annual porch stomp festival on governors island. theo’s ... · reduce poverty and create...

2020 Program Participants

Generous funding support for WSLP has been provided by Ira W DeCamp Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Mizuho USA Foundation, NYC Department of Small Business Services, Solon E. Summerfield Foundation, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, & NYC Department of Education.

DALSIE ANDRADE serves as the Director of Employer Engagement and Partnerships at the

NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). In her role, Dalsie cultivates

and manages employer relationships in the private and public sectors to increase the number of

quality internship and job opportunities for youth across the DYCD workforce portfolio. Dalsie

also manages Community Based Organization partners and works collaboratively with city

stakeholders to advance DYCD goals and youth experiences. Prior to joining DYCD in 2016,

Dalsie directed the HireNYC Program at the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC)

which connected local community members to permanent jobs created by city developments.

Dalsie’s experience also extends to the Upper Manhattan and Bronx Workforce1 Career

Centers where she served as a Business Development Account Manager. Dalsie has over 10

years of experience in workforce development, program management, and partnership building.

She also takes special interest in diversity and systemic barriers to employment. Dalsie received

a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the New York University Robert F. Wagner

Graduate School of Public Service and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Boston

College. A native of Brockton, Massachusetts, Dalsie moved to NYC in 2007 and currently

resides in Brooklyn.

Area of Civic Interest: Dedicated to connecting low-income New Yorkers to quality training and jobs.Passionate about increasing and advocating for diversity in workplaces.

THEODORA BOGUSZEWSKI is a Project Manager with Perch Advisors, a community and

economic development consulting firm working across multiple community organizing,

workforce development, and research projects. Theo is a graduate of the Coro 2018

Neighborhood Leadership program, and her tenure with Perch has afforded her a broad view of

economic development across NYC, working in many diverse neighborhoods and communities.

She holds a BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase in Westchester County, and brings to Perch

Advisors many years of experience in community development in the arts. Prior to her work

with Perch, Theo worked as a program manager at Make Music New York, and headed the

Hoover Dam Collective, an interdisciplinary arts group producing collaborative performances

around the city. In addition to her job at Perch, Theo currently runs Porch Stomp, a nonprofit

folk-music organization which hosts regular programming throughout the year, including their

annual Porch Stomp Festival on Governors Island. Theo’s workforce portfolio includes

supporting the Brooklyn Navy Yard in recruiting and preparing local residents to apply for jobs

at Wegmans supermarket, partnering with Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow on an

EDC-funded research project to diagnose and propose solutions to the gap between local

residents and incoming job opportunities in Sunset Park, and working with United Way of NYC

to support Starbucks Foundation in determining how to better support frontline workers.

Other recent projects include aiding the development of the Red Hook Business Association,

and overseeing the formation of a Business Improvement District on 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge.

Theo’s background in working with arts nonprofits has enabled her to seek out creative

solutions to challenges, and to be savvy and tenacious when it comes to producing big results

with little resources.

Area of Civic Interest: Dedicated to strengthening the connection between workforce development and employers, and ensuring that workforce development is included in broader city-wide economic development plans.


SHERMIRA BUSBY-FORRESTER is the Director of Business and Industry Workforce Training

at New York City College of Technology/CUNY. She is an administrator with over 15 years of

broad experience developing and administering industry-specific training programs that

motivate students to cultivate knowledge and skills, explore their future passions, and become

economically self-sufficient. Shermira specializes in program development, grants management,

communicating with employers in various sectors to research what skills they look for in their

employees. Programs recreate identified workplace essential skills sets. Shermira completed

her undergraduate degree at New York City College of Technology/CUNY and earned her

Master’s in Social Work with a focus on administration from Fordham University. Since 2009,

Shermira has imparted her knowledge of nonprofit management and resource development as

an adjunct professor in City Tech’s Human Services Department. She serves on various councils

and boards, including the Behavioral Intervention Team, College Council, Perkins Advisory

Board, and District 9- Neighborhood Advisory Board. She has made local and state

presentations for professional groups, including the Enterprise Partners- Affordable Housing

network, Workforce Initiatives for Sandy relief job opportunities in Coney Island, CUNY Labor

Market Information System (LMIS)- Bilingualism in the Professions, and Continuing Education

Association of New York (CEANY).

