Meet Our Team

 Brave House Culture Manifesto.  How We Work. 

The Brave House team consists primarily of interns and volunteers, who we proudly highlight below, as well as a small full-time staff of 3 who lead the day-to-day legal/holistic service provision and programming. We appreciate the time and energy of all our team members who leverage their unique professional/educational experiences and diverse perspectives to strengthen our mission every day. 

​We are proud of our collaborative, community-based approach to making an impact.  

Read our DEI Statement here. ​
Support our mission here. 

LAUREN

​Immigration Attorney, Founder, and Executive Director

TENZIN

App Navigator

CORI ANA

Youth Advocate and Avodah Fellow

SHIYULLI

Mentorship Advisor

KETIA

The Brave Pod Host and The Brave Space Co-Founder

MORGAN

Program Manager

ERIKA

Outreach Director

JESSIE

Mentorship Coordinator

RAE

Growth & Career Support Coordinator

VANESSA

Holistic Fellow

ADELINA

Outreach & Social Media Coordinator

COLLEEN

Outreach & Community Engagement Coordinator

DANA

Community Advocate

FAITH​

App Resource & Legal Literacy Specialist

​

Board of Directors

PRIYA

​Chair of the Board

SABRINEH  

MIKELINA

EMILY

LORETTA

RACHEL

---

Brave House Culture Manifesto.

 

During spring 2022, our team members collaborated to create a document that highlights the values and ethos of the Brave House. 

Click here to check out our Brave House Culture Manifesto. 

How We Work.

 

Click through the presentation to learn more about our team structure!

 

Lauren Blodgett

Founder & Executive Director.
​​Job. Immigration Attorney and Executive Director at The Brave House
​​Home. Brooklyn, NY
​​Pronouns. She/ her/ hers
​What “Brave” means to you.
Having hope, finding joy, and spreading love, despite the fear, pain and obstacles that you encounter.

 

Biography. 
​Lauren is an immigration attorney and founder of The Brave House. Lauren was previously an attorney & Equal Justice Works fellow the Safe Passage Project, where she provided legal representation to refugee children & youth fleeing gender-based violence. Lauren co-founded Las Mariposas (“the butterflies”), a girls empowerment group at Safe Passage, where she organized monthly activities aimed at wellness and community, such as self-defense, photography, and dancing. Lauren was honored on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Law and Policy and was in the New York Times regarding the challenges that immigration attorneys face during the Trump Administration. Lauren graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where she served on the board of the Harvard Immigration Project and worked in non-profits in Morocco, Thailand, Jordan, Tanzania and Cambodia on various human rights issues. Before law school, Lauren spent a year as a Fulbright scholar in Innsbruck, Austria, and worked at a refugee center in Cape Town, South Africa. Originally from Boston, Lauren graduated summa cum laude from Boston College in 2011 with a double major in Political Science and German. When not in the courtroom, Lauren can be found going for a run in Prospect Park or on the dance floor at Daybreaker, an early-morning sober dance party hosted at locations throughout New York City. 

​​What song is energizing you today?

Where did you / your family immigrate from?
Portugal and Ireland ​​

 

Tenzin Choeyang

App Navigator.
Home. Queens, NY
​​Pronouns. She/ her/ hers
​What "Brave" means to you.
Being able to speak your mind.

 

Biography. 
​​I was born and raised in India. I am of Tibetan descent. I speak Tibetan, Hindi and English. I went to St. Lawrence University to study Economics and currently work in finance. My passion includes educating people on financial literacy and creating space for Tibetan Americans to speak about their experiences through Positionality podcast.

What song is energizing you today?

Where did you / your family immigrate from? 
India

 

Cori Ana Strell

Youth Advocate and Avodah Fellow. 
​​Home. San Diego, CA
​​Pronouns. She/ her/ hers
​What “Brave” means to you.
Following your intuition for a better future, even when it is uncomfortable.

 

Biography. 
Cori Ana graduated UCSC with a bachelors in Psychology and a minor in Sustainability studies in 2019. She’s worked a variety of stints with a variety of jobs and internships both in the nonprofit and for profit realm. Cori packed her bags for Brooklyn and waved goodbye to her west coast home to head towards the land where the ancestors on both of her parents side had bravely fled their home countries in search of a better life, in Brooklyn NY. In her new city, you’ll probably find Cori thrifting, skateboarding, and writing songs around the city.

