PASA - Key Persons


Airine Alves

Airine oversees AfterZone operations at DelSesto Middle School. She was born in Cape Verde and came to the USA in 5th grade, which allows her to identify with the youth and families at DelSesto. Prior to PASA, she worked with DelSesto as an Art Implementation Fellow for Turnaround Arts Providence. She has a B.S in Business Management and a minor in Studio Art from Rhode Island College. Airine is an Artist, with a love for painting and photography.

Alexander Bezek

Job Titles:
  • Deputy Director
Alexander is a native of the Greater Boston area, an alumni of Providence College where he studied Sociology and Black Studies, then later received his Graduate Degree in Counseling. Alexander has over a decades worth of experience in the Youth Development Field; he has experience designing curriculum, facilitating programs, and organizational management and leadership. He is a huge advocate of community development and providing underserved and unprivileged youth with high quality programming, resources and mentorship.

Ann Durham

Job Titles:
  • Executive Director
Ann Durham, Executive Director With PASA since 2014, Ann Durham has served as the Executive Director since July 2021. Taking a partnership-minded approach, Ann views PASA's intermediary role as one that is meant to amplify and support youth-driven organizations throughout Providence. Ann's previous work at PASA includes the expansion of professional development for OST professionals and leading PASA's work on the developmental evaluation of the Every Hour Counts Measurement Framework. Ann regularly supports OST intermediaries throughout the country as they look to develop and strengthen their systems-level approach to youth programming. Ann holds a B.A. in English from Skidmore College and an Ed.M. in Sociology and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Ayana Melvan

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships, Mission Programs, Mystic Aquarium

Benjamin Appleyard

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Communications Manager, Bank of America

Benjamin McGuire

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, PASA Finance Chair

Benjamin T. Scungio

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Office Manager, Sales Associate RI & MA, Mott & Chace Sotheby 's International Realty

Brett Smiley

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Mayor, City of Providence, PASA Board Chair

Brittany Ortiz

Job Titles:
  • Director of Middle School Initiatives
Brittany oversees the operations and manages the staff of all middle schools programming. She has over a decade of experience in youth development. Early in her career she took on frontline roles as a Camp Counselor, Group Leader and Educational Coordinator. While continuing to develop her professional focus within the nonprofit industry she joined the PASA team in 2017 and thrived as a Site Coordinator and Site Manager. Brittany holds a BA in Psychology from Rhode Island College and an MS in Child and Adolescent Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University.

Carol Grant

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Commissioner, Office of Energy Resources

Dana DeMaire

Job Titles:
  • Hub Site Coordinator, Hope High School
Dana oversees HUB Operations at Hope High School. She has a Youth Development Major, a Psychology Minor, alongside a Certification in Non-Profit Studies and a Concentration in Social Emotional Learning from Rhode Island College. Dana has been working for PASA and within the YDEV Field in different capacities for the past 7 years.

Gautam Sarin - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Director of Finance
Gautam comes to PASA with a background in the finance and startup industries, and he is excited to make the shift to the mission-driven nonprofit sector. At PASA, he will support community and youth focused organizations. "I was lucky enough to have access to after-school programs in my youth, and those experiences helped me with my development and shaped me into who I am today. PASA's mission to expand and improve after-school learning opportunities for the youth of Providence resonates me personally. I am proud to be part of a team that is dedicated to serving our local community."

Genesis Sanchez Tavarez

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Commercial Litigation Associate, Proskauer Rose LLP

Henry C. Hodge Jr.

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • CEO, HCH Enterprises, LLC

Itza Serrano

Job Titles:
  • Senior Data Manager
Itza oversees data management, reporting, and submission. Previously, Itza served as PASA's Quality and Assessment AmeriCorps VISTA and later as the Data and Operations Coordinator. She has a BA from Holy Cross in Psychology with a minor in Gender Studies and a Masters from URI in Human Development and Family Studies with a focus on data analysis.

James Walker

Job Titles:
  • Zone Site Manager, Nathan Bishop Middle School
James oversees AfterZone operations at Nathan Bishop Middle School. James previously served as the Learning and Development Manager at City Year Providence. James gained his passion for youth development while working as an Americorps member at City Year. James has a BA in Sociology from Providence College.

Javier Montanez

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Superintendent of Providence Schools, Providence Public School District

Jayne Donegan

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Executive Counsel, Textron

Justin Reid

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • VP, Strategy & Corporate Development, AmerisourceBergen, PASA Board Vice - Chair

Laura Goldstein

Job Titles:
  • Director of Quality Initiatives
Laura has spent the last decade working in arts and after school education throughout Rhode Island's urban core. Her primary career focus has been on building empathetic and equitable education systems that allow for holistic youth development. She holds a B.A. in Theatre and Dance Studies from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, an M.Ed. in Integrated Teaching Through the Arts from Lesley University, and an M.A. in Urban Education Policy from Brown University.

Margaret "Peggy" Farrell

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Partner, Hinckley Allen & Snyder LLP

Marlene Mathon

Job Titles:
  • Zone Site Coordinator, Esek Hopkins Middle School
Marlene oversees AfterZone operations at Esek Hopkins Middle School. She started at PASA as an Assistant Site Coordinator at DelSesto Middle School and has transitioned into a full time role with Esek Hopkins. Marlene earned her degree in Sociology with a minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies from the University of Vermont.

Nicole Verdi

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Head of Government Affairs & Policy, New England Orsted Americas

Rachel Colaice

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Health & Wellness Coordinator, Providence Parks Department

Renee Lafond

Job Titles:
  • Operations and Administration Manager
Renee oversees office operations and administration, including human resources, program, and finance functions of the organization, as well as supports the executive and development departments. Previously, Renee served as PASA's People Operations Manager. With PASA, she moves in to her 11th year in the youth development field. Renee holds a BA in General Theatre from Rhode Island College and an Ed.M. in Theatre Education from Emerson College

Stanley Cazeau

Job Titles:
  • Hub Site Coordinator, JSEC - 360 High Schools
Stanley oversees HUB Operations at JSEC-360 High Schools. Stanley Cazeau is a Native of Haiti, raised in the city of Boston. He is an alumni of Bunker Hill Community College where he studied Sociology. Previously, he held positions as a Youth worker, Teen coordinator and Middle school basketball coach, with almost 6 years of experience in Youth Development and program facilitation. "I am a big advocate in Community Development and mentoring underprivileged inner city youth as I was once one."

Tyrone Gaye

Job Titles:
  • Director of High School Initiatives
Tyrone oversees the operations and manages the staff of all high school programming. Following a BA In Sociology from The University of Rhode Island, Tyrone has worked many years with at risk youth in Rhode Island. Tyrone gained his passion for youth development while working at The Ocean Tides School in Narragansett, Rhode Island. Most recently Tyrone served as a Director at Turning the Corner Youth Abuse Reactive Treatment Facility.