Area of Civic Interest: Creating educational and vocational training opportunities for NYC residents so that they can obtain jobs through targeted employment programs. I'd like to offer ideas on how to reduce poverty and create actionable steps to tackle income inequality in vulnerable communities.

ANA CHAPMAN is Director of Adult Learning at Queens Public Library. She is a seasoned

professional in the area of workforce development and adult education within the private,

non-profit, and government sectors. She most recently served as the Associate Director and

Administrative Manager of the Worker Education and Resource Center, Inc. in Los Angeles,

providing oversight over initiatives focusing on job training opportunities for underrepresented

youth and women as well as for individuals facing barriers to employment. Ana previously

served as the Dean of Non-Traditional Programs at Hudson County Community College (HCCC)

in Jersey City, NJ where she directed and managed all areas of workforce development and

community education. Prior to her appointment to Dean, she was the Executive Director of the

Center for Business & Industry at HCCC, which offers quality customized employee training

programs and comprehensive educational services to employees in county businesses and

government agencies. Ana received a combined MA in Educational Theater and Drama Therapy

from NYU. A Native New Yorker, she is proud of her Dominican roots and serving the Queens

community.

Area of Civic Interest: Dedicated to engaging communities with barriers to employment and customizing programs based on their unique needs.

ALEX BREEN joined the Isaacs Center as the Director of Growth in Innovation in May 2020. As

the Director, Alex develops fee-for-service and outcomes-based payment program models and

oversees business development. Prior to joining the Isaacs Center, Alex worked at Seedco

where he developed workforce and family support programs and conducted extensive research

on employee turnover and its quantitative costs. Alex is a workforce development leader with

10 years of experience developing, implementing, and scaling sectoral employment programs.

Alex’s areas of specialization include program development, program evaluation, employer

engagement, and financial empowerment. Alex was born in Manhattan and resides in the Bronx.

Area of Civic Interest: Interested in working to understand and codify what good jobs look like and developing tools to help workforce practitioners make bad jobs better.


MILES ELIJAH YAWADA GAMBLE is Citywide Section 3 Manager at NYC Department of Small

Business Services. He is a Harlem-born urbanist, historian and social activist, who oversees

citywide compliance and policy-creation for Federal provisions in New York City. With a

Masters in Urban Studies, Miles has worked to implement or sustain programs and

organizations dedicated to helping the historically disadvantaged. As a social media personality,

he has worked with Black Entertainment Television on a national campaign to raise awareness

around police violence and mass-incarceration. As an amateur documentarian, he has created

films aimed at identifying social issues in urban spaces. In 2018 his documentary on street art in

East Harlem titled "Crack Memorial" was on-view at the McClung Museum for Natural History

and Culture in Knoxville, Tennessee. Additionally, Miles has presented at numerous conferences

and chaired a panel on gentrification at the Popular Culture Association/American Culture

Association Annual Conference in 2015. Over the last decade, Miles has participated in several

public service initiatives, ranging from food stamps advocacy, homeless services and

employment access for the formerly incarcerated. Miles proudly serves on the Housing and

Land-Use Committee of Manhattan’s Community Board 9 and lives in Washington Heights, NY.

Area of Civic Interest: Passionate about readying New York's underserved to meet their opportunities, at optimal preparedness.

ANGELINA GARNEVA has worked in a variety of roles and projects within the NYC

Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC) since 2011. This has helped her developed a deep

and enthusiastic understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced by NYC's workforce

community and the thousands of New Yorkers the system supports each day. In her position as

Director of Communications and Member Services, Annie works with the Coalition’s over 180

members and partners to organize events, develop advocacy strategies and campaigns, and

foster a well-informed and connected workforce development field with the aim of creating a

system and city of equal opportunity for all New Yorkers. Annie is dedicated to environmental

activism and is part of Sane Energy Project, Stop the Williams Pipeline Coalition, and the

Democratic Socialists NYC Ecosocialist chapter. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International

Relations from Tufts University, where she worked with Jobs with Justice Boston, participated

in the Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC) initiative, and studied

and interned in Madrid, Spain. Annie is a native of Bulgaria, and is trilingual in Spanish,

Bulgarian, and English.

