How this coalition came together
Our Story
This effort began with one connection.
How this coalition came together
When the 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia, Sandra Mosquera—an Afro-Colombian woman—reached out to people she trusted. She knew the rebuilding ahead would require not just compassion, but coordination, credibility, and community. Sandra became the bridge, bringing together leaders across the diaspora like Jeff Johnson, who shared a commitment to stand with Colombia in its moment of crisis.
Through Sandra and Jeff, Shakiri Murrain, Director of Innovation Solutions at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), stepped in with strategy, structure, and the ability to turn urgency into organized action. Ricardo Berrís, Chairman of the Global Opportunities Committee within the Atlanta Black Chambers, added his global perspective and long-standing relationships across Latin America. Jeff Johnson, journalist and cultural commentator, offers his voice—one that carries weight, clarity, and reach to help tell the story and move people to action.
Individually, each of us brings a different strength. But together, we represent something deeper: the power of the African diaspora showing up for one another. We understand what it means to rebuild and recover. And we know that when we combine our networks, our skills, and our shared sense of responsibility, we can mobilize resources that change outcomes.
The campaign was launched with a $35,000 donation from the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, pastored by Rev. Jamal Bryant — a foundational act of generosity that set the SOS Pacífico Reconstruction Fund in motion.
We came together because Colombia needs us.
Who stepped forward
01Sandra Mosquera Vargas
The Bridge
Coalition Convenor · VP of Product, JPMorgan Chase
Sandra is a technologist, strategist, and community builder who leads at the intersection of innovation and impact. Born in Chocó and now a Vice President of Product at JPMorgan Chase, she has built a career turning complex challenges into solutions that connect and empower people. She uses her voice, networks, and leadership to elevate communities too often overlooked. Through SOS Pacífico, she is bringing the African diaspora together to mobilize relief, resources, and long-term investment for Colombia's Pacific.
02Jeff Johnson
The Voice
Strategist, Storyteller & Cultural Curator
Jeff is a strategist, storyteller, and cultural curator who moves at the intersection of purpose and power. He has spent decades crafting content into bridges spanning justice, joy, and generational truth. From pulpits to platforms, BET to boardrooms, he uplifts voices and visions often left unheard, and now counsels companies, cities, and changemakers to turn bold vision into lasting impact. Jeff is rooted in love, shaped by legacy, and lit by a fire to leave the world more whole than he found it.
03Shakiri Murrain
Strategy & Structure
Director of Innovation Solutions, RICE
Shakiri is a supply chain strategist and builder who has spent his career connecting nations, industries, and communities. A Howard graduate who studied Mandarin in Nanjing and founded Jade Trading Company in Atlanta, he has led product development, manufacturing, and international logistics across the US, Latin America, and Asia. He holds an MBA in Supply Chain Management from Syracuse and directs RICE's Logistics Launchpad. Working in Mandarin and Spanish, he turns urgency into organized, deliverable action.
04Ricardo Berrís
Global Perspective
Chairman, Global Opportunities Committee, Atlanta Black Chambers · Founder & CEO, MI Group USA
Ricardo is a global trade leader who has worked across Colombia for more than 15 years alongside both government and private sector partners. In 2024 he led the largest delegation of 25 Black businesses from Atlanta on a trade mission to Cali, Chocó, Nuquí, and Quibdó, and drove two MOUs with the Cali Chamber of Commerce and RAP Pacífico. He is also Founder and CEO of MI Group USA, a technology and marketing company with teams across Colombia. Ricardo brings relationships that open doors.