Alice Anigacz, Senior Development Project Manager, The Community Builders, Inc.
Alice Anigacz (she/her) is an affordable housing development and finance professional committed to creating just, sustainable, and affordable homes and communities. She is currently Senior Development Project Manager at The Community Builders, Inc. She oversees all parts of the real estate development process, and is currently managing a six-phase project in Yonkers transforming 256 units of aged public housing into a 500-unit mixed-income, mixed-use community of choice.
Before joining TCB, Alice held several positions in affordable housing finance, development, and policy, most recently as Vice President of Equity Investments at the Community Preservation Corporation, and prior to that at the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing, the NYU Furman Center, and MDRC.
Alice holds an MA in Urban Planning from NYU Wagner and a BA in Economics and English from Macalester College. She proudly serves as Treasurer of Women in Housing and Finance.
Before joining TCB, Alice held several positions in affordable housing finance, development, and policy, most recently as Vice President of Equity Investments at the Community Preservation Corporation, and prior to that at the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing, the NYU Furman Center, and MDRC.
Alice holds an MA in Urban Planning from NYU Wagner and a BA in Economics and English from Macalester College. She proudly serves as Treasurer of Women in Housing and Finance.
Pooja Batra (she/her) is a Vice President at Goldmans Sachs. She is part of the firm-wide Chief Data Organization and is currently responsible for defining and executing key strategic initiatives to manage firm-wide client data for Goldman Sachs, as well as building technology solutions for its democratization. Previously she was the product manager for the Goldman Sachs’s Data Lake product and program manager for firm-wide operational risk reduction. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, she worked at IBM, Oracle and Sun Microsystems as a technologist and design engineer for over a decade. She received her master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Purdue University, West Lafayette and bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from M.S. University, India.
Idalin Bobé (she/her) is a dynamic force in the intersection of technology and social impact, bringing a wealth of experience and passion to her diverse endeavors. Originating from North Philly and currently making her home in Harlem with her daughter, she carries the spirit of resilience and community empowerment throughout her remarkable journey.
As the co-founder of Tech Intersections, a pioneering tech conference designed for women of color, Idalin fervently advocates for increasing the representation of women in leadership roles within the tech industry. Additionally, her commitment to empowering the next generation is evident in her previous roles at Black Girls CODE and TechActivist.Org, where she promoted tech education and opportunities for Black, Brown, and Indigenous youth.
In her current capacity as the fractional VP of Operations at Meroxa, a tech startup specializing in data pipelines and movement, Idalin plays a crucial role in advancing innovation and efficiency within the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Her impactful past work includes significant contributions to organizations like the People Forum in NYC, where she supported creating a movement incubator for social justice groups, and the Poor People’s Campaign: A Call For Moral Revival. In this role, her advocacy work addressed systemic issues affecting marginalized communities, building coalitions across racial lines, and shedding light on the complex causes of poverty in the 21st century.
Beyond her contributions to the tech sector, Idalin serves as the Director of Learning and Wellness at the Sierra Club, highlighting her dedication to holistic well-being and environmental advocacy.
Rooted in a background of community engagement and innovation, Idalin Bobé has dedicated her career to bridging the digital divide, empowering underserved communities, and championing a future where technology serves as a catalyst for empowerment and liberation. Her multifaceted roles, past impactful work, and diverse background exemplify her unwavering commitment to creating positive change on multiple fronts.
As the co-founder of Tech Intersections, a pioneering tech conference designed for women of color, Idalin fervently advocates for increasing the representation of women in leadership roles within the tech industry. Additionally, her commitment to empowering the next generation is evident in her previous roles at Black Girls CODE and TechActivist.Org, where she promoted tech education and opportunities for Black, Brown, and Indigenous youth.
In her current capacity as the fractional VP of Operations at Meroxa, a tech startup specializing in data pipelines and movement, Idalin plays a crucial role in advancing innovation and efficiency within the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Her impactful past work includes significant contributions to organizations like the People Forum in NYC, where she supported creating a movement incubator for social justice groups, and the Poor People’s Campaign: A Call For Moral Revival. In this role, her advocacy work addressed systemic issues affecting marginalized communities, building coalitions across racial lines, and shedding light on the complex causes of poverty in the 21st century.
