About Us

Summer Willow Fitch is a senior DE&I professional with wide-ranging experience strategically developing, managing, and executing programs and coaching. Summer holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and Organizational Marketing from West Chester University and an MBA with an Entrepreneurship focus from Eastern University.  With over 21 years of finance and operations management experience in Fortune 500 and non-profit roles, Summer climbed the ranks galvanizing individuals, businesses, and communities into action. She has an uncanny grasp of the tools needed to activate maximum results for her clients. Currently, Summer serves as Partner & Principal Consultant for Kabod Consulting which is an emerging agency that provides consultation and training to organizations and corporations with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion models and initiatives.  Kabod also offers Accountability Coaching to aspiring and seasoned leaders.  She and BWGive Secretary, Tamika Good Otis are partners in Kabod which now has an international reach. With a zeal for serving underrepresented populations, Summer has pledged her time and resources as Co-Founder and Board Chair of the Black Women Give Foundation whose mission is to engage African American women and girls in philanthropy by joining a growing trend in women’s collective giving. Summer Willow is also a dedicated member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Tamika Otis re-located to Syracuse, NY from Philadelphia in 2003.  A self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur and “grant geek”, Tamika currently serves as the Director for KeyBank’s Business Boost & Build program powered by JumpStart, Inc.  In this capacity, Tamika is afforded the unique opportunity to leverage her strengths, passions, network, and resources to assist entrepreneurs of color and women entrepreneurs in starting or scaling their businesses throughout Upstate NY.   Tamika is also the Founder of Kabod Consulting which provides consultation and training to organizations and corporations with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion models and initiatives.  Kabod also offers Accountability Coaching to aspiring and seasoned leaders.  She and BWGive Founder, Summer Fitch are partners in Kabod which now has an international reach. With a passion for serving underrepresented populations, Tamika has dedicated both her professional and personal life to empowering people to live their best lives.  Prior to her current position, she served for 10 years as Project Director for the federally-funded Job Corps program administered by the U.S. Dept. of Labor.  In 2016, Tamika was appointed by the County Executive to her local Youth Board for which she now serves as Vice President; was a recipient of the 40 Under 40 Latino Rising Stars awarded by the Hispanic Coalition of NY in recognition of her work in communities of color, and graduated from the “Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders” board development and diversity training from the Community Foundation of Central New York.  In 2017, she was also appointed as a member of the Leadership Council of the Central NY Women’s Fund whose mission is to empower and recognize the advancement and full participation of women and girls in Central New York through an endowment fund, grants, and initiatives. Tamika is a sought-after subject matter expert and speaker around the areas of entrepreneurship, DEI, Social Justice, Racial Equity, Building Inclusive Workforces and Ecosystems, and more. Tamika’s motivation in life are her two sons, Christian, 18, and Braylon, 11.  She enjoys traveling, motivational speaking, singing, and writing.

Jacqueline Ferguson has been in the facilities and property management business for nearly 15 years and has a passion for keeping commercial and residential properties aesthetically pleasing, safe, and functional for all tenants. Jacqueline was first inspired to make a community impact by spearheading efforts for “second chance” renters. Recognizing that sometimes families are put into situations outside of their control, she assisted those with bad or no credit in obtaining safe and affordable housing. She helped her lessees secure long-term and fair rental agreements. She leads by her mantra “Obstacles are sometimes a necessary piece of the process”. More importantly, she strives to be the person to help others through difficult times. Her patience coupled with her capacity for knowledge has been recognized as she has received several Process Improvement awards in her career. Jacqueline has recently made a career change that has positioned her in the healthcare industry. In her role as a recruiter, she is able to focus on employing those in her community. Additionally, she is able to ensure members of the community that are in need, receive the care that is needed by employing the proper staff. Mrs. Ferguson also volunteered for Sister Saturday, an organization dedicated to the empowerment of women within their communities. She is also married to David Ferguson; together they have three sons, David, Elijah, and Joshua. Understanding the challenges faced by men of color in today’s climate and her heart for humanity; her husband and children are certainly reasons that fuel her to do more.

Black Women Give Foundation envisions networks of engaged individuals working collectively to drive a new era of philanthropy within communities of color.  We seek to support change, growth, and sustainability for communities to prosper and to reach their highest potential.