Felecia Pullen, Ph.D.

Founder & CEO

Dr. Felecia Pullen is a qualitative researcher with an expertise in the application of Critical Race Theory to understand the impact of racialized drug enforcement policies on the ability of people of color to attain recovery capital. She also designs integrated conceptual models to explore the intersection of race, structural racism, and addiction among people of color who use drugs (PoCWUD). Her goal is to establish political, social, economic and health equity for PoCWUD. Her seminal work in the field has been recognized by OASAS, SAMHSA, the CDC and the New York City Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene, Mt. Sinai/REACH and others. She has been deemed one of America’s most noted racial justice and equity experts, activists and advocates.

Dr. Pullen is also the creator and developer of the Mixed Method Recovery Capital Assessment Tool (MRCAT), a digitized product which is used to  standardize the measurement of an individual’s attainment of recovery and negative recovery capital. Her ground-breaking tool is an organic extension of her research, and has been recognized by Peers and industry leaders as the gold standard for recovery capital assessment.

Dr. P.'s expertise, advocacy and activism have elevated her to become one of the most sought after keynotes. She has delivered numerous presentations on health equity, Peer engagement, racial justice and harm reduction, racialized drug policies, the intersection of structural racism and addiction of PoCWUD and she has advised other researchers on Cultural and Racial Responsivity. Due to her recognition in the field, she was twice appointed by NYC Mayors Bill DeBlasio and Eric Adams to New York City’s Municipal Drug Strategy Council, and holds an executive position on the FOR-NY and Let’s Talk SAFETY boards of directors.

Dr. Pullen is the  founder, President & CEO of The PILLARS and SAFE in Harlem. Her responsibilities include  financial growth, organizational structure, and program development.  As a policy analyst, she applies her expertise to increase financial equity for small not-for-profits and health equity for people of color. Dr. P’s vision is a world within which everyone has an equitable opportunity to access recovery capital!

Asari Offiong, Ph.D.

Programmatic & Organizational Consultant

With nearly nine years of experience, Asari has experience working in mental health and leading youth development programs in various metropolitan areas across the US. Her most recent work with the Children’s Aid Society in NYC for four years, led her to specialize in substance abuse prevention among at-promise adolescents. She has managed and organized youth programming for over 2,000 youth in New York City which provided an array of services: individual/group counseling, college preparation, job readiness, civic engagement and more.

She received her doctorate degree at Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health with a focus on adolescent health and using mixed methods to explore urban adolescents’ perspectives and engagement in risky behaviors, particularly for those affected by parental drug use. Asari also holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Boston University and B.S in Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science from the University of Michigan.

Anaiyah Smith

Prevention Initiatives Manager

Anaiyah Smith, a recent graduate of American University, is currently pursuing a master's degree in education policy and leadership. Drawing from her academic background in education, Anaiyah utilizes a culturally responsive approach to create and implement evidence-based prevention programs and curricula for PreK-12 students. She actively promotes collaboration among various community sectors and external partners to enhance the reach and effectiveness of the campaigns, environmental impact strategies, and programs under her leadership. Her primary focus lies in developing prevention programs rooted in community involvement, civic engagement, and mentorship opportunities for youth and teens. 

Miranda Cazin

Communications Director

Miranda holds her BSW from Silberman School of Social Work, and leads the communications arm of The PILLARS. She handles external communications with our network of partners, maintains our website, and creates content for our monthly Connections newsletter and social media. Outside of The PILLARS, Miranda serves with an association that aims to be the bridge between refugees and society, breaking their isolation and helping them integrate well. She is also passionate about growing awareness around sexual exploitation and trafficking. She desires to empower women to live in full freedom and to help others do the same, making a difference for generations to come.

Alanah

Yoga

Alanah is a woman dedicated to holistically healing herself & others through self love. She began her self love journey in October 2018 by taking yoga classes at The PILLARS. Seeing women of color lead yoga practice encouraged Alanah to become yoga certified. Alanah travelled to India in October 2019 & completed her YTT 200. She has been teaching at The PILLARS since January 2020.

Tiffany

Yoga

Tiffany first began practicing yoga with the intent to relieve bodily stress she encountered from engaging in numerous dance classes and rigorous gym sessions on a weekly basis . After just a few classes, she realized the benefits of yoga were far beyond stretching and gaining flexibility. Despite Tiffany’s epiphany with yoga, she held an inconsistent practice due to challenges of connecting and committing to one studio she felt aligned with. It wasn't until she became a student at TYG, where she became dedicated to strengthening her practice. As a student of TYG, she enjoyed the experience of the instructors’ attentiveness, and the studio prided itself on developing an open community for anyone who simply wanted to practice yoga. As a new instructor, Tiffany's primary goal will be to institute the same values, and consistently voice the notion that yoga is for everyone. While upholding this belief, Tiffany intends to incorporate her dance and social service background by creating rhythmic sequences in her classes and also becoming fully trained to provide Trauma- Informed Yoga classes to different organizations. When Tiffany is not on her mat, you may find her engaging proudly in community advocacy within her home state of New York, serving time as an avid dancer/student of African Dance, and spending quality time with her family.

