GATHERING GROUND - Key Persons
Alyssa Calderone (Operations Associate) Graduating from St. John's University in 2008, Alyssa has built her career in the nonprofit sector as an efficiency expert in logistics and operations. Alyssa began working with Gathering Ground in 2018 at the Paterson Call to Collaboration and in 2020 became a part-time team member.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board Leadership Team
- Secretary
Elizabeth served as a member of NYC's Regional Planning Authority's Tri-State Committee on the Fourth Regional Plan, and has been an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, the University of Nevada/Las Vegas, and Hofstra University. Born and raised in Queens, NYC, Elizabeth holds dual citizenship - Irish and American, and from 2008 to 2012 she lived and worked in Ireland, during which time four of her poems were published. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary's College /University of Notre Dame, and successfully completed two executive education certificate programs: Stanford University's Graduate School of Business-Executive Education Program for Nonprofit Leaders (focus on strategy and leadership), and Rutgers University's Leadership Coaching for Organizational Performance.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board Leadership Team
- Treasurer, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Jeanette Mitchell started her career in the nonprofit sector as an intern for the South Ward Super Neighborhood, a project developed by Senator Cory Booker when he became the Mayor of Newark. Ms. Mitchell continued her community organizing work through her senior year in college and upon graduation, she became a consultant with Clean Water Action/Clean Water Fund (CWA/CWF). In this role, Ms. Mitchell was responsible for community organizing, educating residents about climate resilience and developing working relationships with city stakeholders.
As a big believer in social justice, Ms. Mitchell became a qualified organizer who grew within the CWA/CWF organization. Since then Ms. Mitchell has worked with several community groups, two city government administrations and has been a part of countless canvassing and community centered projects. During her time as a consultant in the environmental field she has also consulted for several media firms, where she has worked closely within various departments, fine tuning her skills in media relations and expanding on her natural creative talents.
Ms. Mitchell holds a bachelor of arts degree in International Relations from the City College of New York.
Job Titles:
- Creative New Jersey 's Director of Programming
- Director of Programming
Kacy O'Brien (Director of Programming) joined Gathering Ground in 2013 and in that time has led cross-sector teams in Newark, Paterson, Camden, Asbury Park, Trenton, Highlands, Elizabeth, Atlantic City, the Skylands region (tri-county), and Hammonton, through Gathering Ground's engagement process, including planning and facilitating large-scale public engagement events for each community, and for four statewide engagement events focused on regional collaboration. She helps communities to leverage their own creativity and innovation through coaching and network building beyond public engagement events. As a facilitator for retreats, panels and conferences, she has conducted workshops on creative decision-making, community engagement, leadership, and time management for groups such as the Environmental Leadership Program, Geraldine R. Dodge Emerging Leaders, Citizens Campaign, and creative placemaking initiatives.
Prior to Gathering Ground, Kacy spent a decade producing socially relevant, deeply rooted community-centric shows at Passage Theatre (Trenton, NJ), where she also co-conceived, managed and produced unprecedented theatrical collaborations with NJ environmental organizations to raise awareness on environmental-justice issues.
In addition, she is Victoria Emerging Leaders Program (VELP) '18 Fellow, Lead NJ '15 Fellow.
Kacy O'Brien is Creative New Jersey's Director of Programming and is a Victoria Emerging Leaders Program (VELP) 2018 Fellow and Lead New Jersey 2015 Fellow.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board Leadership Team
Throughout our first decade, we have benefitted from the advice, connections, influence and support from a thoughtful and committed group of creative thinkers and changemakers, who helped shape our work. We are deeply grateful to them for all they have contributed to Gathering Ground.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Co - Managing Director and Media Director at Democracy
Maria Carnemolla (Executive Director) obtained her BA in Economics from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst and her MS in Management from The College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown, New Jersey. She has over 25 years of leadership experience working in higher education and nonprofit organizations. Her passion and enthusiasm for social justice began at a young age, engaging in activism to fight for the rights of workers and marginalized and disadvantaged groups.
Maria has served as the Co-Managing Director and Media Director at Democracy at Work where she helped produce the TV and radio show Economic Update with Richard Wolff, and expand the roster from 2 to 8 audio and video podcasts, books and live events that advocate for economic justice. She co-edited the second book published by Democracy at Work, Understanding Socialism. Maria has also held the position of Senior Director of Financial Aid at Berkeley College where she was responsible for the management and oversight of 6 campuses.
Maria has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Left Forum where she assisted in planning annual conferences that featured renowned academics and activists like Noam Chomsky, Cornel West, Chris Hedges, Jill Stein and the work and initiatives of many marginalized groups. She is active in her neighborhood and kids' schools and has been a member of the Home and School Associations boards, fundraising for and organizing events for school children.
Maria was born in New Jersey, but spent her adolescence in Sicily where she learned about the importance and power of community. She has dedicated her life and is deeply committed to working on transforming and challenging structures that perpetuate inequality, and promoting and creating more equitable, democratic communities that put people and their needs before profits. She currently lives in Woodland Park, NJ with her husband and two children and two dogs.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board Leadership Team
- Board President, Executive Director, Greater Newark Conservancy