FELPS Fellows 2015

Previous Fellows

• FELPS Fellows 2014
• FELPS Fellows 2013
• FELPS Fellows 2012
• FELPS Fellows 2011
• FELPS Fellows 2010
• FELPS Fellows 2009
• FELPS Fellows 2008
• CareerWays Fellows 2007
• CareerWays Fellows 2005-2006

2015 Fellows

• Vedan Anthony-North
  Program Analyst, Vera Institute of Justice
  Bio

  Vedan Anthony-North is a program analyst at the Vera Institute of Justice’s (Vera) Center on Sentencing and Corrections. Vera is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit center for justice policy and practice that combines expertise in research, demonstration projects, and technical assistance to help leaders in government and civil society improve the systems people rely on for justice and safety. Vera’s Center on Sentencing and Corrections works with government leaders to advance criminal justice policies that promote fairness, protect public safety, and ensure that resources are used efficiently. As a program analyst, Vedan primarily assists with the Center’s Justice Reinvestment work in Oregon and Delaware as well as with projects related to Prison Rape Elimination Act implementation. She joined Vera in 2013 as center coordinator.

   

  Vedan became interested in improving justice systems after assisting with the Blackout Arts Collective’s Lyrics on Lockdown tour, a spoken word performance that visited prisons throughout the Northeast. She built on this experience by volunteering with Books through Bars, a collective that works to provide prisoners access to education by matching their requests with donated books.

   

  Prior to joining Vera, Vedan worked for Progressive Pupil, an organization dedicated to improving access to Africana studies through the use of digital media. She also interned with the International Rescue Committee’s Refugee Youth Summer Academy, helping recently-arrived refugee teenagers adjust to the New York City public school system.

   

  Vedan received her Bachelor’s degree in English from Barnard College in 2011. While at Barnard, Vedan worked as a resident assistant for three years. She studied abroad in Ghana through the School for International Training, where she completed an independent research project that looked at the intersections of American Black identity and Pan-African movements.

   

  Upon graduating, Vedan worked for the Experiment in International Living where she traveled back to Ghana to lead a group of U.S. high school students on a five-week summer program that focused on community service and experiential learning.

   

  In addition to her work, Vedan has a love of travel (even if it’s only exploring new neighborhoods within the five boroughs), books (her favorite book is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez), hockey (her favorite team is the New York Rangers), and vegetarian food.

• Lydia Bowers
  Operations Director, Roosevelt Institute | Campus Network
  Bio

  Lydia Bowers helps organizations run better. As the operations director, she builds and maintains the essential systems and procedures for the Roosevelt Institute Campus Network, the nation’s largest public policy think tank. She wears many hats in this role but her recent projects included developing and maintaining the Campus Network’s contact management system and designing and leading a comprehensive evaluation of the organization’s program effectiveness. Lydia is also keeper of organizational culture, promoting a fun and collaborative work environment through feedback mechanisms and community building activities. She previously acted as the Campus Network’s deputy policy and program director developing and elevating student generated policy ideas. 

   

  Before joining the Campus Network as full-time staff member, Lydia was a 2012 graduate of Mount Holyoke College with a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies and a minor in Organizational Theory. At Mount Holyoke she served as director of the Roosevelt Institute | Campus Network chapter which consecutively won Best New Chapter and Best Chapter in a network of over 100 chapters.  She was also a varsity swimmer and team captain, holding five team records, and was named a Mount Holyoke and Seven Sisters Scholar Athlete. As a senior she worked as an outreach associate for the National Priorities Project in Northampton, MA synthesizing complex federal budget data into engaging publications for the general public. She was named Who’s Who Among American University and College Students and was awarded one of Mount Holyoke’s highest student honors, the Student Leadership and Service Award in 2012.

   

  Lydia has worked on farms in both Italy and the United States and her policy interests include agriculture, food and land conservation, and feminist and women’s policy.  In addition, she is interested in adapting innovative start-up principles to nonprofit management to maximize use of limited resource and invest in the human capital of organizations. When not working Lydia can be found riding her Raleigh road bike around New York, cooking in her small Brooklyn kitchen, or recording and editing her family history podcast.

• Rebecca Carlson
  Associate Director of Development, Uncommon Schools
  Bio

  Rebecca Carlson is the associate director of development at Uncommon Schools, an organization that operates high performing charter schools in six regions throughout the Northeast. Rebecca is charged with raising the operating and capital need for 21 schools in New York City and several other regions by creating lasting partnerships with a diverse portfolio of local and national donors. She also works to create unique opportunities for donors to interact with students and staff at Uncommon Schools.

   

  Prior to working with Uncommon Schools, Rebecca worked as a corps member with Teach for America in a high-need, under-resourced urban environment in Charlotte, NC. In her second year of teaching, she was appointed department chair, and led a 12-person team of educators to increase learning in their classrooms by utilizing best practice classroom strategies. That year, Rebecca won a district award for emphasizing rigorous learning in the classroom. During her time with Teach for America, Rebecca also served as a consultant on “Corps Council” where she met monthly with the region’s executive team to reach solutions to benefit education in the Charlotte community. She was also selected as a “sponsored” corps member to maintain relationships with prominent donors in Charlotte.

   

  During the summer between her two years of teaching, Rebecca worked for the UN Development Program in the West Bank with a program designed to encourage healthy self-expression in Palestinian youth. Rebecca also conducted home visits to meet families and gain better understanding of educational needs in a refugee camp community.

   

  Rebecca graduated cum laude from American University with a BA in International Affairs, and a focus on development in the Middle East.  While at American, Rebecca was active in the Arabic Club, and studied abroad in Cairo, Egypt for six months. She considers it the highlight of her college career. During college, Rebecca had internships with several government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Peace Corps.

   

  In addition to her work, Rebecca is a member of Big Brothers Big Sisters NYC, and a writing coach for the Posse Foundation. She is a voracious traveler, and enjoys learning to ask for directions in different languages. Rebecca is currently training for her first marathon, and can often be found playing soccer or flag football at various fields around NYC and continuing her search for the best beach on the East Coast. 

• Benjamin (Ben) Cox
  Coordinator of the Microenterprise Project, Volunteers of Legal Service
  Bio

  Benjamin (Ben) Cox is the coordinator of the Microenterprise Project at Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS), a nonprofit organization that helps low-income business owners’ access pro bono legal services. Through the project, Ben enables local entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses by connecting them with free legal services that they need to overcome legal obstacles. Ben is passionate about helping entrepreneurs achieve their dreams and is experienced at developing projects and partnerships that fulfill this goal.

