Toyin Adebanjo
Program Director, CASA - Healing Center for African American Women
 
Class of 2006-2007
Toyin Adebanjo is the Program Director for CASA - Healing Center for African American Women.
 
Since 1994, Casa has been "Building A Movement of Alternatives" for womyn of color in the South Bronx. Casa has a unique approach in supporting collective transformation and social change by providing holistic and alternative healing techniques for the self-empowerment of womyn of color worldwide to reclaim the power of their minds, bodies and spirits, and as a consequence their rights.

Aliza Arenson
Director of Educational Programming, Pentacle
 
Class of 2007-2008
Aliza has been at Pentacle since July 2005. She formerly served as Direct Donations Coordinator at Materials for the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Aliza has also been an administrative consultant for Adele Myers & Dancers and Von Ussar/Danceworks. She was the programming intern at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2003 and part of the coordinating committee for Danza Washington Heights-Dancenow/NYC 2004 and 2005.
 
Aliza is from San Diego, CA, and is is a board member of Flying Art, an international exchange of artwork among youth.
 
Pentacle (www.pentacle.org) has served the performing arts community as a leading resource and voice for emerging, minority, experimental, non-mainstream artists and companies for over 30 years. Pentacle offers a core of managerial and marketplace services, and administers model projects of national, regional and local scope.

Jennifer Arieta
Centro Hispano "Cuzcatlan"
 
Class of 2007-2008
Jennifer Arieta works for Centro Hispano "Cuzcatlan".
 
The mission of Centro Hispano "Cuzcatlan" (CHC) (www.compassforchange.net) is to improve the quality of life of the Latino community in NYC. CHC approaches this mission with a focus on community organizing, and has developed three community organizing programs: The United Tenant Coalition (UTC), the Rufus King Park neighbors's Association (RKPNA) and the Immigrants and U.S. Citizens Committee (ICC).

Josette Bailey
Site Coordinator, Chinatown YMCA After School at PS 126/MAT
 
Class of 2006-2007
Josette Bailey is the Site Coordinator at the Chinatown YMCA After School at PS 126/MAT.. She has been at the Chinatown Y for five years, and prior to that spent five years as a religious educator and anti-racism trainer at the Fourth Universalist Church. Josette went to Skidmore College and the NYU Gallatin School. She is a knitter, gardener, writer and cook, as well as a native New Yorker. She lives in Manhattan with her 15-year-old son Justin.
 
The Chinatown YMCA is part of the YMCA of Greater New York (www.YMCANYC.org) , which is a community service organization which promotes positive values through programs that build spirit, mind, and body, welcoming all people with a focus on youth.

Victoria Garwood-Burton
Executive/Development Assistant, Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc.
 
Class of 2007-2008
Vicky keeps the executive functions at Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc. running smoothly by maintaining the fundraising databases; helping to develop and maintain RCSN’s administrative, staff and board materials; and coordinating development and marketing materials. She works with the executive director, financial manager and director of development.
 
Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc. (www.resourcesnyc.org) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides information and referral, case management and support, individual and systemic advocacy, parent and professional training, library and information services to New York City parents and caregivers of children with disabilities and special needs and to the professionals who work with them.

Cynthia Carrión
Director, Youth Channel
 
Class of 2006-2007
Cynthia Carrión is the Director of the Manhattan Neighborhood Network’s Youth Channel. She joined the Youth Channel as its Outreach Coordinator in June 2004. As co-founder of 2Tonez Productions, she recently directed and produced "Seeking the Soul of Freedom," a short documentary examining Haitian Independence.
 
Cynthia graduated from Hunter College with a BA in Media Studies and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. She was born in Far Rockaway, NY and spent her childhood traveling between NYC and Santiago, Dominican Republic (her mother's native country).
 
The Youth Channel is a division of Manhattan Neighborhood Network (www.youthchannel.org) that targets youth under 25. It provides an alternative to mass media and offers equal access to all young people, regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation or social status. The Youth Channel strives to build confidence, establish role models, inform, educate, and entertain. It empowers youth to create change within their communities and the world.

Caitlin L. Chandler
Project Officer, Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS
 
Class of 2007-2008
Caitlin has been with Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS since September 2006. Prior to that she worked with the West Africa Aids Foundation, NYC Student Initiative for AIDS, and Talking With Pictures. Caitlin is from Virgina, has a BA from NYU ’06 in Comparative Literature & History, and speaks English and Spanish.
 
Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (www.youthaidscoalition.org) is a youth-led, UNAIDS and UNFPA supported alliance of over 3000 young leaders and adult allies working on youth and HIV/AIDS in 150 countries world-wide. It was proposed by youth worldwide, including the youth attendees of the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok 2004 and XIV International AIDS Conference in Barcelona 2002. GYCA empowers young leaders with the skills, knowledge, resources and opportunities they need to scale up HIV/AIDS interventions amongst their peers.

Yari Alcaraz Cruz
Development Coordinator, Esperanza del Barrio
 
Class of 2006-2007
Yari Alcaraz Cruz is the Development Coordinator at Esperanza del Barrio. Prior to coming to Esperanza this past summer, Yari worked at the Wexner Center for the Arts and the Museum of Modern Arts.
 
Originally from Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, Yari got her BFA at Ohio State University. She is a dancer and traveler, and lives in Manhattan.
 
Esperanza del Barrio (www.esperanzadelbarrio.org) assists in the self-empowerment of low-income Latina immigrants and youth in New York City through leadership development, political and legal education, job skills training and grassroots organizing while promoting economic self-sufficiency through micro-enterprise.

Elz Cuya
External Affairs & Communications Director , Hip-Hop Theater Festival, Inc.
 
Class of 2007-2008
Elz comes from San Francisco, CA, where she worked in radio for 9 years before coming to the non-profit sector. She volunteered for Hip Hop theater festival for a year, and has been working with them full-time for almost a year. She has a BA in Mass Communication from UC Berkeley.
 
Hip-Hop Theater Festival, Inc. (www.hiphoptheaterfest.org) aims to invigorate the fields of theater and hip-hop by: nurturing the creation of innovative work within the hip-hop aesthetic; presenting and touring American and international artists whose work addresses the socio-political issues relevant to the hip-hop generation; and serving young, urban communities through outreach and education that celebrates contemporary language and culture.

Catrina Davis
Lead Community Organizer, Mothers on the Move
 
Class of 2006-2007
Catrina Davis is the lead community organizer for Mothers on the Move. She has been with MOM for 2 years, and been living and raising her son in the South Bronx for five years.
 
Catrina was raised in Mississippi and Nebraska. She is one of six siblings, and an aunt to 12 nieces and nephews. In addition to community organizing, Catrina spends her time acting, singing and writing poetry.
 
Mothers on the Move (MOM) (www.mothersonthemove.org) is a community-based organization working for social justice in the South Bronx. Their mission is to build the organizational power necessary to win campaigns on the preservation of affordable housing, public school reform, and environmental causes. MOM aims to change public policies and address the root causes of their issues through political education and trainings on topics such as public speaking, media outreach, and membership recruitment.

Vagnes De La Rosa
Program Director/Grant Writer, Misión San Juan Bautista
 
Class of 2007-2008
Vagnes is new to Misión San Juan Bautista, but not to youth services. He worked as a Managing Director at Aspira of New York and Beacon Director at Project Reach Youth. He is also the CEO of a motivational speaking company for youth. Vagnes was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Washington Heights, NYC.
 
Misión San Juan Bautista (the Mission) is a vibrant and dynamic center offering services to the South Bronx community. Through innovative outreach, it provides women with HIV/AIDS prevention information, young people with conflict resolution skills, immigrants with English-as-a-Second-Language classes, and food for the hungry. Dedicated to improving the well-being of the community, the Mission collaborates with diverse partners for its initiatives and makes space available to others to provide additional services.

Kendall Franklin
Youth Outreach Coordinator, Youth Advocacy Center
 
Class of 2007-2008
Kendall has worked as an assistant teacher at a daycare, and as a general counselor and assistant unit leader at Camp Homeward Bound, a camp for homeless youth from 7-15. He has been with the Youth Advocacy Center for 2 years and has risen from an intern to become a staff member with significant responsibility. Kendall went to high school in Harlem at the Fredrick Douglass academy and is currently attending CUNY. He has studied English, Spanish, French & Latin, and is working on a dialect that he calls Kendall’s English.
 
