read Dr. Pickens’ full bio.
Darilyn Olidge also serves on the Executive Committee of Brightwood Capital Advisors. Her responsibilities include providing strategic legal advice to the firm, setting and monitoring internal governance practices and policies, running the compliance program, overseeing the human resources team, and managing external counsel relationships.
“’Learn and live’ has always been my personal motto. Growing up as a student in the New Orleans Public Schools, I believed that receiving an education would be the gateway to learning about the work and accomplishing all of my dreams…and it has been that for me,” said Olidge. “Every student should have the opportunity to learn— and they deserve the support to thrive in their own unique way. CIS is there to provide the support that will help each child to learn, develop and ultimately, to live his or her best life. l am honored to join the CIS Board and become a part of its mission.
“On behalf of the Communities In Schools family, it is my honor to welcome Isaiah and Darilyn to the National Board,” says President and CEO of Communities In Schools National Office Dale Erquiaga. “At this pivotal moment in CIS history, as we embark upon our most ambitious growth initiative yet, we are fortunate to have two such distinguished leaders join our ranks.”
Access the full list of National Board of Directors.
