BRONXCHILDRENSMUSEUM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Rocking the Boat
Job Titles:
- Partner and Managing Director at the Boston Consulting Group
ALANNAH SHEERIN is a Partner and Managing Director at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in New York City. Since joining BCG in 2009, she has worked on marketing and media issues for companies in industries ranging from financial services to consumer goods. Some of her most recent work has focused on media challenges in the nonprofit world. Before joining BCG, she worked at Saatchi & Saatchi Healthcare, a division of the Publicis Groupe SA. Ms. Sheerin attended Tulane University for her undergraduate degree, and earned her MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She has been committed to supporting nonprofit organizations in all the communities in which she has lived. Ms. Sheerin's connection to the Bronx goes back to her childhood, when she took dancing and music lessons in the Riverdale and Woodlawn sections of the borough. She brings her passion for art, history and education to her role at Bronx Children's Museum.
AMANDA COLLADO-MILLIGAN, a seasoned industrial security professional, partners with government contracting firms to provide sound guidance and expertise regarding the National Industrial Security Program. Ms. Collado attended Marymount University for her undergraduate degree, and earned her MA in Government Security Studies and MBA in Management at the Carey Business School of The Johns Hopkins University. Ms. Collado's connection to the Bronx Children's Museum is through her father Rafael Collado, a successful entrepreneur, who was born and raised in the Bronx. Together with her father Ms. Collado supports several educational scholarships for high school students.
ANTONNIQUE DAY is Senior Vice President, People and Capability Business Partner for Finance and Law, Franchise and Integrity at Mastercard based in Purchase, New York. She is a member of the senior leadership teams for these 3 functional areas and provides her professional expertise to support the business priorities and talent strategies. Ms. Day joined Mastercard in 2008 and has held multiple HR leadership positions globally of increasing responsibility across the organization. Prior to joining Mastercard, Ms. Day developed her HR expertise in the banking and health care technology sectors at CitiMortgage (division of Citigroup) and Computerized Medical Systems. She holds a master's degree in Human Resources Management from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri, and a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from Jackson State University. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated and Alumni Fellow of St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative. Ms. Day lives in Greenwich, CT with her husband and 2 daughters. She is passionate about making positive impacts in her community through volunteerism and mentoring young professionals.
APRIL HORTON is a registered lobbyist for Verizon. She leads all government affairs and legislative activity for Verizon in the Bronx and Mid-State. She is responsible for securing Verizon's short-term objectives and advancing its long-term goals by communicating with key internal and external audiences and positioning the company's strategic direction, progress towards targeted goals and advances in products and services. Ms. Horton is responsible for philanthropic strategy, grant-making and foundation initiatives in the areas of education and literacy, family safety and health, and employee volunteerism. She has served as Co-Chair for the Young Professionals Advisory Group of A Better Chance, working to ensure children of color have access to premier education opportunities. She was selected as one of 25 Influential Women of the Bronx and honored by the Bronx Democratic County Committee. Born and raised in the Bronx, Ms. Horton is a current resident and serves on Community Board 12. She is a graduate of Fordham University and holds a Master's degree in Industrial Organizational psychology from Columbia University. As a mother of two, she brings a passion of cultivating young minds through education, exploration and diverse experiences.
ASUNCIÓN "SUNNY" HOSTIN is a co-host of the daytime talk show The View and the senior legal correspondent for ABC News. Previously, Sunny was a host and legal analyst at CNN. She covered many high profile trials, from George Zimmerman to Casey Anthony, and a number of other major stories, including the AME church shooting in Charleston and the selection of Eric Holder for Attorney General. Prior to working at CNN, Sunny filled in as co-anchor for ABC News' "World News Now" and "America This Morning." Sunny began her legal career as an appellate law clerk, trial attorney for the Justice Department and lastly a federal prosecutor. She received a Special Achievement Award from then Attorney General Janet Reno during her time as a federal prosecutor. Sunny graduated from Binghamton University and Notre Dame Law School. She currently resides in Westchester County with her two children and husband.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, MASA, Inc
Job Titles:
- President of the Board of Directors
ARLENE LEWIS BASCOM is the President of the Board of Directors. She is the Chief Financial Officer for Green-Wood, a national historic landmark which includes The Green-Wood Cemetery and The Green-Wood Historic Fund. Ms. Lewis Bascom's family emigrated from the island of Jamaica and settled in the Bronx in the mid-1970s. They resided in the northeast section of the borough. Ms. Lewis Bascom recently moved back to the Bronx. She is a graduate of SUNY-Fashion Institute of Technology with a concentration in Buying and Merchandising. She also earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from Pace University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Her passion for enriching and empowering the lives of children through learning outside of the traditional environment propelled her to join BxCM's Board.
Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa remarked, "I am thrilled to take part in today's event honoring Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor. As Bronx-born Latinas, we both know the potential this Borough has to inspire greatness. For seven years now, the Bronx Museum's Dream Big summer arts-enrichment program has provided countless children with that inspiration - and I know it will continue to do so for years to come."
Job Titles:
- Founding Bronx Children 's Museum Board Member Former Executive Director, Bronx Council for the Arts
Job Titles:
- Director of Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Cool Culture
Job Titles:
- Producer
- Founding Executive Director
Founding Executive Director Carla Precht joined the Bronx Children's Museum in January 2010. An innovative manager of not-for-profit programs for children and families throughout the New York area, she knows and loves the Bronx.
For 10 years Ms. Precht served as Executive Director of Riverdale Neighborhood House in the northwest Bronx where she extended the reach of the agency, revamped its development program and revitalized its services for teens, seniors, families and young children. Ms. Precht was the founding Executive Director of the first Horizons academic enrichment program for low-income children at Brooklyn Friends School. She spent five years as Deputy Director and then Acting Executive Director of Youth Action Program in East Harlem, she was a program officer for one of the city's leading literacy-focused after school program foundations, the Robert Bowne Foundation, and she served for nine years as Community Service Director for the Brooklyn Friends School.
