Jada John-Ali, Neighbor

Jada John is one of seven founders, and the Executive Director of Big Apple Leadership Academy for the Arts, Inc. (BALAA), a youth-centered non profit organization based in Brooklyn, NY. She is a lifelong educator, teaching high school and collegiate mathematics for over 16 years, as well as a lifelong learner, holding a BS in Finance from St. John’s University, an MS in Mathematics Education from CUNY Brooklyn College, an MS in School Administration and Supervision from Touro College, and presently completing her Doctoral Degree in Mathematics Education at Teachers College Columbia University.

Jada is passionate about working to maximize community resources for historically underserved neighborhoods in Brooklyn, and as such, in addition to her work at BALAA, she volunteers on a number of committees and groups, including the Friends of Saint Andrews Playground (FOSAP) Arts, Culture and Community Programming Committee, the FOSAP Youth Committee, the Community Board 3 (CB3) Parks, Arts and Culture Committee, the CB3 Education and Youth Services Committee, the Bed Stuy Works Alliance Steering Committee, and Vanguard Independent Democratic Association Youth Committee.

Jada is a mom of four amazing and talented children, but is “Momma Jada” to a host of amazing young men and women who are members of BALAA. www.balaa.org