Area of Civic Interest: Dedicated to tackling the climate crisis and broken economic system that centers power and privilege through a just transition.

COURTNEY GRANGER is the Vice President of Programs at Opportunities for a Better

Tomorrow, an education, training and workforce development organization located in New

York City. Courtney has over 15 years of experience working in youth development, workforce,

sexual health and education. A graduate from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter

College, Courtney is a licensed Master of Social Work. She resides in Brooklyn with her husband

and two daughters.

Area of Civic Interest: Passionate about creating programming that is responsive and creates family sustaining, engaging career opportunities for New York City young adults.


GYASI HEADEN is the Director of Workforce Development at The Osborne Association.

Osborne has an 85-year history working with currently and formerly incarcerated men, women,

and children and families affected by incarceration. His team has developed practical and

effective approaches to assist fathers who have substance use disorder find meaningful

employment using evidence-based curricula such as 24/7 Dad, Ready, Set, Work and

MRT-Employment. Previously Mr. Headen served as Manager of Workforce Development at

NADAP, Manager of Employment Services at East Harlem Employment Services, Employment

Service Coordinator with Common Ground Community Breaking Ground), and Good Shepherd

Services and co-manager of Training at STRIVE New York. Mr. Headen has also worked in

similar positions with Fortune Society and HelpUSA. Mr. Headen specializes in startup

programs-program implementation and technical assistance-classroom facilitation. He has

been featured in several newspaper articles including a piece in the NY Times. As a veteran, he

believes in the service of others.

Area of Civic Interest: Committed to seeing individuals impacted by the criminal justice system receive employment and educational opportunities that offer meaningful chances to uplift themselves.

JEROME JOSEPH is the New York Executive Director at America Needs You. He was born and

raised in northeast Houston, Texas. It was through his experience in and around his

neighborhood and visiting schools in more affluent neighborhoods where Jerome first noticed

the systemic inequality that was present within the education system. After college, Jerome

returned home to teach science in his old neighborhood in Houston as a Teach For America

Corps Member. That experience solidified him as a lifelong advocate for equity within education

as a first-generation college student. Jerome was a Dean of Students in public charter schools in

Brooklyn for five years. Jerome graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Howard

University in Washington, DC.

Area of Civic Interest: Passion for opening doors to great careers for marginalized groups and encouraging them to do the same for those who come after them.

KEISHA KATZ serves as the Director of Workforce and External Partnerships at Reel Works, a

youth media nonprofit organization based in Brooklyn, NY. Keisha leads their citywide

workforce program, MediaMKRS. MediaMKRS diversifies the media landscape and levels the

hiring field by bringing together industry leaders, educators, and local government to train and

credential rising talent. Keisha is particularly passionate about and uniquely qualified in her

efforts to create a more diverse and inclusive in the media and entertainment industry, because

of her background producing documentary film and television. Her work has aired on leading

networks including NBC, Lifetime, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Animal Planet, History

Channel, National Geographic Channel, and BET. Keisha holds B.A. from Temple University and

is a member of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc.

Area of Civic Interest: Committed to fostering equity, removing barriers and helping bridge the gap between the available jobs and the qualified candidates seeking careers in the media and entertainment industry.


JESSICA KEMPER serves as the Director of Industry Engagement for the NYC Department of

Education’s (NYC DOE) Career and Technical Education (CTE) team. Her interest in the

intersection of education, workforce development and cross-sector partnerships began at a

young age when she served as a student representative on her hometown’s Public School

Committee. The experience exposed her to the complex nature of managing a small town’s

public school system. Imagine her surprise when she pursued a career in education in NYC and

saw the complexity of public education grow in a system that serves 1.1 million students. At the

NYC DOE, she leads the industry engagement strategy for 300 CTE programs across eight

sectors (construction, culinary, design, engineering, finance, healthcare, IT and transportation).

