Join our Board
Passionate about educational equity? Interested in supporting local youth achieve greatness? Finding yourself wanting to give back? Beyond Walls Urban Squash is looking for people like you to join our board of directors! Click the link to learn more. Ready to join the team? Email us at info@beyondwallsmn.org
Beyond Walls TEAM
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Mikhail Darlington
Executive Director
Mikhail is Beyond Walls’ executive director beginning his leadership role in November 2024. Before this role, Mikhail worked nine years at the Boston program, SquashBusters, sharing a similar mission of education enrichment and racquet sport development. SquashBusters was formed in 1995 as the first squash-connected youth development program. Mikhail worked most recently as the program director for this program, which serves over 100 students annually. Mikhail was a student at SquashBusters in middle and high school before attending and graduating from Temple University. Mikhail is an impressive leader, understands youth development programs, and is fully committed to taking our Beyond Walls program to the next level. He has been searching for a leadership opportunity and is excited to move his family to the Twin Cities.
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Desmond Jones
Deputy Director
Desmond Jones, a proud North Minneapolis native and graduate of Minneapolis Edison High School, brings a deep passion for youth empowerment and over two decades of dynamic leadership experience to his role as Deputy Director at Beyond Walls Twin Cities. A former collegiate football player at Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls, Desmond holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Public Policy from Ashford University.
Desmond is a retired veteran that proudly served 21 years in the U.S. Army, as a Sergeant First Class he held key leadership roles including Platoon Sergeant, Recruiting Station Commander, Equal Opportunity Advisor, SHARP (Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention) Manager and the national speaker of the U.S. Army’s National Anti-Bullying Program
In his role at Beyond Walls, Desmond continues to champion equity, mentorship, and opportunity for youth in the Twin Cities, especially those in under-resourced communities.
OUR FOUNDERS
Phil Ahern, Frank Fairman, Rob Hensel,
Pete Jackson, Tom Skramstad
BEYOND WALLS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Vinh Chung
University of Minnesota
Frank Fairman – Chair
Piper Sandler
David Lederer
Land O’Lakes
Jill Harmon
Navigate Forward
Piercarlo Valdesolo
Claremont McKenna College
Christoph Meyer-Grimberg- Vice Chair
3M, Retired
Tom Roddis
Raymond James
Hunter Sager
TDS
Kevin Quiring
Accenture, Retired
Anthony Bergren-Salinas-Treasurer
UnitedHealth Group
BEYOND WALLS Advisory Council
The Beyond Walls Advisory Council is made up of connected community members, alumni, and current families of program participants. These program leaders provide much needed insight, perspective, and suggestions to the full board around program operations and implementation because of each of their well connected and unique experiences directly within the program.
Jennifer Kohler – Council Chair
Director of CEHD America Reads
Beyond Walls Community Partner
Patara Harper
Venture Academy Board Member
Beyond Walls Parent of program participant
Phia Yang
Flipside Afterschool Program Coordinator
Beyond Walls Program Alumni