Involvement Conference Professionals
Art Therapy
Sara Green
Founder and Executive Director, Art for Refugees in Transition
Sara established Art for Refugees in Transition, a nonprofit organization to develop and administer curricula to bring culturally relevant performing and visual arts into the lives of children and adults in displaced refugee communities. In 2003, she implemented A.R.T.’s pilot program, working with Burmese refugees in Thailand and returned in 2004 to expand the program. Sara has been traveling to Colombia since 2004, overseeing the implementation and expansion of the programs in Bogotá and Medellin. A.R.T.’s programs in both Thailand and Colombia continue to run self-sufficiently. In 2014, Sara traveled to Cairo where she oversaw the implementation of A.R.T.’s program working with African refugees. She received her M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and holds a B.F.A. in Dance and a B.A. in History from Ohio State University.
Founder and Executive Director, Art for Refugees in Transition
Sara established Art for Refugees in Transition, a nonprofit organization to develop and administer curricula to bring culturally relevant performing and visual arts into the lives of children and adults in displaced refugee communities. In 2003, she implemented A.R.T.’s pilot program, working with Burmese refugees in Thailand and returned in 2004 to expand the program. Sara has been traveling to Colombia since 2004, overseeing the implementation and expansion of the programs in Bogotá and Medellin. A.R.T.’s programs in both Thailand and Colombia continue to run self-sufficiently. In 2014, Sara traveled to Cairo where she oversaw the implementation of A.R.T.’s program working with African refugees. She received her M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and holds a B.F.A. in Dance and a B.A. in History from Ohio State University.
Arts and Culture
Neal Ludevig
Executive Director, Harlem Arts Festival
Neal serves as the Executive Director and Co-founder of The Harlem Arts Festival, a multi-disciplinary arts organization that presents local performers and visual artists throughout the year that inspire and nourish the artistic community in Harlem. Culminating in an annual festival that takes place at the last weekend of June, it aims to promote arts education and literacy by implementing arts-related discussion forums, educational workshops, performance opportunities, and activities for youth and family. In this capacity, Neal engages with numerous artistic, cultural, and education organizations such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Center, Revive Music, the TEDxHarlem Conference, Columbia University, and more.
Executive Director, Harlem Arts Festival
Neal serves as the Executive Director and Co-founder of The Harlem Arts Festival, a multi-disciplinary arts organization that presents local performers and visual artists throughout the year that inspire and nourish the artistic community in Harlem. Culminating in an annual festival that takes place at the last weekend of June, it aims to promote arts education and literacy by implementing arts-related discussion forums, educational workshops, performance opportunities, and activities for youth and family. In this capacity, Neal engages with numerous artistic, cultural, and education organizations such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Center, Revive Music, the TEDxHarlem Conference, Columbia University, and more.
Civil Rights
Isiah Hall
Manager of Compliance, National Urban League
As Manager of Compliance in the Affiliate Services Department at the National Urban League, Isiah is responsible for ensuring that affiliates follow best practices to validate a continuous flow of funding. He serves as the editor of the NUL’s weekly publication, Affiliate Newswire, which highlights the organization’s work, programs, and initiatives in its communities. Isiah is also editor of the Urban League Census, which communicates the measurable impact of the Urban League Movement. He received his B.A. in Business Management and a M.B.A. from Adelphi University.
Manager of Compliance, National Urban League
As Manager of Compliance in the Affiliate Services Department at the National Urban League, Isiah is responsible for ensuring that affiliates follow best practices to validate a continuous flow of funding. He serves as the editor of the NUL’s weekly publication, Affiliate Newswire, which highlights the organization’s work, programs, and initiatives in its communities. Isiah is also editor of the Urban League Census, which communicates the measurable impact of the Urban League Movement. He received his B.A. in Business Management and a M.B.A. from Adelphi University.
Education
Jess Lee
Manager of Volunteers and Interns, East Harlem Tutorial Program
Jess has been working at EHTP for almost two years with previous experience in college admissions and volunteer management. Jess worked in admissions at Wagner College for over four years, gaining experience with recruitment, retention management, and civic engagement. She is passionate about education and engagement because of her work in college admissions, experience as a children’s dance teacher, and volunteer work for the Alzheimer’s Association. Jess enjoys her work at EHTP, specifically working to provide volunteers with amazing experiences and creating partnerships with local high schools and colleges. With a hometown in the Hudson Valley, Jess enjoys hiking, reading, and teaching Musical Theatre Jazz dance classes in her spare time. She holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre Performance and a M.B.A. in Marketing from Wagner College.
