Catalyst Fellow Cohorts

Paola M. Ferrer, Esq. is a seasoned leader with extensive experience in philanthropy, nonprofit management, government
administration and public policy. Most recently, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Health Care for All, where she oversaw all agency operations, and as Chief of Staff at the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, managing key initiatives in legislative affairs, public affairs, and stakeholder relations to support the agency’s mission to protect children. Her career has also included roles in grant-making, advocacy, fundraising, and as an educator.

Paola is deeply committed to fostering diverse and inclusive communities. She has chaired and served on committees advancing equity in organizations, including United Way’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and TSNE’s Diversity Initiative. She co-founded an affinity group for Latino philanthropists in Massachusetts and helped launch ALPFA-Law to promote Latino attorneys in the profession. Her efforts have earned her recognition, including the “Pioneering Woman of Color” award from the Women’s Bar Association and Boston Business Journal’s “Boston’s 20 On the Move.”

An accomplished actor and advocate for the arts, Paola has performed with numerous Boston-area theatre companies and has regularly featured in TV, web, print and radio commercials. She is a proud alumna of Boston University (CGS ’92, CLA ’94 and MET ‘97) and Suffolk University Law School (J.D. ’00) and a member of the Massachusetts Bar.

Tatiana Baena is the founder and CEO of Better Perspective Consulting, where she offers grant writing, financial planning, and strategic consulting services to nonprofits, small businesses, and educational institutions. She also serves as a Technical Assistance Advisor with Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) and the Center for Women and Enterprise (CWE), providing workshops and one-on-one support for Rhode Island entrepreneurs.

Previously, Tatiana worked as the Senior Finance Officer at the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), the Director of Grants and Federal Programs and Director of Enrichment Opportunities for the Central Falls School District and held multiple roles under U.S. Congressman David Cicilline. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led family support efforts in the Pawtucket/Central Falls Beat Covid initiative, coordinating volunteer efforts and connecting residents with essential resources.

Tatiana is in her third term as an elected City Council person in Central Falls and is the founder of Mundialito, a nonprofit organization that uses soccer and education to build leadership and award scholarships to young athletes. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Rhode Island and remains actively involved in community development through her work with local nonprofits and as co-owner of a multimedia space in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Nicknamed “La Reina of Joy,” Jennice Chewlin is passionate about exploring ways we can collectively deconstruct our approach to mental well-being by emphasizing individual learning, community healing, and systems change so we feel joyful and liberated arou nd our health and well-being.

As an experienced facilitator and strategist with a gift for bringing people together and breaking down barriers, Jennice’s approach is rooted in meeting people where they are, building bridges, and creating spaces where everyone can connect, learn, and grow together. Proficient in Spanish and experienced in working with translators, Jennice bridges communication gaps and creates inclusive environments where everyone feels heard and valued.

A Certified Health Education Specialist (#17068) with a Master’s degree in Public Health, Jennice brings over 15 years of experience in public health program design and delivery. Her innovative methods, grounded in neuroscience and enriched with movement, dialogue, and the arts, empower her audiences to return to joy.

In 2016, Jennice founded Chewlin Group with the mission to provide equitable access to workplace well-being. She partners with large corporations, small businesses, nonprofits, and communities across a wide range of industries to expand their capacity to support their workforce.

Novelette DeMercado is an equity-centered, transformational coach and consultant who supports individuals and organizations in inhabiting and expressing wholeness and well-being in alignment with their deeply held values.

Novelette believes that well-being is more than just a person’s body and that an entire ecosystem plays a role in supporting individual and organizational well-being. She views a well society as one in which every person can access what they need for optimal well-being and explores with clients how systems can support or hinder well-being.

Novelette has over 20 years of experience and is honored to have led thousands of individuals through their individual, interpersonal, and organizational change journeys. A lifelong learner, Novelette approaches her work as a co-created process, supporting clients in widening their perspective to realize their desired outcomes.