   

  Prior to joining VOLS, Ben spent three years working in East and Central Africa, where he served as the founding project director of the Babson­Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center. In this capacity, Ben helped to develop local entrepreneurs in Rwanda and to strengthen the country’s overarching entrepreneurial ecosystem. One of his greatest achievements in Rwanda was leading the inaugural celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, catalyzing over twenty partners to reach over 10,000 participants through a wide array of events held throughout the country.

   

  Ben later spent a year working as an independent consultant in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he helped a number of private companies, international NGOs, and government agencies launch innovative development programs. Through this work, he gained experience in the fields of democracy and governance, education, agricultural development, and primary health care. In late 2013, Ben brought this perspective to New York City, where he strives to create positive social impact at a domestic level.

   

  An environmentalist at heart, Ben cemented his interest in public service during his time at Babson College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2010, with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. While still a student, Ben participated in several socially motivated organizations and initiatives, including the Ashoka U Changemaker Campus program. He also co­founded the college’s first living/learning community dedicated to environmental sustainability, called The Green Tower.

   

  Ben is an avid traveler, outdoor enthusiast, and a lifelong soccer fan. His novice hiking abilities have most recently taken him through Colombia’s rain forest and to the top of Morocco’s tallest peak.  He looks forward to the day when he can step back aboard the MV Explorer, the vessel that took him and 800 other students around the world in the Fall 2008 rendition of Semester at Sea. Ben is happy to call Brooklyn home and is thoroughly enjoying his time in one of the world’s greatest cities.

• Michael D'Agostino
  Events and Outreach Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  Bio

  Michael D’Agostino is an events and outreach coordinator at the Primary Care Information Project (PCIP). A NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) bureau, the PCIP uses health information technology to improve chronic disease management in underserved neighborhoods. Michael engages the medical community with PCIP’s quality improvement initiatives through webinars, conferences, and open house events. He also has expertise in print and digital media communications.

   

  Six months after joining the DOHMH, Michael received PCIP’s “Be Passionate; Take Pride in What You Do” award to highlight his commitment to health communications and community engagement at a bureau-wide recognition ceremony. In spring 2013 he received a “Special Achievement Award” during his employment with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as an environmental education and Latino outreach intern. Michael worked with diverse children and adults of all ages, teaching them about endangered species and the beauty and benefits of public lands.

   

  Michael’s public health interest ignited during his sophomore year of college. He volunteered at a medical clinic in Cuzco, Peru and realized rather than becoming a physician who can only treat one patient at a time, he could potentially have a greater impact by influencing policies affecting healthcare quality, services, and availability. Michael served as an environmental health intern the following summer at Nassau County Health Department, educating citizens about rabies prevention.

   

  Michael is driven by the prospect of improving health for at-risk communities and populations through novel education campaigns. He is also an ardent supporter of environmental sustainability and human rights, including those of LGBTQ individuals.

   

  Writing is Michael’s true passion. He strives to improve lives by helping others to better understand health topics. He is particularly interested in applying digital media, filmmaking, and written communications to the fields of medicine and public health.

   

  Michael is a University of Pittsburgh alumnus. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Film and a certificate in Professional Writing. He served for five semesters as an undergraduate teaching assistant and was twice awarded the chancellor’s undergraduate teaching fellowship for his innovative curriculum enrichment. Michael served as President of TriBeta: Biological Honor Society and Events Chairperson for Biology Club. Under his leadership, TriBeta fundraised hundreds of dollars for charities, including cancer research and cleft-lip surgeries abroad. Michael is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa: National Leadership Honor Society, Golden Key International Honour Society, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

• Jahneille Edwards
  Press Secretary and Legislative Aide, New York City Council Member Donovan Richards
  Bio

  Jahneille Edwards is the press secretary and legislative aide for New York City Council Member Donovan Richards, who represents the 31^st City Council District. As the press secretary, Jahneille drafts correspondence on behalf of the office to news outlets, public and private organizations, city agencies, and other constituents. Her work also requires a comprehensive understanding of the legislative priorities for the council member, particularly as they relate to the Committee on Environmental Protection.

   

  Working for the New York City Council in legislative and press capacity has not only given Jahneille a unique opportunity to engage the community of Southeast Queens, but also it has allowed her to work with stakeholders on a statewide and national level.

   

  In 2011 Jahneille graduated from Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College with a BA in Political Science. During her years at Hunter she became involved in a number of organizations and programs geared towards advocacy and social justice. Jahneille worked extensively with the Coalition of Concerned Medical Professionals, Welfare Rights Initiative, and the Public Service Scholar Program in conjunction with the Correctional Association of New York. While these organizations all had distinct and diverse focuses, her involvement with them affirmed the interconnectedness of access to health, education and other resources to build and maintain healthy individuals and communities. 

   

  In addition to being very involved at work, Jahneille is an active member or her faith community and a budding Knicks fan. She also enjoys laughing, baking, and cooking.

• Kevin Finnegan
  Senior Program Coordinator, iMentor
  Bio

  Kevin Finnegan is a senior program coordinator for iMentor at Frederick Douglass Academy-II. iMentor builds mentoring relationships that empower students from low-income communities to graduate high school, succeed in college, and achieve their ambitions. iMentor partners with 16 public schools and engages approximately 3,500 mentor-mentee pairs in New York City while also supporting over 2,400 pairs through its nationwide partnership program.

   

  Entering his second year at iMentor, Kevin is excited to return to Frederick Douglass Academy-II as a senior program coordinator. In his role Kevin supports approximately 90 pairs of mentees and mentors and works closely with teachers and administrators to align the school’s existing curriculum with the iMentor program, which consists of weekly emails and monthly events. Working with 9th grade students his first year, Kevin looks forward to continue facilitating meaningful relationships between his 10th grade students and their mentors.  Kevin is also a certified college counselor through the Goddard Riverside Community Center Options Institute.

   

  Kevin has dedicated his professional career to advocating for students underserved by traditional education models.  Prior to iMentor, Kevin served as an AmeriCorps member for College Possible, a national nonprofit that makes college admission and success possible for low-income students through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. As a high school coach, Kevin oversaw students through the college process, from the beginning of students’ junior years to their transitions to college. In his second of two years of service, Kevin led a team of four AmeriCorps members at a high school in St. Paul, Minnesota while also working as an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) tutor, helping to prepare students for college readiness and success. He is proud to watch his former College Possible and AVID students succeed in college as rising sophomores.

   

  Kevin graduated from Macalester College in Minnesota with a BA in Political Science and Education Studies, and continues to serve as an ambassador for his alma mater. At Macalester he was captain of the football team for three years, studied European Politics in Copenhagen, Denmark, and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, among other activities. He has interned for the Urban Education Program at the University of Illinois-Chicago’s College of Education and the Minnesota Internship Center Charter School. A native Chicagoan, in his free time Kevin enjoys exploring all that New York City has to offer, particularly sports, hip-hop, and food trucks.