​​What song is energizing you today?

Where did you / your family immigrate from?
Russia and Austria

 

Shiyulli Suriyakumar

 

Mentorship Advisor.
​​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 you / your family immigrate from?
Sri Lanka

 

Ketia Miriam Jeune

The Brave Pod Host and The Brave Space Co-Founder. Home. Brooklyn, NY
​​Pronouns. She/ her/ hers 
​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 you / your family immigrate from? 
Haiti

 

Morgan Perry

Interim Program Manager. 
​Home. New York, NY
​What “Brave” means to you.
I think true bravery constitutes a lot that isn’t conventionally heroic, or courageous in the face of danger, or superhuman, historic, defying all fear whatsoever. It can be getting by, surviving – or being bold, speaking out – or otherwise engaging with something that intimidates but demands the right thing. It is following your gut; it is giving something your all when success isn't guaranteed; it is taking a chance with positivity and a growth-mindset – it is hoping for the best with commitment and passion.

 

Biography. 
​Morgan, born and raised in New York City, graduated from Hamilton College magna cum laude with a major in World Politics and a focus on migration and MENA studies. Morgan's experiences in educational, non-profit, and political advocacy has led her to work for PEN America, the Yemen Peace Project, Citizens Committee, and, most recently, Senate Majority Leader Schumer's office for two years. Morgan has studied abroad and conducted research in Uruguay, Jordan, Italy, and Tunisia, and will be moving to Turkey for 9 months this fall to pursue a Fulbright Scholarship. Morgan is deeply passionate about survivors' advocacy and loves learning new languages (as a lifelong student of Spanish and Arabic).

What song is energizing you today?

Where did you / your family immigrate from?
Long Island! Though, some generations ago, Ireland, Wales, and Germany

 

Erika Gama

Outreach Director. 
Home. Mexico City, MX
Pronouns. She/ her/ hers
​What "Brave" means to you. 
Acting with empathy and being relentlessly optimistic. 

Biography. 
Erika graduated with a bachelor’s in International Relations from Universidad Anáhuac in Mexico City in 2021. She is passionate about advancing social justice through gender-focused and youth-led solutions and has interned for Ashoka and the Mexican Council of Foreign Affairs. Erika also loves to watch basketball and can often be found reading (and heavily underlining) books.

What song is energizing you today?

 

Jessie Himel

Mentorship Coordinator.
Home. Manhattan, NY
​​Pronouns. He/ him/ his 
​What "Brave" means to you.
Brave means feeling the fear, and doing what you’re afraid of anyway.​

 

Biography. 
I was born and raised in Manhattan. I recently graduated from NYU where I majored in Sociology and minored in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. By way of background, I interned for 18 months with “Safe Passage Project,” a non-profit legal organization that provides free counsel and support to immigrant children facing deportation. I also help Wizard World, a national science-fiction/pop culture convention tour, to research and facilitate the donation of used graphic novels/books to local non-profit organizations. To date, I have successfully organized the donation of over 2,500 books/graphic novels to different non-profit organizations around the country. As for future goals, I plan to attend law school and pursue immigration law in the next few years. I am passionate about ethics. Specifically, as part of my independent study this semester at NYU, I researched and designed a semester-long middle school curriculum to teach students normative ethics through superhero comics. The curriculum includes robust lesson plans, discussion points, projects and readings. In my free time, I like to run around the reservoir, rollerblade around central park, take my dog for walks around the city, read comics and hang out with my friends.

What song is energizing you today?

Where did you / your family immigrate from? 
Ireland, Hungary, Poland and Germany

 

Vanessa Tasé Suerio

Holistic Fellow.
​Home. Manhattan, NY
Pronouns. she/her/hers 
​What "Brave" means to you. 
I was introduced to the English word “brave” with a quote by Nelson Mandela written on the whiteboard of the first American classroom I set foot in. “The brave man is not he who does not fear, but he who conquers that fear.” ​

Biography.
Vanessa grew up in Cuba and came to the States with her family in 2012. Having to learn English as a second language fueled Vanessa's love for language itself. This passion has inspired her to continue learning more languages and to become a writer, publishing her work on her self-designed website vanessatasesueiro.com Vanessa also shares The Brave House's passion for and commitment to community, having worked for many years with other non-profit organizations (such as The Boys & Girls Clubs, UndosNow, and Girls Inc.) in her hometown of Sarasota, Fl. Currently, Vanessa is a Sophomore at Barnard College, where she is majoring in English (with a concentration in Creative Writing) and pursuing minors in Italian Language and Urban Education. 

