Kay E. MacKenzie is the Director of Business Development and Administration at The HAVI, a fiscally sponsored program of HRiA. She holds a Master of Science in Business Management from Cardinal Stritch University and a certificate in nonprofit management. With 20 years in management roles, Kay has worked to build infrastructure in growing nonprofits around… Read more »
Type: Employee
Caitlin Donnelly
Caitlin Donnelly (she/they) is a Senior Program Officer on the Grantmaking team at HRiA. She brings over a decade of experience in solidarity with historically under-resourced communities. With a strong commitment to civic participation, Caitlin has led trainings, supported organizers and grantees, and built coalitions focused on amplifying the voices of those most affected by… Read more »
Ian Fox
Ian Fox is a Contracts and Compliance Associate at HRiA. His career spans legal and business operations across industries. Prior to joining HRiA, Ian worked in labor and employment at a law firm and litigation consulting at an expert network. Most recently, he worked at a social impact start-up. He has expertise in contract negotiation,… Read more »
Darryl Enos
Darryl Enos is a Capacity Building Manager at HRiA. Darryl previously worked as an ambassador and a supervisor at the Massachusetts Ambassador Project. This initiative, funded by the Office of Problem Gambling Services at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. creates the awareness of problem gambling among men of color with a history of substance… Read more »
Tasha Whitaker
Tasha Whitaker is Community Health Worker (CHW) Network Manager for the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW), a fiscally sponsored program of HRiA. Her work has aimed to increase access to healthcare for vulnerable populations, health and wellness education and case management for individuals with chronic illness through strategic community engagement efforts. She is… Read more »
Cassandra Tavaras
Cassandra Tavaras is a Senior Research Associate at HRiA. She has experience in qualitative and quantitative evaluation, analysis, and project management, particularly in youth development, education, and community health. Through a culture of learning, she strives to make data accessible, useful, and informative to create valuable change. Prior to joining HRiA, she worked on a… Read more »
Amanda Kwok
Amanda Kwok is the Director of Program Operations at HRiA. In this role, she leads the MA Health Promotion Clearinghouse team, focusing on the dissemination of educational information and resources. She brings nearly twenty years of experience in direct service and community engagement, with a strong emphasis on youth empowerment, economic mobility, and affordable housing…. Read more »
Kristen Mueller
Kristen Mueller is the Chief Science Officer at HRIA. In this role, she leads and collaborates with the organization’s biomedical grantmaking team to spearhead and maintain HRiA’s biomedical research award program services and enhance program impact. She has extensive experience in non-profit grantmaking, having previously directed grants programs most recently at the Arthritis Foundation and… Read more »
Yacine Fall
Yacine Fall, MS, is a Project Manager on the Research & Evaluation team at Health Resources in Action (HRiA). With six years of global experience in equity-centered research and evaluation, Yacine currently supports HRiA in managing a multi-year evaluation project with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Office of Local and Regional Health (OLRH). Her… Read more »
Joy Wright
Joy Wright is the Associate Director of Advancement at The HAVI, a fiscally sponsored program of HRiA. She has 30 years of experience working in nonprofits dedicated to creating a more just society, serving as a fundraiser, directing a domestic violence training program, founding a statewide hotline, and running a consulting business. She has also… Read more »
Angelica Fontes
Angelica Fontes is a Senior Manager of Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Capacity Building at HRiA. In this role, she provides violence prevention and intervention technical assistance to violence prevention grantees across Massachusetts. Angelica develops and implements trainings in collaboration with HRiA staff and sits on the project’s implementation team. Angelica has extensive experience in gun… Read more »
Laurell Haapanen
Laurell Haapanen is a Contact Center Supervisor for the Helplines at HRiA. She has over 18 years of experience at various helplines throughout the US, supporting clients like the family and friends of potential elder abuse victims and New York residents experiencing psychological distress during the pandemic. She received her master’s degree in counseling psychology… Read more »
Morenike Akinwolere
Morenike Akinwolere is a Grants Coordinator on the Biomedical Research Grantmaking team at HRiA. She is passionate about health & racial equity as well as social impact and immigrant rights. Morenike has experience working in health care and nonprofit organizations in social services and advocacy capacities. She earned a BS in Sociology from the University… Read more »
Martine L. François
Martine François is the Director of the LEAH Project at HRiA. She has over a decade of experience in youth development across diverse settings. Most recently, Martine directed Salem State University’s TRIO Student Support Services program, which enhances college access for first-generation, low-income students. Additionally, she has developed science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and… Read more »
Derrick Sosa
Derrick Sosa is a Research Assistant at HRiA, providing quantitative analytical support to the Research and Evaluation team. He brings experience and passion in data analysis, data visualization, and using research as evidence to foster change that supports those from communities oppressed by systems of inequity. Derrick has a background in environmental health, public health,… Read more »
Lyndsey Medlin
Lyndsey Medlin is a Grants Coordinator on the Biomedical Research Grantmaking team at HRiA. She brings a decade of experience in managing nonprofit arts and culture initiatives in the Washington DC metro area. Lyndsey holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master’s degree from George Mason University.
