Most of the superhero talent is out in the states, but some of us get to run the Alliance HQ.
Whitney Celestin
Development & Grants Manager
She/Her/Hers
▼ In the Office
▼ Out of the Office
Rudy Garrett
Vice President of Capacity Building
She/Her/Hers
▼ In the Office
- Supporting the most powerful network of youth-led, grassroots organizations in the country.
- Working with the Alliance program, data, and advocacy teams to provide top-of-the-line services and support to our network.
- Connecting all Alliance departments to the capacity building team.
▼ Out of the office
- Cheering on the Chicago Sky.
- Perfecting her brownie recipe.
- Watching any show produced by the CW.
Chris Gonzalez
Senior Finance Manager
He/Him/His
▼ In the Office
- Point Guard for the Finance Department
- Supporting the organization in developing, and enhancing financial processes
- Managing our external bookkeepers to ensure the monthly financial reporting process runs smoothly
▼ Out of the office
- Yelling “Kobe!” from the sidelines of a pickup basketball game
- Lifting heavy stuff and putting them back down 6 times a week
- Watching the greatest team of all time, the Boston Celtics
Dakota Hall
Executive Director
He/Him/His
▼ In the Office
- Hypes our incredible network of local youth-led organizations to fight for change
- Fights for the issues that young people care about the most
- Builds youth power nationally at this pivotal time in our country’s history
▼ Out of the office
- Hiking and visiting national parks
- Long road trips with his lonely Cancer spirit
- Engaging in the Marvel cinematic universe
Zahra Isaacs
Executive Coordinator
She/Her/Hers
▼ In the Office
- Manages and prioritizes Executive Directors time by reading, researching, and routing communication, correspondence, and documents.
- Coordinates with Executive Director’s direct reports to complete additional projects
- Assists all members of the executive team with scheduling
▼ Out of the Office
- Probably at a live show
- Meticulously curating the perfect playlist to share with her friends that didn’t ask
- True crime savant
Billy Koontz
Vice President of Finance
He/Him/His
▼ In the Office
- Monitors and maintains organization-wide financial management systems to ensure financial reporting, analysis, and planning are on lock
- Develops internal financial systems, processes, and controls to keep the auditors happy
- Manages and tracks documentation, grant and contract agreements, and all the fun stuff to ensure the organization is ready to rock at all times
▼ Out of the Office
- Sings for 90 minutes during Newcastle United matches
- Always trying to find the best live music
- Could eat BBQ for every meal
Amit Mistry
Chief Impact Officer
He/Him/His
▼ In the Office
- Manages the Program and Data department heads, leading the coordination and completion of projects across departments
- Coordinates regular engagement and collaborative work between the network and the Alliance national team
- Works with network orgs to get them the right tools and systems to do their work more efficiently
▼ Out of the Office
- Figuring out how he can cheaply fly international business class anywhere
- Watching all of the Fast and the Furious movies to get over how Game of Thrones ended (still)
- Loudly proclaiming that Maryland is the greatest state
Daniela Mrabti
Digital Director
She/Her/Hers
▼ In the Office
- Manages all digital communications
- Supports our network organizations effectively tell the story of their work
- Supports the Alliance’s overall communications strategy in line with our mission, vision, values, and culture
▼ Out of the Office
- Peaked in college as part of the ukulele orchestra
- Always starting tv shows, but never finishing them
- Catch her at the local farmers market on the weekends
Kenny Myers
Director of Network Capacity
He/Him/His
▼ In the Office
- Serves as a liaison between our network and the rest of the Alliance staff
- Supports Alliance affiliates developing badass programs that deliver real wins and results for our generation
- Facilitates collaboration among the network for sharing best practices and lessons learned
▼ Out of the Office
- Will derail his travel path to ensure he can say hello to random dogs
- Obsesses over his National Parks passport stamps
- Avid nerd and board gamer
Carmel Pryor
Vice President of Communications and Engagement
She/Her/Hers
▼ In the Office
- Leads the Alliance’s comprehensive communications strategy
- Lifts up the bold work of young people nationwide through storytelling
- Works with the Alliance’s incredible network to build communications capacity and strategy
▼ Out of the Office
- Proud Cleveland, Ohio native who has the Cavs championship ring to prove it
- Believes weekends aren’t complete without BRUNCH
- Loves making collages and shoe shopping in her spare time
Eliana Reed
Content Manager
She/Her/Hers
▼ In the Office
- Maintaining website content and integrity
- Developing and managing Alliance email programs
- Supporting our network comms cohort, and managing the Shared Resource Library
▼ Out of the Office
- Taking her dog Shuri to the dog park.
