Youth Leadership Board

Centering youth voices is critical in co-creating meaningful and inclusive spaces and services. The Brave House Youth Leadership Board is a space for members to (1) share radically honest feedback about our services, (2) provide ideas and input for how we can best support them, (3) gain leadership skills and experience, and (4) build closer community within the larger organization.
Jessenia
Pretty​
Yessenia​

Advisory Board

Elizabeth Rivera
Paralegal at the Safe Passage Project
​Chumi Gonzalez
Founder of Blue Theory
​​
Sam Giarratani
Public Art Manager & Artist
​
Tenzin Seldon
Founder of Kinstep
​
Cristina Trinidad
Case Manager, Sanctuary for Families
Helen Flores
Therapist, Sanctuary for Families
​
Edith Sangüeza​
Attorney & Equal Justice Works Fellow, The Door​
Stephanie Ramirez
Senior Associate, The Raben Group
​
Kim Patel
Student at Harvard Business School
Lenni B. Benson
Professor at New York Law School; Founder of Safe Passage Project
Miriam Troostwijk
VP of Strategy & Operations, African Clean Energy​​
​Hannah Krutiansky
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award Recipient in Brazil
Priya Ramanathan
Senior Director, National Expansion at Per Scholas​
Beatriz Rosales Igoe
Actress, Florist, Volunteer Firefighter
Emma Scott, Esq.
Clinical Instructor at Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic
Hannah McGowan, Ed.M., C.A.S
College Persistence Counselor, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation​
Shiyulli Suriyakumar
Client Solutions Partner at ClassPass​
Elisa DiMauro
Principal, Democracy Prep Charter High School
Hannah Mitchell
Lead Clinician, Abbott House
​
Salina Guzman
Immigrant Youth Advocate, The Door
Deepti Sharma
CEO and founder of FoodtoEat
​
Megan Eiss-Proctor
Founder and Change Agent at Heddy Consulting
Deirdre Foley
Civil litigation attorney, Cetrulo LLP
​
Adalyn Belle-Wilson
Certified Art Therapy Life Coach; Teacher working with formerly-incarcerated​
Jill Hilbrenner
Director of Content Strategy, New York Media​
Danney Salvatierra
​African Services Committee
Amélie-Sophie Vavrovsk
CEO, Formally
​
Alondra Candi Aca Garcia
f
Ketia Miriam Jeune
Edelman
​

Yessenia

Member of the Youth Leadership Board. 
​​Home. Queens, NY
​​Pronouns. She/ her/ hers
​What “Brave” means to you.
To be unapologetically you.
Biography. 
Native to Mexico City, she came to NYC at the age of 7. Yessenia's passion for educating and empowering undocumented communities has given her the motivation to continue working alongside undocumented immigrants at the first Immigrant Student Success Center in the CUNY system. Yessenia looks to continue furthering her education into a Masters of Social Work as well as her efforts in supporting the same communities that supported her with the expertise and skills gained.
​​What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Mexico City

Allyssa

Member of the Youth Leadership Board. 
​​Home. Bronx, NY
​​Pronouns. She/ her/ hers
​What “Brave” means to you.
To be optimistic.
Biography. 
My name is Allyssa Hector. I am from Antigua and Barbuda.I recently migrated to the United States to pursue a career in culinary arts. I have passion for cooking and baking. It bring out the utmost joy inside me. In my free time I watch a lot of cooking videos, to help develop my skill.
​​What song is energizing you today?
Coming soon!
Where did your family immigrate from?
Antigua and Barbuda

Reyna

Member of the Youth Leadership Board. 
​​Home. Queens, NY
​​Pronouns. She/ her/ hers
​What “Brave” means to you.
Getting up in the morning and facing whatever is scaring or troubling you even if you cried or pooped your pants through it all. It is the fact you kept trying.
Biography. 
I was born in Mexico. But raised since the age of 3 in a small town in NC. I decided to pursue my career and came to NYC in 2017. I do miss the outdoors and warm o f NC though. I love being about to be close to Nature. I love being able to hike and the views! My main interest is mental health and psychology. Specifically about that of the prison system. During my free time if I can not be outdoors I love to listen to music, binge watch crime shows, psychological thrillers or documentaries. Current I'm working on building miniatures.
​​What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
México