Ms. Precht has trained and provided technical assistance to foundations, countless community-based organizations and after school and day care providers through Lutheran Medical Center, Child Care Inc, and Interface.
She began her career as an art teacher at Union Settlement House in East Harlem. From 2006-2009, Ms. Precht co-produced and co-directed an award winning educational documentary film about body image called Beauty Mark (www.beautymarkmovie.com) which was released in 2009.
Founding Executive Director Carla Precht added, "This year we are using the theme "Dream Big for Our Rivers" as a metaphor for taking care of oneself and one's neighbor. Most of the children we work with have never been to the Bronx River or to a river at all. By exposing children to the actual river habitat and its ecosystem of living organisms, they develop empathy and a comfort level for all living things and communities. Learning is also heightened when children are engaged on many different levels - cognitive, physical, and creative - from reading to expressing oneself through the arts and to going on field trips with real live encounters with nature. Dream Big for Our Rivers does all this and more."
Founding Executive Director Carla Precht added, "Our Museum will continue to provide programs in the community under the umbrella of "Dream Big" while our center is being developed. In the meantime, we are thrilled to have a new bus to transport programs and exhibits throughout the Bronx. Our first interactive exhibit in our bus, called River on the Go, will be unveiled in the fall. "
Founding Executive Director Carla Precht added, "Our Museum will continue to provide programs in the community under the umbrella of "Dreaming Big" for at least 3 more years while our home is being built."
Carolyn brings three decades of experience as a marketing, branding, and development professional to the team. Her career has spanned both book publishing and the nonprofit sector. As Vice President, Director of Advertising and Promotion for the Random House Publishing Group, she developed and implemented plans for fourteen imprints, and spearheaded brand marketing strategies for numerous bestselling authors, including Dean Koontz, Lee Child, George R.R. Martin, Danielle Steel, and Dr. Christiane Northrup. Afterwards she led marketing and development for World Book Night US, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to promoting reading by engaging 25,000 volunteers to distribute 500,000 free, specially-selected books to teens and adults nationwide. She worked closely with their Board of Trustees, made up of industry leaders from publishing houses, the American Bookseller Association, and the American Library Association. Ms. Schwartz has been associated with the Bronx Children's Museum since 2015. She gives back by assisting numerous nonprofits through her work with the Taproot Foundation. She received her BA from The Johns Hopkins University.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Teach for America - New York
Job Titles:
- Education Organizer, Former Highbridge Community Life Center
Christopher Gomez joined the Bronx Children's Museum in October of 2019. He is a New York-based cartoonist and illustrator who has been working as a teaching artist since he graduated from The School of Visual Arts in 2014. He creates comics and children's books with the purpose of educating and entertaining youths from every walk of life, and believes that art is a fantastic vehicle for delivering information and culture to children of all ages.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director at Apollo Global Management
COURTNEY GARCIA is Managing Director at Apollo Global Management, an alternative asset management firm based in New York City. In her role as the Head of Market Risk she leads a team responsible for measuring, monitoring and managing risks inherent in investments made by the firm. Prior to joining Apollo in 2021, Ms. Garcia held roles in risk management at Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) where she served on various management committees and oversaw investment and counterparty risk. She received her BS from Columbia University, with a major in Applied Mathematics, and a Masters of Financial Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Ms. Garcia lives in Manhattan with her husband, who is a physician at a city hospital in the Bronx, and her daughter.
Job Titles:
- Bilingual Teacher at NYC Department of Education, Former Education Director, Bronx River Alliance
Job Titles:
- Medical Communications Director, Woodhull Hospital BCM Marketing Committee
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Bronx County Historical Society
Job Titles:
- Principal, Public School 11
Dream Big is an intensive, summer, arts-enrichment program for children from 2nd to 3rd grades at local Community Based Organizations (CBOs), schools, and community groups. Teaching artists engage children in the visual arts, dance, drama, and music culminating in a closing celebration displaying what they have learned.
As this year's Dream Big artist in residence, Dr. Capers visited the children and Museum teaching artists three days a week, including two that Dr. Capers attended with her partner and accompanist, John Robinson. Dr. Capers shared her life story and her love of music with the children, as well as highlighting the significance of the ADA Act.
Dream Big for Our Rivers Environmental Day was a great day for the children in the Bronx Children's Museum's Dream Big summer program now in its fourth year. The morning featured an activity, Meet Wiggly Worms, and three engaging workshops: Become A Scientist: What are Macroinvertebrates?, Move With Nature and Meet Bronx River Animals. Smaller in scale and much more intimate than previous years, the day really focused on children's learning about the Bronx River and its natural wildlife.
A talented singer, songwriter and musician, Cáthia is a graduate of Fiorello LaGuardia Performing Arts High School where she trained and developed her voice through classical music. At only 19 years old, Cáthia has performed on some of the biggest stages including Carnegie Hall and the renowned Apollo Theater where she placed first in Three Rounds of the Amateur Night Competition. Cáthia was most recently seen on The Voice Season 4, 2013. Cáthia has also participated on the X Factor (2011) and has won multiple scholarships and music awards, including a Young Arts Award for Vocal Performance.
Dream Big For Our Rivers, this summer's Bronx Children's Museum's Dream Big program, centered around the life of the Bronx River. Ninety children from Abraham House, C.S. 211, and Kingsbridge Heights Community Center learned about the story of the Bronx River and explored its habitat. The Museum provided children with 12 sessions including arts instruction (drama, dance, or visual arts), a visit from the Museum's Rivers On the Go! bus exhibit on its purple bus; this day of fun and learning on July 17th called Environmental Day at Fordham University; a field trip to the Bronx River, and a closing celebration at their camp site or the River.
