LEADERSHIP NEW YORK 28 PROGRAM BIOGRAPHIES 2016-2017 Alex Stokes is a Director at HR&A Advisors, Inc., a real estate, economic development and public policy consulting firm headquartered in New York City. At HR&A, Alex has crafted strategies to guide the usage of public incentives and financing tools, the provision of affordable housing and open space, and the redevelopment of urban waterfronts and cultural districts around the country. Alex also serves as an in-house advisor for HR&A’s real estate practice and oversees the firm’s financial modeling training program. Since 2015, Alex has co-taught a seminar on redevelopment feasibility at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design. Alex is a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Paris- Dauphine. Through Coro LNY, Alex hopes to explore the strategies and partnerships required to support the equitable revitalization of New York City’s neighborhoods and improve the quality of life of all New Yorkers. Alice Shay is a city planner and urban designer with the Bloomberg Associates Urban Planning practice. She develops strategic planning and urban design projects that address waterfront infrastructure, public space, neighborhood development, and the implementation of land use tools. Prior to Bloomberg Associates, Alice worked with WXY Architecture and Urban Design, architecture and planning firm focused on the public realm. Alice consulted for the UN-HABITAT City Development Strategies program in Indonesia with the non-profit organization, Solo Kota Kita (SKK). Alice co-authored the Firm Foundation Social Design Field Guide, a guidebook on participatory design. Alice received a B.A. from Brown University and a M.C.P. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is a fellow of the Urban Design Forum. Alice is joining Coro LNY to develop innovative approaches to engage the relationship between equitable development and the design of the public realm. Allegra Blackburn-Dwyer is Director of Strategic Initiatives at the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, where she manages agency- wide strategic planning and critical new initiatives that support a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable city. Allegra has wide-ranging experience in program design, management, and evaluation, as well as communications, fundraising, and partnership development. Before joining NYC Parks, Allegra held several positions at the Mayor’s Office and was Chief of Staff for the Center for Economic Opportunity. In these roles, she developed a vision for New York City’s anti-poverty agenda, launched new programs, established learning networks, and built public-private partnerships - raising over $130 million to complement city-led initiatives. Allegra received a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College and an M.P.A. from New York University. Allegra has joined Coro LNY to strengthen her capacity to effect change and improve services for all New Yorkers. Special thanks to Edelman, the Coro Leadership New York Program Partner, for their generous support 1 LEADERSHIP NEW YORK 28 PROGRAM BIOGRAPHIES 2016-2017 Amanda Rothman Papir is the Deputy Director of the Association for a Better New York (ABNY), a 45 year-old non-profit civic association dedicated to the constant growth and renewal of New York City's people, businesses and communities. As Deputy Director, Amanda is responsible for developing and executing ABNY's strategic direction, priorities, and agenda along with the Executive Director, overseeing ABNY's Young Professionals Network, and working with 300 member organizations on issue specific advocacy campaigns and policy proposals. Before ABNY, Amanda worked as the Director of Development for JWM Productions, an independent production company, where she honed her communications and media skills. Amanda considers herself to be a community builder, advocate for civic engagement, and a lifelong learner. She joined Coro LNY to deepen her understanding and gain new insight into current and complex policy issues facing NYC. Amanda graduated from Barnard College with a degree in English and Film Studies. April Gariepy is currently leading District-Charter Partnerships, one of Mayor de Blasio's Equity & Excellence initiatives, for the NYC Department of Education (NYC DOE). Through this work, she supports the creation of meaningful opportunities for district and charter school collaboration for sustained progress and the overall advancement of all students in New York City through school-to-school, district-wide, and system-wide programming. Previously, April focused on improving human capital systems through her work with charter school network Achievement First, TNTP’s Performance Management group, and the NYC DOE’s Division of Human Resources and Talent. April is a National Urban Fellow with a M.P.A from Baruch’s School of Public Affairs and a B.A. in Communication Studies from Bridgewater State College. April resides in Brooklyn, NY where her daughter is in 3rd grade at P.S. 11, and April serves on the Parent-Teacher Association’s Executive Board. April Schneider, PE, LEED