- Rewatching the Marvel Cinematic Universe in its entirety for the hundredth time.
- Making too many Spotify playlists to keep up with.
Kayla Rivera
Advocacy Director
She/Her/Ella
▼ In the Office
- Provide capacity and support for state affiliates regarding democracy campaigns to build power for BIPOC youth
- Build deep relationships and a safe space for strategic conversations across state affiliates
- Fight for democracy issues that matter most to America’s BIPOC youth.
▼ Out of the Office
- Cooking elaborate meals and desserts from scratch for friends and family
- Traveling around the world
- Cuddling her rescue dog Scarlett, she’s a hound mix
John Serpas
Senior Operations Director
He/Him/His
▼ In the Office
- Leads the Operations department to develop and maintain well functioning internal systems.
- Leverages our Operations to elevate our mission, values, and create a work environment focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Works with network organizations to identify operational challenges and create lasting solutions.
▼ Out of the Office
- A gamer aficionado. Mario Kart, Rocket League, you name it, I’m there.
- Overly critical of chefs on Food Network shows like Chopped, but get nervous when I have two stove tops going at the same time.
- An NBA fanatic even though the Boston Celtics have continued to let me down since their 2008 championship.
Marisa Slifka
Operations Director
She/Her/Hers
▼ In the Office
- Manage seamless logistics to ensure everyone can get down to business at meetings
- Keeps internal systems tidy for a smooth day to day work environment
- Works to cultivate an inclusive and productive workspace for the whole team
▼ Out of the Office
- Emotionally invests in adult recreational soccer far too much
- Identifies with Buddy the Elf’s relationship to coffee and then falls asleep. Literally everywhere
- Peaked when compared to Park and Rec’s Jenn Barkley by a former student
Jordan Swanson
Operations Coordinator
She/They
▼ In the Office
- Supporting internal operations systems including the onboarding of new operations systems to ensure a smooth deployment.
- Supporting the Staff Professional Development program including identifying and promoting staff development opportunities.
- Collaborating in annual goals and budget for the Operations Department.
▼ Out of the Office
- Buying video games and forgetting to actually play them
- Putting stickers on as many things as humanly possible
- Making sure that everyone knows I’m a Virgo
Robyn Swirling
Chief of Staff
She/Her/Hers
▼ In the Office
- Overseeing big organization-wide projects and initiatives
- Leading all things internal management, performance and leadership development, and org culture
- Organizing the ideas, projects, people, time, and resources to keep the Alliance moving forward
▼ Out of the Office
- Cooking elaborate meals from her out of control cookbook collection
- Watching her pup run around their second home, the dog park
- Funding abortions and coordinating clinic escort volunteers
Kate Travis
Data Manager
She/They
▼ In the Office
- Support and foster organizations to build data capacity and carry out voter & community outreach
- Facilitate network-wide collaboration on data use and best practices
- Ensure the metrics and data are correct and in the right place
▼ Out of the Office
- Brainstorming ways to visit all of their friends in all of their far-flung places
- Entertaining / befriending / bending to the will of their household (and other) cats
- Experiencing more of their home state of Colorado each season whether by ski, hike, drive, or camp
Mariella Villacorta
Development and Individual Giving Manager
She/Her/Ella
▼ In the Office
- Crafts compelling proposals, powerful narratives, and timely updates for our donors
- Make sure $$$ is on track to support our growing network and campaigns
- Helps raise national resources to ensure young people’s work is uplifted and their voices are heard
▼ Out of the Office
- Taking her cat, Muffin, on walks
- Spending too much time smelling candles at Marshalls
- Buying new books but never finishing them
Board
The Alliance for Youth Organizing have some awesomely brilliant and strategic advisors behind us. Our board[s] of directors are the kind of activists who’ve been getting it done for years — and they make sure the raucous and riotous Alliance stays on track and on mission. The arc toward justice is bent a lot farther because of their work.
The Board of Directors of the Alliance for Youth Organizing
Affiliates listed for identification purposes only.
Alexis Anderson-Reed
Executive Director, State Voices
Hernan Carvante
CEO and Founder, Healing Ninjas
Amy Faulring
Management Coach, The Management Center
Vaughn Frisby
Director of Individual Giving, SPUR
Amy Faulring, Secretary
Cathy Lerza, Treasurer
Philanthropic Advisor
Tatenda Musapatike
CEO and Founder, Voter Formation Project
Whitney Porter, Chair
Gisel Romero
Clinical Counselor, City Colleges of Chicago
Liba Wenig Rubenstein
Mollie Ruskin, Vice Chair
Digital Consultant
Click here to see the Alliance for Youth Action board members
For inquiries, please reach out to info@allianceforyouthaction.org