Beyond her contributions to the tech sector, Idalin serves as the Director of Learning and Wellness at the Sierra Club, highlighting her dedication to holistic well-being and environmental advocacy.
Rooted in a background of community engagement and innovation, Idalin Bobé has dedicated her career to bridging the digital divide, empowering underserved communities, and championing a future where technology serves as a catalyst for empowerment and liberation. Her multifaceted roles, past impactful work, and diverse background exemplify her unwavering commitment to creating positive change on multiple fronts.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Population & Family Health at Columbia University Irving Medical Center; Vice President for Health & Wellness, Chief Health Officer at Barnard College
Marina Catallozzi, MD, MSCE, (she/her) is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Population and Family Health at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She serves as the Department of Pediatrics Vice Chair for Education, Director for the Medical Education Scholarly Projects, and Director of the General Public Health program, an accelerated MPH program at Mailman. Dr. Catallozzi’s research has focused on adolescent access to preventive services, relationship violence, adolescent/parent communication, and adolescent pregnancy prevention. In 2021, Dr. Catallozzi was named the inaugural Vice President for Health and Wellness, Chief Health Officer at Barnard College. She received her undergraduate and medical degrees at Brown University, her MSCE at the University of Pennsylvania, and completed her residency, chief residency, and adolescent fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She has an active adolescent medicine practice in Washington Heights; she uses a strengths-based approach to adolescent patient care, programming and research.
Chau Lam Karen Cheung (she/her) is the Associate Director of Client and Alumni Service at Sullivan & Cromwell, where she leads alumni relations initiatives and provides career placement service to alumni and clients to increase client engagement. Prior to that, Karen was the Associate Director of Business Development at Sullivan & Cromwell, covering a full spectrum of practice areas, industries and jurisdictions. Karen has studied, worked and lived in Hong Kong, UK and China prior to moving to New York in 2017. Karen earned her PhD in Creative and Critical Writing from the University of East Anglia, UK and is a literary fiction writer. She obtained her B.S. and MPhil at the University of Hong Kong. She was awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund Fellowship in 2001 and the Canadian Chambers Maple Leaf Short Story Award in 2007 in Hong Kong.
Rosa Cohen-Cruz (she/her/ella) is the Director of Immigration Policy at The Bronx Defenders. She has spent over ten years working towards a more just immigration system, through direct representation, universal representation program creation and management, and policy work.
Juliana Cope (she/her) has deep experience making visionary contemporary art practices accessible through Programs and Development. She currently serves as the Assistant Executive Director for Development & External Affairs for Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center where she leads fundraising and marketing. As an arts administrator and educator she has developed community-based and artist-led projects including over thirty exhibitions and offsite projects with the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP).Prior to her time at ISCP she was the Assistant Director of the Educational Alliance Art School and Gallery and went on to lead the organization’s first Community School at P.S.64 on the Lower East Side of New York. Juliana holds a B.A. from Oberlin College with a minor in African American Studies and an M.F.A. from Brooklyn College.
Katherine Curiel (she/her) recently transitioned to a new role as Director of Business Insights at Octane, a late stage fintech startup in NY. She joined the company over 4 years ago as the first Director of Strategic Partnerships and helped grow the company 3x by launching new partnerships and managing over 35 partner relationships. Previously, she worked at Microsoft designing business models for the company’s cloud products and started her career as an investor at a boutique asset management firm. She’s passionate about personal finance and mentoring young women. Katherine holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management, a Master in Urban Planning from Harvard and BS in Finance from Marquette University. In her spare time, she enjoys running and serves as a mentor to college students through Latinos in Finance.
Chirlie Felix (she/her) is a fierce advocate for racial, gender equity and children’s rights and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in global education, philanthropy, and leadership development.
Chirlie is a Managing Director at FSG, a global consulting firm that partners with philanthropic and corporate clients as they seek a more just world. At FSG, Chirlie advises clients on corporate philanthropy, strategic planning, and community engagement. Before FSG, Chirlie was the Senior Strategic Advisor at Teach For All, a global network of over 60 organizations growing educational equity for marginalized students.