• Alana Gibson
  Administrative Coordinator, Food Bank For New York City
  Bio

  Alana Gibson is the administrative coordinator at Food Bank For New York City (Food Bank), the city’s major hunger-relief organization and one of the country’s largest food banks. As the city’s hub for integrated food poverty assistance, Food Bank organizes food, information, and support for community survival and dignity, annually reaching over 1.5 million New Yorkers struggling with food insecurity.

   

  At Food Bank, Alana supports the programs and member services teams, which includes helping to provide over 900 member agencies with non-traditional anti-poverty resources like capacity support, compliance assurance, access to nutrition education, and of course, food distribution. This gives Alana the privilege of feeding both the bellies and spirits of New Yorkers in need. She also co-facilitates Open Market Backpack, a child nutrition program that provides meals on weekends and holidays to over 250 children.

   

  Alana holds a BA in English with a minor in Business Management from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC.  At Guilford, Alana had the honor of being a Bonner Scholar, working for three years as a tutor and mentor to refugee and immigrant students at Glenhaven Community Center.  At Glenhaven, she developed innovative learning tools to promote inclusion, higher literacy rates, and conflict resolution.  Alana also published several news articles as a staff writer for the Guilfordian newspaper. In the spring of 2008, Alana attended the University of Cape Coast, in Ghana, West Africa where she interned as a broadcast journalist for Ghana Broadcasting Company, the country’s leading news outlet.

   

  In her free time, Alana enjoys volunteering at the annual New York City Wine and Food Festival, as well as finding new places to travel each year.

• Reynold Graham
  Workforce Investment Board Coordinator, NYC Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development
  Bio

  Reynold Graham serves as the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) coordinator within the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development (WKDEV). Created in 2014, WKDEV works to ensure the city’s workforce development programs and policies meet the needs of businesses and support job seekers in successfully finding work in a twenty-first century economy. Within WKDEV, Reynold is responsible for all board functions of the WIB, which informs the policies and programs of the workforce investment system. He also supports WKDEV policy and strategy development. He is excited to be involved in the city’s role in tackling income inequality and ensuring every New Yorker has an opportunity to secure dignifying work for themselves and their families.

   

  Prior to joining the Mayor's Office, Reynold served as a New York City Urban Fellow with the Legal Affairs division of the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS). At DHS, he supported the agency’s response to sheltering displaced residents in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. He also supported the coordination of the Homeless Outreach Population Estimate, or HOPE Count, the city's annual street homeless survey.

   

  Reynold has also served as a summer associate with the Greenlining Institute, a racial and economic justice policy advocacy organization based in Berkeley, CA. There, he researched water policy and created recommendations to provide clean affordable water to low-income communities of color in California. His previous work experience also includes serving in the office of New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera, researching health and education policy, and working as a program manager at Let's Get Ready, which connects low-income, first-generation students to mentoring and college preparation resources.

   

  Reynold holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Fordham University. While at Fordham, he was actively engaged in student life, holding leadership roles in Asili, Fordham’s Black Student Union, a number of student advisory bodies, and working with the Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice. During his senior year, Reynold co-created the End the Silence campaign in response to incidents of racial and homophobic bias. The campaign launched a citywide media campaign which led to the creation of an online bias reporting system. Originally from Englewood, NJ, Reynold enjoys dancing and pretending to be a special guest on Who’s Line Is It Anyway?

• William Huang
  Fund Development Associate, CSH
  Bio

  William Huang is a fund development associate at CSH, a nonprofit working to advance housing as a platform for services in order to improve the lives of the most vulnerable people, maximize public resources, and build healthy communities. As part of the development team, William is responsible for foundation, corporate, and government grant writing and funder stewardship for seven national CSH teams. Among his responsibilities, William coordinates the grants management process by pitching, drafting, editing, and submitting letters of inquiry, full proposals, budgets, letters to donors, and reports. William also works closely with the program staff to develop concept papers for new program models, targeted population needs assessments, and evidence-based approaches to better serve the various segments of the homeless population.

   

  Prior to CSH, William became a Coro Fellow in Public Affairs in New York City. The Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs is a graduate-level, experiential leadership development program that immerses twelve aspiring professionals in public affairs through intensive leadership training and full-time consulting placements in  government, labor, business, and nonprofit sectors and in a political campaign. William’s accomplishments during Coro included developing, pitching, and winning a social entrepreneurship business plan competition with three other Fellows at Echoing Green; writing online content for the NYC Department of Education’s Empowering Boys Initiative; and persuading the executive staff team at New York Cares to migrate its existing donor database to Salesforce through a report and presentation.

   

  William received his BA in International Relations from Tufts University, where he championed the inclusion of Hindi and Urdu into the foreign languages department in response to student interest. William currently serves as the planning committee head of the Tufts Asian American Alumni Association, for which he organizes social events and manages its e-communication platforms. William is an active alumnus of Prep for Prep, an educational leadership program that prepares students of color for success at leading independent and boarding schools throughout the Northeast.

   

  In his free time, William enjoys filming quirky skit videos, hunting for the perfect ramen shop with his girlfriend, and learning Yiddish idioms.

• Catherine (Katie) Hurley
  Program Coordinator, Project Sunshine
  Bio

  Catherine (Katie) Hurley is a program coordinator at Project Sunshine. Project Sunshine empowers a dynamic and dedicated corps of over 10,000 volunteers to bring programming – recreational (arts), educational (tutoring and mentoring), and social service (HIV and nutritional counseling) – to over 60,000 children facing medical challenges and their families in 150 major cities across the United States and in five international satellite sites.

   

  Katie coordinates volunteer opportunities for Project Sunshine’s 80+ corporate partners across the United States. In 2013, Katie collaborated with Project Sunshine’s corporate program director to engage over 8,000 corporate volunteers nationwide. Katie has been an integral member in launching and maintaining Project Sunshine’s relationship with major companies including UnitedHealth Group, American Express, Estee Lauder, and BNP Paribas.

   

  Additionally, Katie manages Project Sunshine’s Book Club, a program which brings distinguished children’s book authors, illustrators, and celebrities into medical facilities to provide specialized reading events to pediatric patients.  Book Club enables children to expand their interest in literacy and explore their own creativity and imagination. Through Book Club programming, Katie has facilitated volunteer opportunities for members of the New York Yankees, the cast of Sesame Street, Miss Universe, and others. 