Her work is focused on supporting CTE programs with their alignment to ever-evolving industry

needs, connecting teachers and students to sector-specific learning opportunities and

stewarding school partnerships with employers and colleges. Previously she worked as the

Associate Director of Career Readiness at PENCIL and developed extensive experience in

youth workforce readiness, private/public partnerships, philanthropy and volunteerism. She

also was the Director of School Programs at the Center for Architecture Foundation, an

organization that brings architecture education to K-12 classrooms. Jessica completed her BA

in Art History at Haverford College and received her MPA from Baruch College. Grateful for all

the opportunities she has had, Jessica strives to empower students to attain even greater ones.

Area of Civic Interest: Passionate about building pathways between school, college and careers that serve the fulfillment and livelihood of young New Yorkers.

HYUNJIN KIM is a Senior Advisor with the New York City Mayor’s Office for Economic

Opportunity. She manages the design, implementation and evaluation of a portfolio of City

programs and initiatives to support low-income New Yorkers, with a focus on workforce

development and education. Jin first joined the Mayor’s Office as a Program Manager with the

Office for Recovery and Resiliency, where she supported small businesses and vulnerable

communities be more resilient against climate related risks and disasters. Jin received her MPA

from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs with a concentration in

Urban Policy and Economic Analysis, and her BA in Economics from the University of Chicago.

Area of Civic Interest: Committed to providing opportunity youth/at-risk youth the supports they need to advance along a career pathway.

DANA LENNON is the Director for the Allied Health Career Pipeline Program, at Hostos

Community College's Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development. She

provides strategic and operational leadership for the Pipeline Program. Ms. Lennon’s nonprofit

and healthcare career expands over 15 years. Her experience includes strategic planning, grant

writing, program development and ensuring compliance to grants, contracts and government

rules and regulations. She also oversaw the financial and operational management of grants

totaling over $32 million. Ms. Lennon currently serves on the Board of Continuing Education

Association of New York. She has also served on the Bronx Community Board 8, New York

Coalition of 100 Black Women and the New York University Alumni Association. Ms. Lennon

served as a volunteer attorney for CUNY Citizenship and Immigration Project and for inMotion,

Inc. Justice for all Women. Dana J. Lennon, Esq. is a native New Yorker. She received a BS in

Information Systems from New York University, a JD from Brooklyn Law School and is licensed

to practice in New York State. Ms. Lennon is also a licensed New York Real Estate Broker.

Area of Civic Interest: Creating a more diverse workforce.


ALISSA LEVINE is the Director of Workforce Development Programs at Kingsborough

Community College. She has achieved a meaningful and rewarding career by merging her social

work background with her experience in workforce development and higher education. Alissa’s

work with clients in educational institutions, courts, hospitals and CBOs has informed the

programs designed and implemented at Kingsborough, and the services introduced into the

workforce development division. Alissa has collaborated on projects involving workforce

development and mental health with CUNY Central and DOHMH. She completed the NYATEP

Advocacy Academy in 2013. Alissa is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of NY, and

holds her BA in Psychology from SUNY Stony Brook, and her Masters in Social Work from NYU.

Area of Civic Interest: Dedicated to ensuring that mental health needs are addressed and destigmatized while seeking workforce development training and services.

DEBRA MEANS-WEST is the Director, Network Development and Knowledge Management

within the WES Global Talent Bridge program. In her role, Debra is responsible for designing

strategies and systems to engage, inform, support and grow GTB’s diverse network of both local

and national partners in key areas such of workforce development, adult education, and policy.

She is also responsible for overseeing GTB’s knowledge management process, which includes

creating, sharing, using and managing knowledge and information internally and externally as it

relates to immigrant integration. She oversees a team of 2 staff located in the NY office. Before

joining the team over 5 years ago, Debra directed program operations at IMPRINT Coalition

member Upwardly Global, NY, and prior to that worked overseas on the development of

Australia’s National Employment Services Association’s (NESA), Employment Services Institute.

Debra is a member of Phi Alpha Theta’s National History Honor Society and a graduate of Kean

University.

Area of Civic Interest: Committed to ensuring the economic integration of foreign educated immigrants.