Our partners in Dream Big For Our Rivers included Abraham House, Bronx River Alliance, Children's Aid Society, Fordham University, Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, New York Botanical Garden, Trout in A Classroom, and Community School 211 - with special thanks to Fordham University and to our funders Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Montefiore Medical Center and the New Yankee Stadium Community Benefits Fund.
Special guest Cáthia said, "My love of the arts, nature and the Bronx have always inspired me from the time I was a Pre-schooler. It's so important to encourage children in the arts as well, and I could see myself in every child I met today. If given the inspiration, encouragement and support I received, I know they will all find their voices and make the world a better place. They just need to have the right support, work hard and follow their dreams!"
"The Bronx Children's Museum has chosen another invaluable Bronx asset to highlight this summer as part of its Dream Big Summer program series. As the greenest borough in the City with over 25% of its space being parkland, and one of 10 counties in New York State that exceeds current federal air quality standards for fine-particle pollution, it is essential that we teach our children how to protect and value their natural environment. What better way to learn about oneself and honor our natural resources than through the arts and first hand encounters. Thank you, Bronx Children's Museum, for providing our children with a summer-long interactive classroom experience that will change their lives forever," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.
Our board is very proud to have Justice Sonia Sotomayor with us once again, for our 4th Dream Big Day. We are also pleased to welcome the Bronx's own contender from The Voice, the very talented Cáthia, to help us mark another milestone in our growth. We continue to be fully committed to delivering comprehensive summer programming to Bronx camps that is relevant, meaningful, inspiring and most of all, fun. Having both the Justice and one of the Bronx's talented young artists is a wonderful way to celebrate and honor our children," said Board President Hope Harley.
Congressman José E. Serrano said, "This year's Dream Big theme, the Bronx River, is very dear to me and to the Bronx. Through this year's programs, the Museum has helped inspire the next generation of environmentalists and scientists by teaching them about the restoration and rebirth of the Bronx River. Once inundated by pollution, today the Bronx River is once again the home to various forms marine life, birds, and even a beaver. The rebirth of the Bronx River is a Bronx success story, and it is just wonderful that the Bronx Children's Museum is highlighting this important story."
Deputy NYC Mayor for Legal Affairs Carol Robles-Roman said, "providing children with a hands-on opportunity to explore and Dream Big is crucial for creating a generation of future leaders in the Bronx. I want to congratulate the Bronx Children's Museum on kicking off their fourth annual summer Dreaming Big series today with a fun and exciting way to learn and to take responsibility for their health and the health of our planet."
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, BronxWorks
ELLIE MEEK TWEEDY is an archivist and editor. She began her editorial career at HarperCollins Publishers immediately after graduating from Yale University in the 1970s. She then became a freelance editor for clients such as Random House, Bantam Doubleday Dell and McGraw Hill. After many years in the publishing industry Ms. Tweedy enrolled at Pratt Institute where she received a Masters degree in Library Science. She is now an archivist who works for institutions including the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the Brooklyn Museum and the Romare Bearden Foundation, and also acts as a consultant for personal clients. Her focus is on preserving the collections of artists of African descent across all disciplines. She is a member of the Society of American Archivists and the American Library Association. She has been involved in Bronx Children's Museum almost from its inception, volunteering her time and expertise to help get the Museum off the ground. Ms. Tweedy lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters.
Job Titles:
- Director of Bronx Public Affairs, Con Edison
FRED KAUFMAN, Executive Producer of the acclaimed Nature series, has been one of the world's top executives in the natural history genre for over 30 years. He has won seven Emmys and two Peabody Awards, and in 2012, a Lifetime Achievement Award for Media from the International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula, Montana. In 2007, Mr. Kaufman wrote and co-produced The Best of Nature: 25 Years, a successful fundraising show for PBS that looked back at highlights of the series' first 25 years. He also created and executive produced an urban wildlife series for kids, called Wild TV. He works with filmmakers from around the world and is often approached by leading scientists seeking national exposure for their research. Mr. Kaufman serves on the board of the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. He is in his fourth decade with WNET/Thirteen, the PBS flagship station, and appears regularly on their pledge drives as a spokesman for quality natural history television. Born and raised in the Bronx, he attended the Bronx High School of Science and is a graduate of Binghamton University.
Job Titles:
- Director, Open Space Greening, GrowNYC
Job Titles:
- BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT
- NYC Council Member
NYC Council Member Vanessa Gibson said, "The children of the Bronx need and deserve role models that demonstrate courage, conviction, and tenacity. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor is one of those role models. In her, each Bronx child can see their own true potential and aspire to reach the same monumental heights as the Justice. I'm honored today to join the Bronx Children's Museum in honoring the Justice for the important role she plays in inspiring the children of my borough to reach higher and try harder for the betterment of themselves and their community."
HOPE HARLEY held senior positions at Verizon for over 28 years in Sales and Marketing, Engineering and External Affairs. Her final assignment was as Director of External Affairs in New York City where she was responsible for maintaining Verizon's relationship with key stakeholders and elected officials as well as providing support for non-profit organizations and managing employee volunteer activities. Ms. Harley is a graduate of the State University of New York, College at Old Westbury. She received an MBA in Organizational Development from Pace University and a Certificate in Corporate Community Relations from Boston College. Ms. Harley has served on numerous boards including The Harlem School of the Arts, the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and Audubon Partnership for Economic Development. She is past chair of Hearts and Hammers in the Bronx, an organization renovating homes for senior citizens and the disabled. She serves on the Jackie Robinson Foundation scholarship selection committee. Hope served as the President of the Board of Directors for Bronx Children's Museum from 2010 through 2021.