Youth Advocacy Center's (www.youthadvocacycenter.org) mission is to teach young adults in and at risk of foster care to advocate for themselves and take control of their lives. Teens in and at risk of foster care have the desire, talents and potential to be participating citizens - to hold jobs, to play a role in their community, to live in safe neighborhoods and to raise their children to be educated and healthy.

Melissa Mendez Garcia
Assistant Researcher and Program Coordinator, Women of Color Policy Network at NYU Wagner
 
Class of 2006-2007
Melissa Mendez Garcia is an Assistant Researcher and Program Coordinator at the Women of Color Policy Network at NYU Wagner. Melissa together with the Network developed a research and advocacy program for young women of color, ages 15-19, which instructs the participants about the policy formation process, introduces them to community a civic leaders in an effort to pair research with critical thinking skills with the goal of producing young advocate researchers.
 
Before working for the Women of Color Policy Network, Melissa served as the Chief of Administrative Services at New York City’s Department of Parks & Recreation (1999-2001). She has an MPA Wagner School of Public Service and a BA from Columbia University.
 
The mission of the Women of Color Policy Network (www.nyu.edu/wagner/wocpn) is to end the invisibility of women and girls of color through research, advocacy and mentoring a new generation of advocate-researchers.

Janna Gjesdal
Development Director, viBe Theater Experience
 
Class of 2007-2008
Janna left a 15-year career in business publishing to pursue fundraising and development. Since then, she has worked as a grant writer and development consultant. She has been with viBe Theater Experience since the spring of 2006.
 
Paralleling her day work, Janna has been involved in the performing arts. As an actor she has worked most often with directors that came out of the Columbia University MFA directing program. She will perform in Kristen Kosmas’ new play, Hello Failure, directed by Ken Rus Schmoll, at P.S. 122 in March. Janna is also a founding member of Yelena Gluzman’s Science Project.
 
viBe Theater Experience (www.vibetheater.org) is a performing-arts education organization that provides a safe, creative space for under-served young women to share their stories and use their voices to build and transform themselves and their community.

Josmene Guerrier
Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project
 
Class of 2007-2008
Josmene Guerrier works for the Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project.
 
For more information about Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project, contact josmene18(at)yahoo.com.

Truda Hicks
Youth Outreach Coordinator and Administrative Assistant, Caribbean People International Collective, Inc. (CPIC)
 
Class of 2006-2007
Truda Hicks is the Youth Outreach Coordinator and Administrative Assistant for Caribbean People International Collective, Inc. (CPIC).
 
The mission of Caribbean People International Collective, Inc (www.cpicny.org) is to promote healthy lifestyles amongst persons of color, especially those of Caribbean descent throughout the world in a professional, culturally-based atmosphere, where all those involved may benefit from knowledge and access to counseling, testing, education and life skills.

Sekou Ideraabdullah
Imani House, Inc. (IHI)
 
Class of 2007-2008
Sekou Ideraabdullah works for Imani House, Inc.
 
Imani House, Inc. (IHI) (www.imanihouse.org) was initially started in Liberia, West Africa as an orphanage in founder the founder's own home. Shortly thereafter a program was begun in Brooklyn. U.S. programs include Adult Education, Elementary and High School After School Youth Development programs, Employment Assistance and Job Development, a Food Pantry and Information and referrals. All programs are offered to the community free of charge.

Sharon Jacker
Community Coordinator, New York Harbor School
 
Class of 2007-2008
Before coming to NYC to work with the Harbor School, Sharon was the Training Director of Amigos de las Americas in Chicago. Sharon has a degree in Latin American Studies and Portuguese & Brazilian studies, and speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Hebrew, Quechua (an indigenous language spoken by over 8 million descendants of the Inca in the Andes).
 
New York Harbor School (www.newyorkharborschool.org) is a small public high school that provides its students with a challenging and compelling educational experience that engages them through the study of the maritime culture, history, and environment of New York City and its surrounding waters.

Adam Jacobs
Executive Director, Kids Creative
 
Class of 2006-2007
Adam Jacobs is the Executive Director of Kids Creative. He has worked in the field of education, teaching music and arts to children around the world. Adam also puts his talents to use co-writing many of the Dirty Sock Funtime Band song lyrics (he’s Mr. Clown in the band). He holds undergraduate degrees from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City and a Masters degree in Peace Education/Conflict Resolution from Teachers College of Columbia University.
 