BRIAN LICATA is the Member Relationship Manager at the Staten Island Chamber of

Commerce. He is an experienced business relationship manager with a demonstrated history of

working in the non-profit organization management industry. Skilled in Career Development,

Computer Science, Educational Technology, Community Partnership Development, and

Administration. Strong business development professional with a Master's degree focused in

Educational Leadership and Administration, General from St. John's University.

Area of Civic Interest: Passionate about creating a system of workforce that is equitable to all Staten Islanders and connects them to meaningful work.


ABE MENDEZ is the Managing Director for Per Scholas, New York. In this role he sets the

regional vision and strategy for Per Scholas, represents the organization externally, and leads

the New York team to meet ambitious programmatic and fundraising goals. Previously, Abe

worked for Barclays both in New York and London where he helped manage the bank’s

philanthropic partnerships and efforts to engage colleagues in skills-based volunteering

programs and campaigns. During his time at Barclays, Abe worked in partnership with Per

Scholas to launch Per Scholas Brooklyn as well as the successful Cybersecurity training track.

Abe also led on the development of an issue brief, targeted at the workforce community and

employers, detailing the lessons learned from the partnership. Abe started his career at

JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a variety of operations and program management roles. He is a

graduate of Fordham University, a recipient of the Thomas G. Labrecque Smart Start

Scholarship and a participant of the Strategy, Reputation and Risk Programme, a joint

partnership between Oxford University's Saïd Business School and Barclays. Abe is a native

New Yorker and an avid runner.

Area of Civic Interest: Dedicated to creating pathways for long-term, meaningful careers for all New Yorkers.

REGINA NAPOLEON-LINDSEY is the Executive Director of the Employment Center at the

Brooklyn Navy Yard. During her tenure, the Employment Center has connected more than

1200 candidates to employment opportunities on the Yard with a record 589 in FY19.

Her previous roles included working in recruitment and staffing in for-profit organizations and

in workforce development for local government in Atlanta.

Area of Civic Interest: Passionate about equitable access to quality employment and advancement opportunities.

KAREN-MICHELLE MIRKO is an entrepreneurial non-profit director with 20 years’ experience

in managing dynamic teams to launch and grow impactful workforce development and small

business programs. As Director of The Hope Program’s Employment and Graduate Services,

she connects over 500 training graduates to internship, employment and career advancement

services using a customer-centric approach and advocates for employers to provide quality

jobs. Before joining the HOPE, she was the Director of Employment Services at Southwest

Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation. Using a place-based, sector-based approach,

Karen-Michelle opened a Workforce1 Industrial and Transportation Center at the Brooklyn

Army Terminal and grew the partnership with local workforce development providers at the

Innovation Lab to connect local residents to the innovation economy. Prior to her work in

workforce development, Karen-Michelle was a catalyst in the small business and start-up

ecosystems launching programs locally and nationally through roles with Seedco, American

Express OPEN and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship. Her

most recent spark in that ecosystem was developing a partnership with HP to roll out their

online entrepreneurship course to hundreds of community colleges across the country.

Karen-Michelle holds an MBA from New York University and a BA in English from Adelphi

University and lives in Brooklyn with her partner, their teenage daughter and three cats. When

not at work, she can be found walking the beach - regardless the season.

Area of Civic Interest: Devoted to checking my privilege, dismantling systems of oppression and building a new economy that is equitable.


CHAUNCEY NARTEY is the Managing Partner of the Adult Learning Leaders Institute (ALL IN)

and the Chief Program Officer at Basta - a NYC-based nonprofit on a mission to close the

network gap and bridge pathways to opportunity for first-generation college students of color.

Immediately prior to his roles at ALL IN and Basta, Chauncey was a Vice President at Goldman

Sachs, where he worked to drive diversity recruiting strategy for the Americas. Chauncey began

his career as a Teach for America corps member in Philadelphia, teaching US and global history

at the middle and high school levels. He then served as a Campus Director for Citizen Schools,

an innovative extended learning program for low-income middle school students before

working as a Program Manager at the NYC Department of Education, where he co-led the

district-wide initiative to create a pipeline of teachers uniquely prepared to thrive in middle

school settings. Chauncey subsequently served as the Director of Talent at ROADS Charter

High School, a network of high schools on a mission to prove what’s possible for the young

people most consistently failed by our educational institutions. Chauncey holds a BA in Political

Science and Public Policy from Duke University, and a MA in Urban Education from the

University of Pennsylvania. He currently resides in Patchogue, NY with his partner, Andrea, and

daughter, Amelia.

