Amirah Taylor is an accomplished foster care supervisor at Graham Windham, bringing over five years of leadership experience and more than a decade of service in the child welfare system. Throughout her career, Amirah has been dedicated to promoting the safety, stability, and well-being of children and families, ensuring they receive the support and advocacy they deserve.

Amirah earned her Bachelor of Criminology from SUNY Old Westbury in 2015, where she developed a strong foundation in understanding crime, justice, and social systems. Her passion for driving organizational excellence led her to pursue a Master of Organizational Leadership from Mercy University, which she completed in 2022. This advanced degree has enhanced her ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, implement strategic policies, and foster a culture of collaboration and accountability.

At Graham Windham, Amirah oversees case management operations, providing guidance and support to a team of case planners. She ensures compliance with agency regulations, facilitates professional development, and works to enhance service delivery to improve outcomes for children in foster care. Her expertise includes crisis intervention, family engagement, and collaborating with external stakeholders to strengthen community partnerships.

Known for her compassionate yet results-driven approach, Amirah is committed to empowering her team and the families they serve. She is passionate about advancing child welfare practices and remains dedicated to creating meaningful, lasting change in the lives of vulnerable youth.

Angel Gray is a passionate nonprofit leader and social work professional with over nine years of experience empowering children, youth, and families across diverse settings, including psychiatric hospitals, schools, residential treatment centers, and community-based mental health programs. Since joining the Westchester Children’s Association (WCA) in February 2022 as Program and Policy Manager, Angel has led transformative initiatives, forged powerful cross-sector coalitions, and partnered with service providers, public officials, and community stakeholders to drive meaningful change for children and youth in Westchester County.

Angel holds a Master of Social Work from New York University, a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Mercy College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Spelman College. Her unwavering commitment to advocacy and youth well-being fuels her drive to advocate for policies and practices that uplift underserved communities across New York State.

With a deep-rooted passion for social justice and community empowerment, Angel continues to leverage her expertise to advocate for those who need it most, ensuring that every child and family has access to the resources and opportunities they deserve.

As a licensed clinical social worker, practicing social work since 2011, Arjon’s creative nature and great empathy were driving factors in her desire to expand her knowledge of mind-body connectivity, and the importance of self care in addressing mental health concerns. Arjon’s therapeutic approach includes but is not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Strength Based Psychoanalysis. As a Certified Yoga Teacher and Reiki Practitioner , Arjon’s approach incorporates holistic wellness methods which include mindfulness, meditation, breath-work, basic stretching/yoga and reiki.

Currently, Arjon serves as the Program Director of NYC 988 – New York City’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, part of the Here2Help Contact Center at Vibrant Emotional Health. Arjon has several years of experience in mental health & crisis intervention, care coordination, child welfare, and education – including adjunct instructor roles at CUNY Hunter College (Social Work) and Columbia University.

Avinand (Avi) Persaud, is a dedicated professional who currently serves as the Associate
Director of Protective Services at JASA, a nonprofit organization committed to serving older
adults in New York City. In his leadership role, Avi is responsible for overseeing several vital
programs, including Adult Protective Services (APS), the Elder Justice Programs, the Family
Caregivers Assistance Program (FCAP), the Elder Justice Training Institute, and the Elder
Justice Conference.

Avi’s journey with JASA began in 2013 when he joined the organization as an APS Case
Manager. His unwavering commitment to advocating for vulnerable populations and his passion
for improving the lives of older adults propelled him through various positions, ultimately
leading to his current leadership role.

Avi frequently presents on Adult Protective Services and Elder Justice at professional conferences
conferences and community events, sharing his expertise and raising awareness about the needs
and rights of older adults.

Before his work at JASA, Avi earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the City College of
New York in 2010, followed by a Master of Arts in Sociology from the same institution in 2014.
His educational background and professional experience provide him with a comprehensive
understanding of the complex issues affecting older adults, and he remains deeply committed to
advocating and safeguarding vulnerable and at-risk adults in New York City.

