Meet Our Team

Executive Office

Executive Director

Cheryelle Cruickshank Executive Director CCruickshank@includenyc.org With over three decades of experience and leadership, Cheryelle Cruickshank has dedicated her career to supporting people with disabilities and their families to achieve their life goals. Most recently, Cheryelle was the Acting Executive Director of The Community Resource Center for the Developmentally Disabled, Inc., a nonprofit organization that operates residential facilities and provides comprehensive care for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Prior to this, Cheryelle was the CEO of Human First, a multicultural nonprofit that serves developmentally-disabled communities in New York City and Long Island. She was also Associate Executive Director at Unique People Services Inc., a multifaceted human service organization specializing in providing housing and support services to people with disabilities. Cheryelle has a Masters in Nonprofit Management & Leadership from Capella University in Minneapolis, MI, and a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology & Sociology from the University at Albany. She has received a Certificate of Excellence, America’s Leaders of Change, from National Urban Fellows and Kansas University. She also holds a Certificate in Middle Management from Columbia Business School. Cheryelle is Past-President of Bronx Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Council. She is also a Board Member of Inter-Agency Council, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Community Service Board and their Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities sub-committee, the New York Association for Emerging and Multicultural Providers, and Emmanuel Children’s Mission private elementary school.

Programs

Deputy Executive Director for Programs

Jane Heaphy Deputy Executive Director for Programs jheaphy@INCLUDEnyc.org Jane brings over 25 years of educational nonprofit management experience. Focused on equity and access over her career, she led the Options Center and created the Options Institute, which provide college access and success programming to young people and training and capacity-building to school and community based counselors. She also headed Learning Leaders whose programs engaged parents as essential partners in public education. Jane lives in Brooklyn with her family. A graduate of the NYC public schools, she is also the proud parent of two teenagers in public high schools in Brooklyn. She has a Masters in Public Administration from Baruch College.

Senior Education Specialist

Jean Mizutani Senior Education Specialist jmizutani@INCLUDEnyc.org Jean has worked at INCLUDEnyc since 1999. She manages the direct assistance program, works with parents and professionals, and conducts training on advocacy skills and special education. She is a key leader of INCLUDEnyc’s Special Education Parent Centers and participates in several coalitions and advisory groups. Formerly a chef, she is the parent of a daughter with disabilities. Jean first contacted our organization as a parent seeking help and volunteered for two years before joining the staff.

Senior Manager, Direct Assistance and Training

Kpana Kpoto Senior Manager, Direct Assistance and Training kkpoto@INCLUDEnyc.org Kpana manages INCLUDEnyc’s helpline and staff training to ensure that families receive quality direct assistance when they call for help navigating early intervention, special education, OPWDD, and other services systems. She also develops and disseminates information and resources to families and collaborates with community organizations in the interest of people with disabilities. Kpana brings a passionate family perspective to her work as the parent of an autistic son and as the co-founder of an autism parent support group that she co-founded in the Bronx. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Howard University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Disability Studies from the CUNY School of Professional Studies.

Intake Associate

Victoria Laudat Intake Associate vlaudat@INCLUDEnyc.org After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in psychology at St. Joseph’s College, Victoria has been dedicated to working in nonprofit organizations that aim to advance and empower marginalized communities. Before Victoria joined INCLUDEnyc, she had over 5 years of experience working with communities of color, especially the Dominican community, to educate and mobilize them through civic, social and economic integration. Through her experience in working in a nonprofit, Victoria has acquired a passion for racial and social justice through an intersectional approach. She strongly believes that everyone is deserving of equal opportunities and equal rights. Victoria is excited to be a part of the INCLUDEnyc team to provide information, guidance and support to families.

Intake Coordinator

Issamar Lopez Intake Coordinator ilopez@includenyc.org Issamar Lopez is a Bilingual Intake and Operations Coordinator at INCLUDEnyc. She has spent several years working not only in the customer service industry but also at nonprofits assisting families and individuals. In previous roles, Issamar worked as a service coordinator allocating services for children who needed early childhood education. She has also worked alongside predominantly minority families and assisted in enrolling their children in enriching extracurricular activities such as swimming, basketball, and summer camp. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from York College and believes that literature has the power to bring people together and evoke feelings of unity and community.

Senior Family Educator

Ruth DiRoma Senior Family Educator rdiroma@INCLUDEnyc.org Ruth brings a lifetime of nonprofit and advocacy experience to INCLUDEnyc, including 30 years working for the Healing Arts Initiative. As a parent of a child with a disability herself, Ruth lends an intimate knowledge and passion to her mission to help New York City families provide the best possible education and future for their own children with disabilities. She has a master’s degree in Special Education and Urban Education as well as a master’s in Labor Relations and Management from Pace University.