AP ND is a Senior Engineer at LEVEL Agency for Infrastructure, a for-profit, mission-driven business that provides sustainable infrastructure solutions for cities around the world. At LEVEL, April focuses on integrating ideas of equality, justice, and sustainability within the engineering space to develop design solutions that have wide-reaching social impact. She leads projects for water-related infrastructure, working for clients across the public and private sectors. April holds a M.U.P. from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and a Certificate in Technical Communication from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. April is passionate about cities and the infrastructure systems that underpin their livability, and as an avid traveler, brings a global curiosity and international perspective to all her projects. She joined Coro LNY to expand her breadth of knowledge about civic issues in New York City and develop the leadership skills that will inspire the next generation of women engineers. Special thanks to Edelman, the Coro Leadership New York Program Partner, for their generous support 2 LEADERSHIP NEW YORK 28 PROGRAM BIOGRAPHIES 2016-2017 Barika Williams is the Deputy Director at the Association for Neighborhood Housing Development (ANHD). She serves on the board of the Atlantic Yards Community Development Corporation and of CommonWise, a Bronx economic democracy organization. Throughout her career, she has worked to promote and ensure equity and opportunity in all neighborhoods, especially for low-income communities and communities of color. Previously, Barika worked at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. where she published on a number of topics including affordable housing, healthy neighborhoods, urban mobility, neighborhood schools, tenant rights, disaster recovery, and homelessness. She served as Project Manager for a leading DC real estate firm and on a community-based comprehensive education reform initiative. Barika holds a master’s from MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning and a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She joined Coro LNY to develop new relationships and skills in service of NYC’s diverse communities. Ben Kleinbaum is Senior Vice President at Capalino+Company, the city’s largest government relations firm. Since joining the Capalino+Company in 2011, Ben has provided strategic advice for clients on issues related to public policy, land use, and economic development, leading to long-term sustainable successes. He has represented national trade associations, premier private schools, major developers, and some of New York's largest not-for-profit institutions. Previously, he worked on several political campaigns across New York where he focused on organizing, data management, and targeting. Ben is a graduate of Bard College and earned a M.S. in Urban Policy Analysis and Management from the New School. Ben is eager to attend Coro LNY so he can continue to grow as an advocate for positive change in New York City. Bethany Basile is the Director of Foundation Relations at Roundabout Theatre Company, the nation’s largest not-for-profit theater. She strategically builds philanthropic engagement in the intuition’s mainstage, living artists, education, archives, and access programs. Most prominently, she is raising funds for the Arts sector’s first technical theater workforce development initiative, for which she is collaborating with JobsFirstNYC, IATSE, The Door, and leading not-for-profit theaters across the city. Prior to joining Roundabout, she worked on landmark initiatives at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), including securing a three-year funding contract for 1.2 miles of free public Wi-Fi in downtown Brooklyn and collaborative exchanges with three cities in upstate New York as an expansion of the community’s celebrated DanceAfrica Festival. She is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She joins Coro LNY to learn how to leverage valuable artistic practices in improving programs serving New York. Special thanks to Edelman, the Coro Leadership New York Program Partner, for their generous support 3 LEADERSHIP NEW YORK 28 PROGRAM BIOGRAPHIES 2016-2017 Bonnie McGuire is the Deputy Director of the NYC Parks’ Urban Park Rangers, the city’s premier environmental educators. Bonnie manages all fee-based programming for the Rangers including school, camp and youth group environmental education and adventure programs. She oversees the budget and purchasing, numerous special projects and programs, and has led a number of trainings for seasonal and full-time staff. Bonnie has a M.P.A. in Emergency Management from John Jay College and a M.S. in Entomology from the University of Delaware. Her quest for knowledge and belief in knowledge sharing has led her to join NYC Emergency Management’s Community Emergency Response Team in an effort to educate the community about emergency preparedness. Bonnie joined Coro LNY to connect with others in the quest to empower New Yorkers with a specific focus in being prepared for any situation.