Our Team
Our wonderful work is made possible by a dedicated team of talented year-round staff, supplemented by the invaluable contributions of annual service corps members & gifted volunteers.
Inés Palmarin, Acting Executive Director
Prior to joining the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s, Inés worked as the Senior Program Officer for Resilient Communities, Resilient Families for LISC Boston. She spent over a decade in the public government as a Senior Planner/Project Director for the Boston Redevelopment Authority, where she managed the Fairmount Indigo Planning Initiative and worked on numerous neighborhood planning and economic development initiatives.
As a first-generation Puerto Rican woman, Ines has dedicated 25+ years of personal and professional life to providing resources and access to BIPOC communities to improve their economic wellbeing. She believes that working in service and partnership with community is a calling.
Inés is the co-founder of Boston Mothers Care, a volunteer-run organization focused on bringing humanitarian aid to children and their families in Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Boston. She served on the Vital Village board and is currently attending Gordon Conwell pursuing a new path focused on Latinos and Global Ministries. Ines is passionate about civic engagement, women empowerment, and young leaders, especially in urban neighborhoods.
Inés graduated from Wheelock College in 1992, where she fell in love with Boston neighborhoods and the network of nonprofits. In 1999, she received her Master’s in City Planning from MIT.
Ada Avelar, LEARN Site Manager
Ada joined the St. Stephens family in 2017 as a parent mentor and then as a lead counselor in the B-SAFE summer program. In 2021, Ada took on a new role as the Site Manager at the 419 Shawmut location, and is very excited to connect and work directly with students and families to provide the support they need. Ada enjoys working and learning with different cultures.
Cecile Romiette Auguste, B-PEACE Program Manager
Cecile Romiette Auguste is a Physical Therapist from Haiti. After finishing high school in her hometown she was awarded a full excellence scholarship by the Taiwan Government. For the next 7 years she lived in Taipei and pursued her bachelor at the prestigious National Taiwan University and then she got her MBA in Healthcare Administration at Taipei Medical University. She was very involved in the Foreign student associations, advocating for her fellow students and organizing activities for them.in 2017 with diploma in hands, she returned to Haiti to give back to the society. She worked as a PT at the Institut Haitien de Rehabilitation and because she has a passion for education she was the PT program coordinator and also served as the vice dean of a PT faculty. She also taught healthcare Administration and physical therapy at two other schools. She moved to the US in 2020 and kept teaching Haitian students online. She is enrolled in an online transitional doctor of Physical Therapy. She is also licensed to practice in the United States as Physical Therapy Assistant.
In 2022 She was one of the awardees of the African Bridge Network Administrative fellowship program. She then worked at Boston Children Hospital as program coordinator of the Rehabilitation program. In 2023 she joined McLean Hospital ECT and Ketamine clinic as Administrative coordinator. During her times at Childrens she got her lean six sigma white and yellow belt certificates. One of her passion is to work as a volunteer in helping immigrant families adjusting to the United States. In february 2024, she gladly accepted the offer to serve as Program director at St Stephens. She will work with a team and with partners in various violence prevention projects and activities in the St Stephens community.
Cecile is a mother of three beautiful kids who keep her very busy and happy. She loves to do yoga, dancing, reading and hiking in her spare time. She is fluent in Haitian Creole, French, English and Mandarin Chinese.
Ari Branz, Director of Organizing
Ari Branz (they/them) began organizing families at St. Stephen’s Youth Program in 2015. They built up the family organizing program at SSYP through campaigns for public education and immigrant justice. They also led SSYP to pilot and grow the Parent Mentor Program. From 2019-2022 they worked organizing across the city with the Boston Teachers Union. They returned to SSYP in 2022 as Director of Organizing. In their free time, Ari enjoys hiking, playing the oboe in a community orchestra, and eating fresh eggs from their backyard chickens.
