About us

Mission

At Global Youth Camp AEP Inc., we are creating a virtual space for youth to realize their untapped potential. Prioritizing youth in high school. Our mission is to expose youth early to a career path in architecture, engineering, and planning around the world through a virtual learning course. Additionally, there is a mentorship program to cultivate youth skills and steer them toward the high school, college/university of their choice. Also, we offer leadership sessions as an option during the mentorship program for the mentee.

Our Presence

History

Global Youth Camp AEP Inc. began with a cluster of virtual networking and vision meetings in 2021, led by the Founder and CEO. On March 29, 2022, the nonprofit was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in the state of California. The organization team consists of Darnell Parker II (Founder and CEO), Dave Walker (Chairman of the Board), Rome Meeks (Global Liaison of Ambassadors), Eletrice Harris (Vice President), and Domonique Bunai (Secretary). We work together to support the mission along with each global ambassador: Bemnet Demissie (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), Madhubala Ayyamperumal (India, Bengaluru), Micheal Noha (Douala, Cameroon), Tony Yeboah (Accra, Ghana), and Ion Plamadeala (Chisinau, Moldova).

Meet the Board Members

Darnell Parker II, MBA, Assoc. AIA

  • Darnell Parker II is an urban planning professional, design leader, and former United States Peace Corps Volunteer (Republic of Moldova). He currently Lead Los Angeles Coro Fellow. Darnell holds a B.Arch, M.Arch, and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning, from Virginia Tech, an MBA from Pepperdine, and international design experience across Europe and Asia. His background includes service as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer with Community Housing Partners, Lieutenant Governor at Badger Boys State, President of the NOMA Student Chapter at Virginia Tech, and Director of Membership for the APA Los Angeles Section. Driven by a commitment to empowering underrepresented youth globally, Darnell founded Global Youth Camp AEP to expand access to careers in architecture, engineering, and planning.

Dave Walker, Assoc. AIA, AICP

  • Dave Walker is an urban planner, designer, and founder of W A L K Studio, an urban design and planning practice. With over a decade of industry experience, Dave spent seven years at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) leading international and national master plans, architecture projects, campus developments, and neighborhood revitalization strategies. He holds degrees in urban planning and architecture and focuses his work on creating sustainable, equitable, and resilient urban environments through strategic planning and physical design.

Queen Harrison Claye, Olympian

  • Queen Harrison Claye is an Olympic track and field athlete, advocate, and brand marketing specialist. Competing as the youngest member of Team USA's track and field team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics while a sophomore at Virginia Tech, Queen enjoyed a 14-year professional athletic career highlighted by Pan American Games gold medals and NCAA national championships. A Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame inductee and licensed esthetician, she serves in Marketing & Brand Engagement for the LA28 Olympic Games Organizing Committee, focusing on youth empowerment, gender equity in sports, and community outreach.

Joe Luckey III

  • Joe Luckey III is an urban planner with over a decade of experience advancing housing policy and community development across Southern California. Holding a degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Cal Poly Pomona, Joe currently serves with the Los Angeles Department of City Planning, implementing state housing legislation and regional housing initiatives. He is the founder of Black Planners of Los Angeles (BPLA), a nonprofit employee organization dedicated to civic education, land-use literacy, and workforce development for underrepresented communities. Joe also serves as a local church Deacon and advocates for student housing stability across Los Angeles County.

Kevin Ingram

  • Kevin Ingram is an educational administrator and college access advocate with over 30 years of experience supporting first-generation and low-income students. His career spans public education policy and state-level leadership in Wisconsin, including managing educator licensing and administrative review processes. Kevin holds a Master’s in Human Resources and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Marquette University, focusing his board advisory work on post-secondary transition programs, youth mentorship, and higher education access initiatives.

Timothy Cole

  • Tim Cole is a technology executive and entrepreneur specializing in sales leadership, workplace engagement, and business development. He serves as the Co-Founder of Milwaukee Wine Academy. Raised in Milwaukee, Tim earned his degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He actively serves as President of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Milwaukee Area Professionals chapter and works to expand technology education and career pathways for underrepresented professionals.

Executive Leadership

Eletrice Harris

  • Eletrice Harris is an project manager, and youth education advocate with more than 20 years of experience in project administration and design management. She holds a Master of Architecture from Pratt Institute and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Illinois Chicago. Eletrice previously served as Vice President of SoCal NOMA, Director of the SoCal NOMA Summer Camp, and Student Chapter Liaison. As Vice President of Global Youth Camp AEP, she directs educational programming aimed at expanding K-12 awareness and minority representation in the architectural profession.

Rome Meeks, PH.D.

  • Dr. Rome Meeks is an Assistant Professor and organizational psychologist focusing on community development, systems science, and urban social environments. He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Michigan State University, where his research examines the neurological and psychological impacts of environmental stress in urban areas. Dr. Meeks is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Anidaso 360, a nonprofit organization providing leadership development, restorative practices, and cultural enrichment for youth of color. On the executive team at GYC AEP, he oversees program evaluation, impact metrics, and global ambassador management.