Lola

Member of the Youth Leadership Board. 
​​Home. Brooklyn, NY
​​Pronouns. She/ her/ hers
​What “Brave” means to you.
Brave means to me is face your fears and get out of your comfort zone.
Biography. 
I was born in Cholula Puebla, Mexico. I immigrated at age of 7 and now barely remember Mexico now. Hopefully one day I could go back to visit my family and create new memories.
​​What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Cholula Puebla, México

Yaniel

Member of the Youth Leadership Board. 
​​Home. Brooklyn, NY
​​Pronouns. She/ her/ hers
​What “Brave” means to you.
To me the word Brave means being courageous and dauntless. It is having a very low degree of fear and taking a leap of faith despite the circumstances.
Biography. 
I grew up in Kingston Jamaica. My current home is Brooklyn, NYC. I am passionate about women’s empowerment, social justice and mental health. Currently I work in health administration but my dream job is to work with undocumented immigrants. In my free time I love to read, watch history documentaries and spend time with my friends and family.
​​What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Jamaica

Jessenia

Member of the Youth Leadership Board. 
​​Home. Brooklyn, NY
​​Pronouns. She/ her/ hers
​What “Brave” means to you.
To walk a different path from anyone else is walking in and remaining there despite the discouragement.
Biography. 
I was born and raised in Ecuador and migrated to the U.S when I was 14 yrs old. I'm passionate about children's development, psychology and how migrational trauma and bilingualism affects children. In which I would like to pursue a career in this field. During my free time I like to paint and garden.
​​What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Ecuador

Pretty

Member of the Youth Leadership Board. 
​​Home. Brooklyn, NY
​​Pronouns. She/ her/ hers
​What “Brave” means to you.
Brave is when you set yourself for success with integrity, confidence, selflessness and pride. When you are willing to perform courageous acts no matter who is looking. Brave is not something but someone you become to prove to others and unlock your inner power.
Biography. 
I am currently a full-time student at City Tech and a senior. This semester, FALL 2020 is my last semester so I will be graduating in the summer 2021 so I’m hoping it’s not virtual! I am also working part-time as a College Coach for a non-profit organization called Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation. I work with high school students transitioning from college and assist then throughout their educational process. I reside in Brooklyn, NY and was born here as well. However, my family and I are from Dominican Republic so I have some family living over there, in New Jersey, Brooklyn and Queens. My passion is being able to be happy and satisfied with the roles I will take in my future career. Being able to bring a smile or help someone find their own happiness can truly be one of the hardest things to do and I’d like to be that helping hand for anyone out there. Becoming that person who saves someone’s life is priceless. Some advice from me to you: Never change yourself because the people that surround your daily life can’t accept you. Don’t ever let someone bring you down for something you accomplished and are so proud of. If anything let that negativity be your motivation to strive for more and for better. Everything has its purpose in life and it all starts with believing in yourself.
​​What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Dominican Republic ​

Alondra Candi Aca Garcia

Advisory Board. 
​​Home. Brooklyn, NY
​​Pronouns. She/ her/ hers
​What “Brave” means to you.
Brave means to have the power of choosing your own destiny, to defy odds, and break down barriers even when you are uncertain of the outcomes.
Biography. 
​I was born in New York City, raised in Mexico up to the age of five and have since then been residing in Brooklyn. I recently graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a double major in Latin American and Latinx Studies, Criminal Justice, and an Art minor. I am the first in my family to graduate from college and will be the first in my family to attend graduate school. I will be attending the University at Albany this fall 2020 and will pursue a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology. I hope to examine the ways language retention and identity formation evolve among people of different communities. I would like to eventually become a professor and mentor college students. Aside from my educational goals, I love to create works of art in various mediums and learn languages when ever I can. I love incorporating aspects of my culture into my paintings and hope that one day I travel the world to learn more about art!
​​What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Mexico​