Job Titles:
- Director, Early Childhood & Childhood Clinical Experiences, School of Education, Hunter College
JEANNE B. MULLGRAV has significant experience in both City and State Government and non-profit management. In her role as Executive Vice President, Ms. Mullgrav oversees Capalino+Company's Corporate Social Responsibility Group. Prior to joining Capalino+Company in 2014, Ms. Mullgrav served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Youth And Community Development (DYCD) for 12 years. In this capacity, she led New York City's principal agency for administering youth and community programs and was responsible for funding experienced community-based organizations that provide after-school programs, train young people for jobs, and support immigrants, among other goals. Previously, Ms. Mullgrav served as Vice President for The After-School Corporation and as Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Relations for the NYS Attorney General. She received her undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College and a law degree from New York University School of Law.
JILLIAN FAULLS has been in real estate for over 10 years, working in the Bronx for many of those years. She was also a resident for five years, strengthening her bond to the borough. She has been affiliated with New York City's top brokerage firms, holding leadership roles from Project Manager, Sales Director and Leasing Director to Associate Broker for over 35 new development projects. Ms. Faulls received her BA at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and also took Continuing Education coursework in Marketing and Interior Design at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) respectively, broadening her creative and aesthetic vision. Ms. Faulls is an avid yogi, a clutter-free advocate and an alternative health warrior. She is committed to strengthening and unifying the community and has an infectious passion for the Bronx and for its children.
JOHN ABRONS was an investment advisor at Oppenheimer & Co. for 27 years and Executive Director for over 15 years. He has been a volunteer tutor in the Marlene Meyerson Jewish Community Center's Gift of Math program on the Upper West Side since 2016. Mr. Abrons has served as a board member of the Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation for 27 years and at the 149 Fifth Avenue Corporation for two years. He was also the President of the Madison 53rd Street Corporation for a year and a half. Mr. Abrons, a graduate of Connecticut College, has a strong interest in health and natural methods of healing. He lives with his wife in Manhattan, has three sons and has been following Bronx Children's Museum's progress over the years through his father Richard Abrons' committed involvement with the Museum.
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing and Communications
John Boudreau has more than 26 years experience in the creative services, graphic design, web development, marketing and publishing industries. Designing and producing a wide variety of materials from promotional brochures, magazines, media kits and catalogues to children's books, event graphics, exhibit design and websites, John began his career as a Magazine Designer in trade publishing at Keller International Publishing followed by Brand Manager for 17 titles at VNU eMedia. In 2003, John opened Boudreau Design as a freelancer graphic designer and creative communications consultant with clients in the educational, legal, financial, construction, real estate and art industries. Clients included Teachers College, Columbia University, Standard & Poors, Hoff-Barthelson Music School, Westchester Golf Association, Yula Corporation and Agent of Change Events. John began working with Bronx Children's Museum in 2010 as a designer and consultant and joined the team full-time as Director of Marketing and Communications in January 2019. John holds a Masters Degree in piano performance from Manhattan School of Music and was formerly a concert pianist
Job Titles:
- Manager of Early Childhood Education, Brooklyn Children 's Museum
Job Titles:
- U.S. Supreme Court Associate
Justice Sotomayor joined the children in the courtroom and spoke to them about their common roots, and her path to the Supreme Court. She emphasized the importance of reading and education. She also told the children that they should aim to make the world a better place, dream about their futures, and never give up - messages she has consistently delivered to the Dream Big! participants throughout the last ten years.
Children were excited to then ask questions of the Justice including what motivates her to be successful, whether she was good in math, had she ever wanted to be an artist, and what she likes the most about being a justice.
"Justice Sotomayor is an iconic role model for children of the Bronx," said Carla Precht, the Museum's executive director. "She represents what you can achieve if you work hard and dream big. It's important for children to visualize their futures, imagine who they can become and set their sights on a positive path."
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Sonia Manzano ("Maria" of Sesame Street) attended Dream Big Day, spending time with the children in the morning. The children's opening afternoon presentation featured a rousing version of "We Got the Whole World in Our Hands," as they played percussion instruments, along with Dr. Capers, and sang to their families, notable celebrities, and their heroes like Justice Sotomayor and Sonia Manzano. Justice Sotomayor also played the maracas as the children sang. This song was followed by a special performance by Dr. Capers and museum teaching artists, who are musicians themselves, and John Robinson on bass. At the end of the presentation, the children, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Dr. Capers, and Sonia Manzano encouraged the children to Dream Big and never give up.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Community Pediatric Programs, Children 's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center
KATE GREEN has taught art and crafting workshops at Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Riverdale Country School and privately for many years. Since 2009 she has designed, created and sold jewelry in her shop on the website Etsy. Other passions include singing and tennis. Ms. Green graduated from New York University's Gallatin School with a BA in Theater Design after studying for several years in the Lee Strasberg Acting Program at Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. She has appeared in hundreds of television commercials, industrials and print advertisements. Ms. Green was on the board of the Church Street Music and Art School in Tribeca, where she assisted in finding and developing new space for their successful and expanding program, as well as occasionally substitute teaching there. She and her husband have lived in the Bronx for more than 14 years, and raised three sons there.
KATHY GLICK WEIL spent over 35 years as a public librarian in the greater Boston area, including positions as Director of the Lincoln Public Library and 15 years as Director of the Newton Free Library. She served on the boards of the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition Employer Advisory Board, which works to expand employment opportunities for adults with a history of mental illness, and Step Up to Excellence, a nonprofit that strives to help disadvantaged high school students achieve to the best of their abilities. After moving to Pennsylvania in 2008, Ms. Weil continued her commitment to libraries by serving as a board member of the Bethlehem Area Public Library Trustees and as President of the Board for four years. She received her undergraduate degree from Newcomb College of Tulane University and her MLS from the University of California at Berkeley. In 2015 Ms. Weil moved to Brooklyn, where she currently resides.