Kids Creative (www.kidscreative.org) is a nonprofit organization that fosters confidence, creativity, conflict resolution and community building in children through arts education and live music and theater events.

Danielle Jefferis
School Coordinator, Arab American Family Support Center
 
Class of 2007-2008
Danielle has been with AAFSC since June, 2007. Danielle is from Colorado, and speaks English, Arabic, French and basic Hebrew. She is a recent college graduate and has interned with Dialogues: Islamic world.-U.S-the West. She is interested in basketball and traveling.
 
Arab American Family Support Center (www.aafscny.org) is one of the largest Arab-American social services organizations in the country, serving thousands of clients a year. AAFSC provides comprehensive social services to Arab-American immigrant families and children as they adjust to a new culture and navigate American laws and cultural norms.

Heather Joseph
Border Crossers
 
Class of 2007-2008
Heather Joseph works for Border Crossers.
 
Border Crossers (www.bordercrossers.org) brings together young students from segregated neighborhoods in New York City to explore issues of discrimination, inequality, and social justice, and to develop student leadership toward lasting social change.

Henrietta Koffi
Associate Director/Technology Manager, Fort Greene Strategic Neighborhood Action Partnership
 
Class of 2007-2008
Henrietta Koffi is the Associate Director/Technology Manager for Fort Greene Strategic Neighborhood Action Partnership.
 
Fort Greene Strategic Neighborhood Action Partnership (www.fortgreenesnap.squarespace.com) is a community driven collaboration of residents, businesses, service providers and elected officials in Brooklyn, New York that works to improve the quality of life for Fort Greene and the surrounding communities in the areas of economic development, lifelong learning, civic participation and self-determination.

Jess Lacher
Development Associate, Striking Viking Story Pirates
 
Class of 2006-2007
Jess Lacher is the Development Associate for the Striking Viking Story Pirates, where she is also a puppet designer, performer and workshop facilitator. She has been with the Story Pirates since their inception in early 2006. Jess grew up in Columbus Ohio, and graduated from Northwestern University in 2002. Jess is a playwright who dabbles in aerial acrobatics, and lives in Brooklyn.
 
Striking Viking Story Pirates (www.storypirates.com) work to foster and celebrate the imaginations of children by encouraging clear, vivid and creative storytelling through writing and performance.

Emily Cozart-Mason
Development Director, World Foundation for Music and Healing
 
Class of 2007-2008
In addition to her work with The World Foundation for Music and Healing, Emily runs a non-profit media company called Wedia. Emily was an attorney before coming to the non-profit sector.
 
The World Foundation for Music and Healing (www.musicandhealing.org) is dedicated to helping people discover a musical vocabulary, offering creative methods to express emotions in a positive way and providing programs which foster healing through music in a community environment.

Julie Maurer
Director of Education, Gotham Center for New York City History
 
Class of 2006-2007
Julie Maurer is the Director of Education at the Gotham Center for New York History. She has been working with Gotham for the past 5 years, and has also worked in the field of arts and education through collaborations with many CBOs and arts organizations, including the South Street Seaport Museum, the Central Park Conservancy, and Henry Street Settlement.
 
Julie is the author of teacher materials and student books including My Preservation Journal. She is from Long Island, and lives with her family in Brooklyn, NY.
 
The Gotham Center for New York City History (www.gothamed.org) was founded in 2000 to celebrate New York City’s history and enhance its understanding among citizens. Central to the Center’s mission is the education program wich is designed to improve children’s skills and knowledge in New York City history by working with K-12 students, teacher and schools citywide.

Robin Parks
Assistant to the Director, Children’s Museum of the Arts
 
Class of 2006-2007
Robin Parks is the Assistant to the Director of the Children’s Museum of the Arts. She joined the staff of the Children’s Museum in May of 2006. Previously she taught high school theatre and drama in Cleveland, Ohio and also served as an assistant teacher in Kansas City, MO. Robin has a Bachelor's degree in Theatre and Film/Communications from the University of Kansas.
 
Robin is new to New York City and is loving exploring the city and the East Coast.
 
The Mission of the Children’s Museum of the Arts (www.cmany.org) is to celebrate the visual and performing artist in every child through creating, teaching, collecting, and exhibiting children’s art.