Chirlie has been an equity advocate since her youth and was a U.S. Fulbright scholar, conducting research on racial and educational equity in Brazil. Chirlie received her BA in Sociology and International Relations from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and her MPA from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. Chirlie is a member of the Amplify Her Foundation Leadership Network and a member of the board of The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights.
Chirlie is a Managing Director at FSG, a global consulting firm that partners with philanthropic and corporate clients as they seek a more just world. At FSG, Chirlie advises clients on corporate philanthropy, strategic planning, and community engagement. Before FSG, Chirlie was the Senior Strategic Advisor at Teach For All, a global network of over 60 organizations growing educational equity for marginalized students.
Chirlie has been an equity advocate since her youth and was a U.S. Fulbright scholar, conducting research on racial and educational equity in Brazil. Chirlie received her BA in Sociology and International Relations from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and her MPA from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. Chirlie is a member of the Amplify Her Foundation Leadership Network and a member of the board of The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights.
Eden Ghebresellassie (she/her) has over 16 years of experience in the Sports & Entertainment industry, with a decade of that spent at ESPN. During her time at ESPN, she contributed in various capacities to events such as the Super Bowl, ESPYS, Global X Games, SportsCenter iconic commercials, the NBA All-Star Weekend ESPN Brunch, and the first ever AT&T/NBA/ESPN Innovation Exchange in Las Vegas, among others. Most recently, she operated her own consulting company, where she had the privilege of working with renowned brands such as AC MILAN, WHATSAPP/META, and the NBPA to name a few.
Some fun facts: She was born and raised in Milan, Italy, to parents from Eritrea in the Horn of Africa. She moved to Virginia many years ago to pursue her dream of going to an American university and she never looked back. She’s a history and mythology enthusiast, who loves playing volleyball, swimming, and dancing. She’s always open to Omakase suggestions, enjoys indulging in documentaries and traveling with purpose. She’s a staunch advocate for sustainability and co-founded a non-profit organization focused on solar energy, which has donated over 1,000 solar panels and established educational programs in more than 5 African countries and several states in North America.
Some fun facts: She was born and raised in Milan, Italy, to parents from Eritrea in the Horn of Africa. She moved to Virginia many years ago to pursue her dream of going to an American university and she never looked back. She’s a history and mythology enthusiast, who loves playing volleyball, swimming, and dancing. She’s always open to Omakase suggestions, enjoys indulging in documentaries and traveling with purpose. She’s a staunch advocate for sustainability and co-founded a non-profit organization focused on solar energy, which has donated over 1,000 solar panels and established educational programs in more than 5 African countries and several states in North America.
Leticia Godinez MorenoNarcio is a Data Science Leader at TikTok. Pioneering as a Latina in the data science and tech sphere, she has left an indelible mark across industry giants like Apple, Meta, Forbes, and more. With a global footprint spanning Latin America, India and beyond, Leticia’s impact reverberates worldwide.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Leticia’s visionary leadership illuminated critical trends and dispelled misinformation through data-driven insights. Collaborating with prestigious institutions like The World Health Organization and the White House, she mobilized a global effort to educate and inform.
With a Business Administration degree from Tecnologico de Monterrey and currently pursuing a Masters in Data Science at UC Berkeley, Leticia is recognized as a next-generation Latino leader by Hispanic Executive (NextGen Collective), cementing her status as a visionary trailblazer.
At her core, Leticia’s passion lies at the nexus of wellness, social media, and mental health. Whether mentoring young women in STEM or advocating for sustainability, she relentlessly pursues avenues for positive change, embodying the spirit of transformation and empowerment.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Leticia’s visionary leadership illuminated critical trends and dispelled misinformation through data-driven insights. Collaborating with prestigious institutions like The World Health Organization and the White House, she mobilized a global effort to educate and inform.
With a Business Administration degree from Tecnologico de Monterrey and currently pursuing a Masters in Data Science at UC Berkeley, Leticia is recognized as a next-generation Latino leader by Hispanic Executive (NextGen Collective), cementing her status as a visionary trailblazer.
At her core, Leticia’s passion lies at the nexus of wellness, social media, and mental health. Whether mentoring young women in STEM or advocating for sustainability, she relentlessly pursues avenues for positive change, embodying the spirit of transformation and empowerment.
