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| 175 Remsen Street Suite 1000 Brooklyn, NY 11201 Tel 347.381.8100 Fax 347.225.8580 |
| sonja okun
Founder/Executive Director |
| Ms. Okun has over fifteen years experience working with youth, and extensive experience designing, growing and managing programs for court involved youth, including several years in nonprofit management. exalt evolved out of Ms. Okun's work developing and directing the Career Exploration Project, a best-practice designated internship program for youth offenders she founded in 1997 at CASES (Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services). After founding and directing that program for several years Ms. Okun obtained an MBA so she could increase and more effectively direct resources towards education and workforce development for our most at risk youth, as well as develop her ability to manage a nonprofit that provides these services. After business school Ms. Okun returned to CASES where she managed all its youth Intellectual and Career Development programs, including the Career Exploration Project which won three national awards and grew to capacity under her direction. After being asked for years "how come I have to get locked up to get this program?" Ms. Okun left CASES in early 2006 to launch exalt, which is designed to serve youth at all junctures along the spectrum of criminal justice involvement. Ms. Okun has consulted to some of the city's leading nonprofit agencies on their Department of Education funded Learning to Work internship programs. Ms. Okun holds both a BA in African American Studies and an MBA from Harvard University.
email: sonjaokun@exaltyouth.org office:347-381-8101 mobile: 917-887-1363 |
| gisele castro
Director of Programs and External Relations |
| Gisele Castro has over ten years experience leading teams to meet organizational goals in the non-profit sector. With experience in program leadership, staff development, and program implementation, Gisele has dedicated her career to working with court involved youth in New York City. She was the Director for The Family Court Division, Mosaic, an alternative to detention program at The Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES) for six years. Prior to joining exalt's leadership team, Gisele led the redesign of a school-based intervention for court involved youth in the Bronx through Wildcat, and served as the Program Director for the Animation Project, a startup nonprofit providing art therapy and digital animation training to court involved and other disconnected youth throughout New York City. Gisele sits on the advisory board for Westchester ARC, the oldest and largest agency in Westchester County serving children and adults with developmental disabilities, and volunteers for the Rockefeller State Preserve in Tarry Town, New York. She has volunteered for Pace Women’s Justice Center at White Plains, Family Court, translating court proceeding for Spanish speaking women on orders of protection. Gisele graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a bachelor degree in Forensic Psychology, and has a Masters in Public Administration from Pace University. Gisele's Capstone focused on “Efficacy of Restorative Practices as Community Based Alternative to Incarceration Programs.”
email: giselecastro@exaltyouth.org office: 347-381-8102 |
| india alexis
Director of Operations |
| India Alexis holds a BA in English from the University of California, Davis and an MBA with an emphasis in health organization management from Texas Tech University. India is extremely interested in the mental and physical health of communities, particularly communities of color. Her past work experience includes many years as a project manager for national health studies including the Women’s Health Initiative, (WHI), the first and largest women’s health study ever executed by the National Institutes of Health. India was the project manager for an LGBT smoking cessation project that worked directly with youth of color in Oakland, California. She also managed Project Ore that provided intervention for STI prevention to African American teen girls in San Francisco. India is the founder of Undivided Self, Inc. a holistic health company that blends nutrition, hatha yoga, meditation and traditional Chinese medicine for the spiritual, mental/emotional and physical health of the individual.