Job Titles:
- Education Coordinator, Bronx River Alliance
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, the Point
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director of Education and Outreach, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Early Childhood Education Specialist Consultant
Kristin Scarola is a museum educator and consultant who provides experiences for museum visitors that are accessible, engaging and informative with an emphasis on the power of creativity to enliven, transform and inspire. Kristin specializes in early childhood and family programming, while working with a range of audiences including school groups, special needs, educators and school and museum administrators. She has taught at numerous cultural institutions including the Brooklyn Museum, MoMA, the Met and the Newark Museum. She has partnered with many institutions through Cool Culture to support families in visiting museums including the Rubin Museum of Art, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art and Storytelling and El Museo del Barrio. Kristin supports pre-service teachers at the Borough of Manhattan Community College as an adjunct professor.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Hunts Point Alliance for Children
Job Titles:
- Early Childhood Expert, NYC Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, Office of Academic Affairs, the City University of New York
LEE MICHEL has been involved in a number of community organizations since moving back to New York from Los Angeles in 2009, including Wave Hill (seven-time gala co-chair), Graham Windham, BronxWorks and Riverdale Country School, where she served as co-chair of the Parent Association. She is on the boards of Untermyer Gardens Conservancy and the Riverdale Yacht Club, recently serving as Commodore. After completing an intensive yoga training course in 2017, she now teaches private clients and also volunteers as a yoga instructor at the Mary J. Blige Center for Women in Yonkers. When living in Los Angeles, Ms. Michel co-founded Baby2Baby, an organization that collects and distributes gently used baby gear and clothing to families in need in LA. Before starting her own family, she held various positions in the art world, working with both collectors and artists in New York and Los Angeles. Ms. Michel received her BA at the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in economics and minored in French. She currently lives in Riverdale with her husband and two daughters.
Job Titles:
- NYC Regional Director, New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
Job Titles:
- Coordinator, NYC and NYC Watersheds Trout in the Classroom
Job Titles:
- Principal and Elementary School Principal Consortia Chair, PS 55 BCM Health Advisory Member
LUISA ESCALERA is a Fabricator/Designer/Special Education Teacher who advocates for children of all abilities and supports the process of learning and creativity. She has worked in the New York City Department of Education (DOE) for about 13 years, focusing on the field of special education. Prior to this, Ms. Escalera worked with various children's museums and exhibit firms as a designer, fabricator, educator and prototyper. Her clients included Brooklyn Children's Museum, Children's Museum of Manhattan, Long Island Children's Museum and Stepping Stones Museum for Children. In 2011, Ms. Escalera joined the Bronx Children's Museum (BxCM) team as an Exhibit Manager for the Rivers On the Go! exhibit. In 2014, she also assisted BxCM in the initial planning and development of their first two ArtSpot summer programs for NYCHA Mitchel Houses in the South Bronx. Ms. Escalera holds an MA in Special Education from Mercy College and a BFA in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute. She is also an NYC Teaching Fellow and is working on her second Masters in School Building Leadership from The College of Saint Rose. Ms. Escalera is a South Bronx native.
Job Titles:
- Founder and Executive Director, No Longer Empty
Job Titles:
- Director, BronxWorks Early Childhood Center
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Office of Community Relations, Montefiore Health System
Michael Huxford joined the Bronx Children's museum in 2021. In his position as Operations Manager he oversees the day to day operations of the museum's new location in the Powerhouse at Mill Pond Park, specifically facilities, maintenance, safety, and security. Michael comes from a theatrical and events background, with 15 years of professional experience in those fields, most recently as the Stage Supervisor for the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, MA. A California native, he holds a BA in Theatre Arts, with an emphasis in Technical Direction, from California State University, Fullerton. Upon transitioning to New York City, he made the decision to apply his previous experience working in cultural institutions to the field of museum management.
Job Titles:
- Director of Early Childhood Learning
Michelle Morales, Director of Early Childhood Learning and Childhood Programs, General Teacher Education Department, Bank Street College of Education, Former Board of Trustees Member
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director of Arts and Exhibits
- Director of Arts & Programming
Natalie Wood joined the Bronx Children's Museum in July of 2010. She began her work in the Bronx community in 2004 at the Bronx Veterans Hospital in the Maxillofacial Prosthetic Training Program. Since then she has exhibited at the Bronx Museum of the Arts and has worked as a teaching artist in the South Bronx with Creative Classrooms.
Ms. Wood manages the Waters On the Go! Exhibit in the Museum on the Go bus, the What is Art? Program, the Little Friends of the Museum Program, the Dream Big Summer Program, and the Dream Big After School Program. She has a Master of Fine Arts degree from Herbert H. Lehman College in the Bronx.
Job Titles:
- Litigation Partner in the New York Office of Sidley Austin LLP
NICK CROWELL is a litigation partner in the New York office of Sidley Austin LLP, and has been with the firm since 2002. He concentrates on complex securities and commercial litigation matters. He has represented many of the nation's preeminent financial institutions, insurance companies and investment advisers in federal and state courts, before regulatory bodies and in arbitrations, in matters encompassing securities and commodities trading, derivative products, insurance and reinsurance disputes, distressed assets, real estate, yield burning, accounting fraud and antitrust violations. Mr. Crowell has been recommended by The Legal 500 in the area of Financial Services: Litigation. He received his BS from the University of Arizona and graduated with honors from The George Washington University Law School. Mr. Crowell currently resides in Fair Haven, New Jersey with his wife and three children.