Global Ambassadors

Tony Yeboah

  • Tony Yeboah is an architectural historian and Assistant Professor of Art History and Africana Studies at Tulane University. He earned his Ph.D. in History from Yale University, supported by a Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship examining colonial power, urban development, and community-making in Kumasi, Ghana. Prior to his faculty appointment, Tony served as an instructor at the University of Cape Coast and contributed to Gates Ventures' Open Educational Resources (OER) project. His scholarship appears in History in Africa, Journal of West African History, Global Nineteenth-Century Studies, and public outlets including The Conversation and Nursing Clio.

Ion Plamadeala

  • Ion Plamadeala has served as the Mayor of Izbiște in the Republic of Moldova for over a decade. A graduate of the State Agrarian University of Moldova with a degree in Economics, Mayor Plamadeala represents his local municipality in public administration and cross-border developmental initiatives. Working alongside organizations like the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM), his administration prioritizes elevating Izbiște through spatial data integration, K-12 educational infrastructure, public health, and sustainable local economic development.

Areesha Mahboob

  • Areesha Mahboob is an architect, heritage researcher, and advocate for climate-resilient design. She graduated with honors (ranking 3rd in her faculty and department) with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and received the Varna National Award for her architectural project Invisible Cities. Her work concentrates on adaptive reuse, cultural heritage preservation, and sustainable urban development, advocating for community-centered designs that protect historical identity while building environmental resilience.

Bemnet Demissie

  • Bemnet Demissie is an architectural designer, space manager, and event curator based in Addis Ababa. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from EiABC at Addis Ababa University. Bemnet serves as Space Manager and Event Curator at The Urban Center—a social enterprise driving inclusive urban dialogue—and is the co-founder of Echoing Cities, an initiative focused on architectural awareness and public engagement. His work combines interactive art, visual curation, and photography to explore the intersection of physical design and urban culture.

Micheal Noha

  • Micheal Noha is an international business professional and community organizer who has worked in Cameroon’s cocoa and coffee export sector since 2012. He holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business and Management from London Metropolitan University. Since 2020, Micheal has actively served with a Franco-Cameroonian non-profit organization dedicated to mobilizing human, material, and financial resources to support orphans, single mothers, and vulnerable families across Cameroon.

Tumusiime Jackline

  • Tumusiime Jackline is a student leader, human rights advocate, and climate activist in Uganda pursuing her degree at Makerere University. She serves as the Assistant Team Leader for the SDG Youth Ambassadors (Makerere University Chapter), where she leads youth-centered initiatives aimed at localizing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Known for her results-oriented leadership, Jackline focuses on empowering young people to drive environmental and social change within their communities.

Wisdom Otutubuike

  • Wisdom Otutubuike is a construction technology innovator and builder from Nigeria. He holds a B.Sc. in Building Construction Technology from the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and has completed advanced training in adaptive leadership, industry metaverse applications, and data analytics. Known professionally as the creator behind "Amebo Builder," Wisdom shares educational content on AEC technological advancements. He is also the founder of LEARNTEC Africa, a startup providing construction technology education to emerging AEC professionals across Africa.

S M Ashik Rahman

  • S M Ashik Rahman is a Lighting Designer at SmithGroup. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Architectural Engineering with an emphasis in lighting design from the University of Colorado Boulder. Personal childhood experiences with climate change impacts in Bangladesh motivated his focus on sustainable, energy-efficient architectural systems. Ashik has held leadership roles across several professional student chapters, including the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), ASHRAE, Chi Epsilon, and Tau Beta Pi, combining technical engineering with artistic design.

Neo Lehoko

  • Neo Lehoko is a South African architectural designer and researcher. He earned both his Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture from Andrews University in Michigan. Neo’s work and research focus on restorative justice in the built environment, exploring how architectural practice can evolve to address social equity, historical healing, and spatial accessibility within global communities.

Chibuike Amarachi Favour

  • Chibuike Amarachi Favour is a building technology specialist and advocate for ethical practices in construction. Graduating with Upper Credit in Building Technology from Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, she served in several national leadership roles within the National Association of Building Students (NAOBS), including Research and Development Secretary and Auditor General. Her work centers on advancing construction research, promoting transparency, and fostering sustainable growth within Nigeria’s building sector.

Yannick Mbraga

  • Yannick Mbarga is a pharmacist, health technology innovator, and educator with over eight years of experience in healthcare delivery. He serves as the Head of the Pharmacy Department at an urban hospital in Douala, Cameroon, and directs a local nursing training school. Yannick conducts research projects focused on health equity, digital health tools, and medical supply chain management, and continues to expand his work through advanced training in epidemiology and public health logistics.

Nour Atef

  • Nour Atef is a digital strategist, youth empowerment advocate, and marketing professional studying Management Science with a focus on Information Systems at Sadat Academy for Management Sciences. He has led digital campaigns, market research, and content strategy for creative agencies including Markopedia and Word of Mouth. Certified in digital marketing and social media strategy, Nour participates in the Soliya Global Circles Program for intercultural dialogue and designs peer initiatives to help young professionals leverage data and digital tools for social impact.


Past Global Ambassadors

Madhubala A Ayyam Perumal

Madhubala A Ayyam Perumal

Past Board Members

Linda Tatum, FAICP

Linda Tatum, FAICP

Ramona Johnson

Ramona Johnson

Dr. Willie Garrison II

Dr. Willie Garrison II

Christina Hartsfields, AICP

Christina Hartsfields, AICP