Beatriz Guillen (she/her) is the Executive Director of The Resource Foundation, a NYC-based organization with more than 35 years bridging US donors and local organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Previously, Beatriz served as the Assistant Director at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) where she launched the MPA in Global Leadership, a new graduate degree for senior leaders in global policy and management. Prior to her role at Columbia University, Beatriz worked at CAF – Development Bank of Latin America- for ten years, where she co-founded its Social Innovation Office. Beatriz has also experience working in India, Kenya, Ethiopia, and China. She is part of the BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders’ network and serves as a board member for two nonprofit organizations: MENTEE and ALTERNA. She holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University.
Lana (she/her) is the Chief of Staff for Enabling Solutions (ES) where she is responsible for executing on the strategic vision, in close partnership with the Senior Leadership Team, and helping create synergies, capacity, and efficiencies. In addition, she ensures that the ES strategy is aligned and fully integrated with the USB strategy as well as drive connectivity into the enterprise COE’s. She is also the Enabling Solutions Business Ethics Officer and sits on the USB Inclusion Council.
Prior to this role, Lana spent 7 years in Operational Risk Management within Enterprise Risk Management at Prudential. Her focus was to challenge and assist the Corporate Functions in mitigating operational risks related to processes, people, and technology.
Prior to Prudential, Lana worked at Ernst & Young in Risk Advisory.
Lana was elected to be on the Board of the Women Empowered Business Resource Group serving as the Culture and Member Engagement Co-Chair. Women Empowered currently has more than 2000 members. Lana is tasked with co-leading initiatives to focus on intersectionality and the opportunity for cross-collaboration as well as serve as the voice of the 2000+ members. She is also a graduate with the Women Unlimited program.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Bentley University in Corporate Finance and Accounting with an English minor, and an MBA in Finance and Management from Seton Hall University.
Lana resides in New Jersey with her husband and 2 children, Raquel (10) and Nathan (4).
Prior to this role, Lana spent 7 years in Operational Risk Management within Enterprise Risk Management at Prudential. Her focus was to challenge and assist the Corporate Functions in mitigating operational risks related to processes, people, and technology.
Prior to Prudential, Lana worked at Ernst & Young in Risk Advisory.
Lana was elected to be on the Board of the Women Empowered Business Resource Group serving as the Culture and Member Engagement Co-Chair. Women Empowered currently has more than 2000 members. Lana is tasked with co-leading initiatives to focus on intersectionality and the opportunity for cross-collaboration as well as serve as the voice of the 2000+ members. She is also a graduate with the Women Unlimited program.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Bentley University in Corporate Finance and Accounting with an English minor, and an MBA in Finance and Management from Seton Hall University.
Lana resides in New Jersey with her husband and 2 children, Raquel (10) and Nathan (4).
Jessica Jean-François (she/her) has over 15 years of experience working in sustainability. She currently helps private and nonprofit clients to better understand complex social and environmental problems in order to design and implement solutions that lead to measurable impact. Jessica’s previous engagements have included the design, implementation and impact measurement of social protection and labor programs in partnerships with multilateral organizations, NGOs and government bodies. In 2017, Jessica helped evaluate a major UK-funded program designed to improve preparedness and response to disasters and emergencies across 10 countries. As part of her work, Jessica has traveled to over 20 countries. She holds a Master in Urban Planning from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, a Master in Education from Lehman College and a Bachelors in Economics from George Washington University. She also earned an ESG certification from Earth Academy and is a Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) Level II candidate.
Diana Johnson (she/ella) is Manager with The Rockefeller Foundation’s global food initiative. In her role, she manages a diverse grantee portfolio and works closely with public and private sector partners to advance the Foundation’s Food is Medicine portfolio. She has more than a decade of experience working in food with a focus on urban food systems, climate action and health equity. Diana was named one of NYC’s 40 under 40 rising stars in food policy in 2023. Diana holds a BHSc Health Science from Western University in Canada and a MA in Health Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Meredith Kennedy (she/her)is the director of the Innocence Network Support Unit at the Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization working to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone. In her role, Meredith leads a team of professionals dedicated to strengthening the individual innocence organizations that make up the Innocence Network, a coalition working to free innocent people and redress the causes of wrongful convictions around the world. Meredith provides capacity-building support to innocence organization leaders, helping them identify and achieve goals in the areas of strategic planning, board engagement, and organizational structure. Nothing thrills her more than seeing the growth of the organizations that make up the Innocence Network and witnessing their ability to help more people every year achieve their freedom.
