The People Behind CINA

Our Team

Dedicated practitioners, educators, and community leaders committed to Newark's youth.

Leadership

Executive Team

VP

Vinicius Paiva

President & Executive Director

With 25+ years of martial arts instruction, Vinicius founded CINA to bring structured, culturally responsive programming to Newark's most underserved youth. His vision has grown CINA from a single school program to the largest school-based martial arts organization in the Newark Public School system.

5th-Degree Black Belt2014 ATU National Taekwondo ChampionRegistered USA Boxing CoachMBA Finance — Montclair State UniversityBS — Caldwell UniversityEssex County Arts & Culture Advisory Board

Governance

Board of Directors

VP

Vinicius Paiva

President & Executive Director

With 25+ years of martial arts instruction, Vinicius founded CINA to bring structured, culturally responsive programming to Newark's most underserved youth. His vision has grown CINA from a single school program to the largest school-based martial arts organization in the Newark Public School system.

5th-Degree Black Belt2014 ATU National Taekwondo ChampionRegistered USA Boxing CoachMBA Finance — Montclair State UniversityBS — Caldwell UniversityEssex County Arts & Culture Advisory Board
DC

David Chong

Vice President

ILEF / UN ECOSOC

Also represents ILEF, a UN ECOSOC-accredited nongovernmental organization providing independent evaluation of CINA's DEFENDER curriculum.

AJ

Abigail Jaramillo

Secretary

MP

Marina Paiva

Treasurer

Independent Evaluation

CINA's DEFENDER curriculum is currently undergoing independent evaluation by ILEF — a UN ECOSOC-accredited NGO — using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) instrument. Pre/post surveys are being administered Spring 2026.

Program Staff

Program Leadership & Instructors

CINA's programs are led by credentialed practitioners with deep expertise in their disciplines — from nationally certified Taekwondo coaches to licensed cosmetology professionals and law enforcement officers.

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Nyreek Ali-Uthman

Boxing Program Director

USA Boxing Certified Official and Coach. Directs CINA's youth and adult boxing program at the Oliver Street facility, overseeing competitive and recreational tracks. Manages athlete development pathways from beginner instruction through sanctioned USA Boxing competition.

USA Boxing CertifiedBoxing
FH

Frederick Hyde

Newark Public Schools Program Lead

Leads CINA's Taekwondo afterschool programming across 44 Newark Public Schools sites. Coordinates daily instruction delivery, school site logistics, and instructor scheduling for the district's largest school-based martial arts program serving 1,500+ students annually.

TaekwondoNPS Lead
DP

Diego Pereira

Senior Taekwondo Instructor & NPS Program Instructor

Kukkiwon Certified. Former Brazil National Taekwondo Team Coach (2015–2017). 15+ years of training and teaching experience. ATU National Championship Gold Medalist (Sparring, 2015) and Bronze Medalist (Forms, 2015). NJ State Championship Bronze Medalist (Sparring, 2018). Former Head Instructor at Karate USA, Livingston, NJ (2009–2014). Coach and trainer of Olympic Bronze Medalist Sandy Macedo. Delivers CINA's Taekwondo curriculum across Newark Public Schools and competitive athlete development programs.

Kukkiwon CertifiedNational CoachOlympic Trainer
JC

Jimmie Carter

Senior Taekwondo Instructor

20+ years of martial arts experience. National medalist and competitive Taekwondo athlete. Youth program specialist delivering CINA's afterschool Taekwondo curriculum across Newark Public Schools sites, integrating DEFENDER anti-bullying competencies into physical instruction.

TaekwondoNational MedalistDEFENDER
SD

Silmi Denayer

Dance Program Director

18 years of dance instruction experience spanning ballet, jazz, lyrical, acrobatics, and theater. Directs CINA's performing arts and dance programming, developing youth curriculum that builds creative expression, physical discipline, and stage confidence.

BalletJazzTheaterPerforming Arts
TB

Thaís Braga

Cosmetology Program Director

Certified lash design instructor and licensed cosmetology professional. Directs CINA's vocational cosmetology and esthetician program, providing certification-track training for high school students pursuing careers in the beauty industry.

Licensed CosmetologistLash Design CertifiedVocational
EO

Ester Orza

Hair Arts Instructor

IMH Mega Hair Extension Certified Instructor. Weft Tape Extension Certified Instructor. Provides advanced hair extension and styling instruction as part of CINA's vocational training program, equipping students with professional-grade technical skills for the beauty industry.

IMH Mega Hair CertifiedWeft Tape CertifiedVocational
CA

Cátia Almeida

Women's Fitness & Empowerment Instructor

Certified personal trainer and women's fitness specialist. Leads CINA's women's fitness programming and empowerment courses at the Oliver Street center, supporting physical wellness and confidence building for women in the Ironbound community.

Certified Personal TrainerWomen's FitnessStrong Women Project
CC

Carina Casqueia

Women's Self-Defense & Boxing Instructor

Newark Police Officer and professional boxer. Instructs women's empowerment self-defense and women's boxing through CINA's Strong Women Project. Brings law enforcement expertise to personal safety instruction and competitive boxing training for women and girls.

Newark Police OfficerProfessional BoxerStrong Women Project

Join Our Mission

CINA is always looking for passionate instructors, volunteers, and partners who believe in the power of martial arts and the arts to transform young lives.