ABOUT US

Experienced volunteer manager, Thrinicko has led giving back to society since he was sixteen. Thrinicko’s international life in France, Belgium, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Los Angeles, California has given him a strong varied and formative experience of working with people. He is passionate about team building and impacting the next generation. He firmly believes that mentoring while serving others leaves a lasting impression on the next generation. His professional background is in Business Management and Sales. He is skilled in negotiation, E-commerce, and Customer Service. Thrinicko has served tirelessly since covid19 hit to serve those severely impacted by the economic downturn of the pandemic in the Los Angeles County and surrounding counties. Thrinicko in his spare time loves cars and enjoys driving around Los Angeles for fun.

Operations Leader with a 15 year track record of driving small & mid-size businesses to success

I have 22 years of experience in the architectural, design, and construction industry, including senior management. Currently, as Director of Management and Logistics for Menemsha Solutions, I focus on developing and implementing new processes and introduce new technologies that will help increase efficiencies and lower operational costs. Before that, I held roles in Senior Project Management. I am fluent in English, Spanish, and intermediate in French. I am a native of Southern California and quite spoiled to its weather, easy access to the ocean, and diverse food options. When I am away from the eight to five routines, my husband and I enjoy road trips and finding great brunch spots along the way. When I am not on the road, I must confess I still play with Legos. Lego Architecture series to be specific. My latest project is building The Capitol Building. I love giving back to my community. africActive is a place that I can use my skills and gifts to give back in unique ways to support the overall vision. New Board members as of December 11, 2024

Born and raised in Southern California, Matthew has always enjoyed traveling and learning from other cultures across the world. He has his own construction contractor business serving the LA and Ventura County. Ever since the 2005 La Conchita landslide that impacted him personally, he has sought to give back through variety international projects ranging from trips to Peru mountainside to Japan 3.11 Earthquake and Tsunami disaster. He served as missions director at Bethany Congregational Church from 2010- 2015. He is an avid photographer and enjoys capturing life through a lens. He has served on the Winnetka neighborhood council to encourage housing developments to combat the rise of homelessness. He loves doing life with his wife Christine and fathering his two amazing children.

Taylor is from Gainesville Florida and is a dynamic and visionary individual passionate about technology, community building, and human-centered innovation. She is a senior at the University of Southern California studying Computer Science and Business Administration. She balances her academic journey with a deep commitment to leadership and professional development. She is an active National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) member and is currently the organization's president. After graduation, Taylor will go full-time at Microsoft as a Technical Program Manager

Umar has been helping out with intake at AfricActive for the past two years. He grew up in Monterey, California and did his undergrad at UC Berkeley. In undergrad, he was a director in the Suitcase Clinic, a student organization that hosts spaces for unhoused individuals in Berkeley to receive food and services. Since graduating, he have been working as a data scientist here in LA. In his free time, he as been enjoying traveling, searching for hole in the wall food spots, and reading sci-fi. For him, AfricActive is a special space where he can foster his passion for serving the community while building friendships with the people we serve and each other.