   

  Katie graduated cum laude from Ithaca College in 2011. Earning a BS in Corporate Communications from the Roy H. Park School of Communications and minoring in Social Work, Katie began to develop a passion for applying corporate communications practices to nonprofit organizations. Katie concentrated her undergraduate internship experiences in the public service sector holding positions at Challenge Workforce Solutions and The United Way of Greater Rochester. As an intern for Challenge Workforce Solutions, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping individuals with disabilities and employment barriers with workplace skills, Katie wrote a grant to fund a service learning initiative between the organization and Ithaca College students.

   

  A Regional All-American on Ithaca College’s varsity lacrosse team, Katie has combined her love of athletics and passion for youth by serving as a part-time coach for Westchester Elite Lacrosse club.

• Alice Kamens
  Program Manager, Cities of Service
  Bio

  Alice Kamens is a program manager at Cities of Service, a national nonprofit coalition of nearly 200 cities whose mayors are committed to using volunteer service to solve pressing local challenges. Alice helps mayors’ offices achieve their agendas through impact volunteering, implementing highly effective social media strategies, and bringing local government and policy expertise to program strategies.

   

  Since joining the Cities of Service team, one of Alice’s major projects has been to manage a planning grant from the California State Commission on Volunteers. The planning grant has supported the development of a civic corps program that will support three Bay Area mayors’ offices to recruit and manage volunteers for educational programs. In addition to managing this grant, Alice cultivates partnerships between Cities of Service’s coalition cities to allow them to share solutions and best practices learned during impact volunteering initiatives.

   

  Alice joined Cities of Service after a year as a New York City Urban Fellow spent working at the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. At the Mayor’s Fund, Alice gained critical public-private partnership experience and became increasingly devoted to facilitating innovation in local government. Alice also gained grants management skills through evaluating grant reports, maintaining a Raiser’s Edge database, and coordinating correspondence with donors and constituents.

   

  Alice holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Barnard College, where she developed a two-year thesis on the history and future of middle-class housing availability in Manhattan. While at Barnard, Alice dedicated her extracurricular time to interning across New York City’s public sector landscape, including stints at the Manhattan Borough President’s Office, the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, and Assembly Member Daniel J. O’Donnell’s office. Alice was also one of eight Barnard students selected for the Mumbai Winter Seminar, and studied for a semester at the Universidad de Sevilla in Seville, Spain.

   

  Alice lives in Manhattan and spends her time running on the East River path, solving crossword puzzles, and cooking the vegetables that arrive from her farmshare.

• Sadyia Khalique
  Director of Operations, Council on American-Islamic Relations- New York
  Bio

  Sadyia Khalique is currently the director of operations at the New York Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of America’s largest Muslim civil rights organization. CAIR-NY’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote social justice and mutual understanding.

   

  At CAIR-NY, Sadyia manages finances, outreach, event planning, media engagement, and focuses heavily on providing programs and services for the New York Muslim community from government engagement to youth conferences. Last year, she launched CAIR-NY's anti-bullying campaign during National Bullying Prevention Month, offering workshops in mosques, Islamic schools, and NY public schools. As CAIR-NY is a civil rights organization, Sadyia directly assists victims of various civil rights discriminatory acts. One case she worked closely on was assisting a college student in receiving religious accommodation for the collegiate sport he participated in.

   

  Prior to working at CAIR-NY, Sadyia worked for the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and the Greenpoint YMCA.  At DYCD, Sadyia worked with the In-School Youth (ISY) Program as a College Aide and Field Supervisor. One of her favorite projects was managing the ISY Specialized Internship Program where she worked with partners at Bloomingdales, the Museum of Natural History, and the Drug Enforcement Agency to provide internships for 40 high school students from all around NYC. At DYCD, she interacted with more than 40 community based organizations throughout NYC to assist with In-School Youth Programming.

   

  Working with the Teen & Sports Department in Greenpoint YMCA, Sadyia taught two key civic engagement programs: teens take the city, and youth and government. She worked with youth to create mock legislation which was presented in City Council conferences and the State Capitol Annual Youth and Government Conference. She also taught lessons in service learning and art and photography, as well as provided guidance and counseling services to youth.

   

  Sadyia is a New York native who graduated from Baruch College, majoring in Economics and minoring in English Literature. She enjoys volunteering her time with youth organizations, travelling, and being a photographer.

• Jahleese Ladson
  Educational Programming Associate, Young Women’s Leadership Network
  Bio

  Jahleese Ladson works as an educational programming associate at the Young Women’s Leadership Network (YWLN), an organization that privately supports five sixth through twelfth grade single-sex public schools in NYC.

   

  Having first started her journey with this organization as a student herself attending the Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem, she considers it her altruistic philanthropic duty to work with students, faculty, and families to ensure that all public school students have access to high-quality educational opportunities both in and out of the classroom. In her role Jahleese has had the opportunity to work directly with principals to brainstorm and implement innovative educational practices at the school level. She has built relationships with outside organizations to bring enriching programs directly to students. She supports the development and execution of student programs to develop students’ leadership, enhance their knowledge of STEM opportunities, raise college and career awareness, and foster the health and wellness of students. 

   

  Prior to joining YWLN Jahleese worked as a college advisor in the Phipps Community Development Corporation assisting cohorts of 50 high school seniors and adult learners prepare for and complete the college application process. Additionally she worked to help parents undergoing the financial aid process to ensure that their students had the best options and college fits for their academic needs and professional aspirations.

   

  Jahleese has always been drawn to working with students and it was her direct work with motivated but ill-prepared high school students that sparked her interest in public service. As a native Harlemite, she is an active member of her community through her church’s many community outreach programs. Her love of baking has allowed her the opportunity to perfect her craft through an internship at City Cakes gourmet cake design studio and connect with students through baking classes that she holds whenever she has a captive student audience.

• Kenya Lee
  External Relations Liaison, NYC Department of Probation
  Bio

  Kenya Lee is the external relations liaison in the Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs Unit at the NYC Department of Probation (DOP). At DOP Kenya is responsible for supporting relationships with elected officials, legislators, community organizations, and other city agencies. Her primary focus is on developing a progressive legislative agenda that will improve the lives of people involved in the criminal justice system.  This year Kenya succeeded getting the Department of Probation’s legislative proposal S4664/A4582 signed into law by the Governor. This new law provides judges with the discretion to sentence individuals to lesser terms of probation than the previous mandatory minimum of five years for a felony and three years for a misdemeanor.

   

  Kenya, a committed public servant who has served her community at the city, state, and federal levels of government, began her public service in government as an intern on Capitol Hill for longtime Harlem Congressman Charles B. Rangel in 2009. During this time she worked on criminal justice issues including legislative proposals to reform crack cocaine sentencing laws and voter disenfranchisement policies. Following this internship Kenya became a Drum Major Institute Scholar and a New Leader at the Center for Progressive Leadership where she developed her socio-political organizing skills in Washington, DC.