Elizabeth Rivera
Advisory Board.
Job. Paralegal at The Safe Passage Project
​​​Home. Queens, NY
​​What “Brave” means to you.
“Brave” means becoming the impossible change while standing boldly against all odds.​
Biography. 
​Elizabeth Rivera is a Paralegal at the Safe Passage Project, where she works with attorneys in immigration and family court litigation. Elizabeth works with children in New York and assists in their cases to pursue immigration status in the United States. Elizabeth is the daughter of Mexican immigrant parents and is married to a former DREAMer. She is aware of the injustices that vulnerable and underrepresented communities face in this country due to their immigration status and as a result is a fierce advocate for immigrant rights and social justice. Elizabeth graduated from the City University of New York – John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a major in Law and Society in 2015.​
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Guerrero, Mexico

Cristina Trinidad
Advisory Board.
Job. Case Manager at Sanctuary for Families
​​​Home. Queens, NY
​​What “Brave” means to you.
​Listening to the voices of the unheard and recognizing that they have stories to tell.
Biography. 
​Loretta was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico. She immigrated to NY at 18 to study Creative Writing at Bard College. Since then she has lived in Texas, Vietnam, and Queens, NY, her current home. She is a writer, aspiring illustrator, and a non-profit professional focused on bettering the lives of refugees and survivors of gender based violence. She's currently a graduate student on the clinical track at Columbia's School of Social Work.
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Mexico

Adalyn Belle-Wilson
Advisory Board.
​Job. Licensed Art Therapist; Academic Instructor working with previously incarcerated and/or underprivileged young adults. Creating and curating the therapy rooms.
Home. Rensselaer, NY
​What “Brave” means to you.
Forging your hurt and fears into not only joy, but tools to face those who are hurting and lashing out with love and patience.
Biography.
Adalyn started her journey with a passion for people and making them feel cared for. The first route was through their stomachs, becoming a pastry chef and working along the California Coast. Adalyn then went to school for psychology at San Diego State University becoming a therapist working with autism and mood disorders. Within this behavioral therapy she incorporated art into learning. Cooking and dancing were quickly utilized as fun ways to learn daily skills. She now works in New York with a wide population of students to assist them in earning their GEDs. Adalyn also writes behavior plans for more challenged students and designed and created a therapy room for the students to learn positive coping skills.
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
The Netherlands

Amélie-Sophie Vavrovsky
Advisory Board.
​Job. CEO, Formally
Home. Providence, RI
​What “Brave” means to you.
Persevering through times of chaos and finding joy, kindness, and hope in each other.
Biography.
Amélie is an entrepreneuse working on a startup called Formally that simplifies immigration applications and aims to break down bureaucratic barriers to make our world more accessible. Passionate about cross-cultural communication, she speaks eight languages and has lived and worked in over 10 different countries. Amélie graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Brown University with a degree in International Relations and has gathered over 6 years of experience working and volunteering with refugees and asylum seekers all over the world. Amélie has worked in research and policy-making in both the public and private sector and is excited to use law, policy, and technology to improve the quality of life of both displaced people and those working to welcome them.
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Vienna, Austria

Beatriz Rosales Igoe
Advisory Board.
​Job. Actress/ Florist / Volunteer Firefighter
​Home. Greenwich, CT
​What “Brave” means to you.
It means acting with boldness in adversity. It means tapping into your inner strength and wisdom, and trusting that all you need is already in you. It means standing up for what you believe in, even when it is an unpopular choice or the outcome is unknown.​
Biography.
Beatriz is a former attorney turned florist, actress and volunteer firefighter. She was born and raised in El Salvador where she attended The American School of San Salvador and then went on to Law School at the Dr. Jose Matias Delgado University. She has volunteered with organizations such a Glasswing International in her native El Salvador, Orphanaid Africa in Ghana, Kids in Crisis in Connecticut, New Sanctuary Coalition,  and Safe Passage Project in New York City. A self-proclaimed skillionaire she splits her time between her creative endeavors, humanitarian work and raising Finn.​
​What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
El Salvador

Chumi Gonzalez
Advisory Board.
​Job. Marketing + Creative @ Nooklyn; Youth Advocate at the Brave House
Home. Queens, New York
What "Brave" means to you. 
Becoming really good friends with the unknown.​
Biography.
I was raised in Paraguay and have been living in New York for the last 10 years. I'm a first-generation Latin American and only child of two Paraguayan immigrants who mean everything to me. I think, dream and speak fluently in both Spanish and English. I'm passionate about my family, Latin culture, personal & spiritual development, bringing ideas to life, connecting with people, raising human consciousness, positively impacting our world and reggaeton.
​​What song is energizing you today?
​​​Where did your family immigrate from?
Paraguay