Deborah Philips
Program Assistant, Day One
 
Class of 2007-2008
Deborah has been working at Day One for a year, after volunteering with the organization for two years. She grew up in rural Washington State, and has experience in legal services and a background in performance arts with high school aged youth. When not at work, Deborah spends her time on theater, swing dancing, knitting, feminism and activism, movies, and New York City history.
 
Day One (www.dayoneny.org) partners with New York City youth to end dating abuse and domestic violence through community education, legal advocacy, supportive services and leadership development. Serving the five boroughs of New York City, Day One operates all of its programs on an empowerment model that invests young people in maintaining safe relationships for themselves and their peers.

Vanessa Quinones
Director of Center for Youth Development, Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House
 
Class of 2007-2008
Vanessa Quinones is the Director of Center for Youth Development for the Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House.
 
Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House (www.riissettlement.org) is a community based non-profit organization that offers comprehensive services to the youth, adults, seniors and families in the Western Queens community. The resources, opportunities and support we provide serve as a catalyst for community members to reach their greatest potential and achieve social and economic self-sufficiency.

Emma Rodriguez
Administrative Assistant/Fundraising Representative, One World Arts, Inc.
 
Class of 2007-2008
Emma Rodriguez began working with One World Arts, Inc. in April, 2007. She has years of experience with grant-making, non-governmental, volunteer and other organizations that work with local communities to address poverty, education, health, and traditional arts issues. She studied Public Relations at UCLA. Among her many interests are camping, fly-fishing, swimming, photography, travel and acting. She is fluent in Castilian and was born in Spanish Harlem, New York City.
 
One World Arts, Inc. (www.oneworldarts.org) was formed in 1991 with the primary mission of enhancing individual understanding and acceptance of different races, cultures, religions, and beliefs through the medium of dance, music, theatre, and storytelling workshops, public school residencies, lectures, seminars, and performances. Committed to reaching a diverse and multi-cultural audience, One World Arts Inc., seeks to preserve the folklore of a society, sustain links between generations, and promote pride in the history of ones culture in order to ensure that traditions will not be lost.

Leticia Rodriguez
Special Assistant to the Founder, President & CEO, El Puente
 
Class of 2006-2007
Leticia Rodriguez is currently the Special Assistant to the Founder, President & CEO of El Puente. Prior to working at El Puente, Leticia served as the Program Director for the Amethyst Women’s Project, Inc, providing services to women and children affected by or at risk for HIV/AIDS, Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence. Before joining Amethyst, she served as the Interim Director for CSV Cultural & Educational Center, Inc. Leticia also served as a Director at the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) and at the Episcopal Mission Society’s Church Refugee.
 
El Puente’s mission is to inspire and nurture leadership for peace and justice. El Puente is a community human rights institution that promotes leadership for peace and justice through the engagement of members (6 – 21 ) in the arts, education, scientific research, wellness and environmental action. (www.elpuente.us)

Heidi Rosbe
Associate Director, Arab American Association of New York
 
Class of 2007-2008
Heidi began her work with AAANY in January 2005 as an AmeriCorps*ARC Member with the title Youth Programs Coordinator and has continued her work, now serving as Associate Director. She graduated in 2003 from McGill University, Montreal with a BSc in Mathematics & Computer Science, but had always harbored an interest in the social justice field. Over the years, Heidi's experience has included Waterfront Director of YMCA Camp Al-Gon-Quian in Michigan, Co-founder and Facilitator for NorthStar Girls Group in Ann Arbor, Workshop Leader for girlSpace Montreal, Organizer/Facilitator for the Youth Volunteer Corps with the Ann Arbor YMCA, and Workshop Facilitator with the Prison Creative Arts Project in Michigan, among others. She recently completed a program incorporating Arabic language instruction and volunteer projects with the Siraj Center in Bethlehem, Palestine.
 
Arab American Association of New York (www.arabamericanny.org) is a not for profit culturally sensitive social service agency located in the heart of the Arab Community in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. AAANY opened its doors post 9/11 in response to the growing needs of the Arab community in New York City, with a mission to support and empower the Arab immigrant community with services that will help them to adjust to their new homeland as well as become active members of American Society.