   

  In 2011, Kenya returned to her home in East Harlem to serve the community as the legislative aide in the office of New York State Assembly Member Robert J. Rodriguez. In this capacity she reviewed and introduced legislation to improve the lives of constituents in the 68^th Assembly District. She also hosted several forums to engage youth, seniors, and small businesses with programs and opportunities provided by the state and local nonprofits.

   

  As a graduate of Hamilton College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government, Kenya is a believer in the ability of citizens to elect a government that will improve their quality of life and govern responsibility. To transform this belief into reality, in 2011, she helped found the Arturo Schomburg Democratic Club of East Harlem to get young people and unregistered voters more involved in electoral politics. With an appetite to play a bigger role in advancing the quality of life in her community, she aspires to someday obtain a law degree followed by a continued service as a public defender.

• Andrew (Drew) Lombardi
  Program Associate, Generation Citizen
  Bio

  Andrew (Drew) Lombardi is a program associate with Generation Citizen (GC), a national action civics nonprofit organization that places college volunteers in high school classrooms to teach students the political process through praxis. Drew is invested in creating a generation of civic leaders, and constantly pushes for higher program quality by leading the recruitment and development of college volunteers, as well as building lasting partnerships with schools in areas with the highest civic disenfranchisement. By producing robust advocacy trainings and resources for GC Democracy Coach volunteers, Drew has played an integral part in growing the program’s size and quality. Through data evaluation, classroom observations, and qualitative research, Drew continues to build the best possible program that GC can offer, all in order to create a more active citizenry where youths take control of their own destinies.

   

  Since joining GC in August 2013, Drew founded one new college chapter and managed seven additional chapters as well as 10 school partners each semester. His establishment and implementation of targeted recruitment techniques, rigorous trainings, and a project tracking system have raised the quality of Democracy Coaches significantly, resulting in greater program impact within the classroom. The structures that Drew has developed in order to economize volunteer management has produced stellar young leaders on college campuses, and his genuine nature has helped build robust relationships with several key stakeholders including school administrators, public officials, and advocacy organizations.

   

  While at New York University, Drew first joined GC as a volunteer Democracy Coach. After teaching the program himself, he became the executive director of the NYU chapter, tripling it in size and forging a tradition of excellence that has since propelled the chapter into GC New York’s strongest. After graduating in 2013, Drew joined GC Boston. While successfully founding an Emerson College chapter and overhauling volunteer talent at three others, Drew established and supported local school partnerships through contract negotiations, teacher trainings, and class observations. Since returning to New York in August 2014, Drew will continue his plan to expand his competencies in the fields of advocacy, data analysis, fundraising, and the local political landscape.

   

  As GC continues to pursue a fully participatory democracy, Drew continues to pursue professional and personal growth. He approaches every day at work with a light sense of humor, yet remains dedicated to the mission behind public service.

• Josephine Marescot
  Marketing Associate, DonorsChoose.org
  Bio

  Josephine Marescot is a marketing associate for engagement and communications at DonorsChoose.org. DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit dedicated to connecting citizen donors with public school classrooms in need. 

  In her role at DonorsChoose.org, Josephine manages content for key social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and a blog. She cultivates and thanks the most generous and engaged individual donors. Josephine provides media outreach support through research and creating a database of national media outlets as well as managing external communication. She is also responsible for scheduling and leading her marketing team in meetings and retreats. Additionally, Josephine supports internal operations in events, organization-wide retreats, and customer support. 

   

  Before she took on the role of marketing associate, Josephine worked at DonorsChoose.org as a marketing assistant. She worked on continuously tracking all contacts, leads, and donor acquisition opportunities in Salesforce and Box. She managed the video database and hired several freelance videographers and photographers for media content production. Josephine also coordinated with DonorsChoose.org Merchandise Store partner to manage the store’s account.

   

  Josephine graduated magna cum laude from St. John’s University in 2013 with her BA in English Literature and a minor in the Philosophy of Law. During her time at St. John’s, Josephine got involved in various internships and activities. Josephine was President of Sigma Tau Delta the English Honor Society where she helped build a community for passionate readers of English literature. She was honored to be part of the Phi Eta Sigma, the Freshman Honor Society. Josephine was able to study abroad for a semester in Paris. While there, she interned for a local American webzine and was a resident assistant for the university. When she returned, she became a global student ambassador and secretary for the St. John’s University’s Art and Literary Journal.

   

  Josephine’s biggest commitment was with the St. John’s University Writing Center. In that role, she managed the hiring process of new writing consultants and consulted students on academic writing projects throughout all stages of the writing process. Through the writing center, she was also able to facilitate collaborative workshops for local high school students and low-income adults, and this work developed her passion for public service.

   

  Josephine is a proud New York City native and explores the city in her free moments. She is also an avid reader, traveler, and cultural enthusiast. 

• Michelle Mullenax
  Digital Marketing Associate, American Red Cross
  Bio

  Michelle Mullenax is a digital marketing associate for the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Michelle is a member of the national Humanitarian Services Marketing Team, which focuses on disaster relief, emergency preparedness, health and safety training, and service to the armed forces.

   

  Based out of NYC, Michelle works directly with chapters across the country by providing digital strategy and support for local marketing and fundraising needs, including social media planning, content management, and optimization of redcross.org. Michelle also works alongside the national Data and Analytics and Digital Engagement teams to develop marketing strategies and solutions, which are implemented across the entire chapter network.

   

  In addition to her support of chapters, Michelle serves as the founder and co-chair of the organization’s first Asian American Affinity Group, which aims to provide professional mentorship, advocacy, and visibility to the greater Asian American community at Red Cross.

   

  Prior to her work at the American Red Cross, Michelle worked in both the private and public sectors, primarily with nonprofits that provide services to homeless and struggling youth.

   

  Originally from Colorado, Michelle graduated in 2011 from the University of Colorado Denver with a BA in Social Justice and Religious Studies with a minor in Economics. During her time there, Michelle founded the first Asian and Pacific Islander Student Union, served as the Student Body Co-President, and wrote for The Advocate, UCD’s weekly alternative student newspaper. Her passion for social justice and experience volunteering within the Korean American community in Colorado helped to influence her thesis, which examined the history of Asian American identity and the experience of multiracial Asian Americans in the United States.

   

  In her free time, Michelle enjoys exploring NYC’s diverse food scene, spending time in nature, and will often be seen with her dog, Olivia, a four year old Akita mix. 