Job Titles:
- Founder, BronxMama.Com Parent Leader
Job Titles:
- Director of Education
- Director of Education & Public Engagement
Nicole obtained her B.A. in Classical Civilizations from UC Berkeley in 2006 and immediately began working in museums, first at an archaeological site in Israel and then at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. She has lived in the Bronx since 2011, when she began working for the Bronx Children's Museum. She has an M.S. in Education from the Leadership in Museum Education program at Bank Street College of Education. Nicole is a National Geographic Certified Educator and an American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Education Mentor.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Mothers on the Move
Job Titles:
- Head of Strategy for Mizuho in the Americas
PAUL HUGHES is the Head of Strategy for Mizuho in the Americas. He is responsible for the coordination and execution of firm-wide strategy across the region. In his current position, he is also responsible for leading the Americas' Sustainability Council (ESG) and Digital Innovation Group. Prior to this role, Mr. Hughes held various positions across the Corporate and Investment Bank, including Debt Capital Markets. He has been with the firm for over 12 years, during which time he has played a contributing role in the region's transformative growth. Mr. Hughes holds a BS from the University of Maryland at College Park. He currently resides in Darien, CT with his wife and four children.
Job Titles:
- President of Barretto Bay Strategies LLC
PAUL LIPSON is President of Barretto Bay Strategies LLC. From 2004-2011, he served as Chief of Staff to Congressman José E. Serrano (NY-16). Earlier in his career, Mr. Lipson founded and led The Point Community Development Corporation, a pioneering CDC based in the Hunts Point section of The Bronx. The organization launched the South Bronx Greenway, initiated the revitalization of eight acres of scatter-site brownfields, developed a creative sector incubator in the historic American Banknote Building and led local community consensus-building around land use and waterfront issues in the Hunts Point peninsula.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner at Mainland Media LLC
PAUL RAMIREZ, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner at Mainland Media LLC, was born and raised in the Parkchester section of the Bronx. Mainland Media has partnered with numerous organizations both inside and outside of the Bronx to accomplish its goal of improving the borough's image. Mr. Ramirez received his BA in Philosophy with a specialization in Ethics and Public Policy, as well as a BS in Music, from Lehman College. Shortly after graduation, he worked as the Deputy Director of Wildcat Service Corporation's Young Adult Internship Program (YAIP). YAIP provides young adults with a paid orientation, training, and work followed by services and assistance for placement in permanent jobs, training programs, and educational opportunities. While working as the Deputy Director of YAIP, Mr. Ramirez also managed several Bronx-based musical acts, including the Steven Oquendo Latin Jazz Orchestra. He joined Mainland Media and its subsidiary From the Bronx in 2010, and opened the Bronx Beer Hall in 2013. Currently a member of Bronx Community Board 6 and the Jamaica Food Entrepreneurship and Services Training Space Advisory Council, Mr. Ramirez also sits on the Junior Board for the Bronx-based nonprofit, Women's Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco).
RICHARD L. STEIN has had a varied career as an architect, graphic designer, editor and publisher of the Pulitzer-prizewinning Riverdale Press. He returned to architecture after retiring from the northwest Bronx newspaper in 2015. As a publication designer, Mr. Stein has created the templates for websites, newspapers and magazines as varied as The Jewish Star in Long Island and The Muslim Observer in Detroit. His client list ranges from Chase Bank to the New York Farm Bureau. The New York Press Association has named its highest award for newspaper design the Richard Stein Award. In addition to membership on the Bronx Children's Museum board, he has served on or presided over several not-for-profit organization boards as well as the Community Newspaper Advisory Board of the American Press Institute, the Center for Community Journalism and the New York Press Association. Mr. Stein is married and has two adult children and two grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Borough President
- Bronx Borough President
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. remarked, "Dr. Capers is one of our sparkling gems in the Bronx. She is not only one of the most talented jazz musicians of her time, she is an educator who has devoted her entire life to encouraging others to follow their dreams, work hard, and always believe in themselves. Dr. Capers understands firsthand that every child is born with the desire to learn and explore and that we adults have the job to help bring out the music in every child. I congratulate Dr. Capers and wish her the very best in all her endeavors."
Sonia Manzano, who plays Maria on Sesame Street, was mistress of ceremonies for the day's activities, which included sing-a longs in both Spanish and English. Ms. Manzano added. "Today is about Dreaming Big and celebrating the accomplishments of another Sonia from the Bronx, the Honorable Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Today is also about the importance of early childhood education," said Ms. Manzano. "I know, from being on Sesame Street for so many years, that children are born with the desire to learn and explore. It is our job as adults to keep their enthusiasm for learning alive. A children's museum does exactly that. I wish the Bronx Children's Museum had been in existence when I was growing up in the Bronx. I look forward to joining Justice Sotomayor at the ground breaking ceremony," she added.
"As one of the City's newest museums, the Bronx Children's Museum will provide a great opportunity for families and children to engage in creative and energetic learning," said Mayor Mike Bloomberg. "The Dream Big initiative is a new step towards a permanent home for the Bronx Children's Museum that will serve and enrich the community for years to come. Today, we also celebrate the achievements of Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a daughter of the Bronx who also dreamed big and whose success is a great example for the children of the Bronx and New York City."
His sentiment was echoed by Congressman Serrano. "Justice Sonia Sotomayor is the best of the Bronx, and we are proud to welcome her in this ‘homecoming event,'" he said, "She is perhaps the best example of where hard work and determination can get you. When she was a kid, she looked out those same project windows as I did and kids today do, and through her incredible tenacity and perseverance, she now looks out the window of her Supreme Court office."
