New York

Andrea Salwen Kopel
Executive Director

Before joining Room to Grow, Andrea served for six years as Vice President for Community Programs for the non-profit Big Apple Circus, leading the Circus' extensive outreach programming both under Big Top and in the community in hospitals, schools and community-based agencies. Prior to that Andrea spent seven years as Director of Program Services for Citymeals-on-Wheels, creating and implementing programming to serve New York City's homebound elderly.  Andrea holds a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School and a B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University.
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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 a painter. She holds a Masters in Fine Arts from School of Visual Arts and a B.S.  in Studio Art from New York University.
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Naomi Hanson
Inventory and Volunteer Coordinator

Prior to joining Room to Grow in the summer of 2012, Naomi worked as a Curatorial Assistant at the American Museum of Natural History, where she helped maintain her department's collection database and inventory. Additionally, she has dedicated over ten years to children and families working as a childcare provider throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Naomi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The New School's Eugene Lang College.
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Angela Reyes
Development and Program Associate

Angela joined Room to Grow in 2012. After taking time away from her career to stay at home with her young children, she returns to continue her work in child centered non-profit management.  Early in her career, Angela worked as an educator in Spanish Harlem at Central Park East Elementaray School, a small and innovative school that focused on child centered learning. Most recently, she worked as the Director of School Aged Programming at the Ossining Children's Center.  During her time at the center, Angela worked to create a vivid and dynamic enivronment that supported staff, children and their families. 
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La Shell Wooten, LMSW
Senior Social Worker

La Shell joined Room to Grow in 2007. She received a B.A. 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.
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