Area of Civic Interest: Committed to closing the network gap and bridging pathways to great first jobs for first-generation students of color.

NOEL PARISH is the Vice President, K-12 Partnerships, on the CareerWise New York team,

where she oversees the education side of CWNY, and leads partnerships with New York City

Department of Education (NYC DOE) central, city superintendents, and schools. Believing that

sustained innovation must be approached at a system-wide level, Noel promotes policies that

support making personalized pathways for young people the norm. All of her work is informed

by the belief that doing it right means designing systems with students, families, and

communities at the center, always. Prior to her role at HERE to HERE, Noel co-founded the

Bronx Compass high School in 2012while completing a master’s degree in administration,

leadership, and technology from NYU Steinhardt in 2013. Prior to this, Noel designed and

taught personalized curriculum, and organized internship and early college experiences for

students at The Bronx Guild High School. Noel moved to NYC from Ohio where she studied

science, English, and democracy in education at Ohio University.

Area of Civic Interest: Dedicated to advancing Modern Youth Apprenticeship.

MATTHEW PHIFER’s passion for social services began in 1999 at Binghamton University

where he worked as a Family Life Specialist at the Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference.

Upon graduation he joined the Henry Street Settlement as a Case Manager for the New

Beginnings Alternative High School Program at the Boys and Girls Republic. During his tenure

at Henry Street, Matt worked as the coordinator for the Summer Youth Employment Program,

Director of Adolescent Education Services, and eventually Director of Education Services

where he oversaw Henry Street’s adolescent, early childhood and after-school elementary

educational services, which provide results-driven academic enrichment programming to more

than 3,500 youth annually. In his previous role as CollegeSpring’s New York Executive Director,

he oversaw partnership development, fundraising, site management, and program execution.

Matthew holds BAs in Africana Studies and Sociology, as well as a Masters in Social Science with

a concentration in Public Administration. Aside from his present role as Vice President of

Education and Employment at Henry St, Mr. Phifer has served as an Adjunct Professor in NYU

Steinhardt’s Department of Administration Leadership and Technology.

Area of Civic Interest: Dedicated to creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce.


ALBERTO ROLDAN has worked within the External Affairs team at the NYC Department of

Consumer Affairs since 2015. In his new role as Deputy Director of Community Affairs, he has

expanded the department’s focus on empowering workers through the promotion of workplace

laws such as the Freelance Isn’t Free Act. He received his B.A. from Trinity College. He is also a

proud CUNY graduate, obtaining his M.A. from Queens College.

Area of Civic Interest: Committed to improving access to quality jobs for low-income and immigrant New Yorkers.

RAISA SCHWANBECK is the Associate Director of School Design with the NYC DOE’s Office of

Postsecondary Readiness. Raisa works on the expansion process across New York City of the

innovative Pathways in Technology Early College High School (“P-TECH”) model. This school

model combines the two core tenets of career preparation and college degree attainment that

are necessary for entry into STEM careers. PTECH schools are designed to respond to the

continued need for the 21st century workforce to have both (content) knowledge and

(professional) skills. A key component of the work is deep engagement with education and

workforce leaders to cultivate reciprocal partnerships that establish pipelines from education

to careers for NYC youth. Raisa is a graduate of New York City public schools. She has over a

decade of experience in research and implementation of education projects in her native New

York and around the world. Before joining the NYC Department of Education, Raisa earned a

doctorate in sociology and international education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Her dissertation research included a case study of how a swift shift in political and economic

landscapes changes the education sector and impacts the public sector workforce. While doing

her graduate work, Raisa also worked on projects with UNICEF and the World Bank and was an

adjunct professor at Manhattan College’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Before

pursuing her PhD, Raisa was a Senior Researcher Officer at the Institute of International

Education in New York, where she managed a project that tracked global mobility patterns of

people who choose to work internationally and pursue their higher education abroad. Raisa was

a Fulbright Fellow and teacher in South Korea before starting graduate school. She looks

forward to bringing both a local and a global perspective to the Workforce Systems Leadership

Program.

