Leticia brings over 20 years of experience in social justice programming and philanthropy to her role at the Andrus Family Fund. She has dedicated her career to issues related to equity and justice for young people and women with the goal of building capacity in underserved and oppressed communities and the organizations that serve them. Leticia has worked at organizations throughout the Tristate area such as the Posse Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation–LFP Program, Planned Parenthood of New York City, the Door and the Adolescent AIDS Program.

She is a graduate of one of the country’s top leadership program—the National Urban Fellows. Leticia graduated with honors with a MPA from the School of Public Service at Baruch College–City University of New York and has a BA from Fordham University.

Outside of her role at AFF Leticia spends a lot of time working and thinking about the arts (dance was her first love). She helps run Areytos Performance Works—a dance theatre company working at the crossroads of African-Caribbean forms, contemporary modern dance and performance art.

Connect with Leticia on Twitter. 

Manuela Arciniegas is the Associate Program Officer for the Andrus Family Fund, where she manages the capacity building initiative and a national community organizing portfolio.

Manuela brings over 15 years of experience in social justice, community organizing, youth development, and cultural arts education. She is a member of the New York City Youth Funders, Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy NYC Steering Committee and an advisory board member of the Funder’s Collaborative on Youth Organizing. She is currently conducting dissertation research for her PhD at the CUNY Graduate Center focusing on how Afro-Caribbean religious music creates power and cultural change. When not working at AFF Manuela directs The Legacy Women, a drum ensemble for women ages 23-55 that teaches and performs folk Afro-Caribbean music of resistance.

Manuela graduated cum laude with a Bachelors in Government from Harvard University.

Jennifer Kaizer is the Program Associate for the Andrus Family Fund team where she provides programmatic and administrative support to the team and its partners.

Over the past five years Jennifer has provided fundraising and program support through various roles in the nonprofit sector. She worked at The Posse Foundation, focusing on youth leadership development and the International Institute of New England in Boston assisting immigrants and refugees prepare and transition into American life.

While abroad in Ayacucho, Peru in 2009, Jennifer volunteered at Finca Peru, a nonprofit organization integrating women into the community’s economy.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Economics from Boston University. Jennifer is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Administration in Public & Nonprofit Management & Policy at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service & Policy.

Outside of graduate school and work, Jennifer loves Vinyasa yoga, running marathons and biking. Every now and then you can find her wandering museums in New York City or searching for new places to visit.

Laura Lemus, a proud Mexican immigrant, joined the Andrus Family Fund as a National Urban Fellow in September 2017.

National Urban Fellows is a prestigious leadership program that offers a nine-month mentorship. The program culminates with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration on July 2018, from the School of Public Service at Baruch College-City University of New York.

Now that her fellowship is complete, Laura is staying on as a Consultant with Andrus Family Fund through October 2018.

Laura manages AFF’s Education Anew Shifting Justice 2018 Conference and our #OutOfTheMargins podcast.

Throughout her career, Laura has been committed to several social justice issues including non-profit work in immigration advocacy at Long Island Wins, and with the United Nations as a Youth Representative for Soroptimist International, an NGO that empowers women and girls globally.

In her spare time Laura enjoys running, reading, and spending quality time with her close-knit family.

Katrina is an experienced and respected leader with more than 15 years of experience working on a national and regional level. She has worked in the non-profit and philanthropic sector, including serving as AFF’s Program Officer. Currently, Katrina is testing how partnerships between philanthropy and government can work on behalf of our most vulnerable youth and their families as the Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services.
Connect with Katrina on Linkedin.

Bari Katz is an educator, facilitator and curriculum designer who works with organizations and schools across the country to develop programs, trainings and custom curricula around equity, diversity and inclusion, and social justice. Bari has worked in leadership roles with local and national non-profit organizations and co-founded a charter high school in Brooklyn, NY.

Bari now serves as a consultant working with organizations like Andrus Family Fund, City Year, Let’s Get Ready, the American Conference on Diversity, iMentor, and City University of New York designing curricula and programs, facilitating professional development workshops, and coaching school and program staff to most effectively work with their students. Bari is committed to supporting and empowering youth and those working with young people to understand the dynamics of oppression and privilege and how to work toward social justice.