• Elizabeth (Liz) Nellis
  Program Associate, Tiger Foundation
  Bio

  Elizabeth (Liz) Nellis is a program associate at the Tiger Foundation (Tiger), an organization committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in New York City.  Founded in 1989 by Julian Robertson, Tiger utilizes a rigorous business-like approach to grantmaking that focuses on measurable outcomes in order to maximize the impact of its investments in its four portfolios: education, employment, youth and families, and criminal justice.  At Tiger, Liz supports program staff in their ongoing assessments of existing grants and conducts diligence on prospective grantees. 

   

  Prior to her current role, Liz served as a development associate for volunteer services at the New York Common Pantry (then Yorkville Common Pantry), where she coordinated opportunities for volunteers to participate in efforts to alleviate hunger in the city, such as grocery distribution programs and nutrition initiatives.

   

  Liz also volunteers as a certified Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocate and mentors counselors-in-training at St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals’ Crime Victims Treatment Center.

   

  Liz graduated from New York University in 2011, where she majored in Applied Psychology and interned at the Door, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Partnership for the Homeless, and the Relationship Foundation.  She was particularly inspired by the resilient participants of the Door, a community center which provides young people with comprehensive education, health, and social services.

   

  Originally from Atlanta, Liz enjoys movies, NYC’s burgeoning southern food scene, visiting art galleries, and most recently, exploring the city by bike (carefully).  On her to-do list are banjo classes and travel.

• Brittany Parisi
  Specialist – National Foundations Partnerships, Teach For America
  Bio

  Brittany Parisi currently works as a Specialist on Teach For America’s National Foundations Partnership team. Teach For America is a nonprofit organization that aims to strengthen the educational equity movement by providing inspired, diverse leadership through a teaching corps that commits to teaching in low-income schools for at least two years.

  In her current role, Brittany supports a national and multi-regional portfolio of foundations. She leads the team’s prospecting work, works with regional and program teams to craft reports and proposals, and helps guide stewardship and data management strategy. In addition to her portfolio management work, Brittany also helps drive operational efficiency and coordination across the larger National Development team.

   

  Prior to working at Teach For America, Brittany was the special education manager at Success Academy Charter Network, where she designed professional development and supported ICT, SETSS, and 12:1:1 teachers across the network. Brittany also served as a 2010 Teach For America corps member and taught middle school special education in Philadelphia for two years.

   

  Brittany graduated summa cum laude from Villanova University in 2010, where she majored in Political Science with honors and minored in Business Administration. While at Villanova, Brittany studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland as a Connelly-Delouvrier Scholar and interned with Defence for Children International. She also served on the Special Olympics planning committee and as President of the Best Buddies chapter. Brittany was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society and awarded the 2010 Falvey Award for the top Liberal Arts thesis.  While a corps members, Brittany attained her MS in Urban Education, focusing on secondary special education within the urban context, from the University of Pennsylvania.

   

  Originally from Pennsylvania, Brittany now resides in NYC. Outside of work, she privately tutors students with learning disabilities and serves on the National Down Syndrome Society Youth Leadership Board. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

• Emma Pfohman
  Policy Advisor, NYC Department of Small Business Services
  Bio

  Emma Pfohman is a policy advisor in the executive office at the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS). SBS serves small businesses, jobseekers, and neighborhoods to ensure they have the resources to succeed. SBS provides direct assistance to help businesses form, operate, and grow; guides businesses through the city’s regulatory process; promotes minority and women-owned businesses and ensures their participation in the City’s procurement process; supports community-based economic development organizations to build thriving commercial corridors; and connects employers to a skilled and qualified workforce. 

   

  In her role as policy advisor, Emma prepares the Commissioner and writes remarks for various economic development events, drafts internal agency communications, writes weekly reports to City Hall, and assists with major policy initiatives, press announcements, and the implementation of local legislation.

   

  Emma came to SBS through the Urban Fellows Program, a nine-month career development program that introduces recent college graduates to local government and public service. Building on the skills and institutional knowledge she developed as an Urban Fellow, Emma joined the executive office as a policy advisor at the end of her fellowship.

   

  Originally from Portland, Oregon, Emma graduated magna cum laude from Fordham University where she majored in Political Science. She competed for four years on the Fordham Sailing team, and served as captain during her junior and senior year. She sailed on the team of four students who qualified Fordham for the first time for the co-ed national tournament.

   

  During her semester abroad, Emma studied geography and war studies at King’s College London. While in London, she worked with South London Citizens, a community organizing group that works with civic organizations to advance campaigns for living wage, safer streets, and affordable housing.

   

  On the weekends, you can find Emma riding her bike, sailing on the Long Island Sound, and eating her way through the city.

• Sommai Pham
  Associate, Women Moving Millions
  Bio

  Sommai Pham is an associate at Women Moving Millions (WMM), a nonprofit whose mission is to catalyze unprecedented resources for the advancement of women and girls. WMM is comprised of over 200 members in 11 countries each of whom have donated $1 million or more to women’s initiatives around the world.

   

  In her role, Sommai is responsible for organizing events including the Women Moving Millions Annual Summit in NYC, the Annual Member Retreat, regional skills building workshops, among other events. She also manages the copywriting, editing, and design of WMM materials, and lends support on special initiatives such as the launch of ALL IN FOR HER: A Call to Action inviting women to step into their donor leadership as funders and champions for gender equality around the world.

   

  Prior to joining WMM, Sommai focused her energy on her passion for food and wine as the office manager for Governor and Gran Electrica (GE) in Brooklyn, NY. At Governor and GE, Sommai managed day-to-day restaurant operations, website design and management, events and the fundraising for and recovery of Governor, which was sadly destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Due to the level of damage incurred by the hurricane, Governor was never able to re-open.

   

  Beyond women’s philanthropy, food, and wine, Sommai is also interested in creative writing, illustration, and design. In her spare time, Sommai works as a freelance designer, social media, and website manager. In 2012 she started “The South Platte Journal,” a Tumblr blog dedicated to poetry and creative writing with a distinctly feminist, Vietnamese-American perspective.

   

  Sommai earned her BA in International Relations from Boston University in 2011. Once a month, she gathers her friends together to discuss social justice and feminist politics over wine and cheese. Sommai currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.

• Natasha Rivera
  Professional Advancement Associate, Prep for Prep
  Bio

  Natasha Rivera is a professional advancement associate at Prep for Prep, the same leadership development program for gifted students of color that she matriculated into at the age of 12. Cognizant of the difference the program made in her life, she returned to Prep for Prep to multiply her impact as an employee, working to develop the professional and interpersonal skills of current Prep for Prep students ranging from rising high school seniors to rising college seniors. This includes, but is not limited to, resumé critiquing and editing, one-on-one development counseling, and evaluating feedback from supervisors from summer internships.

