development. Eric also designs and directs youth programs, including Project Unity, an internship program where teenagers create and perform plays based upon their own experiences and ideas.

Eric previously served as Director of Staff Development for LA´s BEST After School Enrichment Program in Los Angeles, where he co-founded the LA Partnership for After School Education. Prior to that, Eric worked for Educators for Social Responsibility and Rheedlen Centers for Children and Families (now Harlem Children’s Zone) and received his Master´s Degree in Urban Policy Analysis and Management from the New School for Social Research.

Eric has presented workshops for dozens of organizations and conferences nationwide, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Beacon Community Center, the PASE/OST Advisory Committee, and the TASC Training Advisory Committee.

curriculum and facilitating workshops related to youth workforce readiness, literacy, life skills, health and wellness, and gender-based programming. Andrea has worked with young people ranging from Pre-K through College both in and out of the classroom. She has also worked with college students and adults in the private sector, leading workshops on issues related to diversity and professionalism. Andrea earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Oberlin College, where she was involved in running after school programming in the local public elementary school.

of DWL initiatives including Real Stories, Summer Youth Employment Trainings, TASC City Scholars and many more. Sam is also a lead writer of curricula, including Connecting for Success and Real Jobs. He was formerly the project director of the Human Rights Activist Project with Global Kids, Inc., a project dedicated to empowering urban youth to become leaders in the realm of human rights and international affairs. He received his B.S. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and an M.S. in Social Work, with a focus in International Social Policy, from Columbia University. Prior to working at Global Kids, Sam worked as an Immigrant Rights Organizer with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. While at Columbia University, Sam was a graduate policy analyst at the Youth Unit of the United Nations Division for Social Policy and Development. His previous work with youth includes working with South Asian Youth Action (SAYA!) as a program coordinator.

and faith-based youth work. With over 15 years of experience in the field, she has been committed to the development of inner-city youth in South Brooklyn and the betterment of disadvantaged communities in the city. She is a graduate of Brooklyn College with a Master’s Degree in Bilingual Education and she also completed Columbia University’s Middle Management Program at the Not-for-Profit Institute in 1998. Belinda formerly worked for the Partnership for After School Education in New York City as a program director, citywide mentor/literacy trainer and technical assistance provider to develop and strengthen after school programs and the skills of their staff.

development organizations, both as a direct service provider and in program management. His focus was teenagers and young adults, most notably at The Hudson Guild Beacon, The Urban Dove Inc. and Henry Street Settlement helping young people grow to become leaders in their communities. Ruben decided to return to school, complimenting his education in Psychology, with a Business degree in hope of gaining a better understanding of personal and corporate finance and its impact on low-income communities. He has facilitated educational financial workshops and provided direct services in hopes of building a wealth of financial knowledge in underserved neighborhoods. Ruben brings first hand youth development experience, supported by a grasp of economics and business concepts that help create synergy between DWL’s services and business operations.

school, Stephen worked for P.E.A.C.H. Club, an after school program that employed artists to work along side school teachers to create anart-based curriculum for elementary students. In 2003, Stephen was selected to be the first art therapy intern to work along side Dr. Janos Marton at the Living Museum, a 40,000 square foot open studio for patients of Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital in Queens. There he had the opportunity to nurture and support the art process of over 100 patient artists that visit the Living Museum on a daily basis. In 2004 Stephen began working as an art therapist at Interfaith Medical Center in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn and continues to work there on the acute psychiatric unit. Stephen graduated from Arizona State University with his BFA in painting and has an MA from Long Island University C.W. Post in Clinical Art Therapy.

many workshops for youth development program staff focusing on how to successfully work with young people. Carlos also works with incarcerated youth, to help them to improve their literacy, math and social skills, and is a Certified Personal Trainer by the American Council on Exercise.

she provides explore conflict resolution through art appreciation and artistic forms of expression, making masks and murals, drawing, painting and sculpting. Elia also facilitates many workshops focusing on how to successfully work with young people. Elia’s sound collaboration and interactive portrait project were recently included in the Queens International 2004 exhibition at the Queens Museum of Art, and several other gallery shows. In addition to her work as an artist and consultant, she also teaches German at Columbia University. She received her BA, cum laude from Columbia University, and holds an MFA in Painting and Sculpture from Queens College, CUNY.

marketing communications and brand identities. More recently, she has worked along side many non-profit institutions creatively helping them to reach their goals and successfully promote their messages. She has received awards for her work from Mohawk Papers as well as the Graphic Arts Guild. Graduated with a Bachelors in Media Arts from The School of Visual Arts with honors in 1992.

conflict resolution, youth development, leadership and diversity. Kim has an expertise in working with parents and helping educators work with parents to explore issues of effective communication, conflict resolution and making healthy food choices for the family. Kim formerly worked for Educators for Social Responsibility (ESR) and the Partnership for After School Education (PASE) and continues a consulting relationship with them. Her clients also include West Orange School District, NYC Department of Education and Strang Cancer Prevention Center.

team and board of directors of a charter high school in Tucson, AZ. She has been a freelance writer and editor for LA’s BEST Afterschool Enrichment Program, a journalist with U.S. News & World Report, and a director of education for a nonprofit. She is currently a writer for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). Nancy has taught writing in a variety of venues, including high schools, community colleges, and universities, and she has led women’s writing groups in her home. Nancy has a Bachelor’s in English and Journalism from Syracuse University, a Master’s in Teaching from Brown University, and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Antioch University.

In the after-school field, she has managed conflict resolution, youth employment and leadership programs for high school-aged youth. At the Partnership for After School Education (PASE), she designed and coordinated technical assistance and professional development activities for small community- and faith-based organizations funded through the federal Department of Health and Human Services. She also coordinated trainings for over 600 agencies in the city-wide Out-of-School Time (OST) initiative. She has trained after-school practitioners in communication and conflict resolution, professional development planning, KidzLit® & KidzMath™, lesson planning, team building and “training the trainer” institutes, among others. Heather currently works as an independent consultant in the areas of School Age Child Care (SACC) licensure attainment and compliance, grant writing, evaluation, research and training for Candace LaRue and Associates, Development without Limits, PASE and others. Heather is a member of the Children’s Studies faculty at Brooklyn College and teaches an interdisciplinary undergraduate course called Perspectives on Childhood. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in theater from the University of California, San Diego and a Master of Arts in education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

where she developed curricula on social justice & international issues. She has co-coordinated gender-based programs for girls at several schools in Brooklyn, facilitated numerous peer-education programs & conducted professional development & special trainings for hundreds of educators & youth organizations interested in experiential learning. She has facilitated interactive workshops for youth & adults in New York, New Jersey, Arizona, California, Washington DC, Croatia, South Africa, Norway & Haiti.