Ari Branz (elle) comenzó a organizar familias en St. Stephen's en 2015. Construyó el programa de organización familiar en SSYP a través de campañas de educación pública y justicia para inmigrantes. También llevó a SSYP a implementar y crecer el programa de Padres Mentores. De 2019 a 2022 trabajó organizando a través de toda la ciudad con el Sindicato de Maestros de Boston. Regresó a SSYP en 2022 como Director de Organización. En su tiempo libre, a Ari le gusta caminar, tocar el oboe en una orquesta comunitaria y comer huevos frescos de sus gallinas de patio.
Tyler Cavanagh, Associate Director of Development & Communications
Tyler holds a bachelor's degree in music with a concentration in vocal performance from Westfield State University. With over 15 years of experience in youth work, including licensed camps and childcare, teen leadership programming, mentoring, and arts education, Tyler is excited to bring his experience to the development side of the table. He has a passion for building community and creating opportunities to celebrate diversity and inclusion in all ages but especially in young people. Tyler currently lives on the South Shore where he is an active performer in community theatre, choirs, and recitals.
Elwyn Cruz, Associate Site Manager at YLC
Elwyn Malyk Cruz was born and raised in Boston. His journey at SSYP started as a Junior Counselor-In-Training (JCIT), which prepared him to be CIT that led to a Lead Counselor at the YLC. In 2022, Elwyn became the first year-round Site Coordinator at YLC. This Fall, Elwyn joined the full-time staff as the Associate Site Manager at the YLC.
Courtland Daniel, Deputy Director of Youth Development
Courtland is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Boston and holds a bachelor’s degree in music. She has over 10 years of experience working in youth development with experience working in licensed after schools, recreational camps, mentoring and program development. Courtland is passionate about community engagement as well as watching youth thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.
Dede Evans, College & Career Fellow (MPF)
Dede is currently a second year MPF Fellow with St. Stephen’s Youth Programs. She was born and raised in Boston, MA and graduated with a Bachelor degree in Community and Nonprofit Leadership. Dede has been apart of youth work for eight years and continues to have a passion for it every day. She loves walking and going on vacation, so you can always find her planning another trip.
Lanaya Kimble, Teen Staff Manager
Lanaya started at St. Stephens in Summer 2016 as a Counselor-In-Training (CIT) and continued through all four years of high school. In the summer of 2021, Lanaya took on more responsibility as the Site Assistant for LEARN, and in January 2022, was hired as an SSYP Fellow, where she will continue to serve as a Site Assistant. “SSYP paved my way to become successful and get into college and now I’m a site assistant. Started from the bottom and I’m still here but rising.”
Gabby Ligresti, Arts Academic Coordinator (JVC)
Gabby Ligresti has joined St. Stephen's this year as the organization's Jesuit Volunteer, serving as the Arts Academic Coordinator for SSYP and Spiritual Education Coordinator for the Church. She is from New York and holds a Bachelor's degree in Applied Psychology and Hispanic Studies from Boston College. Gabby has a passion for working with young people and their families and is excited to be a part of the St. Stephen's team this year!
Yesenia Menendez, Social Worker
Yesenia began a professional relationship with St. Stephen’s Youth Programs about 7 years ago when she offered parenting workshops through Families First. In September 2021, Yesenia joined in a much bigger capacity as SSYP’s Social Worker, where she supports youth and their parents during situations of homelessness, domestic violence, immigration, academic difficulties (IEP), and mental health.
Tracey Merrill, Director of Development
Tracey is thrilled to return to SSYP as its first, full-time Director of Development. Tracey has previously held part-time grant writing roles at SSYP. She is excited to work with Chris, SSYP's Governance Committee and the exceptional staff leadership team on advancing SSYP's mission through philanthropy. Tracey has worked on both the institutional side of fundraising, for among others, Quincy College, the Life is Good Kids Foundation and the YMCA, and provided development consulting services to a wide range arts, education and social service non-profits. She lives on the South Shore with her busy family, including two poorly behaved - but adorable - golden retrievers.
