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Our Team

Leading with lived experience, CPLAN leaders reflect the community they aim to serve. These parents of color are a product of the public school system and currently have children attending different sectors.

Our team brings diversity of thought, socio-economic status, culture and educational experiences to deliver a holistic perspective to the work. 

Ivelisse Caraballo

Executive Director

Ivelisse was a founding member of CPLAN and now serves as our Executive Director. She is extremely passionate about achieving racial equity in education and creating spaces to educate and empower families to take control of their child's educational experience. Her professional experience encompasses corporate, private, non-profit and academic sectors. Read more about Ivelisse's story and how she began her journey in educational advocacy!

Samantha Mariano

Samantha Mariano

Assistant Project Manager

Passionate advocate for mental health and human rights. Fueled by the inequities she witnessed in the mental health care and education systems, she has been committed to pushing for more thoughtful and intentional solutions, with the input of the community that is affected.

Dr. Gayl Crump Swaby

Dr. Gayl Crump Swaby

Director of Reshaping Mental Community Wellness

An author, speaker, publisher, mental wellness coach, and licensed mental health professional.

Brenda Guillaume

Brenda Guillaume

Education Advocate | Haitian Creole Interpreter

Brenda is a seasoned healthcare professional with over a decade of experience in hospice and residential care.

Griselda Polanco

Griselda Polanco

Education Equity Advocate

Community activist who understand that the power of parents is not only in educating their children but also in educating themselves, only then can we fight for a better education for our children.

Elsa Flores

Elsa Flores

Education Equity Advocate

Committed teacher with 11 years of teaching experience in El Salvador and nineteen years working with families and children in the Boston community, especially around supporting the immigrant population.

Denise Jimenez

Denise Jimenez

Mental Health Professional

Denise Jimenez is a dynamic professional with a diverse skill set and a passion for holistic well-being.

Santiago Rivera

Santiago Rivera

Education Equity Advocate

Bilingual community organizer with experience working in progressive local, state and national campaigns with a commitment to social, racial and economic justice and the power of grassroots community organizing to achieve it.

Lucy Wickings

Lucy Wickings

Education Advocate

Lucy Wikings is a bi-racial, Filipino/American individual who embodies a unique blend of cultures and perspectives.

Community Ethics Committee

These members of our Community Ethics Committee have been instrumental in shaping CPLAN's mission and vision. As our organization grows, these powerful women continue to advise best practices.

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Julia Mejia

Founder; Boston City Councilor

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Daysa Santana

Youth Engagement Specialist

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Kawanda Boyd

Parent leader, Parent Council Chair for METCO Swampscott

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Fabienne Eliacin

Special Education Advocate, Decoding Dyslexia Specialist

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Karla Walker

Health Equity Advocate

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Tayla Andre

Marketing Specialist, Real Estate, Financial Educator, Radio Personality

Board of Directors

Our diverse and experienced board of directors provides invaluable insights, strategic direction, and support to CPLAN's initiatives. While it doesn't have governing authority, it holds us accountable and helps in program development, fundraising strategies, and organizational growth. They ensure CPLAN provides transparent, equitable, and quality services to our families, while maintaining the organization’s fiscal health.

Cameron Smith

Student at Clark University

Laurie Jo Wallace

Managing Director, Health Resources in Action

Aminah Pilgrim

Cofounder of Sabura Youth Program, UMASS Boston Professor

Gayl Crump Swaby

Director of Mental Wellness

Steve Ridini

President of Health Resources in Action

Donkor Minors

Educator, Entrepreneur

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Lori Fresina-  La Sra. Fresina se unió al personal de M+R Servicios Estratégicos en septiembre de 2006 como Vicepresidenta Sénior y Directora de la Oficina de Nueva Inglaterra, luego de cuatro años con la Campaña para Niños Libres de Tabaco (CTFK), donde se desempeñó como Directora de Defensa Regional del Noreste. Su lista de clientes ha incluido una amplia gama de organizaciones locales, estatales y nacionales, incluida la Asociación Estadounidense del Corazón, Alberta Courage Network, la Asociación de Nueva Inglaterra para la Consejería de Admisión Universitaria, Susan G. Komen Advocacy Alliance, Rhode Island Citizens for the Arts, Boston Comisión de Salud Pública, Recursos Comunitarios para la Justicia, Grupo de Trabajo de Aire Limpio, departamentos de salud estatales en Massachusetts y Rhode Island, y otros. Antes de unirse a CTFK, la Sra. Fresina ocupó una variedad de puestos de defensa durante 12 años en la Sociedad Estadounidense del Cáncer, incluidos los de Coordinadora de Defensa de Base para Massachusetts, Directora de Defensa para Massachusetts y Directora de Nueva Inglaterra Libre de Humo. La Sra. Fresina ha desarrollado una experiencia en estrategias de movilización comunitaria, colaboraciones regionales, desarrollo de base y comunicación de salud pública para audiencias políticas. Además, la Sra. Fresina es una capacitadora y entrenadora experimentada en defensa. En 2002, la Cámara de Comercio de Greater Boston Jaycees la nombró una de las "Diez Jóvenes Líderes Sobresalientes de 2002". Tiene una licenciatura en Comunicaciones de Emerson College y una maestría en Políticas Públicas y Participación Ciudadana de la Universidad de Tufts.

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kevin andrews-   El Sr. Andrews es el director fundador de Neighborhood House Charter School (NHCS), que abrió sus puertas en 1995. NHCS es una escuela de servicio completo de prekínder a octavo grado que integra la educación con los servicios sociales y los programas de atención médica para 400 estudiantes de bajos ingresos. de Dorchester y los vecindarios circundantes. Es una de las escuelas más codiciadas de la ciudad, con estudiantes que constantemente se ubican entre los mejores en los exámenes MCAS de inglés y matemáticas. Antes de fundar NHCS, Kevin fue director en Newton y en Brookline, y fue maestro de aula en Newton. Recientemente renunció como director de NHCS, pero aún participa activamente en los esfuerzos educativos en Boston y Massachusetts.

Our History

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