Danney Salvatierra
Brave Ambassador.
​Job. Legal Advocate,  African Services Committee
​Home. Manhattan, NY
​What “Brave” means to you.
To be human is to be brave. 
Biography. 
Danney Salvatierra was born in Peru and immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of 13. Danney completed her undergraduate studies in Political Science and Global Media Communication at Florida International University. Specialized fields of study include: political repression and human rights, international relations, Latin America foreign policy, and global economic and social affairs. Danney also utilized her communications degree to explore the field of public relations and marketing. She worked as a public relations specialist for an art company located in Wynwood, Miami. After spending a year working with artists and curators, she found a true passion for visual arts, film, photography, poetry, and story telling. These art forms remain her favorite hobbies. She also likes to go hiking and spend a lot of time in the ocean paddle boarding, surfing, or kayaking. Prior to law school, she traveled as a volunteer to rural areas in Latin America to work on sanitation and education projects for underdeveloped communities. She received her law degree from New York Law School. During her law school career, Danney was actively involved with the Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) and the Immigration Law Students Association (ILSA). She worked as a legal intern for human rights organizations such as Church World Service and Human Rights First. In that capacity, she has advocated for immigrant children, families, and refugee communities. Danney is a Brave Ambassador and Mentor for The Brave House. She also provides legal representation at African Services Committee in the areas of immigration, landlord/tenant, family, public benefits, and advanced directives. Danney speaks Spanish. She is taking French classes! :)
What song is energizing you today?
​​​Where did your family immigrate from?
Peru

Deepti Sharma
Advisory Board.
Job. CEO and Founder of FoodtoEat
Home. Queens, NY
What "Brave" means to you.
"Being brave means to embrace from your f*ck ups. There's always pressure to be perfect or not make the wrong move as a wife, a mother, and an entrepreneur, but I learn more from my f*ck-ups than my successes. The more I embrace the missteps, the better I am in each of these roles."
Biography. 
A lifelong entrepreneur, Deepti is the CEO and Founder of FoodtoEat, a community-minded catering concierge service. She started FoodtoEat in 2011 to connect immigrant, women and minority-owned food vendors to opportunities for growth - ultimately helping them strengthen their own business skills. FoodtoEat helps businesses feed employees great food and build stronger & more diverse work cultures. She is also a Co-Founder of Bikky, a platform solving customer engagement for restaurants.
As a mother and small business owner, Deepti is a vocal advocate for policies that benefit these communities. She served on the Board for the Business Center for New Americans, a non-profit that encourages immigrant entrepreneurship by providing micro-loans and financial education. She also writes about how companies can modernize motherhood in the workplace, and mentors female entrepreneurs as part of the NYC Mayor’s WE NYC initiative.
Deepti is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, a Forbes 30 Under 30 alumnae, and an avid runner. She lives in Queens with her husband (Abhinav Kapur) and two children (Zubin & Chetan).​
What song is energizing you today?
Where did you / your family immigrate from? 
India. I'm 1st generation born in NYC. 

Deirdre Foley
Advisory Board.
Job. Civil litigation attorney, Cetrulo LLP
Home. Winthrop, MA
What "Brave" means to you.
Living with compassion and grace at times when it’s extra hard to do so. ​
Biography. 
Deirdre is a civil litigation attorney at Cetrulo, LLP in Boston, Massachusetts, where her practice ranges from transactional drafting and negotiation to the defense of varied corporations facing suit. Prior to her employment at Cetrulo, Deirdre was a prosecuting attorney in Lynn, Massachusetts where she advocated for victims’ rights and focused on children and family crimes. Deirdre is currently a member of the Board of Directors for Lynn Youth Street Outreach and Advocacy (“LYSOA”), a non-profit that provides services to at-risk youth in the greater Lynn area and aims to prevent gang violence. Deirdre graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 2014; she graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 2011 with a double major in Philosophy and African-American Studies, and where she lived in Kingston, Jamaica while working with children’s rights and in Washington, D.C. where she worked for a think tank which advocated for human rights issues in Liberia. She remains a lifelong fan of hip-hop, playing with her puppy Seamus, and eating Santarpio’s pizza.​
What song is energizing you today?
Where did you / your family immigrate from? 
Ireland

