Our team

Founder and Executive President of OPPFI

Chairman of the Executive Board

Osoronko Nana-Yabani is the founder and Executive President of the Olof Palme Peace Foundation International. He is a national of Ghana, is a self-made scholar. While a student in England, Osoronko was deeply inspired by the ideas and policies of the late Swedish statesman, Olof Palme. In the spirit of his mentor, Osoronko has dedicated himself to promoting human rights, peace and international development. Osoronko has worked throughout the continent of Africa, serving as an emissary of the United Nations in assessing the conditions in prisons and women's rights in Western Africa. 

Osoronko Nana-Yabani is a chef, a sailor, a linguist, an international poet, a historian, a an avid reader, and a UN peace messenger. 

UN Youth Representative

Rachel Steinmetz has spent her early career in the youth-related educational, safety and technological issues that confront youth today.  As an Ithaca College undergraduate, her innovative executive management skills as Hillel House President included writing and obtaining grants from government organizations.

Her planning in large scale interfaith events, has attracted over 500 student participants. While an on-campus student, she successfully designed and implemented engaging activities for the LGBT Center. 

At the campus office of Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs, her statistical analysis and research on environment and social issues has resulted in programs that increased student engagement on these problems. 

As an off-campus, TAC summer Israel staff member, Rachel lead religious services and escorted 100 teenagers to the Holyland. In continual growth process her responsibilities at several summer camps, as a counselor increased in scope as she organized, planned,  and managed activities on many levels. Her interests in youth, social, multicultural and international concerns are well established. 

Chief Operating Officer

Executive Board Member

Bryan S. Jung is a New York policy consultant. A fourth generation New Yorker, Bryan attended local schools in Manhattan. He attended Binghamton University, where he studied history and international relations and received his B.A. in History in 2007.

Bryan has been employed in the legal field in New York since 2011.

He has had past experience with volunteering in local NYC charities. Bryan has been interested in the mission of the United Nations since high school.

An avid NY Yankees, NY Rangers, and NY Giants fan, Bryan is currently back in school studying finance.

Director of External Affairs

 James R. King was born in Harlem New York and raised in Brooklyn. He is a product of Erasmus Hall High School. Mr. King also attended The Harlem Preparatory School where he took courses in Matrices (matrix mathematics), Critical Thinking, Conflict Resolution, Community Planning and African Studies. This study introduced him to metaphysical studies and he continued to the University of Metaphysics Institute, Arizona, where he graduated as a Doctor of Metaphysical Science.

He has used his life so far in the fight for Social Justice, Gender Equality and as a community activist serving for years in the Fort Greene Area of Brooklyn at Pratt Institute on the Board of MARP (Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project).

He is currently a Construction Engineer with  Amtrak - (National Passenger Railroad Corporation).

Educational Chair

Director of Mental Health Affairs

Executive Board Member  

Alida currently works in Grants Management, as part of the One Brooklyn Health System (OBHS)-Strategic Planning & Programming/Grants Management Department, and in the past, with grant funders at the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation-a private non-profit, dedicated to the causes of Social Justice, Women’s Rights, Sustainable Agriculture, and Socially Responsible Investing.

In her previous employment, she devoted nearly 15 years as a licensed NYC general and special educator, committed to bettering the lives of both her students and fellow pedagogical colleagues-as a Chapter Leader, Delegate, and Arbitration Advocate for the United Federation of Teachers (UFT).

As a Chaplain and COO of Chaplains International Alliance (CIA), the primary focus of her non-profit work, is on culturally competent Mental Health Awareness, Advocacy, Care, Supportive Recovery, and addressing gaps in the provision of cultural and Social Determinants Of Health (SDoH). 

 Ms. Ortiz holds a BA  from Colgate University- (Double Major)- Peace Studies/Sociology & Anthropology/Minor in Education-which included international studies abroad at Bradford University (UK), on the historical analysis of Post WWI and WWII events, mediation techniques, alternative dispute resolutions, and entente strategies. She earned her MSEd (Masters of Science in Special Education) at Touro College- Graduate School of Education.

  Main UN Representative

Dasse Diarra was born in Diandiola, a village in the District of Kolokani, in the region of Koulikoro, Mali. 

Born to parents who never went to school, and with very limited financial support, he went to study English at the University of Bamako and graduated with a Master’s Degree in English. He came to the US in January 2013, with a primary goal to study at Unification Theological Seminary. He graduated with a Master’s in Divinity and is planning to go for his Doctorate in order to better serve humanity.

