Ali Black Joins Hathaway Brown as Aspire's Program Director

After a fabulous search and a series of impressive candidates, Hathaway Brown is pleased to announce that Ali Black will join our team as program director of the Aspire Program effective May 1, 2023. 

Ali has created dynamic programs for girls throughout Northeast Ohio and brings more than 10 years of experience running initiatives for high-achieving girls from under-resourced schools and communities. She has worked directly with girls, school leaders, community members, civic leaders, families, business owners, nonprofit organizations, and artists through West Side Community House’s Sisterhood Program and Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, where she currently serves as club director. Through these roles, Ali has also facilitated powerful workshops for Aspire and HB middle school students in the past. Deeply knowledgeable about the many challenges young girls face, Ali has extensive experience creating cutting-edge programs and activities to address and combat these issues. 

An accomplished artist and writer, Ali is the author of If It Heals At All (Jacar Press, 2020). The book was named a finalist for the 2021 Ohioana Book Award in poetry. Her writing has appeared in The Atticus Review, Jubilat, Literary Hub, The Offing, The Adroit Journal and more. She recently launched a creative writing program for teens called The Most Promising.

Ali holds a master’s degree in poetry from Cleveland State University and a master’s degree in English from the University of Toledo. She also holds undergraduate degrees in communications and English from the University of Toledo.

As Ali begins, Aspire’s Co-Founders Cammy Howe Dubie ’88 and Koyen Parikh Shah will help her orient to our unique and transformative program. Ali’s dedication and passion for supporting and guiding girls will set the course for an exciting new era as she builds upon the strong vision of her predecessors. 

“As a Black woman and first-generation college graduate, I understand the importance of Aspire’s work,” Ali said. “I know firsthand the impact of female leadership and how it can create greater academic achievement and instill compassion, drive, and confidence. I am looking forward to working with such an amazing community. I can’t wait to bring my ideas to the Aspire program and I am so excited about the opportunity to grow and learn during this new chapter in my life!”