Manager of Volunteers and Interns, East Harlem Tutorial Program
Jess has been working at EHTP for almost two years with previous experience in college admissions and volunteer management. Jess worked in admissions at Wagner College for over four years, gaining experience with recruitment, retention management, and civic engagement. She is passionate about education and engagement because of her work in college admissions, experience as a children’s dance teacher, and volunteer work for the Alzheimer’s Association. Jess enjoys her work at EHTP, specifically working to provide volunteers with amazing experiences and creating partnerships with local high schools and colleges. With a hometown in the Hudson Valley, Jess enjoys hiking, reading, and teaching Musical Theatre Jazz dance classes in her spare time. She holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre Performance and a M.B.A. in Marketing from Wagner College.
Finance
Pedro Barry
Small Business Program Coordinator, Operation Hope
Pedro provides one-on-one and group technical assistance to small businesses, including completing
business plans, financial projections, required loan documents, sales and marketing, operation
procedures, accounting records, and tax filing. He also develops new funding opportunities and coordinates introductions to the Vice President of Partnerships and Development.
Small Business Program Coordinator, Operation Hope
Pedro provides one-on-one and group technical assistance to small businesses, including completing
business plans, financial projections, required loan documents, sales and marketing, operation
procedures, accounting records, and tax filing. He also develops new funding opportunities and coordinates introductions to the Vice President of Partnerships and Development.
Graduate School
Adriana Reyes
M.S. Candidate, Community Health Education
Adriana is a second year master student in the Community Health Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Originally from San Francisco, she received her B.S. from San Francisco State University in Health Education. She is currently a Wellness Coordinator at The Heritage School, a high school in East Harlem. Additionally, she serves on Student Senate at Teachers College as the Health and Behavior Studies Departmental Senator and is also on the executive board of the Coalition of Latin@ Scholars.
M.S. Candidate, Community Health Education
Adriana is a second year master student in the Community Health Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Originally from San Francisco, she received her B.S. from San Francisco State University in Health Education. She is currently a Wellness Coordinator at The Heritage School, a high school in East Harlem. Additionally, she serves on Student Senate at Teachers College as the Health and Behavior Studies Departmental Senator and is also on the executive board of the Coalition of Latin@ Scholars.
Matt Gonzales
M. A. Candidate, Education Policy
Matthew is a graduate student of Education Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University. His work has focused on issues of educational equity, particularly racial and socioeconomic school integration. He is currently a research assistant at the Teachers College, Survey Research Initiative. He spent a year working with the New York Department of Education Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality and was formerly a special education middle-school teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
M. A. Candidate, Education Policy
Matthew is a graduate student of Education Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University. His work has focused on issues of educational equity, particularly racial and socioeconomic school integration. He is currently a research assistant at the Teachers College, Survey Research Initiative. He spent a year working with the New York Department of Education Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality and was formerly a special education middle-school teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
Health
Caitlyn Smith
Strategic Assistance Coordinator, The New York Academy of Medicine
Caitlyn works with neighborhoods, community, and civic organizations who seek to become more inclusive of older adults. She also works closely with city agencies and older adults themselves to create and implement programs and systemic alterations benefiting the older adult population. She joined NYAM’s Division of Health Policy in 2012. Prior to her work at NYAM, Caitlyn was in the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Health Research Training Program, where she worked on environmental health issues with a primary focus on education and outreach campaigns to prevent falls among older adults. She received a Master's of Public Health from New York University in 2013, where she focused on Community and International Health. Caitlyn received her B.A. in Anthropology and Women’s Studies from The College of William and Mary in Virginia.
