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.
Ari Branz, Executive Leader (Community Organizing, Strategic Planning)
Ari began at SSYP in 2015, where they built the Family Organizing department from scratch. In 2017, they launched SSYP’s Parent Mentor Program, and in 2024, they launched SSYP’s Ladders of Opportunity economic mobility program. Ari is passionate about advancing racial, class, immigrant, and language justice, is a self-proclaimed “data nerd,” and believes in the leadership potential of everyone they meet. They are an encyclopedia of knowledge about the Boston Public Schools system, having previously worked as an Organizer at the Boston Teachers Union. Trained in Community Organizing through the Jewish Organizing Institute for Justice (JOIN), Ari graduated Summa Cum Laude from Tufts University with a Bachelor's degree in Community Health and International Relations and received a Masters’ degree in Labor Studies from UMass Amherst, as well as a Certificate in Interpretation for Social Justice from the Boston Interpreters’ Collective. Ari lives in Mattapan with their wife, dog, cats, and backyard chickens. They can often be found biking, gardening, drinking tea, or cheering on the brilliant 8-year-old in their household.
Tyler Cavanagh, Executive Leader (Youth Development, Resource Development)
Tyler joined the SSYP as a Development Associate in September 2019. Throughout his time at SSYP, Tyler has helped to grow the Development and Communications systems internally, and in 2024, took the leap to leading our Youth Development programs.
Tyler brings more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit youth development programming, having worked for the YMCA for 15 years leading EEC Licensed School Aged Child Care programs, summer camps, teen programs, and arts and education programs. During this time, he served on the management team for North East Leaders School and as an advisor to the MA Youth In Government program, two regional teen leadership development programs. In 2013, Tyler helped launch Laura’s Center for the Arts at the YMCA, where he developed and led programming in Music, Theatre, Dance, and Visual Arts, including 28 program offerings for ArtsCamp during the summer. Most notably, Tyler led the LCA Youth Theatre Company, an inclusive theatre program that focused on building community and confidence through performance. Outside of his work at SSYP, Tyler is on both the faculty and the board of Spotlight Music and Theater Academy in Scituate.
Eva Ortez, Executive Leader (Operations, Social-Emotional & Spiritual Care), Priest-in-Charge
The Rev. Eva Ortez began her tenure at SSYP in October 2023 as curate for St. Stephen’s Church and chaplain for the Youth Program. Shortly after, she was called to serve as the priest-in-charge. This leadership change also led to deeper work with the social-emotional care department in the youth program. Since then, she has worked to develop and lead the Social-Emotional Spiritual Care department alongside the program social worker. This department strives to provide emotional and spiritual resources for our organization, serving staff, children, parents, and teens. Eva holds a bachelor's degree in International & Global Studies and French from Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee and Masters of Divinity from Boston University with a focus on Global and Community Engagement.
Her greatest teachers, however, have been the communities she has served and those that have served her. In particular, the five years she spent on the pastoral care team with the MANNA Community, a ministry of The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, serving unhoused people in downtown Boston. She lives in Jamaica Plain with her sister and dog nephew. The things that bring her the most joy are enjoying a good cafecito, listening to music, and spending time with her loved ones.
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.”
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.
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.
Executive Board
Dasan Harrington (Warden)
Jenny Gray (Treasurer)
Shawna Young
Eva Ortez
Maria Dominguez-Gray