Eva Ortez, Chaplain
Eva Ortez (she/her) holds a Master of Divinity degree from Boston University. She has experience working as a chaplain with vulnerable communities in Boston for five years. Her chaplaincy work is centered at the intersection of social justice and faith. She looks forward to learning with and accompanying the SSYP communities. In her free time Eva loves to enjoy a cafecito and spend time with loved ones.
Eva Ortez (ella) tiene una Maestría en Divinidad de la Universidad de Boston. Tiene experiencia trabajando como capellán con comunidades vulnerables en Boston durante cinco años. Su trabajo de capellanía se centra en la intersección de la justicia social y la fe. Espera aprender y acompañar a las comunidades SSYP. En su tiempo libre a Eva le encanta disfrutar de un cafecito y pasar tiempo con sus seres queridos.
Rafaela Polanco, Director of Family Engagement
Rafaela Polanco joined SSYP in 2015, starting as a parent leader and then as a staff person. She now leads SSYP's Parent Mentor Program, a program based on a model from Logan Square Neighborhood Association in Chicago and the only one like it in the Northeast. Rafa has a bachelor's degree in legal studies from the Universidad Tecnologica de Santiago and a master's degree in business law and economic development from the Pontifica Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra. She came to the United States from the Dominican Republic, first to Puerto Rico in 2009, and then to Boston in 2014. Rafa loves talking with people and celebrating all the different cultures we have in SSYP. She is the parent of a fourth-grader at the Blackstone; he is the greatest gift God has ever given to her.
Sugey Rondón Reyes, Family Organizer
Sugey Rondon is a mother of three. She joined SSYP in 2019, starting out as a volunteer parent leader and later as a staff member. She is currently a Family Organizer, teaching families the importance of getting involved in their children's schools. Sugey has a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from the Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago DR. She came to the United States from the Dominican Republic in 2016. Sugey loves family togetherness, sharing and collaborating. She celebrates being able to motivate families about investing quality time with their children.
Sugey Rondon es madre de tres niños, se unió a SSYP en 2019, comenzando como madre líder voluntaria y luego como miembro del personal. Actualmente es Organizadora de familias, enseña a las familias la importancia que tiene que se involucren en las escuelas de sus hijos. Sugey tiene una Licenciatura en Mercadeo de la Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago RD, llegó a los Estados Unidos desde la República Dominicana en el 2016. A Sugey le encanta la unión familiar, compartir y colaborar. Celebra poder motivar a las familias sobre invertir calidad de tiempo con sus hijos.
Latasha Scott, Assistant Director of Development
Latasha Scott, a young African American woman hailing from Roxbury, MA, boasts an impressive 8-year tenure at SSYP. Starting as a lead counselor, Latasha navigated through various roles, culminating in her current position of Assistant Director of Development. Passionate about bridging gaps, she revels in providing resources and connecting the dots for people. Her love for reading, doodling, and capturing moments through photography fills her spare time with joy and creativity.
Betsy Walsh, B-Lit Program Coordinator
Betsy earned a degree in Special Education from Vanderbilt and subsequently worked with preschoolers with special needs in the South Bronx. She moved to Boston where she studied counseling psychology and raised a family. Betsy chaired the Outreach Committee at Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester for twelve years, and led their partnership with St. Stephen's. She is also a member of SSYP's Advisory Board and the board of El Hogar Ministries.
Khia White-Mack, JCIT Coordinator (MPF)
Khia started as a volunteer Counselor-in-Training her senior year and has continued to grow within the program going through different positions. Now she starting her 3rd year with St. Stephen's Youth program as our middle school through Massachusetts Promise Fellow.
Executive Board
Dasan Harrington (Warden)
Jenny Gray (Treasurer)
Shawna Young
Eva Ortez
Maria Dominguez-Gray