Board of Directors & Staff

Lovetta Silcott, Esq.

Lovetta Silcott, Esq.

Board Chair

Lovetta is an Attorney at Law. Since completing Law School she has worked as an Adjudicator at the Financial Ombudsman Service in London. She moved back to the Caribbean island Montserrat, where she was born, and was admitted to practice law at the Bar there. She currently resides there and has held the post of Registrar of Lands. She is the co-founder of her Law firm (MNI Law).  She is also the Vice President of the online legal blog www.westindianlawyers.com. She is the Chairwoman of the Supervisory Committee of the Islands local Credit Union and also consults with various organizations both locally and internationally. She schooled in London where she obtained her Bachelors in Law Degree from the University of East London and an LLM from the University of London in International Corporate Governance, Financial Regulation and Economic Law. She also went on to complete Law school at the City Law School, in London

Dr. Samuel Momah

Dr. Samuel Momah

Vice Chair

Samuel is excited to bring to RPI his wealth of experiences in Organizational Leadership, Technology and Management as she fights to prevent human trafficking. He has served in various organizations and associations in Minnesota in the capacity of board member, chair, and president. These include The American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Engineering Management, Mid-West ESRI Utilities User Group, Shakopee Public Utilities Safety Board, and other cultural associations. He has an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering Technology from the University of Minnesota, and Information Technology in Management from Concordia University Saint Paul, Minnesota; MS in Engineering Management from the University of Platteville Wisconsin; MBA in Technology Management and Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership both from the University of Phoenix.

Ewomazino Magbegor, Esq.

Ewomazino Magbegor, Esq.

Board Secretary

Zino has a passion for the down-trodden and has always had the desire to work in the area of social justice. While in college, she participated in human rights events. She currently works with Magbegor & Associates, and also works as a Legal Consultant for small businesses including VOX Technologies, Seventh Day Adventist Church in Dallas, etc. She worked for Akwuruoha Law Firm in 2016. She also worked as a Legal Intern with the Employers Legal Resource Center representing some of the non-profits in Oklahoma City; and a Community Support Worker with Green Door in Washington DC. She received her Bachelor’s Degree (BA) in Psychology from Oklahoma State University, and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) in Law from Oklahoma City University Law School.

Lisa Young

Lisa Young

Board Member

Lisa is a committed advocate for education, economic empowerment and human rights for all people. She has over 15 years of human resources management experience in employee relations, compensation, talent acquisition, performance management and organization/employee development. She’s managed cross-functional Human Resource teams to support more than 35 business units with over 2000 employees with combined staffing budgets exceeding $50 million. In her current role, Lisa partners with more than 70 organization leaders and executives to ensure the alignment and execution of Human Resource (HR) strategies with initiatives and goals of the organization. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and holds two Senior Professional in HR certifications through the Society for HR Management and the Human Resources Certification Institute. She currently works with the Denver Public Schools System as the Human Resources Business Partner.

Professor Christine White, Esq.

Professor Christine White, Esq.

Board Member

Christine is passionate about finding ways to help victims of crime and fighting against juvenile injustice. She is a member of the Prince Georges’ County Human Trafficking Taskforce in Maryland. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. She teaches Criminal Law; Human Trafficking; Juvenile Delinquency; Race and Crime; and Drugs and Crime. She received her Bachelors in Sociology from University of Pennsylvania, and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) in Law from American University, Washington College of Law.

Rita Smith

Rita Smith

Board Member

Rita served in several local domestic violence and sexual assault programs and state coalitions as Program Supervisor and Director in Colorado and Florida. She was the Executive Director of the National Coalition against Domestic Violence for nearly 23 years.  She has been interviewed by hundreds of newspaper reporters, appeared on many local and national radio and television news shows, including the Washington Post, USA Today, People Magazine, NPR, The Today Show, Good Morning America and Oprah Winfrey Show. In December of 2011 she was named Distinguished Alumnus of Polk State College, and in November of 2013 she was chosen by the Association of Florida Colleges for the LeRoy Collins Lifetime Achievement Award. She believes that advocacy and social change are intricately connected, and cannot be done separately. She is currently one of the senior advisors for the National Football League, consulting with domesticshelters.org, and as a national expert on violence against women. She holds an Associate in Psychology from Polk State College and Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Michigan State University.