He was ordained a deacon in the New Apostolic Church, which is his family's church at the young age of 14. He received his ordination as priest in 1998 and became the senior pastor in the main New Apostolic Church in Mali. 

UN Coordinating Director

Martin Steinmetz has devoted much of his life to work in the public sector with some on-going consulting assignments in the private sector in marketing, legal consulting and business management. As a graduate of Cardozo School of Law, and an MPA from Baruch College.

As an educator, he held positions at Berkeley College. Hunter College, Bronx Community College and the Research Foundation a part of the CUNY system serving as a staff analyst, job/business training, teaching courses in business law, business practices and strategies, ethics, international business law, and legal research. 

As a transportation planner, he held short/long term assignments with the NYCTA, Houston Transit, Southeast Michigan Transit Authority and Kitsap Transit, as well as representing state/city elected officials as a transportation planning expert at important committee meetings. As a past president of NYRFC, he organized many  international tours and created a decade long international rugby tournament in Mexico.

Director of Urban Affairs  

Chaplain Zahir is the founder and CEO of Chaplains International Alliance (CIA), Zahir-inspired by the efforts of the Social Justice Organizations he grew up with, has realized his vision of educating, training, and networking  like-minded and hearted people together, through enacting efforts reflective of interests and issues of helping others, which they are most passionate in pursuing.

Chaplain Murray takes the lead at CIA ,in his personal interest of working with the youth, through initiatives such as his work with the 77th precinct, and young people/ gang members involved in gun violence (CeaseFire), as Vice-President of Del Gracia Corporation, assisting young women who have aged out of the Foster care system, with housing, financial counseling, and other life skills, as well as with his youth outreach with the NYC Police Affiliated- Muslim Community Patrol.

Through CIA. Chaplain Zahir trains and registers a dedicated group of Chaplain’s, committed to keeping abreast of community affairs (attending board, council, precinct mtgs,, ,etc.) and addressing local Urban affairs, through supportive organizations, such as women’s empowerment groups (Sisters Sharing Strength), Mental Health Issues (Mental Health Mission, Muslim Mental Health), Prisoners’ Rights (Intimates Equity), and Incarcerated Women In Prison (WIP) (Message Forum/CIA initiative-WIP Care Packages).

A life-long learner, Chaplain Zahir earned his MDiv (Masters of Divinity) from New York Theological Seminary, and is currently enrolled to pursue his Doctoral Degree.

Director of Young Adult Outreach

Barry Kirkland was born in Brooklyn, NY. He is currently a graduate student at New York Theological Seminary, and is working towards a Master Degree in Urban Youth Ministry. He currently has a masters degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling from New York Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor degree in Urban and Regional Studies from SUNY Old Westbury.

He has served as Director of a Youth Conservation Corps Improvement Program (Y.C.C.I.P), a program for youth between the ages of 17-21 in the field of construction demolition and rehabilitation of buildings owed or manage by Housing. Urban Development (HUD) with funding providing by the federal government. He has also served as a Vocational, Substance abuse and treatment councilor for non profit programs for youth and adults. 

Director of Children's Affairs

Moses Sumo Appram, was born in Tema, Ghana. He came to the United States at the age of nine. graduated Dowling Collage with a Bachelors degree in Social Science and Communication. At an early age, Mr. Appram showed his willingness to serve by volunteering his time and efforts assisting group homes and tending to needs of patients with mental illness. Mr. Appram served as co-founder of Ghana’s Elite, a social event planning group aimed at bridging the gap between Ghanaian students abroad and their African heritage. As his passion for helping those in need grow stronger, Mr. Appram began work on True Harvest Foundation, a non profit aimed at spreading awareness on hunger prevention.

 Sec. of Fight Against Female Genital Mutation

TOTO ANNICK EDWIGE KLA is currently studying at Borough of Manhattan Community College for her Associate Degree in Liberal Arts. She was born in Ivory Coast where she had her associate degree in English in 2008 at the University of Abidjan. In 2010, she flew to the United States of America where she participated as a volunteer in the International Leadership Training Program for ten months and received a certificate of recognition. After that, she went to Mali and attended the Superior School of Technology and Management where she got an Associate Degree in Marketing Management.

She is the head of Women Federation for World Peace, Section of Harlem, New York, USA which is an International NGO recognized all over the world to emphasize the role of women and awaken the leadership in them.