Carol J. Hunt

Meditation

Carol is the instructor for the meditation class here at The PILLARS. She retired from the field of gerontology after more than 30 years as an executive director for a not-for-profit organization in Queens. From 2001-2011 she led a Unity Study Group in Harlem and before she was a Unity Licensed Teacher at Unity Center. Carol graduated from Unity World Wide Ministries and was ordained as a Unity Minister in 2016.

Oceania

Reiki

Oceania approaches every Reiki session with great intention and care. She creates a safe, welcoming, and soothing experience, through which those who seek her guidance can find healing and come to understand how working on their emotional wellbeing will benefit their overall mental, physical and spiritual state.

She is an intuitive person who has practiced energy work throughout her life, but it is through her own personal healing journey and spiritual growth that she found her purpose in sharing her unique gifts to help others heal. Oceania became level I and II Reiki certified in the Usui Shiki Ryoho line of Reiki by the Reiki New York Center in February of 2021. She currently provides Reiki sessions at The Pillars and is working toward becoming a Reiki Master.

Michael Tarris, MFA (Orgyen Shampa Dorje)

Spiritual Enlightenment in Recovery 

Michael is an authorized teacher of The Buddha Path, under the direction of His Eminence Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, with whom he has studied for many years.

He is the founder and principal teacher for  Dzogchen Shri Singha-New York, a newly established permanent dharma center in the Big Apple.  

Michael's specialty is teaching dharma to those who struggle with recovery from addiction and family trauma, but he aspires to share the precious teachings of the Buddha to anyone who seeks freedom from suffering for themselves and others.

"May all your virtuous aspirations swiftly be fulfilled"-Michael

Valerie Striar

Meditation

Valerie has cultivated a long time practice of Mindfulness Meditation and is certified with Inward Bound Mindfulness Education, iBme. Valerie has completed trainings with The Inner Strength Foundation, Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield, Mindful Schools, MBSR 8 weeks, Compassion Cultivation - Stanford University and The Lineage Project. Valerie is also a student of Non-Violent-Communication-the work of Marshall Rosenberg. Valerie is currently a mentor with Access Mindfulness and volunteers at Pillars Recovery Center in Harlem. Valerie teaches teens and adults, Mindfulness Meditation, Improvisation, Yoga, and Action Theater. Valerie is also a Master Practitioner with Narrative 4, an international organization that brings students and all ages together in story exchanges to foster empathy and connection. Valerie creates and performs interdisciplinary dance performance work.

Ni-ka Ford

Reiki

Ni-ka Ford first became Reiki certified in December 2017 through the International Center for Reiki Training. She is currently a level II practitioner who uses the Usui Spiritual Energy Healing method. Mindfulness, meditation, and energy work have all been huge staples in her life and have now motivated her to walk the path of healing others. She conducts Reiki sessions at The PILLARS and offers distance healing sessions as well. Holding a BFA in Art and a MS in Medical Illustration, Ni-ka is a visual artist who studies the human body and uses art as a means to educate people on human anatomy, physiological processes, and various medical conditions. She is passionate about the intersection of spiritual energy and the pysical body as they both work together to form our overall health.

Noni Moore

Foot Reflexology

Noni is a native of Harlem, New York and has been a Holistic Health Practitioner for more than a decade.  She is certified in several wellness modalities including:  Group Fitness, Dance Movement, Chair Yoga,  Reiki, Breathology (C.O.L.B) and Reflexology.

Noni is not a stranger to The PILLARS. She has taught Afro-Fusion Dance here before the pandemic began. She now offers the therapeutic touch of reflexology here. Come & enjoy this wellness experience for your uplifting & healing.

Mr. Wong

Tai Chi & Qigong

Mr. Wong has been practicing Tai Chi since 1988. He enjoys practicing these martial arts because they are good for ones health. The classes can also help restore ones energy, or qi. His classes consist of a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing. Mr. Wong finds that playing calming music during his classes improves the level of comfort and increasing the sense of calm.

Clyde

Mixed Martial Movement

Clyde’s class helps individuals to help themselves through movement. He has been practicing MMM for over 15 years. He enjoys this practice because it helps him practice balance in his life. Outside of The PILLARS Clyde walks in the parks and converses with his friends.

Sherneice Gatewood

DV Prevention

Sherneice facilitates the domestic violence prevention class here at The PILLARS. She received her Bachelors of Human Services in 2010 and not long after, she started her own non-profit organization. We Are Phenomenal Women Inc. (W.A.P.W) was founded in 2015. As a domestic violence survivor Sherneice had a burning desire to support other women in similar situations as she had endured. Her class focuses on education, empowerment, and awareness. She believes that it is up to all of us to become involved in the efforts to stop domestic violence in our communities. That we must become one voice in the fight against domestic violence.