Staff

Antoinette Bowie-Smith grew up in South Los Angeles in a low-income neighborhood and knew early on that she wanted to be the first in her family to go to college and obtain a degree. After graduating high school and attending Loyola Marymount University, she had officially earned the title, first generation.

While it was a wonderful experience, getting the degree was no easy feat. There were many hidden “rules” that she did not know or understand. Being in love with college culture, the opportunities and cultural capital the experience provides, and wanting more students of color to not only have access but be informed on how to navigate the nuances of post-secondary education, she decided to go into college counseling. After obtaining her master’s degree in counseling psychology she expanded the college guidance curriculum to include social-emotional development. Antoinette’s passion for education and helping students pursue the dream of going to college led her to join the ETS staff as Program Coordinator to help support and further the mission.

Contact the Program Coordinator at antoinette@estcap.org

Gina Lutcher is a newly retired principal who has been working as an educator for over 20 years, serving primarily the Inglewood and South Los Angeles communities. As a school leader, she had two goals; help students to recognize their potential and assist them in understanding their role in helping to create a positive community and ensure teachers are able to provide quality instruction rooted in the belief, all children can learn.

Gina Lutcher is passionate about providing college access to traditionally marginalized children and exposing students to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Her values and beliefs in education have helped to build a strong culture of high expectations for all and provide her with purpose and a reason to continue educating students.

Contact the Foster Program Coordinator at gina@estcap.org

Kahzah Mims is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) with more than 14 years of experience providing career guidance to college students, early-career, and mid-career professionals. Kahzah is the Managing Director of Alumni Engagement and Mentorship Programs for Thrive Scholars based in Los Angeles, CA. Additionally, he provides support as a Career Strategist for Social Entrepreneurship students at USC’s Marshall School of Business. Previous positions that Kahzah has held include Career Development and Employer Relations Manager for Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School and Director of Career Services for ITT Technical Institute. Kahzah is passionate about helping students reach their full potential and providing them with the necessary knowledge to achieve career success.

Kahzah was born and raised in the Jefferson Park neighborhood of South Los Angeles, CA. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from California State University, Northridge, and a Master of Science in Education from the University of Miami. Some of Kahzah’s personal interests include playing basketball (go Lakers!), watching football (go Cowboys!), listening to music, and traveling to new places. In his spare time, you might find him engaging in a wide array of activities such as spending time with his wife Ashanntí and daughter Kailana, listening to audiobooks, immersing himself in PlayStation 5 video games, or even trying out a new recipe from YouTube chefs.

Alexis Small is the Founder of Small World Marketing Agency, as well as the Creator of The Judge Khalil Animated Series, Millennial Moms and 23 and Graduated. Specializing in Youth Entrepreneur Leadership and Social Media Consulting, Alexis coaches college-age youth on creating positive images for women and people of color through film, theatre, and animation. With a B.A.in Journalism and Media Studies, Alexis’ work has been published in Ebony Magazine, HBCU Digest and HBCU Buzz. Her shows have aired on ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX. Her favorite quote and mantra is “It always feels impossible until it’s done” – Nelson Mandela