Carolyn is a social justice leader with over fifteen years of experience at the nexus of democracy and education. She has worked with Generation Citizen, the NYC Department of Education’s Office of Community Schools, Open Society Foundations, and the Center for Constitutional Rights as part of her commitment to strengthening democratic norms and access. Through workshop facilitation, partnership development, coalitions, and grantmaking, she has and continues to work for a more equal and unified society.

In her free time, Carolyn is a children’s novelist, a volunteer citizenship exam tutor, and enjoys reading, hiking, gardening, and watching the latest seasons of Survivor.

Christina oversees The Door’s data management, reporting, and strategy as the Managing Director of Data and Evaluation. Christina brings over 15 years of experience in data, strategy, and project management within the education, nonprofit, and international development sectors.

Christina’s career includes pivotal roles at a leading Charter School Network spanning five regions, where she led a team in developing impactful data solutions, insights, and tools. At two of the US’s top districts, she led the implementation of dashboards, quantitative analyses, and evaluation reports. Additionally, she contributed to strategic projects at technology and international development nonprofits, where she excelled in managing cross-departmental frameworks and key performance indicators and improving operational efficiency.

Christina is originally from Queens, NY, holds a Master’s in Social Research from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a Bachelor’s in Economics and Sociology from Barnard College, Columbia University. Christina also recently completed the Strategic Data Project Fellowship at the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. Christina also enjoys the outdoors and is a certified hiking guide on the weekends and volunteers promoting the outdoors to youth in NYC.

Claire serves as the Director of Compliance for Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO). She joined CEO in 2018, and held roles developing the organization’s social enterprise at the local and national level before joining the Legal & Compliance team. Prior to joining CEO, she worked with a social enterprise incubator in India and supported micro-entrepreneurial development in New Orleans. Born and raised in San Diego, Claire graduated with a B.A. from Tulane University.

Gabriela “Gabby” Aguilar, MD, MPH (she/her) is the Region 1 Medical Director at Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY) where she provides sexual and reproductive health care and oversight for all clinical staff providing care throughout the New York City and Nassau County health centers since August 2022. Before joining PPGNY she worked at a large, independent abortion clinic in Manhattan. She continues to provide general obstetric and gynecologic care along with resident teaching as a Clinical Instructor at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine and Staff Physician at New York City Health + Hospital’s Bellevue Hospital Center. She is an active member of the Society of Family Planning and National Abortion Federation. Dr. Aguilar is board-certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Complex Family Planning. She is a 2021 graduate of the Complex Family Planning fellowship at Yale University. While in fellowship she was awarded the ‘Outstanding Researcher in Training’ award by the Society of Family Planning for her work on perceived race and/or ethnicity discrimination during procedural abortion care. She also participated in the Physicians for Reproductive Health Leadership Training Academy as a fellow. She completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency training program at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2019. Prior to obtaining her medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2015, she completed a Master’s in Public Health in Global Epidemiology at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health in 2011. Her public health experience included time at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Feminist Women’s Health Center, and Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta. She is a proud 2009 graduate and fanatic of the University of Michigan where she studied Cellular & Molecular Biology. Outside of medicine she loves traveling, live music, and learning languages.

Jacqui Painter is a proud Red Hook native and has a deep passion for art and civic engagement. She believes in the transformative power of art and is committed to providing a safe and supportive space for young people to develop their voices through artistic projects. Jacqui has been involved with the Red Hook Art Project for several years, initially as a volunteer and later as an instructor for the Emerging Art Council. She believes in the transformative power of art and is committed to providing a safe and supportive space for young people to develop their voices through artistic projects. In addition to her role at the Red Hook Art Project, Jacqui is also the District Leader for Assembly District 51, which allows her to engage with the community and connect with local leaders and organizations to promote the mission of the Red Hook Art Project. Jacqui was elected to this role in 2021 and continues to advocate for equity, access, and resources for marginalized communities, using her position to uplift youth voices and support community development throughout the district.