Yunuen Cisneros

Yunuen Cisneros

Board Member

Yunuen Cisneros was born and raised in Mexico City, part of a family of five. Surrounded by a family of art lovers, she studied ballet and music at the Institute of Fine Arts. After the earthquake of 1985, she decided to volunteer her weekends in the National Red Cross and later became a rescuer, volunteering in ambulances. She also volunteered with the International Red Cross, which informed the decision to study international affairs. She also had training in political organizing and the French language. She trained in Painting at the Art Academy of San Carlos. Through this, she understood how one can influence social movements through art. She worked in the International Affairs Youth Office of the CONADE, International Affairs office of a political party, and in presidential and senatorial campaigns. 

Yunuen volunteered and worked in the education sector in Denver, Colorado because she wanted to support her two little girls to make sure they succeeded. While in the school systems, she learned about the achievement gap between Caucasian students and students of color. Terrified by the statistics, she decided to help other parents understand the importance of their engagement in their children’s education. She always believed that education is critical to getting out of poverty, so her passion for helping others became a career for her. Since she began this work, she has worked in public schools in Denver, Aurora, and Cherry Creek districts.  

Yunuen volunteers in other programs like “Bridging the Kids – Cops” and Natural Helpers. She served as a councilwoman of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad and as a member of the American Mexican Organization and is a board member of the 20/40 Health Initiatives.  

Sgt. Todd Alscher

Sgt. Todd Alscher

Board Member

Sgt. Todd Alscher graduated from Albright College in Reading, Pa in 2003 and was shortly hired as a recruit officer with the Aurora Police Department. After graduating from the police academy in 2004, Sgt. Alscher has held various positions with the Aurora Police department. These positions include Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer (Overland High School), Police Area Representative, Direct Action Response Team, Patrol Sergeant, District Investigations Sergeant, Major Crimes Investigations Sergeant. In January 2020 the Chief of Police selected Sgt. Alscher to head, organize and develop the Aurora Police Department’s first Domestic Violence Investigations Unit. This unit is responsible for investigating all felony-related domestic violence incidents in the city of Aurora. At the beginning of September 2021, Sgt Alscher was selected to take over the Sex Crimes Unit for the Aurora Police Department. 

Throughout Sgt. Alscher’s experiences ranging from a routine patrol, tactical assignments, and now major investigations. Sgt Alscher has dedicated himself to making sure victims are treated with respect, dignity, and honesty. 

Since taking on investigations related to domestic violence and sexual assaults, I have been looking to participate in other ways to assist victims in need. While law enforcement plays its role with supporting victims, it has a very limited scope as to what they can do. Restoration Project International strives to end victims’ suffering while also providing community resources as well as education. I believe being a board member of an organization that is physically local but has an international reach is an amazing opportunity. I can bring a unique and undervalued perspective, while learning from other members of the board and sharing that with my law enforcement colleagues. 

Harold D’Souza

Harold D’Souza

Board Member

Harold D’Souza is a survivor of labor trafficking and debt bondage in the United States of America. Originally from India, Harold D’Souza is well educated and has experience in sales management. He has a Master of Commerce, Post Graduation Diploma-Human Resource Development, and a Bachelor in Law from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. For 133 months Harold and his family were exploited at the hands of a trafficker, struggling to be free and to keep his family safe. 

Today, Harold is a Survivor, Advocate, and Public Speaker. He has been invited to speak throughout the United States as well as internationally in India, the UAE, Morocco, and Belgium to name a few. Harold is the co-founder of Eyes Open International, an organization developing prevention efforts through survivor-informed research. He is a founding member (2008) of the National Survivor Network (human trafficking) CAST and is active in local anti-trafficking organizations. Notably, Harold was appointed by U.S. President Barack Obama to the Historic United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking and has continued this service under President Trump. Harold has found a new purpose in life, to be the voice, courage, hope, and freedom for victims. He believes that “What your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve” (Napoleon Hill). 