What song is energizing you today?

Where did your family immigrate from?
Cuba

 

Adelina Correa

Outreach & Social Media Coordinator.
Home.  New York, NY
Pronouns. she/they
What "Brave" means to you.
​Living your truth with joy!
​

Biography.
​I just finished my junior year at Columbia University where I study Neuroscience and Ethnicity & Race Studies, with a particular interest in re-imagining healthcare and science through an abolitionist lens. I was born and raised in London where my parents each immigrated to from Cuba and Australia. In my free time I love to read, explore nature, and perform and I am also incredibly passionate about using visual and performing arts as tools of restorative health and healing.

What song is energizing you today?

Where did your family immigrate from?
My parents immigrated to the UK from Cuba and Australia and I immigrated to the US from there!

 

Colleen Brereton

Outreach & Community Engagement Coordinator.
Home. Boston, MA
Pronouns. she/her
What "Brave" means to you.
To be brave is to do your best at what you can and ask for help with what you feel you can’t yet. Bravery is humility, love, and empathy. To be brave is to stand with those you believe in.

Biography.
Colleen graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Applied Psychology & Human Development in May 2022. In the fall she will be returning to Boston College to get her Masters in Education. Colleen is passionate about bilingual education and advocating for the rights of the young students she teaches. She is thrilled to be interning at The Brave House this summer and hopes to contribute to expanding the reach of this fantastic organization! In her free time, Colleen enjoys creating art and spending time with friends and family. 

​What song is energizing you today?

Where did your family immigrate from?
England, Ireland, Poland, and Germany

 

Dana Molina

Community Advocate.
Home. Sarasota, Florida
Pronouns. she/her
What "Brave" means to you.
To be Brave is to face what is most difficult, and through this, embracing our fears.

Biography.
Dana is a student at Barnard College who aspires to study law. She loves to read, exercise, and spend time with family and friends. She is excited to be part of The Brave House and create life-long connections.

​​What song is energizing
​you today?

Where did your family immigrate from?
​My family immigrated from Argentina!

 

Faith Tomlin

App Resource & Legal Literacy Specialist.
Home. Born and raised in San Diego, California
Pronouns. she/her
What "Brave" means to you.
Being Brave means having the confidence to celebrate your strengths and the humility to keep growing and trying new things.

Biography.
I was born and raised in San Diego, California. I just graduated in May from Yale University with a B.A. in Psychology. I was a Brave House intern helping with the app last spring and summer, and I'm thrilled to be back (this time in person!). I grew up training in classical ballet and I still love to fill all my free time with dance classes. I'm very excited to be exploring the city this summer!

What song is energizing
​you today?

Where did your family immigrate from?
My family immigrated from Ireland and Spain.

 

Rae Stokes

Growth & Career Support Coordinator.
Home. Born and raised in Colorado
Pronouns. she/her
What "Brave" means to you.
Being able to learn about, accept, love, and express your most authentic self

Biography.
My Grandma and my Dad are from Panama and my Mom is from Wisconsin. I was born and raised in Colorado and I am now going into my senior year at Columbia University studying human rights and ethnicity and race. On the weekends I work as a host at the restaurant North Miznon where I get yelled at by angry upper west siders. And in my freetime I work on my summer research project sponsored by the Columbia undergraduate scholars program where I am painting the endless meanings of Black Joy onto various items of clothing.

Where did your family immigrate from?
My Grandma and my Dad are from Panama and my Mom is from Wisconsin

 

Priya Ramanathan

Chair of the Board of Directors.
​​​Home. Brooklyn, NY
Job. General Assembly
​​Pronouns. She/ her/ hers
​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 VP of Government & Workforce Partnerships at General Assembly, a global pioneer in digital skills education that is committed to building accessible pathways meaningful careers in technology. Priya was formerly the VP of Growth & Strategy 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 technology. In her more than 12 years working in both the public and private sector, she believes nontraditional educational options that are focused on skills of the future will remove barriers to economic prosperity for diverse talent that still remains grossly underrepresented in so many companies across the world. 

She received her BA at the George Washington University in Washington, DC and her MS in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Priya and her family immigrated to the US from India when she was five years old.

​​What song is energizing you today?