Prior to joining the Innocence Project, Meredith directed the coalition of 80 chapters of the U.S. Green Building Council. She also served as the manager of special projects for Friends of the High Line. Meredith holds a master’s degree in Urban Affairs from Hunter College and a certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from Indiana University’s Lily School of Philanthropy. She is a certified mediator and lives with her husband and two children in Jersey City, NJ.
Prior to joining the Innocence Project, Meredith directed the coalition of 80 chapters of the U.S. Green Building Council. She also served as the manager of special projects for Friends of the High Line. Meredith holds a master’s degree in Urban Affairs from Hunter College and a certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from Indiana University’s Lily School of Philanthropy. She is a certified mediator and lives with her husband and two children in Jersey City, NJ.
Margie Lavender (she/her) is a partner at Kligerman Architecture & Design, a firm known for highly detailed, unique residential and boutique commercial projects. She brings an expert eye for detail and often levity to complex large-scale projects in NYC and throughout the United States. In architecture school, she participated in a travel-intensive study abroad program in Japan that honed her appreciation of craft in architecture and its interplay with nature and light. In 2021, Margie launched an 8-week summer internship program in partnership with the NYC institution, Prep for Prep, whose mission is to develop future leaders by creating access for young people of color to first-rate educational and professional advancement opportunities. Margie is also passionate about gardening and our relationship to nature.
She channels this into the Garden Club of Irvington’s Conservation Committee, and as co-founder of the Hastings Pollinator Pathway, a volunteer committee focused on gardening for biodiversity.
She channels this into the Garden Club of Irvington’s Conservation Committee, and as co-founder of the Hastings Pollinator Pathway, a volunteer committee focused on gardening for biodiversity.
Kimaada (she/her) is the Director of Education at the Queens Museum where she curates, develops, implements and oversees education programs rooted in social justice, accessibility and culturally sustaining pedagogy. As a former history teacher, she prides herself on developing and shaping empowering curricula and programs through a decolonized lens.
Kimaada is also the best-selling author of 19 children’s books focused on cultural diversity, empowerment and environmental issues. In 2022, she was part of the three-person curriculum development team who researched, developed and wrote the official Curriculum Guide for the movie Till.
She holds a Bachelors in English from Hunter College and a Masters in Environmental Law & Policy with concentrations in Climate Change Law and Energy Law from Vermont Law School. She is currently a Board Member & Education Advisor for the Museum Council of NYC and Board Member for the Museum Education Roundtable.
Kimaada is also the best-selling author of 19 children’s books focused on cultural diversity, empowerment and environmental issues. In 2022, she was part of the three-person curriculum development team who researched, developed and wrote the official Curriculum Guide for the movie Till.
She holds a Bachelors in English from Hunter College and a Masters in Environmental Law & Policy with concentrations in Climate Change Law and Energy Law from Vermont Law School. She is currently a Board Member & Education Advisor for the Museum Council of NYC and Board Member for the Museum Education Roundtable.
Camille J. Mackler, Esq. (she/her) is the Founder and Executive Director of Immigrant ARC. In that role, Ms. Mackler works with community leaders, legal service providers, state and local governments, law enforcement agencies, and Federal agencies and policy makers to ensure immigrants have access to a fair and efficient immigration system. She is also a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Truman Center for National Policy, where she researches and highlights intersections between immigration policy, national security, and foreign policy. Ms. Mackler is a frequent lecturer on topics of immigration law and policy and has authored numerous reports, OpEds, and articles. She has testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the New York State legislature, and the New York City Council, and has argued cases before US Federal Courts of Appeals and US Immigration Courts. She is a graduate of Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and New York Law School.