Borough President Diaz praised the museum's efforts from the theater's stage, "Today, we acknowledge two dreams, one realized and the other well on its way. Last August, history was made when the Bronx's very own Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed to the United States Supreme Court. On that day children from all over the Bronx and beyond were shown that they too could rise from any challenge to reach the highest pinnacles of success. That is why we must work to give Bronx children what the children of the other boroughs currently enjoy, a museum where they can begin their life-long journey of the pursuit of knowledge. My office has allocated $3 million to this wonderful project, and I call upon all of my colleagues in government-both on the local and federal level- to join me and support the creation of this museum for our Bronx children and make this dream a reality for them."
Sonia Manzano had this to say about her longtime friend: "I can't think of a more deserving person to be honored by the Bronx Children's Museum. The Justice's story is a testament to the great potential that exists here in the Bronx among our children. Like myself, and like many of the children here today, the Justice was born and raised here in this amazing borough, and her achievements inspire us all to dream big and work hard. With the Justice as a role model, and with the Bronx Children's Museum providing these educational opportunities to children, I expect that we'll see many more great artists, thinkers, and lawmakers come from the Bronx in the future."
NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray noted, "Our children cannot achieve what they cannot imagine, especially those children who begin life on the bottom rung of the economic ladder. When young people are able to interact with shining examples of success like Justice Sotomayor and Sonia Manzano, who understand their lives and even come from the same neighborhood, it fuels their imagination as to what is possible for their own future. These kind and generous leaders, and public institutions like the Bronx Children's Museum help inspire and motivate our children to achieve. I am honored to spend time with these leaders - and the amazing future leaders - as a part of the Bronx Children's Museum Dream Big program."
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. remarked, "The Bronx has nurtured many great minds over the centuries, but few are as noted and accomplished as Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor. While known best for her dedication to upholding the law, her presence here today, and at every Dream Big Day held in the Bronx over the past seven years, proves that the Justice above all else is a person who cares deeply for her community and her home. I encourage the children here to look to Justice Sotomayor as a shining example of where their dreams can take them, if they are willing to first remember where they come from."
NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said, "As the first Latina Supreme Court Associate Justice, Sonia Sotomayor has set a high standard for personal and professional achievement. In examining her journey from the public housing developments of the South Bronx to her seat on the highest court in Washington D.C., we are inspired by how far she has traveled and by her continued commitment to justice and equality. Her story teaches us all that no matter where we come from, no matter our gender, race, or religion, nothing is impossible for those willing to strive hard to accomplish their personal dreams and aspirations."
"The Bronx Children's Museum serves as a beacon for our youth in the Bronx. It helps our future leaders by guiding them to dream big and reach their goals through culture, science and education. Being able to provide valuable opportunities for Bronx children to learn and expand their minds this summer through its Dream Big arts enrichment program will prove invaluable, as they explore their home and the life of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor - a personal hero of mine - as well as venture into the expansive worlds of drama, the visual arts and literature," said Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner (D-Bronx, 77th AD). "Giving our children the tools they need to succeed over the summer break will provide our youth with the necessary skills and educational development supports they need. As the state elected representative for the 77th Assembly District, which includes the Claremont, Concourse, Highbridge, Mount Eden and Morris Heights sections of The Bronx, I am happy the Bronx Children's Museum will continue their good work in our community for our families."
Bronx Community College President Dr. Thomas A. Isekenegbe said, "It is an honor to welcome Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to our historic campus and to partner with the Bronx Children's Museum on their Annual Big Dream Day. Earning a college degree is a big dream we embrace for all of our children, and it is a privilege for Bronx Community College to have a role in planting the seeds that will make this dream come true for those gathered here today."
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Reading Reform Foundation of New York
Job Titles:
- Partner at Kimelman & Baird LLC
SAPAN VYAS, CFA, is a Partner at Kimelman & Baird LLC, an investment advisory firm in New York City. Mr. Vyas was born and raised in the Bronx and attended the Bronx High School of Science. He received his undergraduate degree from Binghamton University. He has been committed to supporting nonprofit organizations in the community in which he has lived. He has been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, serving the role of a "Big" to children from the Bronx for several years. Currently he lives in Scarsdale, NY with his wife and son.
SARAH FLACCAVENTO is Vice President, M&A Integration and Business Operations, at AlphaSense, an AI-based market intelligence and search company based out of New York City. In her role as a member of the senior leadership team at AlphaSense, she provides her professional expertise to lead a variety of strategic programs. Prior to joining AlphaSense in 2022, Ms. Flaccavento spent 13 years at S&P Global in a variety of strategy and commercial leadership positions of increasing responsibility. She received her BA from Brown University, with a concentration in Economics. Ms. Flaccavento is a lifelong New Yorker, who currently lives in Brooklyn with her wife and two children.
Job Titles:
- Visitor Services Consultant
Sarah Jane is our Visitor Service consultant working directly with Nicole Wallace to integrate a visitor service infrastructure, systems, assessment protocol, and culture into our day-to-day operations as we ready ourselves to conduct a soft opening by early 2020 and a grand opening by June 2020. Sarah Jane obtained her B.A. from Hofstra University and has worked in various roles throughout her career related to group sales, operations and visitor services. She worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) as Director of Group Sales, where she oversaw all aspects of group sales and visitor services, and with Upsilon Ventures as the Group Sales & Membership Manager, where she project managed the integration of a new companywide ticketing system. She has also worked, on a consultant/seasonal basis, as the Director of Audience Services at World Science Festival, where she helped streamline and manage all aspects of ticketing and training of Audience Services Staff.
