Ibn-hashim bakariDirector & Chairman of the Board
Ibn-Hashim Bakari is a highly accomplished senior level professional who has dedicated his career to law enforcement and public safety. With extensive experience as a juvenile correctional officer, PACC Training Instructor, Anger Management & Domestic Violence Instructor, and currently a DOT Inspector, Ibn-Hashim has demonstrated a strong commitment to serving his community.
As a proud member of the Rhode Island Minority Police Association and an associate member of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers Inc. for over 20 years, Ibn-Hashim has been actively involved in supporting and advocating for minority representation in law enforcement. In 2009, Ibn-Hashim founded Lights & Sirens International (LSI), an organization that aims to address the mental health challenges faced by public safety personnel and provide assistance to those in need in the Dominican Republic. LSI has organized an international basketball tournament for law enforcement and public safety personnel in the Dominican Republic for the last 15 years emphasizing the importance of mental health and community support. In 2020, LSI initiated a Bocce Ball Community Outreach Program to foster better relationships between law enforcement and the minority community, promoting accountability, empathy, and de-escalation skills. This initiative has significantly improved communication, relationships, and leadership within the community, ensuring the safety of the population. Ibn-Hashim is also actively involved in advising the University of Rhode Island Athletic Advisory Board, where he plays a key role in reviewing policies affecting all athletic programs and providing recommendations regarding intercollegiate schedules and championships. His dedication to both law enforcement and community outreach makes him a valuable asset to the board and the community at large. Throughout his career and community involvement, Ibn-Hashim has been a strong advocate for promoting understanding, dialogue, and positive change. His commitment to addressing important issues such as accountability, diversity, equity, and inclusion reflects his passion for creating a better future for the community. FUNLUSI, a sister nonprofit organization of Lights & Sirens International, has successfully distributed more than 10,000 educational toys, games, sports equipment, backpacks, and school supplies in various communities across the Dominican Republic. These include Samana, Las Terrenas, Catu, San Cristobal, Santiago Rodriguez, Moca, Bani, Juan Dolio, Bano, Punta Cana, Sosua, Puerto Plata, and Santo Domingo. This generous initiative has had a positive impact on the lives of many children and families in these areas, providing them with essential resources to support their educational and recreational needs. In 2023 and 2024 Ibn-Hashim Bakari and Lights & Sirens International have made significant contributions to the Dominican Republic National Police by providing essential police equipment, as well as ATVs and dirt bikes. Their support has empowered the National Police force with the necessary tools and resources to enhance their operational capabilities and effectiveness in maintaining public safety. This collaborative effort reflects their dedication to strengthening law enforcement and public safety infrastructure in the Dominican Republic, ultimately contributing to the well-being and security of the local communities. |
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Charles "chuck" watsonBoard Member
Charles Watson is from Hammond, Louisiana. He moved to Cranston, Rhode Island in his early teens, where he attended and graduated from Cranston High School East in 1983. After high school in 1983, he was recruited to the University of Rhode Island, where he was offered a scholarship to play football at the University. Charles is an active member of the URI College of Engineering DE&I Advisory Board, The Partnership, INC., Community, Equity and Diversity (CED) College Diversity Professionals and Partners, National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Advocates (NAMEPA) and serves as Region A Chair, National Advisory Council for the Minorities in Engineering (NACME). He is the University representative member of the National GEM Consortium (GEM gradlab), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), Society of Advancing Chicano/Hispanic & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), 50K Coalition, Cox Communications Charities Executive Board, the Northeast Louis Stoke Alliance for Minority Participation Executive Board (NELSAMP), Lights & Sirens International Board of Directors and has served on the URI Alumni Executive Board and Institutional Review Board (IRB), Rhode Island Community Food Bank Executive Board and the YMCA Executive Board Cranston, RI. For 20 years plus Charles has been the senior coordinator for the URI’s NSF Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation initiative so that thousands of additional underrepresented minority students in STEM can receive significant financial and academic support. He is and has been diversity lead on more than $48 million in National Science Foundation (NSF) awards that supports the broader impact for underrepresented minority research efforts, including a $19 million NSF grant funded Rhode Island Consortium for Coastal Ecology Assessment, Innovation, and Modeling (RI C-AIM) and serves as lead for the grants Diversity Action Committee (DAC). His open, candid, and personal discussion of the needs of underrepresented minority students pursuing engineering and science and the personal responsibility that goes with it has been embraced by the University of Rhodes Islands leadership. |
Jianny bautistaBoard Member
Jianny joined Lights and Sirens International as a volunteer in 2016, later joining the Board of Directors in 2018. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from Bryant University. Being a Dominican-American from Providence, he has a strong connection to the communities we serve.