Dr. Syra Madad (she/her) is an internationally renowned epidemiologist in special pathogens preparedness and response, biosecurity advisor and science communicator. She serves as the Senior Director of the System-wide Special Pathogens Program at NYC Health + Hospitals, and fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Her work focuses on the prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery from infectious disease outbreaks with an emphasis on healthcare and public health biopreparedness and biosecurity. Dr. Madad has led and responded to numerous outbreaks including Ebola, Zika, COVID-19 and mpox. She is passionate about women empowerment and is the creator/moderator of Harvard Belfer Center’s Women in STEM and Diversity in STEM series. In addition, Dr. Madad is a prominent figure in the media industry and is featured in 4 documentaries including the Emmy-nominated the Netflix docuseries “Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak” and the Discovery Channel documentary The Vaccine: Conquering COVID.
Emily Clarice Ho Mathews (she/her) is a Managing Director in the Legal & Compliance Group, focusing on Hedge Fund Solutions. Since joining Blackstone, Ms. Mathews has been involved in the legal structuring and negotiation of the group’s customized multi-manager portfolios, seeding platform, direct trading platforms and other investment opportunities.
Before joining Blackstone, Ms. Mathews was an Associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP in the Private Funds Group, where her practice focused on organizing and advising private investment funds, including buyout funds and other “alternative asset” investment vehicles. In addition to representing sponsors in their fund formation and management activities, Ms. Mathews also advised institutional investors regarding their private equity investments.
Ms. Mathews received a BA in Psychology from Yale University and a JD from Harvard Law School.
Before joining Blackstone, Ms. Mathews was an Associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP in the Private Funds Group, where her practice focused on organizing and advising private investment funds, including buyout funds and other “alternative asset” investment vehicles. In addition to representing sponsors in their fund formation and management activities, Ms. Mathews also advised institutional investors regarding their private equity investments.
Ms. Mathews received a BA in Psychology from Yale University and a JD from Harvard Law School.
Emilie Maurice (she/her) has fifteen years of international experience working for the United Nations (UN) in project management, strategic partnerships, and political affairs. She currently serves as Programme Officer in the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General where she leads on the preparation of his bilateral meetings. In particular, she coordinates all aspects of meetings with Heads of States and Governments during the annual High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly. She previously worked for UN Women Headquarters and the UN Population Fund in the Republic of Congo on gender equality, women’s empowerment, and maternal health. Prior to that, she worked for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Paris. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and media from Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3 and a Master of Public Administration from New York University.
Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Yolanda (she/her/ella) serves as the senior director of development at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice (Latina Institute) where she is responsible for strengthening philanthropic partnerships and ensuring the organization meets its ambitious fundraising goals through gifts from individual donors and institutional foundations.
Prior to joining Latina Institute, Yolanda worked at the International Planned Parenthood Federation Western Hemisphere Region (IPPFWHR). While at IPPFWHR she helped develop and implement strategies for a portfolio of major donors, foundations, and planned giving donors with a focus on support of the organization’s partners throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Before transitioning to the field of development, Yolanda spent six years at a prominent New York law firm working as a litigator, where she managed state and federal disputes from conception through trial and appeal. She also provided pro-bono representation for individuals seeking asylum in the U.S. Yolanda received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University and her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.
Leveraging her experience as an attorney, her commitment to supporting the Latinx community through her work, and her upbringing as a classically trained dancer in Puerto Rico, Yolanda brings passion and dedication to all she does. When not championing the cause of reproductive justice, Yolanda enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters in their Brooklyn community.
Prior to joining Latina Institute, Yolanda worked at the International Planned Parenthood Federation Western Hemisphere Region (IPPFWHR). While at IPPFWHR she helped develop and implement strategies for a portfolio of major donors, foundations, and planned giving donors with a focus on support of the organization’s partners throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Before transitioning to the field of development, Yolanda spent six years at a prominent New York law firm working as a litigator, where she managed state and federal disputes from conception through trial and appeal. She also provided pro-bono representation for individuals seeking asylum in the U.S. Yolanda received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University and her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.
Leveraging her experience as an attorney, her commitment to supporting the Latinx community through her work, and her upbringing as a classically trained dancer in Puerto Rico, Yolanda brings passion and dedication to all she does. When not championing the cause of reproductive justice, Yolanda enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters in their Brooklyn community.
For more than ten years, Maria (she/her/ella) has developed gender justice programs through research, capacity building, and advocacy. As an interdisciplinary public health professional, she is committed to bringing culturally responsive and trauma-informed frameworks to public health practice to ensure innovation, inclusion, and equitable access within the field of reproductive health and health equity.