email: indiaalexis@exaltyouth.org office: 347-381-8109 |
| alessandra de almeida
External Partner and Alumni Liason |
| Born in New York City to Brazilian immigrant parents, Alessandra split time between Queens and Brazil throughout her childhood and attended High School in Italy for three years. After graduating Skidmore College with a B.A. in Government and Latin American studies Alessandra worked for CISPES (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador) as a fundraiser and organizer. While at CISPES she began to work with other NYC native activists to develop NYC Summer, a six-week popular education curriculum for youth activists whose goal was to strengthen the indigenous leadership of young peoples of color within NYC communities. In this program she facilitated workshops on globalization and anti racism and coordinated internships pairing youth and professionals in community grassroots organizations. After leaving CISPES Alessandra spent time in Mexico working with CASA (Centro Para los Adolescentes de San Miguel de Allende) where she wrote and edited the second edition of a Spanish-language training manual on topics including reproductive health and advocacy in pedagogical format. She also assisted youth educators in facilitating workshops in rural communities on family planning, STDs and sexuality. Prior to joining the exalt team Alessandra worked as a community organizer for unions working to advance worker justice, immigrant rights and community services. Alessandra believes that there are too few spaces for youth to express themselves and participate in their communities and that the social stigmas of youth and incarceration debilitate and oppress the part of our community that most needs our encouragement and attention. Alessandra is thrilled to join the exalt team and support youth in building on their strengths and working to be active members of a community—fundamental elements of building a better one.
email: alessandradealmeida@exaltyouth.org office: 347-381-8103 |
| nathaniel mary quinn
Senior Teacher |
| Nathaniel M. Quinn brings to exalt's educational foundation a mobilizing pedagogy rooted in human connectedness and individual empowerment. Prior to joining exalt, Mr. Quinn worked as a teacher for six years at the Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES), where he taught General Educational Development (GED) preparation and literacy lab courses to court involved youth. In the few months that students were with Mr. Quinn in this court mandated program, over 50% of his GED prep students earned their GED diplomas, and nearly 90% of his students became functionally literate within six weeks of being enrolled in his literacy classes. Mr. Quinn's profession as an exhibiting contemporary artist and published children’s book illustrator play a pivotal role in his teaching. Mr. Quinn employs art as a means of effectively teaching a plethora of ideas, from traditional academic concepts to those related to contemporary political and social issues. His approach has been further developed from four years of adjunct professorship in the Africana Studies department at Brooklyn College and The College of New Rochelle. Mr. Quinn is excited to utilize and further develop his expertise through teaching students at exalt. Mr. Quinn holds a dual bachelor's degree in Studio Art and Psychology from Wabash College and a Master of Fine Arts Degree from New York University, accompanied with reputable fellowships, awards, and publications.
email: nathanielquinn@exaltyouth.org Office: 347-381-8104 mobile: 718.415.9984 |
| gabriel higuera
Program Coordinator |
| Gabriel Higuera brings a wide range of experience and interests to exalt. As a student at Arizona State University Gabriel conducted independent research on national museums of art and history, as well as the Latin American perspective on the US embargo on Cuba, travelling for five months through Central and South America. Inspired from the experience, Gabriel created and directed for five years a Latin American and Latino/a Studies program for Phoenix public high schools called Tertulia Resolana,which paired university students with community college students to co-teach the curriculum, ultimately serving five Phoenix high schools. Gabriel then taught at Genesis Academy, a high school in Phoenix, where he created curriculum for Spanish I through IV, as well as courses on Mexican History, Latin American Studies, and Tolerance and Human Rights. Arriving in New York in 2008, Gabriel worked at El Museo del Barrio as Education Assistant, Artist in Residence and Public Programs Coordinator. Most recently Mr. Higuera managed StoryCorps Historias, a project dedicated to recording, archiving and broadcasting on National Public Radio the oral histories of Latinos across the United States. This collection of voices now stands as the largest of its kind. Gabriel continues to write and produce plays which discuss the relationship between the United States, the Americas and the world. At exalt, Mr. Higuera enjoys the opportunity to help youth develop their own interests, passions and dreams. Mr. Higuera holds a BA in Spanish with a Latin American Studies Focus from Arizona State University.