Novelette is Founder and Chief Possibility Director of BETA Coaching & Consulting. Professional Certifications include Bachelor of Science degree in Non-Profit Management from Pace University, a Master of Science degree in Professional Communications from Clark University, and a Master of Science degree in Exercise and Sports Science/Health Promotion from Springfield College. She has also completed the Bentley University Inclusive Leadership program, as well as extensive professional development programs, focused on inclusive leadership. As an ICF-Certified Professional Coach, CDI-Certified Professional Diversity Coach, and a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, she continues to level-up her coaching skills to guide her clients’ process.

Dedicated to creating an equitable community, Karleen Porcena is an authentic leader who is driven by inclusive economic improvement. With over 15 years of comprehensive community development experience Karleen aims to create innovative strategies and partnerships to move the dial on the racial wealth gap. As the daughter of Haitian immigrants, Karleen uses her unique lived experience coupled with professional skills to create solutions to eliminate economic disparities. Karleen is passionate about building bridges between people, communities, and networks with intentions to have an equal playing field for all. She brings to her work a wide variety of relationships with community organizations, business, and resident leaders, elected officials, as well as faith-based institutions.

Her career began with 10 years of direct service experience at the front lines at Action for Boston Community Development. This role grounded Karleen in understanding program development and implementation and organizing with diverse populations as well as administration of city and state contracts. After her time at ABCD, Karleen served as Senior Program Officer for Economic Opportunity at the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), the nation’s largest community development organization and oversaw all economic development strategies at LISC Boston. At LISC, Karleen took a special interest in entrepreneurship and developed ways to promote the talent and quality of entrepreneurs within Black and Brown communities as well as ways to create access to grants, loans, and contracts.

She worked in both the local Boston office as well as the National team which gave her the opportunity to work with over 35+ cities across the country as well as the Rural LISC communities.

Janon Rollins has over a decade of experience working in the Massachusetts Child Welfare system in addition to supporting homeless individuals. She has a true passion for helping organizations cultivate substantiable organizational management and leadership through training on leadership intelligence. This allows leadership the ability to learn, grow, and master new ways of leading people.

Janon is a Licensed Social Worker Associate, and earned an M.S. in Leadership and Management in Human Services and a Graduate Certificate in Treatment of Multi-Contextual Trauma. She is a member of the Greater Boston Association of Black Social Workers, and the Programs Conference Committee for the National Association of Black Social Workers. Janon enjoys educating and supporting underserved and underprivilege youth and families.

Ed Shoemaker’s journey from foster care to community leadership is a testament to resilience and purpose. After enduring a challenging childhood in the foster system and periods of homelessness, Ed transformed his experiences into advocacy and action. He began his education at Middlesex Community College, where his story and determination caught the attention of former Congressman Marty Meehan, who encouraged him to pursue a Political Science degree at UMass Lowell. There, Ed excelled academically and championed foster youth, founding the Navigators Club and lobbying Congress with the Coalition on Adoption Institute to address homelessness among foster youth.

With advanced studies in public policy and leadership, Ed has held pivotal roles, including Commissioner on the Boston Board of Elections and Executive Director of Ranked Choice Boston and Voter Choice MA. His work continues to inspire systemic change and uplift underrepresented communities, exemplifying the power of lived experience in driving meaningful reform.

Ruth Coffin-Villaroel is a finance and operations professional with over thirty years of experience ranging from financial statement auditing, operations and process improvement to strategy development. She currently works for Liberty Mutual Insurance as the Senior Director of Community Investments, where she and her team, under leadership of the Liberty Mutual Foundation President, oversee financial management and operations in collaboration with the corporate grant making and employee engagement program teams.

Ruth is a graduate of Wellesley College with a bachelor’s degree in both Economics and Africana Studies and holds an MBA from Boston University. She began her career as a Certified Public Accountant with Deloitte and Touche. Prior to joining Liberty Mutual she served as the Financial Operations Director for Harvard Business Publishing. She has worked in a variety of operations and finance roles for companies including Corning Inc., The Boston Globe and Dunkin Brands. Ruth also worked for ten years as an Adjunct Professor at Suffolk University where she taught Financial and Managerial Accounting. She also has experience in personal wealth management as a Financial Advisor with UBS where she was licensed as both a securities trader and wealth advisor.