Upon completing her Master of Public Health, she was recruited to design and launch the first ever Sexual Respect Initiative in the Office of the Executive Vice President at Columbia University, where she oversaw an educational public health program to address sexual violence on campus and promote sexual respect as a community value for students and staff at all nineteen schools across the University. Prior to joining Community Service Society as the Director of Governement Grants, she served as Programs Analyst for Health and Reproductive Justice in the Commission for Gender Equity within the Mayor’s Office where she led the Sexual Health Education Task Force and conducted research on COVID-19 Recovery needs from a gender lens. In addition to her full-time roles, she has served as a consultant for national non-profits, universities, and the federal government.
Maria completed her undergraduate education Oberlin College with a double major in theatre and sociology and obtained her Master of Public Health from Columbia University. In her free time you will find her perusing art galleries, going to films screenings at Metrograph, and biking through Brooklyn.
Upon completing her Master of Public Health, she was recruited to design and launch the first ever Sexual Respect Initiative in the Office of the Executive Vice President at Columbia University, where she oversaw an educational public health program to address sexual violence on campus and promote sexual respect as a community value for students and staff at all nineteen schools across the University. Prior to joining Community Service Society as the Director of Governement Grants, she served as Programs Analyst for Health and Reproductive Justice in the Commission for Gender Equity within the Mayor’s Office where she led the Sexual Health Education Task Force and conducted research on COVID-19 Recovery needs from a gender lens. In addition to her full-time roles, she has served as a consultant for national non-profits, universities, and the federal government.
Maria completed her undergraduate education Oberlin College with a double major in theatre and sociology and obtained her Master of Public Health from Columbia University. In her free time you will find her perusing art galleries, going to films screenings at Metrograph, and biking through Brooklyn.
Dr. Shruti Sharma (she/her) is Portfolio Manager at the Clean Energy Business Innovation Portal (CEBIP). Catalyzing CEBIP’s strategic growth, spanning the global clean energy innovation ecosystem, she focuses on building strong, inclusive companies and programs to tackle climate change. She manages CEBIP’s startups, developing commercialization, funding and scale-up roadmaps. She leads CEBIP’s CETX program bridging the lab-to-market commercialization gap through entrepreneurial training, technology scouting and technology offices-corporate partnerships.
Previously, as Program Manager for the AERTC, Shruti led industry-university collaborations, project management, user facilities and business development. Her efforts led to awarded grants from the NSF, sponsored industry projects and SBU Presidential mini-grant.
Driven by passion for improving diversity, she continues to develop programs aimed at dismantling barriers and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups in clean energy. She holds a Ph.D. and a M.S. from Stony Brook University and a B.Tech, with Honors from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IITB), India.
Previously, as Program Manager for the AERTC, Shruti led industry-university collaborations, project management, user facilities and business development. Her efforts led to awarded grants from the NSF, sponsored industry projects and SBU Presidential mini-grant.
Driven by passion for improving diversity, she continues to develop programs aimed at dismantling barriers and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups in clean energy. She holds a Ph.D. and a M.S. from Stony Brook University and a B.Tech, with Honors from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IITB), India.
Alexandra (Alex) Shklar’s (she/her) passion for humanitarian work, community building, and advocacy on behalf of world Jewry is born of her own life experiences. She spent her early childhood in Russia and immigrated to Israel at the age of eight. Today, she serves as JDC’s Senior Director of Global Strategic Partnerships and Resource Development. In this role, Alex helps to create meaningful partnerships between philanthropy and global humanitarian challenges and crises.
Prior to joining JDC, Alex served as a Program Director at the Jewish Community Federation of Louisville, Kentucky where she was responsible for leading the community’s cultural and social programs as well as teaching modern Hebrew at the University of Louisville. She has also worked as a case manager for refugees from Somalia and Georgia.
An accomplished international fencer, Alex was also a scholarship athlete on the National Championship fencing team at The Ohio State University (OSU), where she earned a B.A. in International Relations and a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration. Her graduate research focused on immigration policies related to refugee resettlement in the United States.
Alex, her husband, and their three children reside in Riverdale, NY.
