Alix Fellman Senior Program Manager, Whedco Alix Fellman Is a Senior
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NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES Alix Fellman Senior Program Manager, WHEDco Alix Fellman is a Senior Program Manager in WHEDco's Community Development Department, where she works primarily on the Jerome Avenue rezoning and Bronx CookSpace, an incubator kitchen. Alix also regularly contributes to WHEDco’s advocacy efforts, using the organization’s practical experience to demonstrate the need for public policy improvements. Alix has 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector in a wide variety of roles, including program development, fundraising, communications and community organizing. She holds a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute. Alix’s Neighborhood Change Project will build upon WHEDco’s work on the Jerome Avenue commercial corridor, with the goal of improving community safety and cleanliness, connecting businesses to resources and technical assistance, and promoting local businesses and community assets. Andrew Stricklin Manager, Streetscape Improvements & District Planning, Garment District Alliance Andrew Stricklin is Manager of Streetscape Improvements & District Planning at the Garment District Alliance in Midtown Manhattan. At the Alliance, Andrew oversees a $2 million capital improvement budget and liaises with City agencies to implement streetscape-level urban design projects as well as economic development initiatives to improve the neighborhood. Prior to joining the Garment District Alliance, Andrew worked at the Times Square Alliance as a Policy, Planning & Research Fellow and in the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Andrew also served as a Teach For America corps member in Fort Worth, Texas, where he taught high school physics and chemistry for English language learners. Andrew earned his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida and holds a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of California, Los Angeles. For his Neighborhood Change Project, Andrew will be developing a strategic plan for public space in the Garment District. The plan will focus on uncovering latent public space, reclaiming sidewalk and street space for pedestrians, and advocating for major public space capital infrastructure projects. Neighborhood Leadership is a partnership with the New York City Department of Small Business Services. Generous funding support has also been provided by the New York City Council, Surdna Foundation, TD Bank, Citi and Signature Bank. NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES Clara Inés Schuhmacher Director of Marketing & Events, DUMBO Improvement District Clara Inés Schuhmacher has over a decade of experience in the cultural sector, working primarily at the intersection of the arts, community and public space. Currently, she is the Director of Marketing & Events for the DUMBO Improvement District, where she develops programming for the neighborhood’s public spaces in partnership with, and for the benefit of, its residents, businesses and cultural organizations, including Live at the Archway, a free, weekly performance series. Previously, she held creative leadership positions with Make Music New York, the New York Village Halloween Parade, and New Music USA. Clara is on the editorial team of the arts research think tank Createquity. In addition, she is an active classical vocalist, and moonlights as a food writer and video artist. Clara holds a Bachelor’s in Ethnomusicology from Brown University, and an Masters in Arts Politics from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Clara's Neighborhood Change Project will focus on mitigating the impact of impending street reconstruction on DUMBO by advocating for diverse stakeholder needs throughout the process, continuing to foster neighborhood momentum through updated marketing strategies, and creating spaces for community connection through innovative, yet temporary, placemaking tactics that activate atypical physical and emerging virtual spaces. David Shuffler Executive Director Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice David Shuffler, was born and raised in the Bronx River section of the South Bronx where he continues to work and live. Shuffler is the Executive Director at Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ). YMPJ is a multi-service, faith based, grassroots community organization located in the Bronx River/Soundview sections of the Bronx. Shuffler first started his career in this work as a member at YMPJ in the summer of 1994. Quickly, joining the staff at YMPJ, Shuffler, was an integral part of forming the original R.I.V.E.R. Team, which led grassroots community organizing efforts that resulted in victories. Shuffler also worked on other issue campaigns such as unemployment and police reform. With his many years of experience as a trainer of community and other related organizing issues David continues to be a mover and shaker influencing varying levels of government on local issues. Over his career David has been able to secure over $50 million dollars for community led efforts throughout the city, move effective policy through the New York City and State - which directly benefitted low-income New Yorkers. The Westchester Avenue Corridor is a vital economic engine and thoroughfare for residents in the Bronx River and Soundview Neighborhoods. Parts of the Westchester Avenue corridor have been disconnected from other parts of the corridor due to a lack of businesses, residential dwellings, vacant lots or simply an uninviting presence along the commercial strip. The vision of Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ) is to change that by leveraging projects we have conducted in the project area for over fifteen years. YMPJ is responsible for bringing the only NYC Department of Transportation public plaza to this area, the development of Concrete Plant Park – a former brownfield site, now a public park and the NYC Parks Department Bronx River Greenway connections. Our goal is to continue to make this a neighborhood people find leisure, enjoy shopping, and access different modes of transportation. Neighborhood Leadership is a partnership with the New York City Department of Small Business Services. Generous funding support has also been provided by the New York City Council, Surdna Foundation, TD Bank, Citi and Signature Bank. NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES Gail M. Davis Director of Women's Brooklyn Enterprise Center, Local Development Corporation of East New York (LDCENY) Currently working at the LDCENY, Gail has provided leadership to several commercial revitalization projects including Pitkin Avenue and Atlantic Avenue between Pennsylvania and South Conduit in East New York. In this capacity, she fostered projects to induce business attraction and retention. These efforts created opportunities to work with arts organizations and community partners to generate advocacy campaigns for local businesses. At present, she is the Director of the Women’s Brooklyn Enterprise Center at the LDCENY, a program that assists entrepreneurs with starting and growing businesses. She is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising, Baruch College of the City University of New York with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing, and a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from New York Theological Seminary. Gail’s Neighborhood Change Project seeks to establish ENY as the “Car Hood” – emphasizing the largest industry in the community through strengthened B2B and B2C connections, graphic/industrial design installations, and ultimately a car show in the next year. Glenn Greenidge Executive Director, Sutphin Boulevard Business Improvement District Glenn Greenidge is the Executive Director of the Sutphin Boulevard BID where he is currently focused on economic and community development utilizing his training and development skills in commercial real estate. Glenn also heads up the Queens Community Board 12 Economic Development Committee and the CB12 Land Use committee, which takes care of large portion Southeast Queens. Glenn is also a coach and senior facilitator of the International Black Summit and co-created coaching programs, “The 90 Day Enhancement Program” and “Be the Leader in your Life”. Glenn also helped create “People of African Descent Empowerment Group” out of a commitment to the development of entrepreneurs and small and medium size business development. Glenn is committed to causing a renaissance of the Downtown Jamaica corridor bringing it back to the early 70s, a vibrant business corridor featuring major retailers as well as unique boutique shops that offer high fashion. Neighborhood Leadership is a partnership with the New York City Department of Small Business Services. Generous funding support has also been provided by the New York City Council, Surdna Foundation, TD Bank, Citi and Signature Bank. NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES Isidro Medina Deputy Director, Washington Heights Business Improvement District Isidro joined the NYC Washington Heights Business Improvement District in February 2016 and is currently the Deputy Director of Operations. He conducts merchant outreach and the execution of retail attraction initiatives. Prior to joining the WHBID, Isidro worked extensively in the real estate industry. During his tenure at the City College of New York, he was an academic advisor and an adjunct professor teaching International Studies and Political Science. Isidro holds a Bachelor’s & Master’s degree