Area of Civic Interest: Focused now more than ever on making sure that New York City becomes the best city possible for young people to grow up, receive a world-class education, and attain great success in their lives and careers.


FERNANDO SNOWDEN-LORENCE is currently a Vice President in Corporate Responsibility at

JP Morgan Chase. As part of the Global Philanthropy team within CR he leads The Fellowship

Initiative (TFI) in the East Region. TFI is a nationally recognized youth development program

that prepares young men of color for academic and professional success. Fernando is also a

co-lead on grant opportunities for the workforce training and support of Military Service

Veterans. He has helped develop and execute grants of 2MM to nonprofit organizations

supporting Veterans. Before joining the firm, Fernando spent 15 years working in education,

volunteer management, and political advocacy as well as an entrepreneur in the non-profit and

youth development fields. He has held senior leadership roles in regional non-profits working

throughout the Northeast focused on community and civic engagement, next generation

learning models and educational diversity. Passionate about mentoring, Fernando co-founded a

youth mentoring organization in Central Brooklyn in 2008, focusing on academically

disengaged youth. He has managed budgets in pursuit of educational advocacy campaigns in

excess of $10 million. Fernando is a Council of Urban Professionals 2018 Fellow. A veteran of

Operation Iraqi Freedom, he served in the United States Marine Corps. and Marine Corps.

Reserve for nine and a half years. He was deployed twice and completed his enlistment with the

rank of Staff Sergeant. He holds a B.A. in Organizational Anthropology and Philosophy from

Hunter College. He is a Certified Project Management Professional and holds a Certificate in

Strategic Negotiations from UC Davis. Fernando lives with his spouse in Brooklyn New York.

Area of Civic Interest: Dedicated to creating more diverse and transparent work pipelines in New York focusing on underrepresented populations.

IAN STRAUGHTER is responsible for managing EDC’s relationships with the workforce

development community. Since joining EDC in January, Ian’s priority projects include

developing/rolling out the next steps for the seven EDC workforce RFEI grantees, guiding

workforce programming for the Union Square Tech Training Center, and participating in the

development of EDC’s WF development strategy. Before joining EDC, Ian served as the

Business Development Director for the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities’ employment

initiative NYC: ATWORK. In this role, he was responsible for establishing and cultivating

relationships with the business community in all high growth sectors to increase employment

and career opportunities for New Yorkers with disabilities, the largest untapped talent pool in

the city. Before joining the Mayor’s Office, Ian worked in a similar capacity at Fountain House –

creating jobs which employed hundreds of people living with serious and persistent mental

illness. Ian also helped form and rollout CAP Solar NJ – a $10M public-private partnership with

Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group that lowered operating costs and carbon footprint for

13 nonprofit organizations through the installation of more than 4 megawatts of solar power.

Ian holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with minors in Philosophy and Business

Economics from Sacred Heart University and a master’s degree in Community Economic

Development from Southern New Hampshire University. He is currently an adjunct instructor

at the New York Institute of Technology and was named one of City & State’s 2018 40 Under 40

Rising Stars.

Area of Civic Interest: Passionate about employer-driven approaches to creating a most diverse and equitable workforce.


HANNAH WEINSTOCK is dedicated to preparing New Yorkers from every background for the

jobs of the future. As Senior Director of Workforce Development at LaGuardia Community

College, she oversees several dozen workforce training and career skills certificate programs in

sectors such as healthcare, technology, and construction. LaGuardia serves 50,000 students

each year, the majority of whom are low-income first generation college students, and was just

ranked 5th in the nation among community colleges for advancing economic mobility.

Previously Hannah oversaw workforce initiatives in the healthcare sector at the NYC

Department of Small Business Services as well as community organizing and leadership

development programs at Queens Community House, the New York Civic Participation Project,

and New Settlement Apartments. Hannah holds a Masters of Public Policy from Harvard

Kennedy School.

Area of Civic Interest: Improving job quality at workforce development provider organizations.

annual porch stomp festival on governors island. theo’s ... · reduce poverty and create...

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