   

  Interested in increasing engagement between the nonprofit and for-profit spheres, Natasha manages volunteer relationships with major donors, organizing volunteer opportunities between employees and Prep for Prep students. Natasha is passionate about directly engaging with her students’ lives, passions, and problems and teaches the Aspects of Leadership ethics module required of all Prep for Prep students. The thread of social justice, and especially equal access to education, runs through all that she weaves.

   

  In between stints at Prep for Prep, Natasha studied at Davidson College in Davidson, NC. She graduated with a degree in English with honors. As an incoming freshman she was awarded the Patricia Cornwall Scholarship for promising young writers. She studied and wrote poetry while captaining the award-winning FreeWord spoken word team. Her poetic work frequently intersects with the themes of social justice and race, and culminated at Davidson with an honors thesis project of her own work. Natasha speaks Spanish and French and studied abroad for a semester with the Davidson in India Program at Madras Christian College in Chennai, India. As a sophomore, she conducted her own independent research project to study colorism in her family’s native country of Ecuador through a Dean Rusk and Abernathy grant from Davidson.

   

  Natasha’s professional experience crosses the worlds of nonprofits, philanthropy, and publishing, with a brief foray at a Wyoming ranch thrown in for good measure. Her position in Time Warner’s Corporate Social Responsibility department taught her the valuable skills needed to cultivate philanthropy and employee engagement. An engagement with a literacy nonprofit reconnected her with Prep for Prep and reignited her desire to ensure that all children and teens have access to a safe, productive, and encouraging educational space.

• Stina Rosenquist
  Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, CUNY Citizenship Now!
  Bio

  Stina Rosenquist is the volunteer engagement coordinator at CUNY Citizenship Now!, a nonprofit which provides free immigration law services in NYC. Services are offered at legal centers throughout the city, as well as at bimonthly citizenship events and other related annual events.

   

  In her position as volunteer engagement coordinator, Stina primarily recruits, trains, and supports the CUNY Citizenship Now! Volunteer Corps, a diverse group of over 400 active volunteers that assist at citizenship events and legal centers.  She communicates regularly with the corps, gathering feedback and working to improve the way in which volunteers are utilized and recognized. She also coordinates interns placed through the CUNY Service Corps program and helps improve citizenship events.

   

  Previously, Stina worked on social justice issues in Boston, as well as in England and Sweden.  She has provided direct services to underserved communities, as well as support through research and advocacy. In London at the New Horizon Youth Centre, she worked with homeless and vulnerable young adults.  There, she co-authored a social enterprise plan and feasibility study, which sought to provide the young adults with opportunities and training to start their own businesses. In May of 2014, New Horizon used recommendations from her study to launch a new program.

   

  Stina graduated from Cornell University in 2010 with a BS in Policy Analysis and Management and a minor in Inequality Studies. While at Cornell she volunteered at, and later led, Friends of Farmworkers, a student group focused on teaching English to migrant farmworkers. This experience, along with her coursework and her semester abroad, sparked her interest in a career in public service. In her spare time, Stina enjoys both exploring New York and planning her next getaway.

• Eric Santiago
  College and Career Success Coordinator, The Opportunity Network
  Bio

  Eric Santiago is currently the college and career success coordinator at The Opportunity Network, an organization that equips high-achieving, under-resourced NYC public school students with career development, college guidance, and college support. His primary responsibility is managing the College Success and Alumni Programs which includes supporting programming for more than 185 students.

   

  Eric graduated from Columbia University in 2012 with a BA in East Asian Languages and Cultures with a focus on Tokugawa literature. He wrote his thesis on Tokugawa literary perspectives of homosexuality in the samurai and kabuki cultures. At Columbia, Eric also worked frequently with the Double Discovery Center, a nonprofit organization that provides academic and college access resources to low-income Manhattan high school students, as a College Application Mentor and a Residential Teaching Assistant for the Upward Bound Program. His experiences fueled his passion to ensure that first-generation students have access to the same career development opportunities as more affluent students.

   

  Eric was born, raised, and currently lives in the Bronx. He spends his time mentoring a current high school junior through the iMentor program and serving on the Alumni Council for his high school, Bronx Academy of Letters. During his free time, he enjoys watching documentaries, cooking, engaging in dialogues about social justice, and backpacking.

• Natasha Scantlebury
  Community Development Associate, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
  Bio

  Natasha Scantlebury is a community development associate for the NYC office of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC NYC), a national nonprofit dedicated to improving low-income neighborhoods across the country. By connecting local organizations, community leaders, and residents to resources, LISC NYC seeks to help revitalize neighborhoods and improve quality of life.  It has a rich history of developing and preserving affordable housing for low income residents throughout NYC.  In addition, its programs are sustainably rebuilding communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy, enhancing livability for vulnerable populations such as seniors, promoting a college-going culture, and improving access to affordable and healthy food choices.

   

  Natasha is primarily responsible for donor relations, funder cultivation, and stewardship of resources.  In addition to seeking funding, writing proposals, and reporting on new and current program areas, she is also responsible for providing day-to-day technical assistance and support to two key programs: College Within Reach (CWR) and the Bedford Stuyvesant Aging Improvement District (Bed-Stuy AID).  CWR is a college access and success program that leverages the strength of local nonprofits to assist high school students and their parents through the college application process and provide critical college guidance and retention support. The Bed-Stuy AID is a collaborative partnership with the Coalition for the Improvement of Bedford Stuyvesant and the New York Academy of Medicine, to enhance the livability of neighborhoods for the benefit of some of the city’s most vulnerable residents, the low-income elderly.

   

  Natasha graduated from Trinity College with a BA in American Studies with a concentration in community development in May 2012.  She is also an alumna of Prep for Prep, a highly selective leadership development program that offers gifted students of color access to a private school education and other life changing opportunities.

   

  Prior to joining LISC NYC in August 2013 Natasha served as a NYC Civic Corps member, hosted by Community Service Society (CSS).  NYC Civic Corps is a 10-month AmeriCorps program whose goal is to increase volunteerism throughout NYC.  Natasha's role at CSS was to serve as a volunteer liaison for the mentoring division of their volunteer program, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

   

  On the weekends Natasha, who is a Barbadian American, enjoys cooking and learning recipes from her mom. She also enjoys Caribbean music, dancing, road trips, reading, watching Murder, She Wrote and The Golden Girls and watching clothing and jewelry DIY videos on YouTube.