Family Educator

Evita Bullen Family Educator ebullen@includenyc.org Evita Bullen joins INCLUDEnyc as a Family Educator and Family Engagement Facilitator on the School Age team. Evita has a master’s degree in special education and brings over 12 years of teaching experience in both NYC DOE and charter schools. Most recently, she was Director of Special Populations at Explore Charter Schools. In this role, her responsibilities included coaching and training teachers on intervention programs and instructional and behavioral supports, small group instruction to middle school students with IEPs, and coordination of communication between families, the CSE, and the school. Evita is passionate about special education and believes strongly in the inclusion of all students in the classroom and community.

Family Educator

Kimberly Delgado Family Educator kdelgado@includenyc.org As a Family Educator and School Aged Family Engagement Facilitator for INCLUDEnyc, Kim has extensive experience in the education field and in helping families and professionals build a strong understanding of the role of family engagement in special education systems. Born and raised in New York City, she developed an interest in education at a very early age and always wanted to become a teacher. Kim has a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Information Systems from NYC College of Technology, a Master of Science in Childhood Education from Brooklyn College, and advanced certifications in working with students with disabilities and as a school building leader (SBL) and school district leader (SDL) from the College of Saint Rose. She joined Ascend Public Charter Schools in 2011 as a founding third grade teacher in a general education classroom and grade team lead. Later, she became a math coach and then a student services coordinator, responsible for ensuring the delivery and implementation of high-quality instructional support and services for students who are English Language Learners and students from kindergarten to fourth grade who have disabilities or medical conditions. She is family-oriented in her personal life and values quality time spent with her husband and son.

Family Educator

Maggie Downham Family Educator mdownham@INCLUDEnyc.org As a person with multiple disabilities, Maggie brings both professional and personal experience to her work at INCLUDEnyc as a Family Educator. She knows the struggles and joys that living with a disability brings. Watching her mother advocate for her growing up, Maggie learned to be her own advocate. While her personal experiences have inspired her to do this work, she also feels strongly that she has a professional responsibility to empower families with the knowledge and skills they need to advocate for their children. When she entered the field of family advocacy full-time, she brought with her seven years of experience as an educator of students with disabilities in grades five through eight whom she taught in various subjects and classroom settings.

Family Educator

Laura Evans Family Educator levans@includenyc.org Laura Evans is a Family Educator and Family Engagement Facilitator on the School Age Team. Laura discovered her commitment to working with young people with disabilities while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco, where she collaborated with organizations that developed inclusive education programs for people with disabilities. After Morocco, Laura taught in New York City’s District 75 program. With her background in teaching and international educational development, Laura is committed to fostering equitable and responsive education systems and to supporting students and families in navigating these systems. Laura holds master’s degrees in special education and international educational development. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, running, and playing cricket in Prospect Park.

Family Educator

Alzira Reis Family Educator areis@includenyc.org Alzira Reis joins INCLUDEnyc as a Family Educator, Resource & Referral Specialist on the School Age team. Alzira holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Liberal Arts-Social Sciences. She previously taught at Rebecca School, a non-public therapeutic school that utilizes the DIR Methodology, an individualized program that meets students’ unique needs while celebrating their strengths. In that role, Alzira collaborated with families to leverage their expertise and lived experience in parenting children with disabilities to foster a child’s individual needs and interests. In her spare time, Alzira loves traveling, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family.

Director, Parent and Family Engagement

Alfonso Guzman Director, Parent and Family Engagement aguzman@INCLUDEnyc.org At INCLUDEnyc, Alfonso works directly with youth and families conducting outreach activities and delivering trainings. A native Spanish speaker, Alfonso is passionate about reaching immigrant families in NYC. He has designed, translated, and delivered a wide variety of parent workshops for families and professionals. He began his career in Early Intervention, has trained families in the child welfare system, and brings over a decade of social services experience to his work. Alfonso has an M.A. in Psychology from City College of the City University of New York.

Family Educator

Johanna Espinoza Family Educator jespinoza@INCLUDEnyc.org Johanna can identify with the barriers that people face when they arrive in a new country. Due to language limitations her parents were not aware of the supports available to assist Johanna’s adjustment to a new culture. She struggled with her academics and wanted to give up on school. Through one of her teachers she was connected with a bilingual counselor. She learned about the various supports offered and began advocating for herself and her family. This is when her passion to work with families began. Johanna has prior experience with family counseling in the preventive service setting as a case planner. She also has experience working with adults with autism and provided behavioral intervention therapy (ABA), and job coaching. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Saint Francis College and a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Baruch College. Johanna brings her enthusiasm to support and educate families as a family educator at INCLUDEnyc.