Strategic Assistance Coordinator, The New York Academy of Medicine
Caitlyn works with neighborhoods, community, and civic organizations who seek to become more inclusive of older adults. She also works closely with city agencies and older adults themselves to create and implement programs and systemic alterations benefiting the older adult population. She joined NYAM’s Division of Health Policy in 2012. Prior to her work at NYAM, Caitlyn was in the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Health Research Training Program, where she worked on environmental health issues with a primary focus on education and outreach campaigns to prevent falls among older adults. She received a Master's of Public Health from New York University in 2013, where she focused on Community and International Health. Caitlyn received her B.A. in Anthropology and Women’s Studies from The College of William and Mary in Virginia.
Human Rights
Paola Martinez
Associate Human Rights Specialist, NYC Commission on Human Rights
Paola works under the Community Relations Bureau (CRB) providing technical assistance to community-based organizations, non-profits, and businesses on how to comply with the law. She represents CRB at events, contributes to do research, and collaborates with the Law Enforcement Bureau (LEB) to identify unlawful discriminatory practices.
Associate Human Rights Specialist, NYC Commission on Human Rights
Paola works under the Community Relations Bureau (CRB) providing technical assistance to community-based organizations, non-profits, and businesses on how to comply with the law. She represents CRB at events, contributes to do research, and collaborates with the Law Enforcement Bureau (LEB) to identify unlawful discriminatory practices.
Human Trafficking
Gabrielle Masih
Community Mobilization, Restore NYC
Gabrielle started her social work career in 2010 working as an overseas volunteer at a maternal center run by social workers. From there, after her return to New York, she was involved with coordinating a city-wide movement that involved more than 100 churches and faith-based organizations on Long Island to combat poverty in the island’s poorest neighborhoods. In 2014, Gabrielle began her pursuit to receive a Master's of Social Work at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Gabrielle is currently furthering her knowledge and skills to be able to better serve marginalized populations in New York. Her passion is working as an advocate for women in human trafficking situations. Currently Gabrielle is working at Restore NYC in their outreach program, working to solidify current partnerships while also creating new ones.
Community Mobilization, Restore NYC
Gabrielle started her social work career in 2010 working as an overseas volunteer at a maternal center run by social workers. From there, after her return to New York, she was involved with coordinating a city-wide movement that involved more than 100 churches and faith-based organizations on Long Island to combat poverty in the island’s poorest neighborhoods. In 2014, Gabrielle began her pursuit to receive a Master's of Social Work at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Gabrielle is currently furthering her knowledge and skills to be able to better serve marginalized populations in New York. Her passion is working as an advocate for women in human trafficking situations. Currently Gabrielle is working at Restore NYC in their outreach program, working to solidify current partnerships while also creating new ones.
Immigration
Lucia Goyen
Operations Director for Outreach, Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
Lucia co-leads a team of fifteen enthusiastic, dedicated organizers who connect the residents of NYC to the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs services, most notably the municipal ID - IDNYC. This ID is available to all residents of NYC fourteen years of age and over, regardless of immigration status. Before MOIA, she worked at the Vera Institute of Justice researching issues around immigrants in detention. She received her M.P.A. from NYU Wagner in 2011. An immigrant herself from Uruguay, she is passionate about social justice and ensuring rights for all immigrants.
Operations Director for Outreach, Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
Lucia co-leads a team of fifteen enthusiastic, dedicated organizers who connect the residents of NYC to the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs services, most notably the municipal ID - IDNYC. This ID is available to all residents of NYC fourteen years of age and over, regardless of immigration status. Before MOIA, she worked at the Vera Institute of Justice researching issues around immigrants in detention. She received her M.P.A. from NYU Wagner in 2011. An immigrant herself from Uruguay, she is passionate about social justice and ensuring rights for all immigrants.
LGBTQ Advocacy
Joey Lopez
Outreach Coordinator, The Ali Forney Center
Joey oversees The Ali Forney Center's Outreach Team and coordinates outreach events. He also represents the center on various networks, coalitions and planning bodies.
Outreach Coordinator, The Ali Forney Center
Joey oversees The Ali Forney Center's Outreach Team and coordinates outreach events. He also represents the center on various networks, coalitions and planning bodies.
Philanthropy
Jennifer Arieta
Program Officer, North Star Fund
Jennifer has a background in philanthropy and advocacy, particularly in economic justice and immigrant rights. She was the Development Manager and Organizer for VAMOS Unidos, a Public Policy and International Affairs Fellow with Princeton University, and a Development Consultant for La Fuente, a tri-state worker and community organization. She received a B.A. in International Studies from City College and a Nonprofit Management Certificate from CUNY School of Professional Studies. She is currently a Program Officer at North Star Fund to support grassroots groups leading the movement for equality, economic justice, and peace. *At the conference, Jennifer will be speaking more on her background in philanthropy and advocacy, and during the Organization Fair, she will have a table for professional development questions.