• Karina Schroeder
  Editorial Assistant, New York City Campaign Finance Board
  Bio

  Karina Schroeder is the editorial assistant at the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB). The CFB is an independent agency monitoring the finances of local city elections. The board administers a matching funds program for qualifying candidates to enhance the voices of NYC residents in their government.

   

  Karina is part of the team that produces the NYC Voter Guide, a comprehensive print and web resource available to all New Yorkers. The Guide is produced in five languages and mailed to every registered voter in NYC. It provides candidate profiles as well as pertinent voter information, including poll site locations, voting instructions, and answers to frequently asked questions. The online edition provides additional information, including candidate video statements and social media links, helping voters make informed decisions at the polls. Karina also conducts research and drafts content for the CFB’s Financial Disclosure blog, in addition to chapters of the CFB’s various annual reports.

   

  Karina graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Journalism and Anthropology and a minor in French. During her sophomore year, she volunteered with Iowa PIRG (Public Interest Research Group). PIRG is a nonpartisan organization aimed at promoting student involvement in political and social issues. Karina worked to engage her fellow students in the 2008 election. She helped with voter registration drives, in-class outreach efforts, and volunteer recruitment campaigns. She was later elevated to media coordinator, where she served as PIRG’s University of Iowa spokesperson. Thanks in part to PIRG’s efforts, more than 90 percent of University of Iowa students were registered to vote on Election Day in 2008.

   

  Karina has also worked in various other editorial and communications capacities. These include reporting for her local newspaper, blogging for online travel magazines, and volunteering as a photojournalist at the University of Iowa International Programs.

   

  Karina also lived and studied abroad as an exchange student in France for one year. This experience sparked her passion for traveling abroad and encouraged her to find work with a multicultural or international focus.

   

  Born and raised in Iowa, Karina moved to NYC shortly after graduation. She spends her free time exploring local art galleries, trying new coffee shops, and plotting her next adventure. 

• William Smith
  Community Liaison, New York State Assembly Member Keith L.T. Wright
  Bio

  William Smith serves as the community liaison to New York State Assembly Member Keith L.T. Wright, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Housing. As the community liaison, William is focused on policy analysis for public housing, housing finance, and social service-related issues. In his role, he is responsible for strengthening and expanding Assembly Member Wright’s unique approach to grassroots policy and community engagement.

   

  William’s love for politics began at an early age. A lifelong resident of East Harlem, William wrote his Congressman, Charles Rangel, from the age of eight. In 2011, William graduated from The City College of New York with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Management Administration.  While in college, William was an administrative analyst at Credit Suisse in NYC. Working within the business administration group, he was responsible for corporate logistics, expense administration, and transaction document management.

   

  After graduating, William yearned to further his knowledge and experience in public service. He served as an intern staff assistant in Congressman Rangel’s district office. At the conclusion of the internship, he served as the Manhattan Field Organizer for Bill Thompson’s 2013 NYC Mayoral campaign.

   

  William is a recent graduate of the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute, an initiative designed to generate a pool of dynamic professionals who are certified to conduct public/private sector policy work, political campaigns, and advocacy on a variety of issues.  William is also a duly elected member of the New York County Democratic Committee. In his role as county committee member, he is responsible for representing his election district in endorsing candidates, electing county party officers, and nominating a democratic nominee in special elections within the county for congressional, assembly, and state senate seats. William was also a delegate to the 2014 New York State Young Democrats convention and was named Manhattan Young Democrats Member of the Month in July 2014.

   

  William dedicates his free time as a public member of Manhattan Community Board 11. He is also a member of the Harlem River Park Task Force supporting the task force’s commitment to enhancing the open space in the evolving Harlem community.  To diversify his knowledge of trade relations and its impact on the economy, he is also a member of the United Nations Association of New York. William views public service as a privilege to prepare communities across the city, state, and nation for the evolving challenges of the twenty-first century by empowering the government to make effective structural transformations.

• Alli Tamboline
  Administrative Manager, Partnership Fund for New York City
  Bio

  Alli Tamboline is the administrative manager of the Partnership Fund for New York City, an economic development nonprofit organization that invests exclusively in NYC-based ventures with an overall job creation priority. Alli was drawn to the Partnership Fund’s work based on her interest in urban economics. One of the Partnership Fund’s key objectives is to increase economic opportunity for under-served communities and support minority and women entrepreneurs. As an “evergreen” entity, the Partnership Fund is able to reinvest realized gains to make a social impact. Among her various tasks, Alli works closely with the senior vice president to produce portfolio reports and various marketing materials.

   

  Prior to joining the Partnership Fund, Alli graduated from New York University with a BA in Economics, and dual minors in Business Studies from NYU Stern and Social and Public Policy from NYU Wagner. During her time at NYU, Alli worked at NYU’s Office of International Students and experienced both small and large-scale nonprofit work through the internships she pursued. During her senior year at NYU, Alli interned with the Clinton Foundation’s marketing department where she helped copyedit the annual report and contributed research and content for a new Clinton Presidential Center exhibit.

   

  Alli was born in Vancouver, British Columbia and – true to her Canadian roots – is a passionate hockey fan. She lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn and her ideal Sunday involves exploring Prospect Park. Alli spent years singing and playing the tenor saxophone and wants to take more advantage of the live music NYC has to offer.

• Amanda Yepez
  Recruitment and Hiring Coordinator, Harlem RBI
  Bio

  Amanda Yepez serves as the recruitment and hiring coordinator at Harlem RBI, a youth development organization that provides 1,500 East Harlem and South Bronx youth, ages 5-22, with opportunities to play, learn, and grow. In addition to providing a wide range of baseball and softball, wellness, enrichment, and academic programs, Harlem RBI also operates DREAM Charter School, which currently serves 400 students in grades K-7.

   

  Amanda supports the recruiting and hiring team in staffing all full-time, part-time, and intern roles in East Harlem and the South Bronx. In this role, she has helped to hire over 250 part-time employees across after-school and summer programs through spearheading outreach, screening resumés, conducting phone screens, and leading interviews. Additionally, Amanda coordinates, plans, and executes Harlem RBI’s onboarding process, which helps to successfully transition new staff through high-quality, engaging, and interactive informational sessions that communicate the organization’s mission and vision and build community with team members.

   

  Amanda holds a BA in Sociology from Tufts University, where she served as a Latino Peer Leader, providing support and offering advice to first-year Latino students to help aid in their transition to college life. In 2012, she was awarded the Multicultural Service Award for her contribution to defining Tufts as a multicultural environment in which race, ethnicity, religion, class, gender, and sexual preferences are not barriers to the full enjoyment of community membership.  In her free time, Amanda enjoys attending dance and yoga classes around the city, solving Rubik’s cubes and playing on Harlem RBI’s intramural softball team.