STAFF
Jeanette Vega, Executive Director
Jeanette is a parent impacted by the foster system who specializes in representing Rise and building relationships to center parents' expertise and vision in the movement to end family policing.
Read Jeanette's bio
jeanette@risemagazine.org
Mary Holiman, Communications & Organizing Director
As the Communications & Organizing Director, Mary works closely with the parent-led Organizing Team and the Communications Team. Her role is to build and establish partnerships and community connections and contribute to quarterly & annual publications.
mary@risemagazine.org
Teresa M. Marrero, Peer Support Program Coordinator
As the Parent Advocate Training Coordinator, Teresa M. prepares NYC parents impacted by the child welfare system to work as parent advocates within the child welfare system (preventive and foster care agencies) as well as in impacted communities.
Read Teresa's bio
teresa-m@risemagazine.org
Shakira Paige, Peer Trainer
Paige is part of the Rise team working to develop and implement a parent-led model of peer and community care in NYC.
Read Shakira's bio
paige@risemagazine.org
Zoraida Ramirez, Peer Trainer
Zoraida is part of the Rise team working to develop and implement a parent-led model of peer and community care in NYC.
Read Zoraida's bio
zoraida@risemagazine.org
Naashia B, Parent Organizer
Naashia is part of Rise's organizing team working to develop a Parents' Platform to amplify the experiences of families targeted, surveilled and separated by ACS and to advocate for real community-based support.
Read Naashia's bio
naashia@risemagazine.org
Melissa Landrau, Senior Parent Leader
Melissa has been with Rise since 2014, started as a parent in the Rise & Shine Parent Leadership Program.
melissa@risemagazine.org
STAFF
Teresa Bachiller, Rise & Shine Director
Teresa runs Rise's annual Rise & Shine parent leadership program for parents affected by the child welfare system.
Read Teresa's bio
teresa@risemagazine.org
Shanene Bryant, Parent Advocate Director
Rise’s Parent Advocate Director, her role is to train other Parent Advocates coming into this work and support their growth. She is a proud mother that has been impacted by the child welfare system and has dedicated her career to supporting families.
shanene@risemagazine.org
Keyna Franklin, Writing and Public Speaking Coordinator
Keyna co-facilitates the Rise & Shine writing workshop series. Keyna writes and reports for Rise and coordinates and facilitates the Rise reporting group. She also leads social media at Rise.
Read Keyna's bio
keyna@risemagazine.org
Halimah Washington, Project Manager
As Family Well-being Project Manager, Halimah leads a team of impacted parents in holding community conversations and conducting a participatory action research (PAR) project to identify and develop a vision to address root causes and community led solutions to child welfare involvement.
Read Halimah's bio
halimah@risemagazine.org
Cassandra Gonzalez, Program Support Manager
As Rise’s Program Support Manager and her role is to continue to elevate other parents’ voices in these tables and bring parents’ perspectives to change conditions that harm families’ well being.
cassandra@risemagazine.org
Loren Horton, Parent Peer Trainer
Based and raised on the Lower East Side, Loren is a mother of three, one boy and two girls. She is passionate about creating networks of joy and loves supporting families.
loren@risemagazine.org
Shakira Kennedy, Community Supporter
Shakira came to Rise in 2023 as an impacted parent in the Rise & Shine Leadership Program and upon graduating, became a parent contributor.
SUPPORTERS
Rise is a partner project of the Fund for the City of New York. Foundation support is provided by Casey Family Programs, Child Welfare Fund, Ira W. DeCamp Foundation, JPB Foundation, Lower Manhattan Community Church, North Star Fund, New York Community Trust, New York Women’s Foundation, Pinkerton Foundation, Redlich Horowitz Foundation and Wellspring Foundation. Rise also contracts with child welfare, policy and advocacy organizations. We are grateful to our partners, subscribers and generous individual donors.
ADVISORY BOARD
Bonnie Kornberg, Acting Board Chair, Chief Strategy and Development Officer, Graham Windham
Keith Hefner, Acting Treasurer, former Executive Director, Youth Communication
Lindsey McCormack, Secretary, Associate Director, Resource Mobilization, International Planned Parenthood Federation Western Hemisphere Region
Elliot Williams, Co-Chair, Parent Advocate, CHDFS
Felicia Alleyne-Davis, Independent Support Broker, OPWDD
Kelly Castagnaro, Special Advisor, International Planned Parenthood Federation
Jeff Chang, Communications Director, Lawyers for Children
Linda Genereux, Producer/Director, Defy Expectations Filmworks LLC