Fall Cohort 2016
Ali is a public anthropologist focused on gender, race, culture, and entrepreneurial development. Toxtli’s experience spans over 10 years of collaborations with community through ethnomusicology, public health, bike/pedestrian mobility, and cultural/economic advocacy in Latin America and the United States. His work has allowed him to serve on the migrant advisory council for the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, become a member of People’s Climate Arts, now People’s Collective Arts, and selected as a 2017 National Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) Leadership and Advocacy Fellow. Currently he manages the Bushwick farmers markets for Riseboro Community Partnership and proudly serves as Board President of the Bushwick Food Cooperative. Ali aims to continue co-creating working possibilities for minority, low income, and migrant communities in the New York area and their home sending communities.
Toxtli holds a Master’s in Mexican Anthropological Studies from the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP).
Anupa Gewali is the senior communications and development associate at Adhikaar, the only staffed organization in the country that serves and organizes Nepali speaking immigrants and refugees. Her primary focus is strengthening how Adhikaar’s impact is conveyed, through earned and owned media, spokesperson training and building relationships with partners and allies. Anupa comes to Adhikaar with experience in leadership development and training for student organizers at the undergraduate level, especially for minority and low-income students passionate about global health. Her research has focused on the organizing efforts for public health policy addressing tobacco and other substance abuse in rural Ladakh, India. She holds a bachelors in Public Health and Journalism from the University of Rochester.
Carolina oversees a network of over 30 community-based and small business serving organizations that provide enrollment assistance through the New York State of Health, NY’s Marketplace. Carolina has expertise on matters related to health care reform and health insurance. Prior to this position, Carolina worked at the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island where she conducted public health insurance enrollment and retention work.
Carolina has a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.
Christon is a New York native who has spent the last decade endeavoring to bolster and enrich the lives of young, disadvantaged people of color in urban areas. In his current role as the Implementation Manager at Generation Schools Network, Christon is responsible for implementing GSN’s model at partner schools and providing technical assistance to teachers and principals in areas including college and career readiness, health and wellness, and teaching and learning. Before GSN, Christon ran a print and online magazine for six years and utilized this magazine writing and design expertise to teach high school students for two years. He then managed a college access and success program for first-generation college goers in New York City for five years. Christon holds a BS in Communication and a double minor in Business and Nutrition from Cornell University and a certificate in project management from Baruch. Christon is also a proud Social Innovation Fellow of StartingBloc, a fellowship for burgeoning change agents and social entrepreneurs.
Constance Ferber is the Knowledge Manager at the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York (NPCC). She oversees NPCC’s use of data to inform the nonprofit sector on trends through surveys, reports, and resources and manages NPCC’s impact measurement structures. Prior to NPCC, Constance worked for CRS in their Health & HIV unit. She is also on the Young Professionals Board of the Washington Heights CORNER Project, a New York City-based harm reduction organization. Constance has a B.A. in Sociology from the College of Wooster and a M.A in Human Rights Studies from Columbia University.
Born and raised in Queens, NY, Indira Goodwine is an arts administrator committed to using art as a form of activism to educate, inspire and service diverse communities. Her professional career in arts administration began at Harlem Stage where she worked in both Programming and General Management. During that time, she also served as the Company Manager for Camille A. Brown & Dancers and as of August 2016 transitioned into the role of Managing Director.
In addition to NYCT, Indira has participated in other notable programs such as the American Express Leadership Academy and Dance/USA’s DILT Program. She has also been a speaker for Next Generation National Arts Network and Dance/USA’s Annual Conference. Indira received her M.A. in Performing Arts Administration from New York University and a B.F.A. in Dance Performance from The Florida State University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Ingrid Haftel is Community Education Program Director at the Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP), a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that uses the power of design and art to increase meaningful civic engagement. Before CUP, she was Curator of Exhibitions at the Chicago Architecture Foundation, where she developed public exhibitions on contemporary issues in urban planning and design. Ingrid received her B.A. in English and Comparative History of Ideas from the University of Washington, and her M.A. in Humanities from the University of Chicago.
Jason Minnis is an Application Architect / IT Project Manager for the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). BAM is one of the oldest performing arts institutions in the United States. Jason’s role involves managing BAM’s internal and external software development projects as well as maintaining BAM’s application & web architecture. Jason is also an active volunteer within his community of East New York Brooklyn having served as a STEM speaker and as a mentor for Big Brothers Big sisters. Jason received his B.S in Management Information Systems at Florida State University and his M.S. in Information Systems from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Jean promotes the development and retention of businesses in New York City and connects them with resources and opportunities to maximize their competitive advantage in the marketplace. Prior to BOC Network, Jean was the co-owner of Local Labels, a retail company selling specialty foods and gifts made in the five boroughs. In addition to her experience as a small business owner, she has served as the Program Manager for the Neighborhood Preservation Center, a resource center for community groups working toward the improvement and preservation of New York City’s neighborhoods. Her experience also includes performing public outreach and participation efforts at the Regional Plan Association, the Municipal Art Society, and the planning firm, Howard-Stein/Hudson Associates. She has a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning at Pratt Institute and a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television at New York University.