Edith Sangüeza
​Advisory Board.
Job. Attorney & Equal Justice Works Fellow, The Door​
Home. (coming soon)
What “Brave” means to you.
(coming soon)
​Biography.
(coming soon)
What song is energizing you today?
Click to set custom HTML
Where did you / your family immigrate from?
(coming soon)

Elisa DiMauro
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Principal, Democracy Prep Charter High School
​​Home. Brooklyn, NY
​What “Brave” means to you.
Taking action even when you’re terrified.
Biography.
Elisa is an educator in Harlem, currently serving as Principal at Democracy Prep Charter High School. Before that, she was an Assistant Principal, a History teacher, a Special Education teacher and the Varsity volleyball and softball coach. Access to quality education is a civil right and what drives Elisa's work. She also whole-heartedly believes in the power of young people to change our world (and to be honest, working with kids is way more fun than working with adults). Elisa graduated from Hunter College for a Masters in Special Education in 2014 and Fordham University in 2012. ​
​​What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Italy and Ireland

Emma Scott, Esq
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Clinical Instructor at the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic.
​​Home. Somerville, MA
​What “Brave” means to you.
Staying true to your principles in spite of overwhelming discomfort; acting with hope in the face of oppression.​
Biography.
Emma is a Clinical Instructor at the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic.  Her work currently focuses on FPLC’s Sustainable and Equitable Food Production Initiative and the Clinic’s ongoing projects in the Mississippi Delta. Previously, Emma served as a Staff Attorney at California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, where she litigated on behalf of low-wage workers in immigrant, rural communities.  Her work was funded by Justice Catalyst, an organization that seeks to combat systemic injustices through innovative and collaborative legal approaches. Emma attended Harvard Law School, where she served as a clinical student attorney and participated in far too many journals (3) and student orgs (still counting...).  Her most formative law school experience involved volunteering with the group No More Deaths in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona to provide humanitarian aid to migrants braving the treacherous terrain and climate. En su tiempo libre, Emma sigue mejorando su español.​
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
My dad immigrated from England, my mom's side hails from Ireland and Sweden.​

Hannah Krutiansky
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award Recipient in Brazil
​​Home. New York, New York
​What “Brave” means to you.
Following your dreams, no matter how outrageous they may seem.​
Biography.
Hannah was born and raised in NYC to a Jewish immigrant family. Growing up hearing her
grandparent’s stories of surviving the Holocaust has motivated her to advocate for refugee and
immigrant rights. She is a recent graduate of Middlebury College, where she studied geography
and minored in Spanish and Portuguese. Hannah has interned for the family detention team at
RAICES (The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) and for the Safe
Passage Project, which represents minors in immigration court. She plans to attend law school
and pursue public interest law in the next few years.
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Argentina, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine​

Hannah McGowan, Ed.M., C.A.S
Advisory Board.
​​Job. College Persistence Counselor, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation.
​​Home. Brooklyn, NY
​What “Brave” means to you.
Extending grace to ourselves and acting always with love.​
Biography.
Hannah strives to dismantle inequitable systems and foster environments where young people are empowered to reach their fullest potential. She is currently a College Persistence Counselor - partnering with students throughout their college careers to accomplish their educational goals. Hannah became a licensed school counselor after obtaining her Masters of Education and Certificate of Advanced Studies at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2019. Outside of her counseling work, Hannah partners with community mental health centers and consults with entrepreneurs and advocacy groups who are innovating ways to effectively support youth. Her previous career was as a professional trainer and coach at a healthcare and education consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. She graduated from Boston College in 2011 with a focus on International Business and Latinx Studies.​
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Poland, Norway, Ireland