Outside of his responsibilities at LSI, Jianny works in the investment management industry. He is currently a Portfolio Associate at Income Research + Management in Boston. At LSI, Jianny oversees our use of technology. In addition to leading our technology efforts, Jianny lends his background in financial services to provide guidance on accounting, budgeting, and grant writing. “Giving back and helping others have always been important to me. I want to inspire others to do the same and I think I can do that by setting an example.” - Jianny |
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Christopher manciniBoard Member
Born and raised in Rhode Island, Chris attended Lincoln Central Elementary School and Lincoln Jr./Sr. High School in Lincoln RI. Chris furthered his education at the Community College of Rhode Island and The University of Rhode Island Providence campus. Chris has earned several insurance designations including Property Claims Law Specialist, Associate in Claims and Associate in Insurance Services.
Chris is a Sr. Complex Claim Director with the American International Group. He has worked as a claim professional for over 30 years helping families and businesses recover from loss of property and/or income. He has handled claims both at home in the United States and Internationally. Currently, Chris handles large commercial property and economic loss claims for the Major Loss Unit of American International Group. Chris was appointed to the Lights and Sirens International Board of Directors in 2022. He has been a participant and co contributor of the Lights and Sirens summer bocce clinics since its creation in 2020. |
Alex DiazBoard Member
Alex Diaz was born in New York, NY, and moved to Providence, RI, at the age of 12. Raised by his mother, who migrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic, and with a father and uncles who were police officers in the Dominican Republic, Alex developed a strong interest in law enforcement. His older brother is currently a sergeant for the NYPD.
During his childhood, Alex was heavily involved in sports, particularly baseball, basketball, and football. His favorite sports were baseball and basketball, and he played for his high school teams at Hope High School and later at the college level for the Community College of Rhode Island and overseas in the Dominican Republic. In 2017, Alex joined the Providence Police Department with a focus on serving his local community, especially the Southside Providence area where he grew up. He currently serves in the downtown area, coaches and mentors at the Providence Police Sports Academy, and is a member of the Community Engagement Team. He takes pride in bridging the gap between law enforcement and the youth in the community. Alex is involved in various programs within the Providence Police Department, including the Crisis Intervention Team and the Providence Police Explorers, aimed at assisting young people in making informed decisions about a future career in law enforcement. He has also been active in providing social services for children in need and has been a board member of Lights and Sirens International, where he has participated in humanitarian work and youth development programs in the Dominican Republic. His dedication and contributions were recognized in 2021 when he was awarded the Kingdom Lighthouse Church Community award. |
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John glover, jr.Board Member
John Glover, Jr. is a LCDR USN Ret with 28 years of honorable military service, Surface Warfare Officer and Submarine Qualified Designations Nuclear Weapons Engineer, Strategic Deterrent Patrol Ballistic Pin (8) patrols, who has held and holds SSBI, PRP, SSI Top secret clearance levels and programs. Born and raised in Henderson, North Carolina, John has been teaching, living and working in Rhode Island off and on since 2000. His last assignment was Lead Instructor/Professor Amphibious Warfare at (Naval Education and Training Command) Surface Warfare Officers School Command, Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. He furthered his education NROTC North Carolina State University, Raleigh North Carolina, Naval Science, BA International Law and Foreign Relations, Naval Post graduate School Monterey, CA MBA Financial Management. John is currently the Director of Operations for Patrice and Associates Providence. John joined Lights and Sirens International as a volunteer in 2018 and was appointed to Board of Directors in 2020. Throughout John’s Naval career in the military and higher education, he has established programs, policies, community relations programs globally fundamental to the advancement of the military personnel under him and his professional development. His three decades of career service spans a broad range of Command, Executive, Operations, Executive staffs, Program Development and Management with top corporations NASA and Lockheed Martin to name a few, academia, administrative roles in the US Navy and civilian adds to valuable inputs to the Diversity Equity Inclusion programs being implemented by Lights and Sirens International. His wealth of professional experience and volunteer involvement on the boards of non-profit organization and donating to civil rights committees have earned him a reputation as a cultural architect able to build and sustain real and lasting change. Learn, earn, give back! |
Delano "Joe" BrooksBoard Member
Mr. Brooks joined the Lights and Sirens board in 2016. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1982 and received his BA in Business. He began his career at Gilbane Building Company where he was responsible for project accounting, forecasting, budgeting, coordinating small business programs with minority contractors, government compliance, and contract administrators. He is currently the Vice President of Excell Construction Corp.
Mr. Brooks brings to Lights and Sirens an esteemed career in Non-Profit and charitable work. Throughout the years, he has been involved with the Newport County Boys & Girls Club, Dorcas Place for Adult Literacy, Black Craftsmen of Rhode Island, National Association of Women in Construction, National Association of Minority Contractors, Special Olympics, Big Brothers of RI, and many more. |
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