Bios

Brian A. Favors, M.Ed., M.S.Ed.

Brian Favors specializes in training educators to use culturally responsive teaching methods to increase academic achievement in at-risk student populations. He is a social studies and special education teacher at Bushwick Community High School and an adjunct instructor at Medgar Evers College (Adult and Continuing Education) in Brooklyn, New York. He also lectures on various topics ranging from African American Leadership, Educational Equity and Urban Youth Development.

Brian Favors is the co-founder and director of Sankofa Community Empowerment, Inc., a non-profit organization that services urban communities through culturally responsive educational programs in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New York.   

Brian has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Davis, an M.Ed. from Pennsylvania State University and an M.S.Ed. from Queens College and has been working with youth to cultivate academic success and community leadership since 1995. He is currently working with actor Nate Parker through a national campaign that utilizes the film The Great Debaters as an educational tool to promote literacy and leadership amongst inner city youth, college students, parents and teachers through classes, presentations, workshops and lectures. Brian adheres to the West African principle of Sankofa: one must always understand their history, in order to create a healthy and prosperous future.

Pierre Lubin

Pierre Lubin is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Origenes, a company that manufactures and sells educational products: computer games, jigsaw puzzles, flashcards, posters, learning kits, etc.

As a world-class educator, Pierre has taught and worked in various capacities for the New York City public school system for the past 13 years. He has also worked as an international education consultant for several developing nations and nongovernmental organizations.

Pierre has a solid background in organizational psychology and specializes in leadership science, organizational development and change. In addition, he’s a prolific lecturer, motivational speaker, researcher, and writer.

Pierre holds the following certifications and degrees:

• Masters of Arts in International Educational Development with specialization in Curriculum & Teaching from TC, Columbia University
  

• Masters of Education in Comparative Education with specialization in Organizational Psychology from TC, Columbia University
  

• Bachelors in Psychology with minor in Mathematics from NYU
  

• Associates in Liberal Arts from CUNY with specialization in African Studies
  

• Certification in regular and special education
  

• Applied Behavior Analyst Specialist
  

• Administrative and Supervisory certificate from the College of St. Rose
  

In addition to BTC lecture and workshop topics, Pierre is also available for lectures and hands-on workshops in the following subject matters:

• Understanding the Political, Economic, and Social Context of Education
  

• The Art and Science of Educating the Black Child in School or at Home
  

• Educational Best Practices and Curriculum Designing and Development
  

• Training, Developing, and Educating Leaders for the 21st Century
  

• Strategies and techniques for marketing your business to the African American community and other communities
  

• Organizational Development and Change
  

• Minimizing Resistance to Organizational Change
  

Lurie Daniel-Favors, Esq.

Lurie Daniel-Favors is an attorney practicing in New York City.  She is the founder of the L. D. Favors Law Group, P.C., a firm that practices in the areas of business and not-for-profit transactions, criminal defense, police misconduct, and intellectual property law. She is also the co-founder of Sankofa Community Empowerment, Inc., a non-profit organization that services urban communities through culturally relevant educational programs in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New York.   

Ms. Daniel-Favors is also an educator who works with middle and high school students throughout New York City.  She conducts workshops designed to foster leadership and community development with a special emphasis on urban female students and addressing the school to prison pipeline. She works with various community organizations designed to cultivate community based leadership in the New York area.

Ms. Daniel-Favors earned her bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies from the Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctorate from New York University School of Law.