Hannah Mitchell
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Lead Clinician, Abbott House
​​Home. Bronx, NY
​What “Brave” means to you.
Staying positive even in difficult times, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, and relentlessly advocating for others and standing up for what you believe in.​
Biography.
Hannah is a bilingual licensed social worker working as a clinical supervisor in a temporary foster care program funded by ORR (Office of Refugee Resettlement). Hannah graduated with her MSW in May 2017 from Columbia University School of Social Work where she concentrated in advanced generalist practice and programming, focusing on international social welfare and providing services to immigrants and refugees. Prior to moving to New York, Hannah graduated from James Madison University in her home state of Virginia with a double major in Social Work and Spanish and a minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Hannah has previously worked with immigrant youth in immigration proceedings in New York and has worked with children of migrant farmworkers in Virginia. After graduating from Columbia, Hannah worked as a therapist for 1 year in Brooklyn where she served immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. ​
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Germany, Scotland

Helen Flores
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Therapist, Sanctuary for Families
​​Home. Brooklyn, NY
​What “Brave” means to you.
Brave to me, means saying no. Saying no means that you are saying yes to yourself.​
Biography.
Helen was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Today, she is a therapist at Sanctuary for Families helping immigrant women heal from domestic violence and human trafficking
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Mexico

Jill Hilbrenner
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Director of Content Strategy, New York Media
​​Home. New York, NY
​What “Brave” means to you.
Working through obstacles and being kind to yourself along the way. ​
Biography.
Jill is the director of content strategy at New York magazine, where she manages strategic content partnerships with fashion, beauty, and entertainment brands. Prior to joining New York, Jill worked in copy roles at brands like the Guardian and Chanel. On the side, Jill created a women's fundraising group that raised roughly $10,000 in small donations for progressive organizations, including Planned Parenthood of New York City (PPNYC), Color of Change, Run for Something, the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Jill is also on PPNYC's Young Visionaries Committee, which develops creative partnerships to help spread access to and awareness for reproductive healthcare.​
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Germany, the Netherlands

Ketia Miriam Jeune
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Global Quality Coordinator at Edelman
​​Home. Manhattan, New York
​What “Brave” means to you.
To be fearless. 
Biography.
Ketia believes her life is art, and she embodies that in everything she does. She’s been a part of the performing arts community since elementary school where she immersed herself in music, dance, and poetry. By high school, she was accepted to New World School of the Arts in Miami, Fl where she was surrounded by the most talented students in Miami-Dade County.After graduating from FSU, Ketia went on to New York University (NYU) and obtained her Masters in Public Relations with a concentration in Corporate Business Communications. Recently, Ketia became the host of the Brave Pod, a weekly podcast that features members, volunteers, and immigrants from all over the world to share their experiences. She's also one of our many youth advocates and works directly with our members.
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Haiti

Kim Patel
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Student at Harvard Business School. 
​​Home. Cambridge, MA
​What “Brave” means to you.
Taking the risk even if you think you have everything to lose. If you take the comfortable road because you are scared you already lost it all. ​
Biography.
Kim is a New York City based media executive, advisor and community advocate, who serves as Director, Global Corporate Strategy for VICE Media. She led company-wide initiatives across VICE’s digital, cable, production, and global agency businesses, and is a strategic partner to the executive team. She has received industry recognition for her work including being named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and considered an “Indian-American Trailblazer” for her work within the Asian American community in media.
 
She also serves as a Venture Capital Scout at Harlem Capital Partners, a venture firm dedicated to funding 1,000 diverse and female founders over the next 20 years. She can be found working with early-stage founders on product marketing, business development and fundraising strategy as a board advisor. Outside of work, she serves on the Board of Women in Innovation (WIN) an organization committed to improving the networking and success of women in tech and innovation across industries.
 
