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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
clarissabeyah@comcast.net
Writer’s Block (860) 464-2871
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Strategy - Ian Williams
Ian was born in England and emigrated to the United States in 1979. He is trained as a scientist and holds a D. Phil. from Oxford University in Biochemistry. He worked in the pharmaceutical industry for many years, most recently as a strategist. In 2004 he became a full time writer and has published two books: “Riding in Africa”, an autobiographical account of his many horseback riding safaris throughout Africa and “Standing Stones” a book of poetry. He and his wife , Nancy Hutson, live in south east Connecticut.
Contact information:
Phone 860-912-3535
Email: ian.inc@mac.com
Web: www.ianhwilliams.com
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Finance - Tysheen Edge
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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.
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Patricia Ann Riddick
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Tina Leigh
Tina Leigh is the Art Director for a Medical Communications Firm and freelance illustrator and designer. As a writer and illustrator of two children's books, Tina volunteers in Connecticut/Rhode Island libraries and elementary schools. Her illustrations have appeared in Scholastics Weekly Reader, Connecticut Audubon Society Eagle Festivals, CT/RI/MA galleries, and numerous medical publications. Tina is a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), 1997 BFA Illustration, and a member of local art associations.
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Student Member: Ray Love
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Student Member: Morgan
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