Program Officer, North Star Fund
Jennifer has a background in philanthropy and advocacy, particularly in economic justice and immigrant rights. She was the Development Manager and Organizer for VAMOS Unidos, a Public Policy and International Affairs Fellow with Princeton University, and a Development Consultant for La Fuente, a tri-state worker and community organization. She received a B.A. in International Studies from City College and a Nonprofit Management Certificate from CUNY School of Professional Studies. She is currently a Program Officer at North Star Fund to support grassroots groups leading the movement for equality, economic justice, and peace. *At the conference, Jennifer will be speaking more on her background in philanthropy and advocacy, and during the Organization Fair, she will have a table for professional development questions.
racial JUSTICE and gender
Keilicia James
Program Supervisor for Counseling and Community Development, Black Women's Blueprint
In her work, Keilicia focuses on violence as a public health issue with a more specific focus on the public health risks that result from sexual and reproductive violence against Black women. She uses personal narrative and community education to work towards healing, liberation, and empowerment and creates safe spaces for Black women to conceptualize an end to this violence.
Program Supervisor for Counseling and Community Development, Black Women's Blueprint
In her work, Keilicia focuses on violence as a public health issue with a more specific focus on the public health risks that result from sexual and reproductive violence against Black women. She uses personal narrative and community education to work towards healing, liberation, and empowerment and creates safe spaces for Black women to conceptualize an end to this violence.
Sports and Youth
Jillian Green
Assistant Director of Team Enrichment, Harlem RBI
Jillian joined Harlem RBI in 2014 as the Manager of Middle School Programming after working as the National Program Officer for Up2Us Sports, which is the nationwide leader in sports-based youth development. In 2015, she became the Assistant Director of Team Enrichment, focusing on strategic initiatives for all Harlem RBI participants between the ages of ten and twenty-one. Jillian holds a M.A. in International Relations and a M.P.A. in Nonprofit Management from the Whitehead School of Diplomacy at Seton Hall.
Assistant Director of Team Enrichment, Harlem RBI
Jillian joined Harlem RBI in 2014 as the Manager of Middle School Programming after working as the National Program Officer for Up2Us Sports, which is the nationwide leader in sports-based youth development. In 2015, she became the Assistant Director of Team Enrichment, focusing on strategic initiatives for all Harlem RBI participants between the ages of ten and twenty-one. Jillian holds a M.A. in International Relations and a M.P.A. in Nonprofit Management from the Whitehead School of Diplomacy at Seton Hall.
Youth Development
Emily Ong
Senior Community Engagement Coordinator, The Go Project
As Community Engagement Coordinator, Emily works with the community engagement team on volunteer engagement, public school engagement, and general program evaluation. Emily began volunteering with the GO Project in the GO Fundamentals program in 2012. Since then she has been a Lead Volunteer, conducted volunteer trainings and orientations, supported GO’s GO Getter internship program, and assisted with overall data collection and evaluation. Emily also has experience as a Program Intern at United Way of New York City, a Collegiate Cohort College Leader at New York University, and an Office Assistant at NYU College of Arts and Science Advising Office. Emily holds a B.A. from NYU in Metropolitan Studies and is currently studying for a Master's of Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy at New York University Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
Senior Community Engagement Coordinator, The Go Project
As Community Engagement Coordinator, Emily works with the community engagement team on volunteer engagement, public school engagement, and general program evaluation. Emily began volunteering with the GO Project in the GO Fundamentals program in 2012. Since then she has been a Lead Volunteer, conducted volunteer trainings and orientations, supported GO’s GO Getter internship program, and assisted with overall data collection and evaluation. Emily also has experience as a Program Intern at United Way of New York City, a Collegiate Cohort College Leader at New York University, and an Office Assistant at NYU College of Arts and Science Advising Office. Emily holds a B.A. from NYU in Metropolitan Studies and is currently studying for a Master's of Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy at New York University Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.