Ontay Johnson & Tiera Hollanquest

EmpowerED Families is a nonprofit working to build family power through relationships and rallying behind the strengths of parents and caregivers to weave together the home, school, and community, in order to fight for high-quality education. Learn more at EmpowerEDFamiliesIndy.org.

Ontay Johnson is currently an Education Entrepreneur Fellow with The Mind Trust. As a Fellow, he is preparing EmpowerED Families for its official launch in the summer of 2021. Previously, Johnson served as Executive Director of 100 Black Men for seven years. In that role, he developed various new programs that expanded opportunities for youth participants, fostered collaborative relationships with community and business leaders, and diversified the organization’s revenue streams.

Johnson earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from Northwood University and a Master of Public Administration Degree from the Bernard M. Baruch College, School of Public Affairs, City University of New York, He is also a proud alumna of the prestigious National Urban Fellows program, which develops people of color and women into leaders and change agents in the public and non-profit sectors, with a strong commitment to social justice and equity.

Tiera Hollanquest joined the founding team of EmpowerED Families as Director of Operations in December 2020. She leads the creation of EmpowerED Families’ operations systems and works closely with Ontay Johnson to create policies and procedures that establish long-term success and sustainability for the organization.

Before joining EmpowerED Families, Hollanquest was a Finance Analyst with the Indianapolis Mayor’s Office of Education Innovation, where she oversaw the financial health of 40 Mayor-sponsored charter schools. She also played a role in financial planning, daily operations, and evaluating charter school renewals and applications. Hollanquest also served as a Case Manager under United States Senator Joe Donnelly. Hollanquest earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame with a major in economics and a minor in public policy. She is formerly an advisory board member with the Indiana Department of Education and a current board member of Project Azul. She volunteers with Dress for Success and Circle City Fellows.