email: gabrielhiguera@exaltyouth.org office: 347-381-8105 |
| misael sanchez
Senior Graduate Assistant |
| Misael Sanchez was a participant in cycle 6 of exalt's program, and graduated in May 2008. "Before I was referred to the program I was unfocused with my life and time. Due to my poor English at that time I was afraid to speak because I thought people would make fun of me for not speaking proper English or any other reason that would make feel less than others. It was the first time I got accepted to something different than just school. exalt is more than a program--it is a place where the staff members actually care for every single youth in New York City that are involved with the criminal justice system. I am one those youth in NYC. I interned at Brooklyn Defender Services a non-profit organization that provides pro bono legal assistance to people who cannot afford lawyers. Law was one of my interests because having an open case and not knowing what was going on with my life in the court encouraged me to want to learn more about it. I came back to exalt a couple months after I graduated in need of some help since I was going through a lot and still facing my biggest challenge which was obtaining my high school diploma. After going through several high schools, and staying stuck at 34 credits, exalt helped me transfer to City As School which was the perfect High School for me. I finally graduated high school on June 24th, 2010. The exalt program made a change in my life by helping me learn how important is to be successful and reach your goals in life and never give up. Thanks to the exalt staff I am now a high school graduate and have completed my first year at Borough of Manhattan Community College majoring in Computer Science. As the Senior Graduate Assistant for exalt a large part of my job is to set an example for current participants by representing exalt's messages and standards in the classroom, office, during meetings, graduations and public events. Other responsibilities include helping to manage our Alumni Services by meeting individually with alumni to assist them with educational goals and other issues, planning and running alumni events and researching resources for alumni. In addition, I assist our Operations Manager with all aspects of administration including helping to train and support staff on our Salesforce database."
email: misaelsanchez@exaltyouth.org office:347-381-8106 |
| tevaughn alcazar
Junior Facilitator |
| Tevaughn Alcazar was a participant in cycle 12 of exalt's program, and graduated in May 2009. "I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Growing up in the impoverished neighborhood Flatbush, I turned to the streets to make money and try and be a man. Between the age of 14 and 16 I was arrested three times and saw myself going straight down the school to prison pipeline. At the age of 17 I was referred to exalt. I accepted because I thought it would be an easy way to make money and at the time didn't realize the opportunity that was presented to me. At exalt I was lucky to have the most dynamic, outgoing and versatile teacher I ever had. My internship was at a popular urban magazine company called XXL Magazine. This whole experience changed my life-- exalt opened my eyes to new things and showed me that words have value and that reading and learning is something a person should be hungry for. Since completing exalt I am proud to say I started focusing on school more, have been reading more and even discovered that I have a favorite author, Omar Tyree. exalt feels like my second family--they have always been there, and with their help I graduated high school in June 2010 and have completed my first year of college at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. I'm on my way to finishing my Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice and moving on to John Jay College for a Bachelors Degree. Inspired by exalt I have decided I would like to become a child advocate. I have the opportunity to work on this goal in my position at exalt as a Junior Facilitator. In this role I assist exalt's teachers in the classroom by co-facilitating the delivery of exalt's curriculum, providing my perspective to my peers, providing feedback and ideas on curriculum, modeling exalt's messages and goals, and assisting with the management of the classroom component of the program. I also now co-direct exalt's Alumni Services with one of my peers. My dream is to one day come back to exalt as a Senior Teacher, or even create my own Alternative to Incarceration organization and help the youth of New York."
