Founder-Clarissa Beyah-Taylor

Clarissa Beyah-Taylor Clarissa Beyah-Taylor, 29, a Director of Global Communications at Pfizer’s Global Research and Development (PGRD) Headquarters in New London CT, is a professional communicator and performer with a demonstrated, personal commitment to the arts, education and youth. A nationally ranked performance poet, community activist and volunteer, Beyah-Taylor founded The Writer’s Block, InK—a business dedicated to helping youth address social and personal challenges, build self esteem, professional communications and performance skills through writing and performance workshops and productions. Beyah-Taylor has more than a decade of experience working in corporate communications for Fortune 500 healthcare companies including Blue Cross, SmithKline, The American Association for Cancer Research, Bayer Corporation, and currently at Pfizer Inc. Her experience includes helping health care organizations build communications departments and systems while directing, improving or creating new initiatives and strategies to improve communications as well as focusing on and leading diversity efforts in the corporate environment. A nationally ranked performance poet, community activist and volunteer, Beyah-Taylor is active in numerous community and youth focused initiatives. She served on the Board of Directors for Young Audiences of Connecticut, worked with the Garde Arts Theatre as a contributing playwright and guest faculty member for Warrior’s Don’t Cry, an adaptation of Melba Pattillo Beal’s personal account of school integration in the late 1950’s, and instructed writing and performance poetry workshops for youth (ages 9-20) in correctional/detention facilities, urban schools, and community centers throughout Connecticut. She also served as a guest artist for the Connecticut Commission for the Arts HOT (Higher Order Thinking) Schools Program working with high school students on writing through conflict and was a member of the 2000 CT Poetry Slam Team. Clarissa received a B.A. in English from Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ and an MBA from the University of New Haven. Contact Information writersblock2@gmail.com Writer’s Block: (860) 44block (442-5625)

Theresa Broach

Serinol Lowman

Shelley Des Etages

Shelley Ann des Etages is a Senior Principal Scientist in the Target Equity group at Pfizer Inc. in Groton, Connecticut. Shelley was born in Trinidad and Tobago and moved to the United States in 1986. She received her B. Sc. in Biology from Pace University and completed a doctorate at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. At Pfizer, Dr. des Etages partners with colleagues across different lines and sites to use gene expression profiling to identify and validate drug targets and biomarkers, support lead development programs, and to understand disease models. Dr. des Etages is a member of two of Pfizer's network groups, the Women's Leadership Network and ADVANCE (Africans/ African Americans Dedicated to Value Added Networking for Corporate Excellence) and has held leadership roles in ADVANCE since 2001. She regularly participates in educational outreach in the local schools through Career Day, tutoring, science demonstrations and Junior Achievement programs. Dr. des Etages served as a mentor for teenage girls being prepared for independent living for 3 years and has been a supporter of the Writers Block Ink Program since 2003. She brings a love for youth, drive to succeed, creativity, desire to improve the community and create opportunities for young people to the board of the Writers Block Ink.

Stephanye Clark

Born in Charleston, SC and raised in New London, Stephanye graduated from The Williams School in 1988, attended Hood College in Frederick, MD for one year and a semester at Mitchell College, New London, CT. She joined Ledge Light Health District in November 2007 with more than ten (10) years experience in the Administrative field, with a background in the following areas: construction, health/human services, housing, legal, non-profit organizations, retail and telecommunications. Stephanye is a member of the Southeastern CT Women’s Network and of NORSAP, the Norwich Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. She serves on the Executive Committees of and is a member of both New London Teenage Pregnancy Prevention/Teen Health Task Force and the New London Branch N.A.A.C.P. (and serves as personal assistant to the President of the New London Branch N.A.A.C.P.). Stephanye is a member of and Secretary for the New London County Chapter of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW). She also serves as a co-founder and Co-Coordinator of the NCNW’s newly formed Young-Adult/Youth Initiative. Additionally, Stephanye is one of the founding members of The Faith and AIDS Matters (The FAM), a coalition of interdenominational southeastern CT church members, committed to addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic within their community and in their respective churches. Stephanye has completed the HIV Prevention Educator training provided by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. She is also a member at the Kenté Cultural Center, a member of the African American Health Council of southeastern CT, a member of the New London School Superintendent’s Health & Wellness Committee, and a participant of Connecticut Communities for Addiction and Recovery (CCAR), serving as a volunteer. Stephanye is also a free-lance grant writer, with an 80% success rate. Stephanye is very active in her church, Clarke Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, where she serves as Preacher’s Steward, Church Clerk, President of the Adult Choir, Vice President of Senior Usher Board, Associate Minister of Music and President of the Young Adult Missionary Society. She resides in New London with her two daughters, ages 16 and 5.