Team
Giovanni Marchand
CEO
- Masters: International Development
- Bachelors: Accounting
- Devoted to helping people and supporting organizations that develop low socio-economic communities.
- Consulting Associate at CohnReznick Advisory LLP, completing financial reporting for nonprofits.
- Manages programs to support people with low-incomes, actively volunteers to meet locals in the community, and organizes international aid projects.
Grace Kim
Vice-President
- Masters: Professional Studies - Public Administration
- Graduate Certificate: Nonprofit Management and Leadership
- Bachelors: Political Science & English
- Minor: International Development and Conflict Management
- Partners with leaders and community stakeholders to advance organizational strategy, build capacity, and strengthen volunteer engagement.
Matias Vesperoni
Treasurer
- Major: Economics
- Minor: Spanish Language
- Committed to giving a voice to the unrepresented public in our local communities, and eager to create a positive change towards equality in a system promoting inequality.
- Manages project budgets and fundraising opportunities.
Renzo Pajuelo
Secretary
- Major: Economics and Finance
- Fighting for the equality of all people. Loves Family, Soccer, and Travel
- Helps people with low-income to apply for community resources, such as rent relief, energy bills, food stamps, and unemployment insurance.
Jacob Migdall
Chief Technology Officer
- Major: Computer Science
- Minors: Public Leadership and Sustainability
- Dedicated to making a smarter and more just society for all people.
- Loves chess and transit policy and is currently working as an analyst at Accenture.
- Developing a voting app to share resources and support to help people to register to vote.
Angela Kim
Board Member
- Major: International Studies
- Minors: Sustainability
- Committed to mitigating the effects of the climate crisis on society and the natural world.
- Diligently serves communities such as inner-city children, local elderly, and international low-income families.
- Passionate about understanding the intersection of the climate crisis and human rights to better aid underprivileged communities, including climate refugees
Alessandra Marchand
Board Member
- Masters: Political Science
- Minors: Gender and Sexuality
- Works as a freelance gender researcher and support worker, assisting with family reunification processes.
- Uses her language proficiency in English, Spanish, and French to help citizens elect leaders that best represent them.
Juan Escobar
Board Member
- Major: Environmental Economics
- Minors: Sustainability
- Dedicated to helping those who are less fortunate succeed in society.
- Helps people with low-income to apply for health insurance through Medicaid and Medicare.
Nicholas Smurthwaite
Board Member
- Major: Psychology and Kinesiology
- Physical Therapist in training with a long history of community service within the U.S. and across the world through experiences in Pinares, Honduras and Cape Town, South Africa.
- Analyzes outreach metrics to share information with people in need.
Fawzi Asraf
Board Member
- Masters: Public Health and International Development
- Dedicated his life to continuous learning and the pursuit of justice and transformative change.
- As a refugee, Fawzi has a sharp understanding of how the state can oppress people through sanctioned violence or the failure to support people who live at the margins.
Chester Cruz
Board Member
- Bachelors: Business Marketing Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland
- Strong dedication to helping low socio-economic communities by addressing essential needs.
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Passionate about business analytics and leveraging data to help businesses and nonprofits make informed decisions, improve performance, and create lasting impact.
- Committed to continuous learning and development to create meaningful change within our communities.
- Outside of professional endeavors, enjoys fitness, basketball, and traveling.
Erika Paredes
Operations Manager
- Major: Criminology
- Minor: Criminal Justice
- Passionate about addressing humanitarian crisis and supporting refugees and people in vulnerable situations.
- Focused on inspiring individuals to rediscover their strength and self-worth.
- Advocates for social justice, equality, and human rights, working to create lasting positive change.
Ava Zakikhani
Development Consultant
- Master: Public Policy
- Bachelors: History, Law & Society, and Middle Eastern Pluralities
- Supported donation drives, grant applications, and researched opportunities for building capacity.
- Passionate about community engagement, committed to connecting neighbors to vital resources and ensuring that grassroots efforts translate into meaningful change.
Justus Mwaka Musia
Director
- Hungry 4 Change Kenya
- Diploma: Tours and Travel
- Bachelors: Community Development
- Certified tour guide specializing in unforgettable Kenyan and East African travel experiences.
- He creates customized safaris and tours, showcasing the region’s beauty and culture.
- Beyond tourism, he is committed to uplifting local communities through sustainable travel and philanthropy, ensuring his work leaves a lasting impact.
Jane Nthenya Musia
Board Member
- Hungry 4 Change Kenya
- Masters: Public Health
- Bachelors: Community Development
- Passionate about empowering disadvantaged groups to realize their full potential.
- Believes in putting “Humanity First.”
Alexander Kinyanjui
Board Member
- Hungry 4 Change Kenya
- Masters: Development Management
- Masters: Community Psychology
- Mental health advocacy, humanitarian response, program management, crisis intervention
- Mental health policy, climate change & mental health, youth mentorship, technology & healthcare access
- Supporting under-served communities, researching mental health & climate change, mentorship, and social impact initiatives
Laurie Jevons
Development Operations Consultant
- Masters: Nonprofit Management
- Bachelors: Psychology
- Experienced nonprofit organizational expert; leading public health projects, securing grant funding, facilitating strategic planning, and building effective human resource operations.
- Values social sustainability in addition to environmental sustainability.
Victoria Engelen
Marketing Manager
- Masters: Industrial-Organizational Psychology
- Bachelors: Psychology
- Minor: Business Administration
- Dedicated to strengthening communities through meaningful outreach, volunteer engagement, and initiatives that expand access to resources and opportunities.