Kim holds a B.A. from New York University in Economics, History and Politics and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. She is an avid runner, amateur cook, and photographer
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
India

Lenni B. Benson
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Professor of Law at New York Law School; Founder at Safe Passage Project
​​Home. Mount Vernon, NY
​What “Brave” means to you.
Listening to your inner voice and having the strength to stand up to injustice.
Biography.
Lenni has been working in immigration law in all of its forms since 1984. She was once a partner in a large international law firm representing big business by day and doing pro bono nights and weekend representing refugees. She has been a full-time professor of law since 1994. She has co-authored several books and written more than twenty articles. She is very proud to have launched the Safe Passage Project first as a small pro bono project and now a successful nonprofit organization. She is originally from Arizona and grew up on a citrus farm.​
What song is energizing you today?
The audiobook These Truths by Professor Jill Lepore (yes, I know you asked for a song but I listen to audiobooks)​
Where did your family immigrate from?
Grandmother Belarus, Grandfather Austria, Grandmother and Grandfather Russia, then Canada ​

Megan Eiss-Proctor
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Founder and Change Agent at Heddy Consulting 
​​Home. East Village, NYC
​What “Brave” means to you.
Fighting for justice even when it is uncomfortable, speaking up for what is right again and again.​
Biography.
Megan started her professional life as a 5th-grade teacher in the South Bronx with Teach for America. When she left the classroom she continued to work in social justice and became a lawyer in 2006. Megan worked in the family and criminal courts of New York City for several years. She opened her own practice, advising small organizations, becoming a co-founder of one, Safe Passage Project and was integral in growing the organization. In 2017 Megan left Safe Passage to build Heddy – a consulting firm that helps organizations and professionals be more successful by being more inclusive. When she’s not scheming about how to grow inclusive workplaces, Megan loves to travel, read memoirs and see experimental theater.​
What song is energizing you today?
​
Where did your family immigrate from?
Germany, Scotland

Miriam Troostwijk
Advisory Board.
​​Job. VP of Strategy & Operations, African Clean Energy
​​Home. New York, NY
​What “Brave” means to you.
Choosing to do something out of your comfort zone knowing it may hurt, be difficult,  or just plain embarrassing but ultimately understanding you’ll be stronger and better for it.​
Biography.
Miriam is VP of Strategy & Operations at African Clean Energy (ACE), a company manufacturing clean energy products, such as solar-powered cooking stoves, for communities in the developing world who do not have adequate access to energy. At ACE, Miriam runs the end to end supply chain operations and optimizes processes across Sales, Manufacturing, and Customer Service. Miriam grew up in The Netherlands and has lived in Taiwan, China, and currently, New York. She graduated from Northwestern University and has a background in management consulting and enterprise technology.​
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
The Netherlands & Malaysia​

Priya Ramanathan
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Senior Director, National Expansion at Per Scholas 
​​Home. Brooklyn, NY
​What “Brave” means to you.
Being brave means not letting things scare you from achieving your dreams or supporting the dreams of others.
Biography.
Priya is the Senior Director of National Expansion at Per Scholas, a national tech training organization that provides no-cost technology training to adults from communities that are often underserved, connecting them to careers in the IT industry. In her role, Priya is focused on expanding the work of Per Scholas nationally, identifying and launching sites in future cities to help grow the number of people who are making huge changes in their careers every year. Priya has a decade of experience in the workforce development field, working for both government and non-profit organizations in New York City. Priya received her BA at the George Washington University in Washington, DC and her Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA.
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Priya and her family immigrated from India when she was five years old.

Salina Guzman
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Immigrant Youth Advocate, The Door
​​Home. Queens, NY
​What “Brave” means to you.
Confronting fear, and sacrificing things for what you believe in.​
Biography.
Salina was born and raised in Queens, New York. She graduated from Hunter College with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology in 2014. During her undergraduate career, Salina volunteered at Inwood House, a transitional residence for homeless, pregnant teenagers. While providing services to the young girls, Salina immediately returned to Hunter College to pursue a Master's Degree at Silberman School of Social Work. She was introduced to, and found her passion for, the field of immigration during her internship at Safe Passage Project. After graduating in May of 2017, Salina joined The Door’s Legal Services Center as a Case Manager/Immigrant Youth Advocate. Since starting at The Door, Salina has served almost 200 recently arrived immigrant youth in deportation proceedings. She works with this population to meet their social service needs such as enrolling in an education program, health insurance advocacy, connecting them to mental health services, and establishing stable housing. Salina recently became a mother and is passionate about social justice work because she wants to raise her little one in a society where ALL are welcome.​
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Italy, Mexico

