New York Lexy Mayers
Executive Director

Lexy joined Room to Grow as Executive Director of the New York site in 2006. She oversees all programmatic, administrative, and fund raising activities for this office, ensuring that the organization is able to serve its capacity of clients. Prior to joining Room to Grow Lexy spent four years as Executive Director of Cool Culture, an organization that brings low-income families to NYC museums and other cultural institutions. Before that she worked in consumer marketing at American Express. Lexy has an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a BA from Harvard University.
lexy@roomtogrow.org

Veronica Farje
Development Director

Veronica joined Room to Grow in 2008. She is responsible for the organization’s comprehensive fundraising activities. She was previously a Senior Associate Director at the American Museum of Natural History, where her eight-year career spanned government, foundation, and individual fundraising, and financial monitoring and planning. Prior to that, she was a family policy advocate for Citizens’ Committee for Children, specializing in the areas of housing, homelessness, and income support. Veronica has a BA from Hunter College and is a graduate of the Public Service Scholar Program.  veronica@roomtogrow.org

La Shell Wooten
Senior Social Worker

La Shell joined Room to Grow in 2007. She received a BA from The City College of New York and an MSW from New York University. La Shell has provided social work service to the foster care system, to various adolescent groups and most recently to prenatal women at Beth Israel Hospital. In addition, she is the author of two children's books.
lashell@roomtogrow.org

Andrea Veras
Social Worker

Andrea joined Room to Grow in 2009. She is a social worker who has worked with families in a variety of capacities, most recently at the Institute for Family Health in the Bronx and the Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership in Harlem. Andrea received a BA from Alfred University and a MSW from Fordham University.
andrea@roomtogrow.org

Simotra Houston
Program and Development Associate

Simotra joined Room to Grow in 2007 having previously worked as a consultant at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. She is an educator and writer and also teaches music and theatre to children throughout NYC. Simotra received her BS from Syracuse University.
simotra@roomtogrow.org

Elaine Chow
Community Relations Manager

Elaine joined Room to Grow in 2009. She was previously the Associate Director of Alumni Affairs at School of Visual Arts (SVA), where her efforts included developing a comprehensive set of alumni benefits, programs and services. Before that she was the Internship Coordinator at SVA, where she managed and expanded the school’s internship for credit program. Elaine is also an artist and recently spent a half-year in Kyoto, Japan on a fellowship/residency studying textiles, painting and visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites. She has a BS in Studio Art from New York University and an MFA in Fine Arts from School of Visual Arts.
elaine@roomtogrow.org

Christine Bryant
Inventory and Volunteer Coordinator

Christine joined Room to Grow in 2009 after graduating with a BA in Communications and Media Studies from Fordham University. While in college, she held internships in marketing and account management at Undertone Networks, and also spent time in El Salvador, which reinforced her interest in economic and social justice. In addition, she spent several summers as a sales associate at J.Crew.
christine@roomtogrow.org