MEET OUR TEAM

DID YOU KNOW?

53% of TE’s adult program staff are former Teen Empowerment participants.

The Center for Teen Empowerment, Inc. (TE) is BIPOC-led, with a staff that authentically fosters strong, sustainable, and trusting relationships with Black and Brown community youth. Staff includes 31 full-time and 9 part-time adults and 150 youth employees, currently working in three cities.

Our team receives training in the following categories:

  • Best practices in youth development

  • Culturally responsive trauma-informed care

  • Racial and social justice

  • Mental health first aid

  • Process and practices for implementing TE’s model

Staff

Boston Team

Rochester Team

Somerville Team

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ROCHESTER ADVISORY BOARD

GEORGE BEVIS, Chair

JESSICA PUTERMAN, Treasurer
Senior Audit Manager, KPMG LLP

PAUL RUSSO, Vice Chair
Chief Operating Officer, Single Family Office

JOHN CONNOLLY
President, Wedgwood-Crane & Connolly

RICK DEJESUS-RUEFF, Ed.D.
Vice President Emeritus, St. John Fisher University

JUMAANE KENDRICK
Deputy Director, Mission Safe; Former TE Youth Organizer

KATHY NIXON
Retired Development Director

FRENIA HUNTER
Division Chief of Training, MBTA; Former TE Youth Organizer

JOYYA P. SMITH
Vice President of Diversity, Access, and Inclusion, Suffolk University

ANDRE STARK
COO of the Bay State Banner

MONICA ZENO-MARTIN
Executive Director, Parenting Journey

HANIF ABDUL-WAHID
Community Liaison, Monroe County Department of Planning and Development

JEFFREY CLARK
Vice President, Sales and Marketing, CRFS

RICK DEJESUS-RUEFF, ED.D.
Retired Vice President, Student Affairs & Diversity Initiatives, St. John Fisher College

CAROLINE EDWARDS-MORRISON
City Court Judge, Rochester City Court

LAUREN GALLINA
Marketing Director, Gallina Development

JONATHON HAND
Vice President, Invictus Electrical

DONNA HARRIS, PH.D.
Senior Associate, Center for Governmental Research

WAYNE HARRIS
Retired Deputy Chief, Rochester Police Department

JUDITH KAPLAN
President, Community Planning Associates

KATHY NIXON
Retired Director, Friends & Foundation of Rochester Public Library

EDWARD J. NOWAK
Retired Public Defender, Monroe County

DANIELLE PONDER, ESQ.
Artist, Danielle Ponder & the Tomorrow People

JEREMY WOLK, ESQ.
Partner, Nixon Peabody, LLP