Family Educator

Yulissa Garcia Family Educator ygarcia@INCLUDEnyc.org Raised by immigrant parents in the Bronx and studying Sociology, Yulissa has a deep understanding of why families like her own did not have access to proper resources. She aspired to be an agent of change in communities like the one she grew up in and has worked extensively in care coordination for adults with chronic conditions. Yulissa joins the INCLUDEnyc team with the continued desire to help the New York community, particularly Latino families. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Lehman College in Sociology with a minor in Early Childhood Education.

Director of Youth & Transition Services

ebony A. Innis Director of Youth & Transition Services einnis@INCLUDEnyc.org ebony is the Director of Youth and Transition Services. ebony brings 16 years of experience in education to this role, including teaching students with disabilities, overseeing after school and college/career programs, as well as curriculum design and development. She has developed and successfully supported staff, classrooms, and academic programs in schools and at nonprofits. ebony is committed to cultivating a community of learners, educational access, and opportunity. ebony has a Bachelor in Political Science and Master’s in Childhood Education.

Senior Manager, Youth and Transition Services

Mia Greenidge Senior Manager, Youth and Transition Services mgreenidge@INCLUDEnyc.org Mia has a Master’s degree in Adolescent Education from St. John’s University. She comes with a background in human services specializing in educational and vocational services for young people affected by the juvenile justice and foster care systems. Mia is driven by the belief that there is a stronger need for detailed and effective transitional support for young people with disabilities, so they understand how to be their own advocates, understand their special education rights, and have support in post-secondary planning. Mia comes to INCLUDEnyc with a passion for supporting and driving transitional work with young people and hopes to close the achievement gap for this group.

Youth Educator

Akira Carr Youth Educator acarr@includenyc.org Akira Carr, a Harlem native, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. Akira brings a wide range of skills to the table, including management, program development, college preparation, and youth work readiness skill development. Service is central to her passion and drives her as an advocate and community builder. Akira’s creativity and work with children will help us guide young people with disabilities and other aspects of our work toward thoughtful and intentional outcomes.

Youth Educator

Beth Harper Youth Educator bharper@INCLUDEnyc.org As the younger sibling of a person with a disability, Beth developed an interest in supporting others with disabilities at a young age. Observing the challenges that her brother experienced transitioning to adulthood led Beth to a career devoted to making systemic change for people with disabilities. With a Masters in Social Work, Beth comes to INCLUDEnyc with experience in ABA therapy, behavioral intervention, employment coaching, and other transition-related services. In her work, Beth places a strong emphasis on fostering collaborative, solution-focused systems of support, which are built upon teamwork and relationship building across all sectors.

Youth Educator

Belinda Lin Youth Educator blin@INCLUDEnyc.org As a Youth Educator, Belinda brings many years of experience serving youth and families in both NYC and Taipei, Taiwan in educational, mentoring, mental health, and after school settings. Growing up in Queens, New York in an immigrant household and working closely with the immigrant population has given Belinda a unique perspective of the challenges faced and hidden strengths this community holds. She is passionate about providing access to information on how to navigate special education services and continues to advocate for and with marginalized communities especially on the topic of their educational rights. Belinda holds a Master of Social Work degree from her alma mater, Nyack College.

Bilingual Youth Coordinator

David Solano Bilingual Youth Coordinator dsolano@includenyc.org David Solano is a Bilingual Youth Coordinator at INCLUDEnyc. He was born and raised in Los Angeles, where he was a special education teacher for seven years in 4th and 5th grades and then in the high school setting. As the son of indigenous Guatemalans, David has a passion for supporting historically underserved and Spanish-speaking families and works to create a more inclusive and equitable society. David holds two Bachelor’s degrees in History and English from the University of California, Davis, and received his Education Specialist credential and Master’s in Special Education from California State University, Los Angeles. In his free time, David enjoys fermenting Kombucha and jogging across Manhattan.

Partner and Community Engagement

Senior Director of Partner & Community Engagement

Chantall Lowe Senior Director of Partner & Community Engagement clowe@INCLUDEnyc.org Chantall Lowe is INCLUDEnyc’s first Senior Director of Partner and Community Engagement. She oversees communications, government and community relations, operations, evaluation, and events. Chantall has extensive experience serving the disability community and a strong positive youth development lens from her previous roles at Ramapo for Children and UJA-Federation. Chantall is a native Latina New Yorker fluent in Spanish who brings racial equity and restorative justice practices to her work. Chantall resides in the Bronx with her two children and husband. She holds a BA from the State University of New York at Buffalo and an MS in nonprofit management from The New School.

