Our Mission
We reimagine and redevelop underutilized spaces for the purpose of education, culture, health, and peace — so that zip codes do not define the success of children, youth, and families.
Our Vision
To spark a world-class cultural renaissance and neighborhood revitalization movement — that establishes the world's most comprehensive children's equity zones.
Our History
Launched in 2016 by Dr. Karlos L. Marshall and Moses B. Mbeseha who met while pursuing their undergraduate degrees at Wittenberg University, in Springfield, OH, The Conscious Connect Community Development Corporation (CDC). is one of the foremost leading international organizations at the intersections of urban education and neighborhood revitalization. Cultivated through the vision and voice of the people, asset-based community development frameworks, and a place-based approach, the organization is the United State’s only grassroots organization with a primary objective of eradicating urban ‘book deserts.’ Operating primarily across the 50-mile radius of the Greater Miami Valley Region between South Springfield and West Dayton, The Conscious Connect, Inc. has established a 21st-century innovative literary ecosystem that sustains literary oasis in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods and communities.
The organization’s founding initiative, ‘The Root,’ established more than 65 literacy stations in barbershops in beauty salons (and other small businesses) to establish an international advocacy campaign to #EndBookDeserts. Championing literature as a human right has become a calling staple of the organization for closing opportunity gaps. Further, the organization has started a movement to change adverse environmental conditions—by working with government agencies to remove blighted structures, acquire vacant lots, and return them back to productive status in the form of neighborhood ‘pocket parks.’ The Conscious Connect, Inc. is an organization that pays homage to previous cultural movements, while simultaneously creating a visionary future for the culture of today and tomorrow.
Meet Our Founders
Dr. Karlos L. Marshall
Co-Founder & President
Born and raised in the Champion City of Springfield, OH, Dr. Karlos L. Marshall has been internationally recognized for his work as a social entrepreneur and the Co-Founder of The Conscious Connect CDC. Dr. Marshall specializes in cultivating collective impact and place-based strategies between public schools, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, neighborhood associations, businesses, and local residents.
He earned is Doctorate in Education with a concentration in Organizational Leadership. His dissertation was titled, ‘The Power of Urban Pocket Parks and Black Placemaking: A (Re)Examination of People, Policies, and Public-Private Partnerships.
Dr. Marshall also earned his Masters of Science in Education from the University of Dayton in 2015, with a specialization in Higher Education. Prior to that, he graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy with a minor in Africana and Diaspora Studies in 2013, from Wittenberg University.
Moses B. Mbeseha, MBA
Co-Founder & Vice President
From State College, PA by way of Buea, Cameroon, Moses is a community organizer with a passion for social policy, economics and sports. Moses enjoys working with other community organizers to find solutions to ongoing problems as well as volunteering at different service areas in his community. In his free time, Moses is often involved in recreational sports or working with local political leaders. Moses has demonstrated skills in project & business management, marketing, fundraising, strategic planning, and community organizing.
He pursued studies in Political Science and Africana Studies at Wittenberg University, where he graduated with his Bachelors in 2013. Moses earned his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Dayton in 2020. He is currently pursuing his Masters in Public Health from the University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill.
Meet the Staff
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Destinye Arnold, MBA
PROJECT MANAGER
Destinye Arnold is a passionately driven worker and volunteer in her native community of Dayton, OH. Destinye has been inspiring and educating youth since she was an adolescent through volunteerism as both a high school and collegiate student. She obtained a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Ohio University and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Dayton. Destinye began her career as an educator at YWCA Dayton, where she also created and managed a program dedicated to youth in the shelter. She is well versed in serving children and parents in trauma through education/training, programming, and linkages to community resources. Destinye has cultivated her passion through community and youth-based work.
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Castel Sweet, PhD
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
Castel Sweet is a practitioner-scholar who explores the intricacies of community, culture, and race. She works to build the capacity of organizations and individuals by providing administrative and community engagement expertise. Sweet Consulting LLC collaborates with organizations and individuals to help them reach their full potential and achieve sustainable outcomes. Her goal is to better position organizations and individuals to pursue community development and social transformation in ways that most appropriately align with the culture and life experiences of the individuals they represent in the context of the place and space in which they operate.
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Lucas Christian Smith
OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Lucas Christian Smith was born in Columbus, Ohio, and has lived in Springfield his entire life. He attended Grayhill Elementary, and Clark Middle School, and was a member of the first graduating class of Springfield High in 2009.
As the Operations Coordinator for The Conscious Connect CDC, he restocks 16 Houses of Knowledge (little libraries) and maintains the beautification of three pocket parks in the Southside of Springfield.
Some of his hobbies include playing basketball, listening to music, and watching movies.
“Many groups have come to the CCLRC wishing to help in the revitalization of the hardest hit neighborhoods in our City. The Conscious Connect, Inc. has been one of the few that have been consistent in delivering on their mission and pushing to complete their goals.”
— Ethan Harris, Assistant Executive Director, Clark County Land Reutilization Corporation
Our Board
Emily Roberts, Esq.
Board President
Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of Greater Cincinnati
Raphael Allen, PhD
Board Member
Director of Community Outreach and Engagement, Springfield Foundation
Sean Freeman
Board Member
Hope Zone Project Manager, Omega CDC
Yvette Kelly-Fields
Board Member
Regional Director of Development, Miami University
Demarus Crawford-White, DBA
Board Member
Executive Director at NPower
Kwaunisha Moore
Board Vice President
Owner, Blessed Beauty KLM
Josh Colbert
Board Member
Career Tech Education Specialist and Lead Placement Specialist, Cliff Park High School
Jessimi Jones
Board Member
Executive Director, Springfield Museum of Art
Our Partners
Special thanks to those who helped lay the foundation for the organization to become a national leader in urban child-to-youth literacy and community development.
