Born in Livingston, NJ, raised in Orlando, FL, and returning resident of Newark for the past 8 years, Talia (pronounced tuh-LEE-uh) Day embodies a passion for fashion, a love for learning, and a heart for service. Post vocational training in Alterations and Tailoring at Orlando Tech, and collegiate studies in Fashion Merchandising at the Art Institute’s Miami International University of Art & Design, she went on to launch Silent Renaissance, an accessory brand celebrating Color, Creativity, and Charisma.

Inspired by service with a local non-profit as a specialist in curriculum development for emergent student leaders ranging from 2nd-12th grades, Talia is also the Director and Dean of Queen Corps (pronounced QUEEN-core) Charm School, an enrichment initiative encouraging young ladies in middle and high school to become the very best versions of themselves with a balance of etiquette and real-world life-skill training.

Compounding her journey, she earned the title of Miss Newark USA 2023, affording her the opportunity to meet, connect with, and learn from youth, peers, and elders alike in schools and other community institutions in the Greater Newark area. Since stepping down, she has been promoted to the rank of Pageant & Public Speaking Coach, continuing to utilize her platform of embrace and empowerment for women and girls like her – especially her 3-year-old daughter.

Leila Sorto is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at Montclair State University while serving as our Social Media Community Outreach Liaison. She brings a strong determination in advocacy, education, and community empowerment to our team.

Leila earned her Bachelor of Social Work, with a minor in Sociology, from New Jersey City University (NJCU) while she interned with us at Eyes Like Mine Inc., supporting community outreach and engagement initiatives aligned with our mission.

Prior to her bachelor studies, Leila obtained her Associate of Social Science at Hudson County Community College. During this time, she interned with Pure Sea Moss, a natural medicine company, where she conducted research on natural remedies and the development of healthy recipes.

She also has experience with Educating Athletes, an organization dedicated to helping high school athletes secure college scholarships, where her data management skills significantly contributed to student outreach and progress tracking.

Krystle Allen, a proud Newark, NJ native, has dedicated her career to community development, social change, and grassroots initiatives. As a first-generation college graduate with an Associate’s degree in Social Science, Krystle is currently pursuing her undergraduate studies in social work with a minor in nonprofit management and disability studies at Rutgers University Newark.

Krystle’s passion for service was first ignited during her two terms as an AmeriCorps Vista member with the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey. There, she focused on creating volunteer programs, reuniting daughters with incarcerated mothers, and establishing troops within the Juliette’s House transitional housing program. She also served as the Marketing Planning and Development Coordinator at the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center in 2017.

As the co-founder and current president of Eyes Like Mine Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Newark, Krystle has been a trailblazer in adapting to the challenges posed by the pandemic. She transitioned her organization from in-person programming to virtual experiences, delivering
food packages to visually impaired residents and introducing over 150 influential global speakers to the organization’s peer support group. Krystle’s advocacy led to the first-ever recognition of the ADA’s 30th anniversary in Newark, with a proclamation from the city’s mayor.

Despite her vision loss, Krystle is committed to empowering others and creating lasting change in her community. Her work extends beyond her nonprofit leadership.

She is a published author in an anthology “The Write 2 Heal”, a compilation of blind and visually impaired women’s stories. She successfully completed the American Foundation for the Blind Centennial Blind Leaders Professional Development program in 2022. She also contributed to the American Foundation of the Blind documentary film “Possibilities” about Helen Keller’s life.

In 2023, Krystle became the first legally blind titleholder of the Ms. Newark USA Pageant, and in 2024, she earned the Miss New Jersey East Coast USA Director’s Choice Pageant Title. As a member of the Edison Visionary Lions Club, Krystle remains an active advocate for her community. She was the first blind model featured in Newark’s Fashion Forward showcase in Newark Fashion Week.

Krystle was a fellow in the 2023-2024 Garden State Leaders Fellowship and serves as a community outreach specialist at the NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She has completed the Aspect Fellowship with Prevent Blindness Foundation in 2024. A dedicated community connector, Krystle continues to share her vision and inspire others, one person at a time.

Krystle is a caring leader who is dedicated and committed to go above and beyond for the blind and low vision community through the organization Eyes Like Mine, Inc.. She has been and continues to be a strong pillar within her local community. Eyes Like Mine, Inc. hosts a number of successful events held annually such as Dancing with the Blind, Marvelous Moms Community Baby Shower for new and expecting moms and the Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant. Currently, she is pursuing her Practicum with the Eye2Eye call center, Fall semester 2025.

Here she assumes the role of a peer support specialist student intern, pursuing over 400 hours toward her social work major. She identifies outreach opportunities, performs one-on-one
peer support to clients nationally, and facilitates peer groups within the Eye2Eye direct services.

Richard Whitten was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey.  His working-class parents believed in giving back to their community and instilled strong family values in him.  He is the father of an adult daughter, Krystle, and a school-aged son, Aaron.

Richard follows his parents’ example through his community involvement and public service.  He currently serves as a community advocate with Project Ready, he assists with campaigns that engage parents and caregivers around the expansion of educational opportunities and voter education. He serves as a community volunteer at Clinton Hill Community Action a community based organization which serves residents in the Clinton Hill Area of the south ward of Newark. He is an adviser for Eyes Like Mine, which advocates for persons who are blind or visually impaired.  As a community advocate with Project Ready, he assists with campaigns that engage parents and caregivers around the expansion of educational opportunities, voter education and Healthcare inequities.  For the last 20 years, Richard has been part of a group of community volunteers who distribute poultry to families in need during holiday seasons.  He also works with other organizations that provide food to families in need throughout the year.  In addition, he has participated in and completed various community development programs sponsored by Newark Do Something Inc., United Way of Essex and West Hudson, and Greater Newark LISC, where he completed the Newark Resident Leadership Academy.

Richard distinguished himself as a political adviser and campaign strategist in Newark’s Central Ward.  He worked on Senator Corey Booker’s successful 1998 campaign for the Central Ward seat on the Newark City Council, serving on the campaign strategy team and introducing Booker to community members, business people, and other local stakeholders.  After the election he served as a legislative aide for Booker.  He played similar political and campaign roles for Dana Rone when she ran for a seat on the Newark school board in 2003.  With his help, Rone secured the most votes ever for any school board candidate in the state up to that point.  In 2006 he worked on her successful campaign for the Central Ward seat on the city council and subsequently became her chief of staff.  Following his own unsuccessful bid for that seat in 2010, Richard joined forces with former rival Darrin Sharif during the run-off election, once again serving as a political adviser and campaign strategist.  After the election, Sharif selected him to be one of his legislative aides.

During his free time, Richard enjoys bowling, running, and cycling.  He has a heart for seniors and enjoys working with young people.