Director of Communications and Outreach

Jenn Novak Director of Communications and Outreach jnovak@includenyc.org Jenn Novak, Director of Communications and Outreach, has launched public relations programs that focus on people who are disabled, public health and other non-profit initiatives prior to her role at INCLUDEnyc. Most recently, she led communications for the Public Health Corps, a division within the NYC Health Department that seeks to eliminate health disparities in New York City. As Social Media Manager at Lighthouse Guild, Jenn created social media campaigns and generated communications partnerships to raise awareness of eye health and to advocate for people who are blind or have low vision. Jenn graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Journalism.

Senior Manager of Communications and Outreach

Carly Wolff Senior Manager of Communications and Outreach cwolff@INCLUDEnyc.org After graduating with a B.A. from Temple University, Carly joined the Peace Corps as a Special Education Volunteer in Jordan. She then worked in a Rockland BOCES school for two years as a Substitute Teaching Assistant.

Communications & Graphics Coordinator

Shantell Batista Communications & Graphics Coordinator sbatista@includenyc.org Shantell graduated with a B.F.A in Communications Design from New Jersey City University. They worked as the Social Media Manager at Medshadow Foundation, a health news website focused on the side effects of medicines and alternative health options, where they created medical infographics and managed the organization’s social media channels. At INCLUDEnyc, Shantell coordinates the design needs of the organization across all teams and is passionate about accessible graphic design for all. While interning at Deffebaugh Agency, she helped research the accessibility problem areas of her university’s campus. In their free time, they enjoy going to concerts, thrifting for vintage clothes, and watching Rupaul’s Drag Race every Friday with her friends.

Director, Program Operations

Rich Overton Director, Program Operations roverton@INCLUDEnyc.org Rich joined INCLUDEnyc after years of supporting New York City’s homeless and foster youth and young adult population through education, career, and personal wellness coaching. With a degree in Communications from Emerson College in Boston, Rich has a background in public relations, and experience both as an entrepreneur and in nonprofit organization management. Passionate about human rights, diversity, and inclusion, Rich is excited to manage the parent training programs and Help Line, while expanding the organization’s reach and welcoming new partnerships to the INCLUDEnyc community.

Manager, Data and Information Systems

Robert Carabay Manager, Data and Information Systems rcarabay@INCLUDEnyc.org From his first job after college, Robert has pursued a career with non-profit and mission-driven organizations. His personal vision is to support people and teams who work to improve conditions for marginalized, vulnerable or minority populations. Prior to INCLUDEnyc, Robert was a communications manager for Pratt Institute, where he also led data strategy and evaluation projects. In recent years, Robert held data management and analysis roles at General Assembly, the Brooklyn Public Library, and Demos. Robert earned an M.S. in Library and Information Science with a special focus on archives from Pratt Institute and a B.A. in Spanish Literature from Pomona College.

Program Operations Associate

Kylie Balogh Program Operations Associate kbalogh@INCLUDEnyc.org Kylie comes to INCLUDEnyc with experience from both the nonprofit space and the NYC Mayor’s Office. Working both directly and indirectly with individuals with developmental disabilities, Kylie has developed a passion for supporting underserved New Yorkers. Kylie graduated from Marist College with her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Analytics.

Operations Assistant

Anthony Hasan Operations Assistant ahasan@INCLUDEnyc.org As an Operations Assistant, Anthony manages evaluation and related data to support program quality improvement. Anthony was born and raised in NYC, and holds an associate’s degree in Multimedia Art. Anthony previously worked at AHRC for over a decade, and he is excited to learn and grow at INCLUDEnyc.

Development

Senior Director of Development

Steve Clayton Senior Director of Development sclayton@includenyc.org Steve Clayton is very grateful to be INCLUDEnyc’s Senior Director of Development. He believes that every person should be given opportunities regardless of disability. Previously Steve worked as Director of Development for Advocates for Children of New Jersey, New Jersey Department of Education, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Steve holds a Master of Science in Public Policy & Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Arts in History & Sociology from University of Maryland. Steve presently serves as a Board Trustee at Brookdale Community College (NJ) and The Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless. Steve is an avid runner and enjoys the occasional skydive.