Prior to joining JDC, Alex served as a Program Director at the Jewish Community Federation of Louisville, Kentucky where she was responsible for leading the community’s cultural and social programs as well as teaching modern Hebrew at the University of Louisville. She has also worked as a case manager for refugees from Somalia and Georgia.
An accomplished international fencer, Alex was also a scholarship athlete on the National Championship fencing team at The Ohio State University (OSU), where she earned a B.A. in International Relations and a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration. Her graduate research focused on immigration policies related to refugee resettlement in the United States.
Alex, her husband, and their three children reside in Riverdale, NY.
Betsy Uribe (she/her) is Associate Director of Governance & Partnership at Fòs Feminista, an international alliance of over 250 organizations advancing the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women, girls, and gender-diverse people across the Global South. In this position, she spearheads key governance, partnership, and transnational learning processes. Leveraging lean innovation and human-centered design methods, Betsy has also supported the financial sustainability of Fòs Feminista’s partner organizations through the Innovation & Social Enterprise Lab. She has more than 15 years of experience working in international management, organizational development, knowledge management, and social innovation. Born in the Dominican Republic, Betsy currently lives in the NYC Area. She holds bachelor’s and postgraduate degrees in International Business and Management from the Ecole Internationale des Affairs et du Management in Martinique. She also holds a Human-Centered Design Certificate from LUMA Institute and a Knowledge Management Practitioner Certification from the KM Institute.
Rediet Wegayehu (she/her) is the Associate Director, Evaluation & Learning at Everytown for Gun Safety. She uses evaluative thinking and tools to help Everytown teams improve their processes, strategies, and programs or initiatives. She also oversees Everytown’s Domestic Violence Grant Program and leads evaluation and learning projects to help improve Everytown programs and partnerships. Prior to Everytown, Rediet worked in International NGOs and Organizations such as the UN Development Program in New York, the European Union Institute for Security Studies in France, and the United Nations University in Belgium. She has a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development with specializations in monitoring, evaluation and social innovation.
Antra Bhatt (she/her) is a Statistics Specialist in the Research and Data Section of UN Women. Before joining UN Women in 2017, she worked as an Assistant professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, and as a researcher at the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, and at the University of Chicago Urban Poverty Lab. Antra has published several pieces on gender inequality in peer-reviewed academic journals, UN reports, books, editorials and blog series. She holds a Master of Science in Public Policy and a doctoral degree in Economics.
Dr. Aubrey DeCarlo (she/her) is the Assistant Director of Career and Professional Development at Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences; a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, she oversees Weill Cornell’s career services for biomedical doctoral students and selected Master’s programs. Aubrey received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Lehigh University, where her research focused on LGBTQIA college students as well as polyamory, and has since worked for Counseling & Career Services at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, Health & Wellness at CUNY-Baruch College, and New York University’s Wasserman Center for Career Development. In 2020, Aubrey’s contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion were recognized with Weill Cornell Medicine’s Pioneers in Diversity Award. Perpetually interested in what others’ do for work, she is committed to supporting scholars in developing their academic and professional purpose in the sciences and beyond. She lives in Brooklyn with her four-year-old, Emmett, and their dog, Doc.
Clara N. Jimenez (she/her) is Senior Counsel in the Intellectual Property Litigation group at Johnson & Johnson. Clara manages global litigation to protect the company’s IP rights in the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries. Clara worked as process chemical engineer before attending law school and spent the first half of her professional legal career at Finnegan in Boston and Washington DC. She is actively engaged in efforts to advance equity and inclusion in STEM and law and is a trustee of the Foundation for the Advancement of Diversity in Intellectual Property Law.
Clara is a passionate advocate for children facing poverty, violence, abuse or neglect. She is a court appointed advocate (CASA) for children in foster care in NJ, and supports various organizations in this space, including One Simple Wish, Orphaned Starfish Foundation, House of Ruth (Washington DC) and Fundacion Color y Esperanza (Choco, Colombia).
Clara is a passionate advocate for children facing poverty, violence, abuse or neglect. She is a court appointed advocate (CASA) for children in foster care in NJ, and supports various organizations in this space, including One Simple Wish, Orphaned Starfish Foundation, House of Ruth (Washington DC) and Fundacion Color y Esperanza (Choco, Colombia).