Our Team

Meet our Staff & Volunteers

  • Akua Tay

    FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  • Ama Arhin

    PROGRAM & RESEARCH MANAGER

  • Michelle Grant

    DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Executive Board

Akua Tay

Akua Manubea Tay


Executive Board Chair

Akua is a Digital Content Strategist and Culture Curator with 20 years of marketing experience with major entertainment media, non-profit and public organizations including Discovery Networks, Viacom, Tempo Networks, NBC Universal, AARP, PushBlack and District of Columbia Government. Her first trip to Ghana in December 2019 during the country’s “Year of Return” was the inspiration for the founding of Connected to Culture, Inc. The campaign commemorated the 400th year anniversary of the first enslaved West Africans shipped from the Gold Coast to the Americas and invited Black people in the Diaspora back home. The life-changing experience compelled her to create similar opportunities to connect people of African descent and lovers of African culture to the Motherland through the exploration of music, art, food, fashion, lifestyle and culture. She is the proud mom of a rising college athlete in Washington, DC.

Michelle Grant

Executive Board Member

Michelle Grant is an unapologetic entrepreneur, philanthropist and lifelong advocate for children. She spearheads development efforts for Connected To Culture as the organization continues to grow. She is passionate about digital equity in BIPOC communities and has developed key partnerships to move the organization’s mission forward. Michelle is the owner of Emerge Body Sculpting Lounge and a licensed real estate Realtor in Virginia, where she lives with her husband and 6 children.

Wellness & Education Advisory Committee

Bonnie Carbonell

Wellness & Education Advisory Committee Co-Chair

Bonnie brings her expertise as an ESL Teacher and Wellness Coordinator at Seaton Elementary School in Washington, DC. Her leadership in promoting health and wellness at Seaton (Pre-K–5th) earned the school national recognition in 2016 as one of the nation’s healthiest. With a passion for fostering both academic and holistic well-being, Bonnie is dedicated to creating environments where students and educators thrive.

Tsion Tekle

Wellness & Education Advisory Committee Co-Chair

Tsion is the Co-Founder of KidOvation Stage, a company dedicated to fostering creativity and confidence in children through arts, education, and wellness programming in Washington, DC since 2014.. With a background in Communications and Nutrition Education, she is a passionate advocate for social-emotional wellness, self-esteem development, and whole-child approaches to learning. Tsion also serves as Co-Chair of the Wellness & Education Advisory Committee, where she works to advance innovative strategies that support educators and students alike.

Madam Rebecca Dede Charway Tay

Wellness & Education Advisory Member

Madam Tay, a native of Ghana, West Africa, is a member of Connected to Culture’s Wellness & Education Advisory Committee. After retiring from a 40-year career as an Early Education educator in Washington, DC, she returned to Ghana to manage a quarter-acre garden and support local students and educators in the Greater Accra Region. Passionate about education and sustainability, Rebecca continues to empower communities by blending her expertise in early learning with her commitment to cultivating local resources.

Cultural Exchange Advisory Committee

Madam Marcella Adwoa Fodowo Hicks

Cultural Exchange Advisory Committee Member

Madam Hicks, a dedicated member of Connected to Culture’s Cultural Exchange Advisory Committee, is passionate about giving back to her homeland in Ghana by supporting women, children, and families. For over 25 years, she has hosted trips from the United States to Ghana, connecting more than 100 Americans to the rich culture and traditions of the Motherland. Through her lifelong commitment to fostering cultural exchange and community empowerment, Madam Hicks continues to inspire and uplift others across borders.