Manager of Individual Giving

James Ciszewski Manager of Individual Giving jciszewski@includenyc.org James joins INCLUDEnyc with a passion for supporting New Yorkers, and nearly a decade of fundraising experience with local nonprofit organizations. He previously served as the Development Coordinator at Women in Need (Win). Prior to joining Win, James was the Development Associate at the Archdiocese of New York, where he worked on the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner. He started his career as an Account Manager with the New York Blood Center, recruiting blood donors and organizing blood drives in Manhattan. James holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Manhattan College, and earned a degree in History from The Catholic University of America. He is an avid skier, and an enthusiastic supporter of the NY Giants and the US National Teams (soccer).

Development Coordinator

Matthew Cocco Development Coordinator mcocco@includenyc.org Matthew Cocco is INCLUDEnyc’s Development Coordinator. Matthew has experience in fundraising thanks to his time as a canvasser and field manager with Environment New York along with his volunteer work for Special Olympics during his time in undergrad. Most recently, Matthew was the first operations analyst for Highgate Hotels, where he facilitated daily operations and took ownership of the company’s database, including running analysis reports, among a number of other responsibilities. Matthew minored in International Relations and earned his Bachelor’s in Economics from SUNY Geneseo.

Finance & Administration

Senior Director of Finance and Administration

Laura-Ann Pafundi Senior Director of Finance and Administration lpafundi@includenyc.org Laura-Ann Pafundi is INCLUDEnyc’s Senior Director of Finance and Administration. Laura-Ann joins us most recently from the nonprofit Change Machine (formerly The Financial Clinic) where she was the Director of Finance and Operations. Prior to joining Change Machine, Laura-Ann was in the financial services industry both as a consultant and Chief of Staff and Chief Administrative Officer at Lehman Brothers/Barclays. A native of Brooklyn, Laura-Ann has her Bachelor’s from CUNY, Brooklyn, Master’s in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix, and a Human Resources Management Certificate from Cornell University.

Senior Manager of Finance & Administration

Jamar Devine Senior Manager of Finance & Administration JDevine@includenyc.org Jamar is the Senior Manager of Finance & Administration at INCLUDEnyc. With extensive experience in organizational human resources, operations, and finance, he has worked in both the nonprofit and public sectors, including the start-up Barnacle Parking (ITSA Solutions LLC). His most recent position was Assistant Director of Finance & Operations for a national nonprofit focused on financial security. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Albertus Magnus College and a Master’s Degree in Business Management from Metropolitan College of New York. When he is not working, you will find Jamar baking, playing with his Boston Terrier Arlo, reading, watching movies, or planning his next travel destination with his twin brother Lamar.

Finance Manager

Eric Pease Finance Manager epease@INCLUDEnyc.org Eric comes to INCLUDEnyc with almost 10 years of nonprofit finance and accounting experience in New York City. He formerly was the Director of the Financial Management program at GMHC. He has been involved in the disability community since childhood, with parents who are strong advocates for children living with disabilities. Eric holds a B.S. in Finance and also is a certified American Red Cross CPR/AED instructor.

Finance and Administration Associate

Victoria Garwood Burton Finance and Administration Associate vgburton@INCLUDEnyc.org Vicky is in charge of personnel administration, including employee benefits and office vendor relationship management. She is the primary liaison to the finance team and provides administrative support to executive staff, development staff, and the board of directors, especially in the area of donor relations.

Meet Our Team

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Executive Office

Programs

Partner and Community Engagement

Development

Finance & Administration

Help Line

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Contact

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Meet Our Team

Explore

Executive Office

Cheryelle Cruickshank

Programs

Jane Heaphy

Jean Mizutani

Kpana Kpoto

Victoria Laudat

Issamar Lopez

Kimberly McCoy

Sasha Bueno

Melinda Burke

Simone Capparelli

Aileen Comejo

Rosanna Garcia

Katie Stella

Amanda Bermudez

Ruth DiRoma

Evita Bullen

Kimberly Delgado

Maggie Downham

Laura Evans

Alzira Reis

Alfonso Guzman

Johanna Espinoza

Yulissa Garcia

ebony A. Innis

Mia Greenidge

Akira Carr

Beth Harper

Belinda Lin

David Solano

Julianne Toce

Partner and Community Engagement

Chantall Lowe

Jenn Novak

Carly Wolff

Shantell Batista

Rich Overton

Robert Carabay

Kylie Balogh

Anthony Hasan

Lori Podvesker

Development

Steve Clayton

James Ciszewski

Matthew Cocco

Finance & Administration

Laura-Ann Pafundi

Jamar Devine

Eric Pease

Victoria Garwood Burton

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