Leadership Team

The Board of Directors guides USBDAF.
It protects us and make our lives a different in society through mission and vision.

The Purpose of Members on Board Committees

Rachel Akusake

Executive Director

Rachel Akusake has dedicated the past 5 years to advocating for the underprivileged and promoting diversity within the deaf and hard of hearing communities. her advocacy journey includes serving as a chapter representative for the North Carolina Black Deaf Advocate (NCBDA) for 2 years and volunteering in Rochester, NY, where she taught asl lessons and crafts to deaf immigrants and their families for 4 months.As the Founder and CEO of the US Based Deaf Action Foundation (USBDAF), Rachel is committed to fostering collaboration between deaf immigrants, families, educators, and the broader hearing community in California. her vision is to build mutual understanding and drive meaningful change. she welcomes volunteers to join her in extending the reach and impact of her organization.

Charotte Staurt

Secretary

Nicholas Ansah

Public Relatives Officer

I am Nicholas Ansah. I moved to the USA from Ghana, West Africa in 2015. At age six I contracted cerebral spinal meningitis and became profoundly deaf. I attended residential deaf schools for primary and secondary education. Following SHS (Senior Hight School), I attended a teacher training college and became a certified teacher for the deaf. I taught in Ghana for three years before moving to West Virginia with my fiancé whom I met as a fellow teacher in Ghana. I work at United States Postal Services as a Mail Processing Clerk in Charleston Processing and Distribution Center. I graduated from West Virginia State University in 2019. I have done so many drawings and paintings in my spare time. I also aspire to be a professional photographer. I am married to my wonderful wife, Kandace and together we have three boys.

Kadiatu M. Bangura

Position

Kadiatu Mariama Bangura Lee,
A native from Sierra Leone. Hold a few disability positions, which includes Secretary of Deaf Women Advocacy Network Sierra Leone & Deaf Advocacy Officer for Foundation for Advocacy and Literacy Development Sierra Leone.
I hold a Diploma in IT from Sulisha Institute of Management and Computer Studies. Certificate in Arts and Fashion Designing at YWCA and I also have certificate in Cinematography and Journalism.
I worked with NaCOVERC as Quarantine pillar field officer . I served as the first Deaf female Sign Language Communication Facilitator in quarantine homes between NaCOVERC staff and Deaf people during Covid-19 pandemic.
I Am a founding members of the Deaf Women Advocacy Network Sierra Leone (DWANSL) and presently the National Secretary.
First deaf aspiring to contest in the Miss & Mister Deaf Africa (MMDA) 2021 in Dar ES Salaam, Tanzania in East Africa to represent my country Sierra Leone.

Kathleen Goldsmith

BIPOC Deaf Advocacy and Families

Kathleen has worked as a teacher aide, teacher and 1: 1 aide primarily in deaf school and hearing school/ daycare in Baltimore and Columbia, Maryland. Prior to that she worked voluntarily in both deaf and hearing community related to cochlear implants and educated the importance of sign language as a form of communication and how it could benefit any individual regardless of being hearing. She voluntarily taught people English, even those who do not speak English. Also those who were illiterate whether they were hearing or deaf and of whatever ages. In the past, she went out in the community to help anyone in need for anything, leading them to seek services within the community. She is also a very strong advocate for families and children and believes in educating them about how critical education is a way to succeed and a way to survive in life.