Zhaniya Aldekeyeva
Zhaniya Aldekeyeva is a Research Assistant at HRiA. As a member of the Research & Evaluation team, she provides data and research-related support. She has experience working in hospital settings and academic research. She holds an MPH degree with a concentration in Environmental Health and Epidemiology & Biostatistics from the Boston University School of Public… Read more »
Victoria Adewumi
Victoria Adewumi is an inaugural Co-Executive Director/Co-Principal Investigator of the Community Health Worker Center for Research and Evaluation (CHW-CRE), a fiscally sponsored program of HRiA. In this role, she supports the training of CHWs and CHW researchers in evaluation methods that uplift the CHW workforce, as well as the development of common process and outcome… Read more »
Mithila Farin
Mithila Farin is a Research Assistant at HRiA. In this role, she provides data and research related support on the Research & Evaluation team. Mithila has prior work experience in community health through working at local nonprofits that focused on gender-based and language-based equity and in quantitative analysis through working as a chemistry research assistant…. Read more »
Raina McMahan
Raina McMahan is a Contact Center Supervisor for the Helplines at HRiA. Previously, she worked at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston as the Recovery Coach Team Lead and as a Senior Recovery Coach supporting people in all pathways of recovery. She is a person in long term recovery and an advocate for those looking to… Read more »
Poppy LeBlanc
Poppy LeBlanc is a Marketing and Business Development Coordinator at HRiA. She assists the team with several activities such as: website updates, resume/bio updates, blog, and more. She has worked in both public and academic libraries, where she faced the public daily. This has fostered her empathetic approach towards health equity and passion for mental… Read more »
Jose Cure
Jose Cure is Associate Director, Helpline Marketing at HRiA. With a background in design, Jose finds creative ways to meet people’s needs with a human-centered approach. Before joining HRiA, he worked on training and user experience at TecSalud, working with national Ministries of Health and the Inter-American Development Bank in digital development for social impact…. Read more »
Noelle Wiggins
Noelle Wiggins is Co-Principal Investigator/Co-Executive Director for the Community Health Worker Center for Research and Evaluation (CHW-CRE). Noelle has over 35 years’ experience working on teams that use popular/people’s education, the Community Health Worker (CHW) model, and participatory research and evaluation to advance health and educational equity. Noelle served as Assoc. Director of the landmark… Read more »
Deborah Amaro
Deborah Amaro (she/ella) is an Operations Manager for the Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers (MACHW), a fiscally sponsored program of HRiA. She is a dedicated Community Health Worker with an MBA in Healthcare Leadership from Elms College and experience in geriatric service coordination and community resource management. Deborah is fluent in both English and… Read more »
Jon-Pierre Micucci
Jon-Pierre Micucci is a Project Manager for the Problem Gambling Helplines at HRiA. Jon-Pierre brings over 20 years of consulting experience in the public and private sectors, ranging from on-the-ground disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina to brand strategy projects in the Northern California tech sector. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in accounting and information… Read more »
Michael Matthies
Michael Matthies is a Technical Project Manager with the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW), a fiscally sponsored program of HRiA. As a member of the NACHW team, Michael leads the project management, development, implementation and administration of the organization’s technology platforms. Michael has deep experience working with vulnerable populations both in direct care… Read more »
Caroline Linden
Caroline Linden is Grants Manager at HRiA. At HRiA she develops, manages, and maintains operational processes and technology for grant programs committed to advancing health equity. Prior to joining HRiA in 2024, Caroline spent over a decade working in philanthropy with Social Venture Partners. She has proven expertise in grant management, data systems, strategic innovation,… Read more »
Linda Lee
Linda Lee is a Human Resources Business Partner at HRiA. As a member of the Human Resources Team, Linda supports HRiA by working to ensure that employees are engaged, valued, and have the tools necessary to be successful within the organization. She has over two decades of experience in Human Resources which includes managing and… Read more »