Job Titles:
- Director of Programs, Bronx Museum of the Arts
Sharon has been a museum professional for nearly two decades and has held positions at Discovery Place, SciTrek, The Tech Museum of Innovation and Brooklyn Children's Museum (BCM), where, as Director of Exhibitions, she was part of the leadership team that developed, designed and launched an $80M expansion and renovation, giving New York City its first LEED-certified museum. Recognized for its world-class collection and its central role as a cross-cultural community nexus, BCM created a suite of exhibits and programs that reflected Brooklyn's diverse international community groups and encouraged ongoing, changing activities. BCM's expansion project has served as a model and reference for many subsequent projects. In addition to leading exhibition research, planning and implementation, Sharon also led the Museum's extensive visiting and traveling exhibits program. Following the grand re-opening of Brooklyn Children's Museum, Sharon supported post-opening operations for a year and then launched a consulting practice to expand her work with emerging and transitioning museums. Projects include roles as: researcher and writer for an energy gallery at the new science museum in Calgary; strategic consultant and project coach for an emerging museum in Northern VA; and research and design consultant for Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. Sharon holds a physics degree from MIT and, in addition to her museum experience, has also been a Wall Street finance analyst, a published science writer, a national corporate trainer, a theater producer and an organizational Board coach and facilitator. Sharon regularly serves the field as an advisor, grant reviewer, and conference presenter.
SHAWN "PECAS" COSTNER, raised in the Soundview neighborhood of the Bronx from the age of 15, has built a formidable career in both the music and sports industries. Since 2020 he has been Co-Head of CAA AMP, co-founded by Dwyane Wade and leading entertainment and sports Creative Artists Agency, to connect brand consulting with diverse audiences. Mr. Costner began by promoting the burgeoning hip hop music industry. He started his career in executive leadership as the National Director of Rap Music and Mixshow Promotion at Arista Records in 1999 and rose to become Director of Urban Promotions of the Northeast Region. He departed in 2005 to become Vice President of Lifestyle Promotions at Island Def Jam, a position created especially for him. Mr. Costner was promoted to Executive Vice President of the company in 2013. He then took on a new challenge as VP of Player Relations for Roc Nation Sports, a sub-division of Roc Nation. Mr. Costner recognizes the importance of utilizing his success as a force for doing good, and has served on the boards of CC and Amber Sabathia's PitCCh In Foundation, as well as Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld's Fatherhood Initiative.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, NYC Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, Office of Academic Affairs, the City University of New York
Sonia Manzano, who was the Dream Big honoree last year, was publically acknowledged at the end of the performance for her 44 years of pioneering, outstanding work on Sesame Street as "Maria." Ms. Manzano has been advocating for a Bronx children's museum for 10 years and recently authored the Museum's first book called The Lowdown on the High Bridge.
STANLEY GREEN, JD is a retired Acting Justice of The New York State Supreme Court. He was a judge for twenty seven years, handling a variety of civil matters. Prior to his election, he represented clients in both civil and criminal litigation. He earned his BA at New York University, Bronx campus, and his JD at Brooklyn Law School. While attending law school at night, he taught fifth grade at PS 42 in the Bronx. After graduation, Judge Green worked for the Legal Aid Society in the Bronx in its Criminal Division from 1971 to 1977, where he served as a trial and supervising attorney. He spent sixteen months as a full-time parent when his son was born. Judge Green was born and raised in Washington Heights and lived in the Bronx with his wife and son for 26 years.
Job Titles:
- Founder, Green Bronx Marchine
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Long Island Children 's Museum
Job Titles:
- Special Assistant to the Executive Director & Community Liaison
Takisha has been part of the Museum family since 2010, when she came across the Museum while searching online for things to do in the Bronx with her then infant daughter. Since then she has served the Museum in various capacities such as Volunteer Community Outreach Coordinator, Museum Advisory Board member and part time consultant before joining the Board of Directors in 2015 and now as an official team member.
A Bronx native and proud mother of two who is passionate about parents being their children's first teachers and advocates, Takisha believes in the importance of education, exposure to opportunity and inspiring curiosity about the world to foster a lifelong journey of learning for both parent and child.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director of Operations and Finance
Thu-Nhi Nguyen-Petit joined BxCM in January 2019 as Deputy Director of Finance & Operations. She oversees finance, operations, facilities management, human resources and information technology. Most recently, Thu-Nhi was the Director of Grants and Healthcare Administration at the Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center for Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. She has spent her 15-year finance and administration career in the nonprofit sector, focused on improving the lives of underserved populations, from HIV/AIDS patients to people living with developmental disabilities. She managed complex, multi-million dollar grant portfolios for large institutions such as Mount Sinai Health System and Columbia University. She also oversaw the finances of NGOs specialized in global health and human rights issues (HealthRight International and Vital Strategies). French born Vietnamese, she holds an Executive Master's in Public Administration (MPA) from Columbia University. After becoming a Mom and exploring cultural institutions with her two young children, Thu-Nhi was greatly inspired to transition to the Museum field. Joining BxCM is bringing her steps closer to accomplishing her childhood dream of becoming an Artist..
VALERIE M. WASHINGTON is an Associate Professor Emeritus at Lehman College, CUNY, was born and raised in the Bronx. She attended public schools, including Hunter College, CUNY, where she earned a BA and MS in Education. After teaching elementary school for almost 10 years, she joined the faculty of Lehman College in 1970, where she supervised student teachers and taught a variety of teaching methods courses. During this time she earned an EdD at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. At Lehman College she has been Director of various state and privately funded teacher education programs, notably the Teacher Opportunity Corps, the Pathways to Teaching Careers Program and the Teacher/Leader Quality Partnerships Program. Key elements of these programs have been models for other teacher education programs, such as NYC Teaching Fellows. Dr. Washington's work with master's degree students in these programs meant collaborating with school districts in the Bronx, often leading to the restructuring of many schools. She is Vice Chair of the Board of East Tremont Childcare and Development Center and Vice President of the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts. With her husband of 41 years, Dr. Washington lives in the Bronx. They have one daughter, acclaimed screen, television and Broadway actor, Kerry Washington.