Ihsan Hines

Ihsan Hines is the founder and president of MBKCares. His commitment to mental health awareness and suicide prevention is deeply rooted in lived experience. In 2007, Ihsan experienced the suicide death of his younger brother, Atif Hines. That loss, along with Ihsan’s own mental health journey, became the foundation for his work and ultimately led to the establishment of MBKCares.

Under Ihsan’s leadership, MBKCares has developed programs and initiatives that use education, the arts, mentorship, wellness, and community engagement to create spaces for conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. He has spearheaded signature initiatives including Discovering Mental Wealth, as well as youth programs such as Checkmate and Clubhouse, while cultivating collaborations with universities, healthcare professionals, community organizations, and other partners throughout the Philadelphia region.

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Ihsan is a motivational speaker, poet and spoken word artist known as “Purpose,” and the author of Healing Is A Process, a 28-day guided journal workbook. He has shared his message at colleges, high schools, churches, conferences, and community events, using both his personal story and creative expression to encourage others to find hope and purpose through difficult experiences.

A 2025 Penn Community Scholar, Ihsan also lends his lived experience and community perspective to several advisory councils and initiatives throughout Philadelphia, including the Indego Community Advisory Council and Penn INSPIRE at the University of Pennsylvania. He previously served as DEI Committee co-chair for the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

“Living on Purpose” is his message, and love is his method.​

​Eric Marsh, Sr

Eric Marsh Sr. is the Manager for WHYY’s Community & Engagement team and the lead Coordinator of N.I.C.E. (News & Information Community Exchange). Eric, along with being a dedicated father of 5, is an experienced group facilitator, public speaker, and advocate for a variety of causes including uplifting Black men and boys, healthy fatherhood, gender justice, ending violence, and dismantling systemic racism. He currently serves as the Chairman of Philadelphia’s Mayor’s Commission on African-American Males and newly-appointed board President for the Men’s Center for Growth and Change. He is the co-founder and Executive Director of The Fathering Circle, a peer support organization that helps fathers build better relationships with their families and community. For more information or to contact him, visit https://about.me/ericmarshsr

Lamar Dixon

Vice President of Programming
Lamar Dixon is an exceptional member of the MBK Cares Board of Directors. With his diverse background as a military veteran, accomplished author, nonprofit basketball director, skilled IT professional, and mentor, Lamar brings a unique perspective and a genuine commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of young athletes. His contributions and leadership are invaluable to the mission and success of MBK Cares.

Allana Joyner-Stephens

Professional Organizer
CEO, Clean Homes and Organized Spaces, LLC
Allana Joyner-Stephens is a professional organizer with over 10 years experience. She understands the challenges that disorganization can have on the overall quality of life, and she is passionate about helping people create spaces that are both functional and beautiful.
Allana's approach to decluttering is holistic. She acknowledges that decluttering is not just about getting rid of stuff, but it's also about creating a system that works for you. She will work with you to assess your needs and goals, and she will create a plan that is customized to your unique situation.
Allana is also a mental health professional, and she incorporates her skillset into her services with each client. She is a member of the National Association of Black Professional Organizers (NABPO).

Kirsten Britt

Vice President of Operations
If you were only given two words to describe Kirsten Britt they would have to be “Awesome & Amazing!” Whether it is in her being a mother, a muti-preneur, family, friend or lover of Christ this is what she strives to be daily. Awesome and amazing isn’t just a cliché’ she quotes but a lifestyle she creates for herself and through her work and ministry, teaches others to do the same.
Life of as an entrepreneur for Kirsten moved to new heights when she founded Inspire Me 2 Change (IM2C), which is a firm that provides professional coaching and training in the are. IM2C specializes in branding for small businesses and churches looking to stay creatively relevant in an ever changing society.
Girl Genius is her newest endeavor where she provides transformational coaching, to help black women navigate through a reflective journey, to discover their true identity through faith, purpose and healthy relationships.