Joel Achankeng
Joelparkin “Joel” Achankeng is a Web Developer at HRiA. As a member of the Web Development team, he plays a crucial role in building, innovating, and maintaining all of HRiA’s websites and web applications. Prior to joining HRiA, Joel has successfully developed and managed a diverse portfolio of complex websites, including landing pages, e-commerce platforms,… Read more »
Joanne Lau
Joanne Lau is a Research Analyst at HRiA. She has experience working in academic research and hospital settings, applying her skills in survey development, quantitative data analysis, and data visualization to community health assessments and projects in behavioral health. Joanne has strong interests in language justice, immigrant health, and the psychosocial determinants of health. She… Read more »
Ariel Slifka
Ariel Slifka is a Research Associate at HRiA. She has experience in qualitative and quantitative data analysis, project management, and community engagement. Prior to joining HRiA, she worked in local public health supporting harm reduction and reproductive health programs, and later partnered with local health departments in developing community health assessments and community health improvement… Read more »
Kevin Cyr
Kevin Cyr is a Research Associate at HRiA. He has experience in qualitative research, participant recruitment, project management, and community engagement. His interests include substance use disorder, harm reduction, racial equity, access to healthcare, and culturally competent care. Prior to joining HRiA, he worked as a Research Assistant at Tufts University School of Medicine where… Read more »
Liliana Ruiz Fischer
Liliana Ruiz Fischer (she/her) is a Manager for the Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education with the HAVI, a fiscally sponsored program of HRiA. Liliana brings 9 years of public health experience leading community health interventions at the community, county, state and national level. Prior to joining the HAVI, Liliana was a… Read more »
Allison Egan
Allison Egan is a Senior Manager of Health & Racial Equity at HRiA. Allison is focused primarily on the launch and execution of the Root Cause Solutions Exchange, helping lead community engagement and coaching efforts across Massachusetts. Allison has a rich history in local and regional public health, where she has previously led efforts around… Read more »
Kaycee Friend
Kaycee Friend is a Community Outreach and Engagement Associate for the Oregon Helpline at HRiA. She is a certified alcohol and drug counselor and recovery mentor, and has worked in outpatient and residential treatment settings in Oregon for the last 5 years. With experience in behavioral health systems, as well as more than a decade… Read more »
Ivie Obrimah
Ivie Obrimah is a Talent Acquisition Associate at HRiA. As a member of the Human Resources team, Ivie plays a crucial role in all of HRiA’s recruiting and talent acquisition. She is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as analysis and strategy. Before joining HRiA, Ivie had graduated with a MSc in Management… Read more »
Vy Dang
Vy Dang is a Program Associate for Communities of Practice (CoP) at the HAVI, a fiscally sponsored program of HRiA. She assists the CoP division to develop, implement, and advance high quality programs and services to member organizations and partners in cities across the US. Prior to the HAVI, Vy has experience working in higher… Read more »
Samantha Smith LeClerc
Samantha “Sam” Smith LeClerc joined the Hunger to Health Collaboratory (H2HC) as its manager in September 2022. Prior to joining H2HC, she served as a WIC program nutritionist at Massachusetts General Hospital, and as a SNAP nutrition educator in Oregon public schools. Samantha has also worked for a variety of local food and nutrition nonprofits… Read more »
Nicolene Hengen
Nicolene Hengen joined the Hunger to Health Collaboratory (H2HC) as its first executive director in July 2021. Her career has been focused on strategic, programmatic, and communications work in both domestic and international public health and academia. She has worked with Beth Israel Lahey Health, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Pathfinder International… Read more »
Aisha Esquivel
Aisha Esquivel is an Outreach Manager for the Illinois Helpline at HRiA. Hailing from the Chicagoland area, Aisha has a diverse background including home health care, project coordination, and customer service. She founded the #breanaland project in honor of her daughter who passed away in 2019 to support bereaved mothers as well as raise awareness… Read more »