Boston
  

Robyn Carter, LICSW
Executive Director

Robyn Carter has dedicated her career to providing leadership and service in Boston human service organizations committed to building upon the strengths of children and families. Prior to joining Room to Grow in March of 2012, Robyn was the Vice President of Programs and Services at United South End Settlements and served as a Network Director for early childhood and prevention programs at the Home for Little Wanderers. Robyn was a 2006 Schott Fellow in Early Childhood Education and Care and is now an alumnus of the CAYL (formerly Schott) Fellowship program. She has served on the Boards of the Neighborhood Parents of the Hurley School, and the Massachusetts Association for Early Childhood Education and Care (MADCA). Robyn holds a B.A. in Psychology from Williams College and an MSW from Boston University.

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Jerri-Ann Archer
Development Associate, VISTA

Jerri-Ann joined Room to Grow in the fall of 2012 through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from La Salle University in Philadelphia where she minored in Leadership and Global Understanding. Through this program, Jerri-Ann traveled to South America, the Middle East and Asia to study civic engagement and foreign policy. Her involvement with nonprofits aimed at combating poverty around the world inspired Jerri-Ann to work for an organization that did the same at home in the United States. At Room to Grow, Jerri-Ann assists the development team with activities focused on increasing the fundraising capacity of the organization.

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Elizabeth Chernack
Director of Community Relations

After traveling the globe, volunteering in schools and villages around the world, Elizabeth is happy to support children and their families in her hometown. She joined Room to Grow in 2010 and is responsible for securing in-kind donations, building community partnerships and managing external communications. Elizabeth has extensive experience developing brand recognition and building support for program initiatives. Her public relations efforts helped Dana-Farber Cancer Institute raise critical funds for research and care. She also worked for Regan Communications, New England Cable News, and for two NBC affiliates in New York as a general assignment and education reporter. She earned a B.A. in Psychology, and Media and Communications, from the University of Rochester.

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Rebecca Freedman, LICSW
Senior Social Worker

Rebecca received her B.A. in psychology from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY and her MSW from Boston University School of Social Work. She has worked as a clinician with all ages, from birth to adulthood. Prior to joining Room to Grow in 2008, she worked in many different clinical environments including addiction services and most recently at a Head Start affiliated preschool where she provided resources to parents and play therapy to children ages 3-5. She lives in Boston with her husband Jeff and two young daughters, Maya and Sadie.

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Mechilia Salazar joined Room to Grow after spending seven years as the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middlesex County where she passionately led board development, financial and operational management, staff management, strategy planning as well as the creation of the organization's first long-range fund development plan. Mechilia also brings an extensive background from the for-profit world specializing in sales, marketing and management. She earned a B.A. in Child Development and Early Education from Colby Sawyer College. She also received a Nonprofit Management and Leadership certificate from Boston University.

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Lisa joined Room to Grow in 2013 after receiving her B.A. in Political Science and Spanish from Tufts University. After multiple internships in the Massachusetts State House, Lisa decided to take a more direct approach to impacting her community. During her time at Tufts, she cultivated her passion for meaningful work by volunteering at the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, Let’s Get Ready, and Teach-in-CORES. Currently, she serves as the fundraising chair for the Asian-American Women’s Political Initiative. At Room to Grow, Lisa helps manage daily administrative and operational functions for the program.

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Janaye joined Room to Grow in 2013 to lead the organization's planning of successful fundraising events, including our annual Mother's Day benefit breakfast and Fall Gala. Her experience includes ten years of event planning in the sports and entertainment industries. Janaye has traveled extensively with the National Basketball Association and USA National Team to plan and prepare large-scale events including NBA All-Star, the NBA China Games and the Beijing Olympics. She developed a passion for philanthropic and nonprofit work by playing an active role in various players' foundations and initiatives. Janaye received a dual B.A. in Communication Studies and Sociology from Boston College, and a M.A. in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University.

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Jen joined Room to Grow in 2012 after working with Starbucks for six years, most recently as assistant manager in two Boston locations. Previously, Jen worked as a victim’s advocate and programs administrator at a nonprofit organization in Colorado that provides resources and services to survivors of domestic violence. Currently, she also volunteers her time at the resource center at the Women's Lunch Place in Boston. Jen's passion for serving members of her community and advocating for those living in poverty is what led her to Room to Grow. Jen graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 2006 with her B.A. in Sociology.

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Room to Grow is supported in part by Boston Cares and the Corporation for National and Community Service through the granting of an AmeriCorps VISTA.