Sam Giarratani
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Public Art Manager & Artist.
​​Home. Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, NY.
​What “Brave” means to you. To love openly and honestly.
Biography.
Sam works as a public art manager for a professional artist in NYC, and is a learner, teacher, and artist herself. Before she worked as an art administrator, she taught high school art for 6 years in Boston. Teaching further cemented her love for artistic play and processes, and she adamantly taught her classes with the focus on womxn and artists of color. As fulfilling as it was to have the freedom to build this kind of curriculum, she quit in order to travel to 30 states with a public art project called, In Search of the Truth (The Truth Booth), where she helped collect diverse, nationwide truths ahead of the 2016 Presidential election. Now she is responsible for ideation and coordination of large artworks and continues to travel across the country to realize projects both temporary and permanent. Her personal work focuses on her own empowerment, and she endeavors to create artistic platforms for voices that feel unheard. ​
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Sciacca, Sicily, & Edinburgh, Scotland

Shiyulli Suriyakumar
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Client Solutions Partner at ClassPass
​​Home. Brooklyn, NY
​What “Brave” means to you.
Speaking up for yourself and others (especially when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular); not letting trauma or obstacles define you; bringing kindness, humility, and tenacity to everything you do.​
Biography.
Shiyulli currently works for ClassPass, a fitness and wellness membership that allows you to book thousands of fitness classes, gym services, and wellness services all over the world through one easy app. She partners with large companies to bring a custom ClassPass membership to their employees. Previously she worked at Taproot Foundation, a nonprofit that builds the capacity of other social change organizations, where she worked with multinational companies to design and scale high-impact skill-based volunteering programs. Shiyulli also sits on the Junior Board of Hour Children, a New York-based nonprofit providing wraparound services for women re-entering society and reuniting with their families after incarceration. When she’s not at work, you can find her rock climbing with friends in the Shawgunks, tinkering in her kitchen, or buried in a great book.​
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Sri Lanka

Stephanie Ramirez
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Senior Associate, The Raben Group
​​Home. Brooklyn, NY
​What “Brave” means to you.
“Having courage does not mean that we are unafraid. Having courage and showing courage mean we face our fears. We are able to say, ‘I have fallen, but I will get up." Maya Angelou​
Biography.
Stephanie is a Senior Associate for The Raben Group’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practice, bringing years of experience in project management, research, and innovative strategies and a passion for social change. Prior to joining Raben, Stephanie worked at the City of New York’s Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice where her efforts centered around bail reform and reentry initiatives, including a city-wide program aimed at providing an alternative to traditional money bail that decreased pre-trial detention citywide. Earlier in her career, Stephanie worked at a number of nonprofit organizations throughout the New York City area. Stephanie is a first-generation college graduate daughter of immigrants which has shaped her passion for advancing social justice. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys traveling, being outdoors, and spending quality time with her dog.​
What song is energizing you today?
Where did your family immigrate from?
Mexico

Tenzin Seldon
Advisory Board.
​​Job. Founder of Kinstep
​​Home. San Francisco, California
​What “Brave” means to you.
To live in alignment with your values and principles. ​
Biography.
Tenzin was raised as a refugee in the Indian Himalayas. Tenzin is the founder of Kinstep, a social enterprise platform that connects immigrants to safe and steady jobs. She also is the senior advisor, board member of Earth's Call Foundation, in partnership with Lever for Change, which will deploy around 100 million for solutions addressing climate crisis. Tenzin graduated top of her class at Stanford University, followed by University of Oxford, where she was the first Tibetan-American Rhodes Scholar. Tenzin has spent her career advocating for disenfranchised communities, leading Climate Justice League chapters around the US, working on negotiations with Israel and Palestine, and, most recently, at the United Nations Regional Office of Asia and the Pacific.
She was a visiting lecturer at Rangsit University and University of California, Berkeley. Tenzin’s work has been recognised around the world: as a Forbes30 Under 30 honoree and Forbes magazine "Most Likely to Impact the Next Century," World Economic Forum Global Shaper, a Harry S. Truman Scholar, and one of OZY Magazine’s “5 Civil-Rights Leaders for a New Generation. In 2018, she received the 21st Century Icon Awards by the London Stock Exchange and the United Nations Innovative Disruptive Award in 2019
What song is energizing you today?
Coming Soon
Where did your family immigrate from?
Tibet

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