Callie Siegel
Development Director, Go Project
 
Class of 2006-2007
Callie Siegel is the Development Director at the Go Project. A Child Development Major at Tufts University, Callie worked at several other non-profits before coming back to the Go Project, where she volunteered as a high school student. She is glad to be back with the organization at such an exciting point in its’ growth and development. Callie is from New York City.
 
Founded in 1968, The Go Project (www.goprojectnyc.org) provided year-round intensive academic assistance, enrichment programs and a variety of social services through three programs: GO Summer, GO School, and GO Families.

Jennifer Silverman
Program Coordinator and Community Organizer, United Community Centers
 
Class of 2006-2007
Jennifer Silverman is a Program Coordinator and Community Organizer at the United Community Centers. She has been with UCC for 4 years, and prior to that worked with the Regional Farm and Food Project in Albany New York, and was a journalist.
 
Jennifer is passionate about social justice (and good coffee), and lives with her husband and two sons in Queens.
 
United Community Centers' (UCC) (www.unitedcommunitycenters.org) mission is two-fold: to provide first-rate services that meet the needs of families; and to involve adult and youth residents in social efforts to learn about and resolve community problems collectively. Among UCC’s current programs are: day care, adult ESL classes, teen drama programs, immigration assistance, the publication of a neighborhood newspaper, a HIV/AIDS health education and risk-reduction program, and an urban youth agricultural program and farmers market.

Toni Smith-Thompson
Development Associate, Youth At Risk
 
Class of 2007-2008
Toni has worked at Youth At Risk for 4 years, the first three as Executive Assistant, and more recently as the Development Associate. She grew up and went to high school and college in New York City, and now lives here with her husband and 2-year-old daughter.
 
Youth At Risk (www.nyyouthatrisk.org) is a not-for-profit, volunteer driven organization committed to transforming the chaotic lives of young people through persistent and compassionate mentoring. Since 1985, YAR has worked to decrease the at-risk behavior of youth and to enhance the effectiveness of the people who live and work with them. Youth at Risk currently provides both prevention and intervention services.

Christina Taylor
Executive Director, Friends of Van Cortlandt Park
 
Class of 2006-2007
Christina Taylor is the Executive Director of Friends of Van Cortlandt Park. She joined the organization in 2000 as Education Coordinator, served as Interim Executive Director in 2006, and became Executive Director in March 2007. Previous employment includes a position as an Urban Park Ranger and work for an engineering firm. She holds a degree in Environmental and Forest Biology from the SUNY college of Environmental Science and Forestry.
 
Friends of Van Cortlandt Park (www.vancortlandt.org) is a non-profit organization committed to the enhancement of Van Cortlandt Park as a unique resource. In partnership with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, they raise funds for the restoration and maintenance of the park and its natural, cultural, recreational, and historical resources. The Friends’ provide educational and recreational programs, and promote broad- based community coalition in order to enhance the quality of life for future generations.

Kim To
Development Coordinator, Coalition for Asian Children and Families
 
Class of 2006-2007
Kim To, MSW, is the Development Coordinator at the Coalition for Asian Children and Families. She joined CACF in September 2005 as a social work intern and became full-time staff in June 2006.
 
Previously, she ran a student-initiated outreach project at UCLA called the Higher Opportunity Program for Education (HOPE), working with high school students in Westminster, California. She completed her MSW at Columbia University. She was an active student activist and organizer at UCLA, where she earned her BA in International Development Studies and Asian American Studies.
 
Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (www.cacf.org) is the nation’s only pan-Asian children’s advocacy organization. The Coalition seeks to improve the quality of life for the New York City Asian Pacific American community by facilitating access to health and human services that are sensitive to all Asian Pacific American children and families. CACF promotes culturally competent, linguistically appropriate, and immigrant accessible services in the areas of mental health, education and child welfare.

Ani Weinstein
Development Associate, Brooklyn Arts Exchange
 
Class of 2007-2008
Ani began as a part-time Development Associate at BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange in September 2007. She is also a yoga teacher and dancer, performing and creating work at numerous NYC venues. Before moving to New York, Ani traveled and lived in Mexico, Central America, Europe and India where she worked in orphanages and villages for handicapped children. She was born in the tiny town of Colebrook in northern New Hampshire, where she spent the first years of her childhood with her parents, brother and sister in a cabin without running water or electricity.
 
BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange (www.bax.org)—arts and artists in progress - is a multi-arts non-profit organization in Park Slope, Brooklyn, founded in 1991 (as the Gowanus Arts Exchange). The organization's mission is to provide a nurturing, year-round performance, rehearsal and educational venue in Brooklyn that encourages artistic risk-taking and stimulates dialogue among diverse constituencies.

Charles Woods
Parent Coordinator, P.S. 11 in the Bronx; Co-Chair, Executive Committee, Bridge Builders Collaborative
 
Class of 2006-2007
Charles Woods is the Parent Coordinator at P.S. 11 in the Bronx, and is the Co-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Bridge Builders Collaborative which operates in the Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx.
 
In his past work life Charles has served as an archivist on the history of African Americans in Cinema, and has written books on the subject. Charles was born and raised in Brooklyn, and now has defected to the Bronx.
 
The Bridge Builders project is a pilot designed to test a new approach to proving services to children and families in a targeted geographic area. Bridge Builders is an exciting mix of both new and existing resources working together to serve three census tracts in the Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx. The project mobilizes and coordinates the full range of community resources to develop community solutions to child welfare problems. For more information: ayusof(at)highbridgelife.org

Sharon Wong
Development Director, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ)
 
Class of 2007-2008
Sharon Wong is the Development Director for Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ).
 
Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ) (www.geocities.com/ympj_ny/) works in the Bronx River, Bruckner and Soundview neighborhoods in the South Bronx. YMPJ is a center for urban ministry dedicated to fostering peace and justice through youth and community organization and development. At the heart of YMPJ's mission is a framework, which defined young people by their potential to make social change. YMPJ promotes the development of indigenous leadership by mobilizing the already existing capacities of young people to reconstruct and sustain their community.

Marcella Wright
Senior Grants Manager, Coalition for Hispanic Family Services
 
Class of 2007-2008
Prior to coming to Coalition for Hispanic Family Services, Marcella was a college English professor, U.S. Senate Legislative Aide, and freelance writer, among other things. Marcella speaks Arabic, French, and Spanish, and loves hiking in the Catskills and Prospect Park. She hopes to hike the volcano in Dominica in the Eastern Caribbean with her family this year.
 
Coalition for Hispanic Family Services (www.hispanicfamilyservicesny.org) is a community-based comprehensive family service agency, serving North Brooklyn and adjacent communities. Our mission is to strengthen Latino families in North Brooklyn by providing them with culturally competent services that build upon the strengths of Latino culture and lead them towards a greater degree of self-reliance. This is achieved through a holistic, culturally competent, family-based approach.

Lisa P. Cowan
Senior Project Manager, CRE
 
Lisa joined CRE in January 2002, and has more than fifteen years of experience in the nonprofit field, both in New York City and Boston. Prior to coming to CRE, Lisa had her own consulting practice, which primarily served youth development and community health organizations in New York City. In Boston, Lisa managed a school-based health clinic in a public high school and worked as an educator and fundraiser for several community organizations. She has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Sociology from Wesleyan University and completed a year-long fellowship program in Public Affairs at the Coro Foundation for Leadership.

Randall Quan
Managing Director, CRE
 
Randall started with CRE in April 2001, before which he served as the vice president for corporate responsibility and business development at a health-related Internet company. He has nine years of consulting and training experience with community and youth development groups. He also served as an Americorps Program Officer for the State of Massachusetts during the first years of national service, and as the coordinator of service-learning programs at a college in New England. Randall has a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College, and a master's in business administration from Columbia University.

Harvey I. Newman
President and CEO, Lakeside Family and Children's Services
 
Harvey I. Newman is the President and CEO of Lakeside Family and Children's Services, serving NYC's foster care and developmental disabled populations. For over 25 years he has taught management at the Hunter College School of Social Work and, for almost 10 years each he was a senior manager at United Way of New York City and UJA-Federation of New York. Prior to his current position at Lakeside he served as Deputy Commissioner for Child Care and Head Start at NYC's Administration for Children's Services.

Mariette J. Bates
Co-Founder and Vice President, Maidstone Foundation
 
Mariette was awarded a Ph. D. in Philanthropy from Union Institute and University, and studied Ethics at New York University. Mariette teaches at City College's Center for Worker Education and at LaGuardia Community College, and serves as an independent consultant in fundraising and planning.