Rebekah Layton

Rebekah Layton

Board Member

Rebekah Layton is a Survivor Leader & Subject Matter Expert in Human Trafficking. She holds a seat on the Colorado Human Trafficking Council, Criminal Justice Taskforce as well as the Co-Chair of the Legislative Taskforce. She is an MA Restorative Justice Candidate at Vermont Law School and graduated from the University of Colorado Denver with a Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Studies: International Human Rights and Equitable Social Change, with a Certificate in Ethnic Studies: Native American Studies focusing on Indigenous Rights. She successfully completed several self-designed research projects focusing on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, the disproportionate incarceration of Indigenous communities, and the intersectionality these topics have with sex work and human trafficking.  

Rebekah is an accomplished consultant, trainer, public speaker, and educator, who provides additional services in programming development and victim response. She hopes to unite a community of change-makers with the common goal of collective healing while igniting change for a more just, equitable, and abundant future.

Bishop Israel Ade-Ajala

Bishop Israel Ade-Ajala

Honorary Board Member

Bishop Israel Ade-Ajala has a heart for the lost, and passion to help the poor and needy. Although he is a Man of God, he believes in giving physical food to the needy as well as spiritual food. He is the Founder & Bishop of Hands on Ministries and Ade-Ajala Ministries. He hosts a Live, Radio Program, “Get Connected with Dr. Ade-Ajala” on KLTT Radio 670 AM every Friday at 12:30 pm. He is the author of “Let Us Pray,” a Believers Guide to praying effectively.  He is a profound expositor of the Word of God and a visionary Leader who empowers people for success. He served under Youth with a Mission, Tema, Ghana, and later joined Mercy Ships, a missionary ship traveling around the world providing medical assistance and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is a graduate of economics from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and a Doctorate in Theology.

Maxine Edja

Advisory Board Member

Max has served in various board positions both as financial consultant and board member. He has passion for helping small non-profits with keeping their financial records at little or no fees. He is currently a Senior Business/Financial Consultant with DE Business Consulting. He has a combined experience in accounting, finance, tax, and banking that spans over 25 years. He delivers workshops, and comprehensive financial planning for businesses. He holds undergraduate degrees in finance and accounting, an MBA in Finance from the University of Houston and is a doctoral candidate at Walden University.

Staff & Volunteers

Edith Okupa

Edith Okupa

Founder & Executive Director

Edith Okupa is the Founder/Executive Director of Restoration Project International. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland and her masters’ degree in Public Administration with concentrations on Domestic Violence (DV), Project Management and Policy Administration from the University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado. She also received numerous trainings in Leadership, Organizational Management, Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking, and Child Commercial Sexual Exploitation.

During her career, she interned with the Montgomery County Police Dept., MD, Public Policy Intern with the Colorado Coalition against Domestic Violence (CCADV); DV Intern with the Denver City Attorney’s Office, and DV/Sexual Assault Intern with Colorado Organization for Victims Assistance (COVA). As a public policy intern, she did a research for CCADV which pushed for two legislatures in Colorado: SB227 (2013) and HB14-1162 (2014). Edith also speaks at conferences and participates in panel discussions on race, crime, and culture; human trafficking and domestic violence. She is striving to provide a safe space for victims/survivors; and engage communities/institutions in ending human trafficking, and systemic failures in addressing the plights of victims. She established and implemented programs to promote this awareness through conference, trainings and workshops. She is constantly seeking creative ways to restore hope for survivors.

Currently, she has developed a dynamic curriculum targeted at empowerment of survivors. She is excited to facilitate programs that target sustainable restoration of survivors.

Milka Tesfazion

Intern

Abimbola Famuyiwa

Volunteer

Folakemi Sotade

Volunteer

Ajiri Ovuworie

Volunteer

INTERNS

Every so often, we get interns from Universities in the Denver Metro area. Most of them are required by the school to volunteer with a nonprofit organization of their choice. We have been honored to have them do some of our administrative work.

CONTACT US IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEER WORK OR INTERNSHIP WITH US. INFO@RESTORATIONPI.ORG.

REAL TESTIMONY

Edith did not “know that she would one day stand with legislators at the state capitol to watch the governor of Colorado sign a bill into law to protect women and children. It was a bill that she helped to research, and a milestone in her personal mission to make a difference.”

Angelia McGowa

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