Human Empowerment Institute, LLC

Our Staff

GLORIA CHEATAM-PINKARD, M.A., M.A.

Gloria Cheatam-Pinkard has earned an M.A. degree in Special Education/Elementary Education, and an M.A. degree in Urban Education/School Administration. For the past 30 years Ms. Cheatam-Pinkard has promoted education as a Vice-Principal, Supervisor of Special Education, Teacher Trainer and In-service instructor in the Newark School system. Ms. Cheatam-Pinkard’s specialization in urban education and administration has resulted in her achieving a state-wide reputation in serving special need populations including pre-school/elementary age, bilingual, mentally and physically challenged, basic skills, gifted and talented students, as well as male and female incarcerated youth and adult populations. Ms. Cheatam-Pinkard currently serves as Director of Program Services for HEI, LLC.

RAENELLE BACCHUS, MSW, LCSW, LCADC

Raenelle Bacchus received her Masters of Social Work degree from Rutgers University, New Brunswick. She has over 15 years of experience in working in the field of mental health services with an emphasis on youth and their families. Ms. Bacchus offers a holistic approach to consumer intervention that is assessment and treatment driven. Ms. Bacchus offers individual and group therapy for youth, adults, and families. She places special emphasis on maintaining close contact with referring agencies as part of the treatment milieu. Ms. Bacchus provides supervision over all co-occurring and Mental Health services, as Director of Clinical Services for HEI, LLC.

FAHEEM NUR’UDDIN, MHS, LCADC

Faheem Nur’uddin received his Masters Degree in Human Services from Lincoln University and is a licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Mr. Nur’uddin has over 15 years of experience working in the field of addiction and counseling services. He has been licensed to provide marriage and family therapy by DCA as well as Domestic Violence counseling. His is skilled in working collaboratively with professional treatment teams and is an effective counselor/leader in problem focused intervention and engagement of resistant consumers.

JOHN E. PINKARD SR., PH.D.

Dr. Pinkard, Sr. has worked with youth aged 3-12 in Emergency Shelter Care; young adults in Alternative Sanction Care from the Essex County Youth House (aged 16-21), and incarcerated pre-release male adults (aged 18-60+) for the NJ Dept. of Corrections. For more than 25 years, Dr. Pinkard, Sr. has served as CEO for a Residential Community Release Program (RCRP) serving adult pre-release residents. Outcome measures included achieving national accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF); and a reduction in recidivation rates by 16% (as measured by NJDOC). Dr. Pinkard, Sr. received his Masters Degree in Urban Policy Analysis and Management; Ph.D. in Political Science from the New School for Social Research (NYC). Dr. Pinkard has authored his first book: African American Felon Disenfranchisement: Case Studies in Modern Racism and Political Exclusion. Dr. Pinkard currently serves as CEO for HEI, LLC.

MARCUS H. CHEATAM

Marcus Cheatam received his Associates of Arts degree in Social Services Administration from Thomas Edison State College. Mr. Cheatam will complete his B.S. in Social Services Administration at Thomas Edison State College in December 2019. He is also enrolled as a Counselor Trainee with the anticipation of acquiring his CADC license in 2020. Mr. Cheatam has worked as a Site Supervisor, Group Home Manager, and Counselor Trainee in Halfway House, Group Home, and Outpatient licensed facilities over the past 15 years. Currently Mr. Cheatam is the Drug Court/Community Liaison Coordinator for HEI, LLC.

ODESSA E. ANTOINE, LSW

Odessa Antoine received her Master of Social Work degree from Adelphia University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She currently serves as Forensic Social Work Supervisor for the Legal Aid Society (N.Y., N.Y.), providing individual and group supervision to staff and develops, plans, and implements office procedures and policy. Prior to this, Ms. Antoine was a Forensic Social Worker II for the Legal Aid Society. Her responsibilities included: providing clinical assessments for clients; developing alternative to incarceration plans to assist in plea negotiations and sentencing for mentally ill, substance abusing and/or developmentally and intellectually disabled clients. She continues to perform crisis intervention and individual counseling as needed at LAS. Ms. Antoine joined the HEI, LLC team as a N.J. LSW effective November 2019.