Where did your family immigrate from?
India

 

Sabrineh Ardalan

Member of the Board of Directors.
​Job. Assistant Director and Clinical Professor of Law at Harvard Law School
Home. Cambridge, MA

 

Biography. 
​Sabi is the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program’s assistant director, as well as assistant clinical professor of law at HLS. Sabi supervises and trains law students working on applications for asylum and other humanitarian protections, as well as appellate litigation and policy advocacy. She teaches courses on immigration and refugee law and advocacy and on trauma, refugees, and the law. Sabi previously clerked for the Honorable Michael A. Chagares of Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the Honorable Raymond J. Dearie, Chief District Judge for the Eastern District of New York. She also worked as the Equal Justice America Fellow at The Opportunity Agenda and as a litigation associate at Dewey Ballantine LLP.

​​What song is energizing you today?

​​​Where did your family immigrate from?
Iran

 

Mikelina Belaineh

Member of the Board of Directors.
​Job.  Director of Impact, Last Prisoner Project
​Home. Brooklyn, NY. 
​What “Brave” means to you.
To be your most authentic self when the world tells you to be something or someone else.

 

Biography. 
​Mikelina has spent their carer exploring how to facilitate community regeneration and empowerment in marginalized communities. Their work has focused on examining the disparate impact of the criminal legal on black and brown communities, and working with various stakeholders (impacted community, advocates, government decision makers, and experts) to explore innovative solutions. Previously, Mikelina served as the Chief Program Officer for the nonprofit social enterprise InnerCity Weightlifting, a street violence reduction program serving street and gang-involved young adults by connecting them with new resources, networks, and opportunities. They now support the organization's work in an advisory role.

​Mikelina became interested in social justice issues in college, where they spent their four years organizing around LGBTQ issues in rural parts of Texas. In law school, they narrowed their focus to issues around criminal justice, recognizing it as a system that has implications for all areas of social justice, and therefore an opportunity to facilitate great impact. Mikelina holds a JD from Harvard Law School, where they served as co-president on the board of Lambda and co-founded the Queer and Trans People of Color student organization. Mikelina also has a BA with honors from the Texas A&M University. Mikelina was born and raised in Arlington, TX, where their family and community settled after immigrating from Ethiopia. ​

​What song is energizing you today?

Where did your family immigrate from?
Ethiopia and Eritrea

 

Emily Nash

Member of the Board of Directors.
​Job. Associate, Foley Hoag LLP
Home. Boston, MA
​​What “Brave” means to you.
Trusting yourself and your inner strength to carry you forward--in your principles, choices, words, and actions--despite whatever pressure you face to do the opposite.

 

Biography. 
​Emily is an associate at Foley Hoag LLP in Boston, where she works in litigation and labor and employment, and a pro bono practice including civil rights litigation and immigration.  She received her JD from Harvard Law School in 2016, after which she clerked for the Honorable Denise J. Casper, in the U.S. District Court for District of Massachusetts. 

Emily grew up in Armonk, NY, and she received her BA in sociology from NYU in 2011.  Emily's experience working with nonprofit organizations began in college, when she spent a semester as an intern at Amnesty International USA.  After graduating, she spent a year teaching English to children in Metz, France, after which she worked as a project manager at Innovative Philanthropy, providing development consulting and assistance--largely through grant review and major fundraising event planning--to nonprofits and foundations in New York City.

What song is energizing you today?

Where did your family immigrate from?
Italy and somewhere in Eastern Europe

 

Loretta Lopez Carstensen

Member of the Board of Directors.
​Job. Social Worker, Violence Intervention Program
Home. Brooklyn, 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

 

Rachel Becker

Member of the Board of Directors. 
Job. Account Director at LinkedIn
Home. New York, NY
Pronouns. she/her/hers
What "Brave" means to you. 
​Brave means going outside of your comfort zone and establishing a new path. It means pushing the boundaries.

Biography. 
Rachel is an Account Director at LinkedIn and consults with clients, advising them on talent strategy. She received her MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in 2018 and her BA in International Relations from Vanderbilt University in 2011. Rachel grew up in Westchester, New York and is the daughter of a Colombian immigrant mother. Rachel is inspired by her mother's story of bravery in establishing her life in the United States and paving the way for her younger sister, nieces and nephews.

What song is energizing you today?

Where did you or your family immigrate from?
Colombia, Russia