The Perfect Team
Our Staff
Our Board of Directors
Sanetta Ponton, J.D., M.Div.
Executive Director of Metro Community Center
Sanetta is a proud graduate of the Englewood Public School District and has been blessed to receive degrees from Columbia University (BA), Harvard Law School (JD), and Duke Divinity School (M.Div.). She has served in ministry in Houston, TX; Durham, NC; and even as far away as Kenya. In addition, she faithfully served in her home church, First Baptist Church of Englewood, for 6 years as an Associate and later Assistant Pastor before moving to Metro. At the same time, she spent several years working with Legal Outreach, a law-related college prep program in New York City, most recently as their Managing Director of Academic Programs. Her heart beats for justice, equity in education, and to see the realization of the prayer, "thy kingdom come".
Contact Sanetta at sanetta.ponton@metrocenternj.org
Rev. Peter Ahn, Pastor
Mack Cauthen, Manager of Quality & Regulation
Jorge Felix, Esq., Attorney
Lorelei Pratt, Clinical Trial Coordinator
Charles Taylor, Adjunct Professor
Stephanie Tsai-Kim, PsyD, Psychologist
Our Volunteers
Masumi Goldstein, Yoga Instructor
Greg Gomez, Fitness Instructor
Renee Karibi-Whyte, Marketing & Communications Executive
Sodigi Karibi-Whyte, Career Counselor
Deborah Moore, Creative Artist
Steven Park, Tennis Instructor
Lorelei Pratt, Tutor
Clayton Chan, M.Div.
Director of Youth Outreach and Program Director of the Basketball League
Having spent his childhood in the suburbs of Massachusetts, Clayton is now a lonely Patriots fan among a sea of Giants and Jets fans. Clayton graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a double major in Economics and Religion. He then continued his education by completing his M. Div. at Princeton Theological Seminary in 2011. Clayton’s love of children and youth led him to accept a position as the Director of Youth Outreach.
Contact Clay at clayton.chan@metrocenternj.org
Michael W. Smith, M.Ed.
Program Director of MetroLIFE Project
Born and raised in the Newark/East Orange section of Essex County, Mike witnessed many friends, loved ones, and family members fall to pressures associated with at-risk lifestyles. Determined not to become a statistic, he went to college on a football scholarship, where he also completed his masters degree in counseling psychology. Since then, he’s served as an educator in multiple capacities, due to his passion to mentor young people. The MetroLIFE Project is his way of living out his calling and responsibility to effect positive change within the community.
Contact Michael at michael.smith@metrocenternj.org
Steve Bang
Associate Director of MetroLIFE Project
Steve received a bachelor’s degree in Communications at Rutgers University and then pursued a career in information technology. Steve has always had a passion working with students as a tutor and Sunday School teacher. However, after seeing poverty first hand in South Africa, Steve quit his job and became passionate about working with at risk youth. Steve now works to serve the youth of Englewood.
Contact Steve at steve.bang@metrocenternj.org