email: tevaughnalcazar@exaltyouth.org office:347-381-8106 |
| temporary support staff & consultants |
| andre k. calderon
Program Coordinator/Technical Projects Advisor |
| Andre K. Calderon brings to exalt a wide range of technical and creative skills developed during his education and career which has thus far spanned architecture, arts and youth development. Andre is committed to the individual development and advancement of today's youth through the arts and education. Prior to joining exalt Mr. Calderon has worked in the field of Architecture as a Junior Architect for HOK, one of the nation's renowned firms, and most recently in New York City for the Switzer Group, an Interior Design specialized firm. Andre has had extensive experience mentoring youth in formal and informal capacities throughout his life. He is also an abstract graphic artist and musician. Andre joined exalt in March 2011 on a short-term basis while transitioning from Florida back to his native roots in New York City. His technical mind and attention to details play a pivotal role in his temporary position as a Program Coordinator in which he helps youth manage multiple barriers during their rigorous experience in exalt's program. At the same time, his experience as well as his creative and playful approach helps nurture, mentor and motivate the court involved youth he works with. While Andre intends to re-enter the architectural community, he plans to continue working with exalt on special projects. One of Andre's long term visions is to design a civic institution or youth center that can foster both exalt's and his personal mission on a scale never seen before within New York City's urban fabric. Accompanied with scholastic awards, Mr. Calderon holds a BA in Architecture with a minor in Art and Urban Design from the New School of Architecture & Design based in San Diego, CA and a Graphics background from the University of Arizona.
email: andrecalderon@exaltyouth.org office: 347.381.8107 |
| lila schreiber
Summer Intern |
| Lila is excited to be working at exalt this summer! As an intern, she is involved in several key projects which are both building capacity within the organization and enabling her to get a deep sense of how the program and organization work. Lila is running a Summer Education Support Group for alumni who need extra academic help; assisting to organize Alumni Events; helping to facilitate the new New York Juvenile Justice Initiative (NYJJI) Youth Council; working with individual students to support them in their internships; managing the Facebook page; finding information about GED programs; and observing various cycles in the classroom. She is happy to have the opportunity to immerse herself in the organization to determine whether she would like to work at a similar one once she enters "the real world." Lila will be starting her senior year at Harvard College in the fall, where she studies Government and Mind Brian Behavior. During the year, Lila volunteers as a Resource Advocate at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, where she helps guests to apply for housing, food stamps, health care, and jobs. She also works with Peer Health Exchange as a Senior Health Educator, teaching health curriculum to freshmen at Boston public high schools. In high school, Lila was heavily involved with Mercy Corps' Global Citizen Corps, where she first found her calling in humanitarian social work. Her desire to continue exploring this path brought her to exalt this summer. |
| allison candal
Summer Intern |
| Allison Candal currently studies at Duke University, pursuing her BA in Political Science as well as minors in both English and History. She is an avid writer and contributes to several of Duke's publications, including the University's award-winning newspaper, The Chronicle. Her recent work experience includes an internship at the David Black Literary Agency, where she was in charge of reviewing book proposals and manuscripts for the agency's potential clients. Allison is also passionate about her community service endeavors, having taken on several projects in both her local community and abroad. She frequently volunteers as a peer tutor at school, providing assistance to other students in a variety of academic areas. Allison also works with Habitat for Humanity in Durham to help with construction projects in some of the impoverished areas surrounding the university. She has also spent several summers in the Dominican Republic serving different communities in the Santo Domingo area, helping with construction projects, volunteering at orphanages, and fundraising. Allison is excited to be one of exalt's summer interns where she will collaborate with Executive Director and Elizabeth McNamee, a Blue Ridge Foundation Summer Associate, to launch a long-term marketing and communications project for the organization. |
| james schaffer
Finance and Operations Consultant |
| James Schaffer founded Semantic Management LLC to work with creative small business and non-profits to develop sustainable, successful enterprises using operational efficiencies, excellent data collection and sophisticated analysis and projection tools. Over 50 clients in the NYC area have utilized the company's consulting and bookkeeping services to analyze performance, improve outcomes and plot strategic development. From 2004 to 2006, James was one of two elected global directors of a major international youth education group. His responsibilities included devising and implementing long-term organizational development goals and conducting leadership training workshops in China, Costa Rica, Egypt, France, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, Thailand and the U.S. James is a graduate of Harvard College, where he received his degree magna cum laude with highest honors with a joint concentration in Classics and Literature. He lives in Brooklyn.
email: jamesschaffer@exaltyouth.org |
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