Marcus has been the Executive Director of AALF since 2016. His mission is to improve the economic health of underserved communities in the Twin Cities by creating opportunities through public and private partnerships. A social entrepreneur and community developer, Marcus believes that expanding economic and educational opportunities while improving health and well-being for everyone, is key to building a healthier, equitable community.

Before joining AALF, Marcus was the President and CEO of the Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) in Minneapolis, for nearly four years. Under the direction of Marcus, NEON substantially grew its operating budget, staff size and launched a social enterprise business.

Prior to that Marcus worked for the Target Corporation, championing new initiatives in finance, DNI and human resources. He has also operated his own mortgage company and worked for TCF National Bank.

A native of north Minneapolis, Marcus received a bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of St. Thomas.

As Vice President of Administration, Shanaya oversees organizational health and effectiveness strategies in Finance, Operations, and HR. Her passion and experience empowering communities through operational excellence and strategic efficiency span across sectors including government, corporate, nonprofits, and the arts. In 2020, Shanaya led a youth programming unit, honored as Standout Diversity Program which was highlighted in Forbes. She holds professional certifications from University of St. Thomas, Executive Education.

As Vice President of Programs, Nina leads programmatic strategy and oversees implementation of the organization’s action-oriented community objectives. Her most recent work paved the way for hundreds of employment opportunities for low-income young people of color. In 2021, Nina was named by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, as a 40 Under 40 honoree, for leadership and service. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Family Social Services, from the Univ. of Minnesota.

As Vice President of Communications and Narrative, Marc will lead internal communications and external narrative strategies. A former CNN National Correspondent who got his start at WCCO TV/Minneapolis as a broadcast journalist, he has previously worked in senior management for various media companies and TV networks, bringing a wealth of knowledge to AALF. This role marks a homecoming for Marc who holds a master’s degree from Univ. of Minnesota and spent his youth in Minneapolis.

As Senior Program Director, Ernest will oversee and lead Network Alignment systems engagement. His passion for building pipelines and fostering empowerment has shown through in his work for the organization. Ernest has more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit and private sectors. He is the author of The Opposite of Glory: Memoirs of An Amateur Philosopher (2014) and holds a bachelor’s degree from the Univ. of Minnesota in Communication Studies and African American Studies.

As Senior Program Director, Niila leads the community engagement arm of Network Alignment for AALF. She carries a passion for inclusion, access, and justice in the Black and LGBTQ+ communities. Niila has worked with nonprofit organizations more than 15 years. No stranger to volunteerism, she brings a wealth of collaborative skills to her new role and is a specialist in creating partnerships and connections through innovative practices. Niila is a graduate of Cal State Long Beach University.