Committee Members
Harriet Alfano
Assistant Principal, Barnum Wood Elementary School
Lorin Bocian
TruOutreach
Felicia Colavito
Goals for Glio
Nicole Favard
TruOutreach
Dr. Gabriella Franza
Nordrene Henry
Ms. Nordrene Henry, Co-Founder and Treasurer of Tru Outreach, Inc., has over twenty-eight years of successful healthcare administration experience. Nordrene’s professionalism, coupled with her ability to analyze data and resolve complex problems, elevated her to leadership positions very early in her career. Throughout Nordrene’s career, she has been consistently recognized for her outstanding performance.
April McCarthy
Hempstead Prevention Coalition (HPC) Program Coordinator
Jim Mendonis
Jim Mendonis is the Director of Social Studies and 21st Century Learning for the East Meadow School District.
Donna Nogid
Ms. Nogid is the Chief of Staff of Kevin Thomas, New York State Senator
Assistant Director of Instructional Programs
Tracey Edwards
NAACP, Long Island Regional Director
NICHOLAS GIAMPETRUZZI, LMHC., NCC.
Nicholas Giampetruzzi is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, a National Certified Counselor and School Counselor. He received his Master’s Degree in School and Mental Health Counseling from Long Island University and became a licensed clinical practitioner while conducting psychological counseling and group work at Promoting Specialized Care and Health/Northern Lights PROS, a comprehensive NYS Office of Mental Health day treatment program and clinic. Prior to returning to graduate school, Nicholas worked in the private sector for seven years, and then for nine years at Hunter College where he worked in the capacity of Student Advisor and Program Manager for three grant – funded programs, one in higher education with the mission of training underrepresented and underserved undergraduate students for careers in public service, and two an NYSED–CUNY partnership programs aimed at retention and academic achievement of economically disadvantaged and at-risk students. Nicholas is currently a Student Psychological Counselor and CUNY LEADS Specialist at CUNY, home campus – Kingsborough Community College, and Adjunct Lecturer at Hunter College. The mission of LEADS, is to assist disabled, at-risk students in developing realistic academic, career, and life goals in order that they may move on to productive careers upon the completion of their studies. Nicholas works with students from a holistic and strengths-based perspective and utilizes an eclectic multidimensional counseling approach to ensure optimal results and success for each individual student.
WARREN GRAHAM, PH.D., ABD
Warren is currently a 4th year Ph.D student at Adelphi University and Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Field Education at Stony Brook University’s School of Social Welfare. He is a NYS Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), NYS Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) and has over 15 years of experience in addictions, criminal/juvenile justice, child welfare, and forensic social work. Warren has been active in the National Association of Social Workers, Association for Family and Conciliatory Courts and sits on the board of the NYS Social Work Educator’ Association and Darnice’s Place, a Washngton, D.C. based non-profit coordinating re-entry services.
Amelia Garcia
Mrs. Garcia is a Principal in the East Meadow School district and has 16 years of experience in education in different capacities. Mrs. Garcia started her career with the New York City Department of Education as a teacher, staff developer, and administrator.
Robert Goldman, J.D., Psy.D
Dr. Robert Goldman is a licensed psychologist and attorney with over 18 years of experience in combining law and psychology. Upon beginning his law practice, Dr. Goldman was appointed to the Law Guardian Panel which inspired him to receive his Doctorate in School & Community Psychology from Hofstra University in order to help children.
Janet Goldstein
BeSMartforKids.org
Kari-Lee Grant, PhD
Kari-Lee Grant, PhD is the President and CEO of Center for Research and Equitable Development LLC. She has a Doctor of Philosophy, specializing in Educational Leadership, from Concordia University Chicago and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership and Administration from The College of Saint Rose. She has a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics: TESOL (major) with a Secondary Education minor from Queens College, CUNY. She has New York State Certifications as a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages, School Attendance Teacher, School Building Leader, and School District Leader. Dr. Grant also obtained a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business.
Melody Schiller, President-Elect Kiwanis Club of East Meadow
Melody Schiller is a Reading Specialist at the Barnum Woods Elementary School in East Meadow U.F.S.D., certified in Wilson, Just Words and Reading Recovery. Before coming to East Meadow, Mrs. Schiller attended Queens College, majoring in Elementary Education, and received her Masters in Reading from Hunter College. As a Reading Teacher at Barnum Woods for the last 20 years, Melody has helped struggling readers meet with success so they may become lifelong learners. She loves that, as a part of the community in which she serves, she often gets to hear from her students as they continue to read, grow, graduate, and move on to achieve their hopes and dreams.
Melody enjoys being involved in helping her community in a variety of ways that help our youth of today to become the leaders of tomorrow. As the Barnum Woods PMT (Planning and Management Team) Chairperson, Barnum Woods PTA Teacher Representative, Executive Board Member of East Meadow Kiwanis, Barnum Woods K-Kids Faculty Advisor, and Girl Scout Leader to Troop 1660 from grade 1-12, she has found many ways to help support students and work to meet their needs, interests, and abilities both within and beyond the classroom. Melody is thrilled to have the opportunity to join the Equity for LI Youth Committee and assist in expanding opportunities and access for the youth of Long Island.
LUCIA SEDA-PÉREZ, PH.D. STUDENT
Lucía Seda-Pérez is a PhD student in the Department of Comparative Literature at the CUNY Graduate Center. A graduate of Brown University and NYU, Lucía taught English and Creative Writing at James Madison High School in Brooklyn, New York. She is currently a writing tutor at NYU's Opportunity Programs and a first-year writing instructor at Baruch College. Her journalism work has been featured in Latin America News Dispatch, the Journal of Political Inquiry, the New York Transatlantic, and Refinery29.
Christina Senatore, M.S.d, L.M.H.C.
Christina M. Senatore, M.S. Ed., L.M.H.C. is the Director of Outreach and Educational Services. In conjunction with Tru Outreach, Ms. Senatore is committed to addressing and ameliorating early childhood trauma with individuals and families in underserved and disadvantaged communities.
DR. GERILYN SMITH
Dr. Smith is the Director of Guidance in the East Meadow School District. She is a graduate of Concordia University where she earned her Doctorate degree and Long Island University where she earned her Masters Degree in School Counseling. Dr. Smith began her career as a school counselor and has over 10 years of counseling experience. She enjoys working with students and families to assist them on their journey to post- secondary success.
Dr. Joylette Williams
Joylette Williams is a Professor of English at Nassau Community College-SUNY. She is
the Coordinator for the Center for Arts & Humanities and also holds dual appointments in the
Women and Gender Studies and Human Rights Studies interdisciplinary programs. Dr. Williams
is also a former Trustee of the Village of Hempstead and currently serves on the School Board
for the Hempstead School District. In addition to her commitment to education, Dr. Williams is
also invested in the financial growth and economic development of the community she serves.
She actively serves on the IDA Board for the Town of Hempstead, the Village’s Chamber of
Commerce Executive Board, and the Board of Hempstead Community Land Trust. In addition to
numerous professional organizations, Dr. Williams is also a member of the Lion’s Club, the
Hempstead Chapter of the NAACP, the local chapter of AARP, the National Coalition of 100
Black Women, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She is a proud, long time resident of Hempstead
Village where she resides with her daughter, Reina Samuels.