Ruth currently serves on the board of Saint Francis House, the largest day-shelter in Massachusetts and previously served on the board of Girls Leap, an empowerment and awareness program for at-risk girls. Ruth has served on the board of the Boston Chapter of the National Black MBA Association as well as the board of the Wellesley College Student Aid Society.

Ruth and her husband Jesse are the proud parents of two college-age girls and one young golden doodle.

Marvin Vilma is a dedicated educator and social impact strategist driven by curiosity and a commitment to advancing innovation in education. As Senior Philanthropic Advisor and Campaign Director for Let’s Get Ready and founder/CEO of Bevy Studio, Marvin combines expertise in andragogy, human-centered design, market research, and philanthropy. His experience spans roles at MIT Sloan, Babson College, and Noble and Greenough School, as well as founding an event planning company at Colgate University, where he studied Sociology and French.

Marvin holds an M.S.Ed. in Entrepreneurship Education from Penn and is completing a joint MBA and Master of Science in Digital Technology at Questrom School of Business. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, experimenting in the kitchen, and connecting with friends over thoughtful conversation and laughter.

Anna Adachi-Mejia, Ph.D., CPCC, is a creative coach, innovative facilitator, and detail-oriented consultant for individuals and groups who think differently and are ready to bring their unique perspectives into the world. She is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, former Executive Director, and former faculty member of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. She applies improvisational “Yes, And” techniques to leadership and the workplace.

Fanta Atkinson, Ph.D., LMHC is the Director of the Center for Homicide Bereavement at the Cambridge Health Alliance. She provides crisis intervention, consultation, individual, and group counseling in the aftermath of homicide, street violence, and terrorism. She is the Chair of the Board of The Wellness Collaborative. She also has extensive experience providing therapy to individuals with severe and persistent mental illness in psychiatric inpatient hospitals, conducting crisis interventions, working in schools, and forensic settings. Dr. Atkinson provides clinical supervision to new clinicians, and conducts trainings and workshops. In her free time, Dr. Atkinson enjoys hiking with her two young children and her husband.

Dr. Richard Booth is a clinician at Brown University and private practice who consults with schools and organizations on evidence-based practices that improve wellness, performance, and support. In addition to consultancy, he designs and conducts workshops, trainings, and focused programming. He serves on the executive board of the Village Green Charter School and is a core member of The Wellness Collaborative. Additionally, Dr. Booth was selected for a four-year MacArthur Foundation funded Youth Mental Health Fellowship through Harvard University at the Judge Baker Children’s Center. Dr. Booth’s areas of specialty include: The impact of stress, and trauma on communities; improving wellness, self-care, diversity, equity, inclusion; and the recruitment and retention of BIPOC employees.

Lisa Carter, a Philadelphia native that grew up in New Jersey, is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for building brands. As the owner and chief engagement officer of Drinkwater Marketing and Productions, she works with small businesses and large size enterprises to develop brand, digital and event marketing strategies to drive revenue. Prior to launching Drinkwater, she spent 20+ years in the corporate sector building product and brand strategies for top fortune 500 companies such as The Limited Corporation, Timberland Footwear and Staples Inc.

Jeannette Davila is an executive with more than three decades of experience in the corporate and nonprofit sector. Before returning to New Hampshire, she was Director for Strategic Partnerships, Mergers and Acquisitions at The Fedcap Group in New York City, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the economic and social well-being of the impoverished and disadvantaged. In 1999, her alma mater awarded her an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in recognition of her many civic, community and charitable commitments and her efforts to inspire minorities and disenfranchised groups to pursue higher education. Jeannette enjoys supporting nonprofits as a trustee, spokesperson and philanthropic advisor.

Elijah Evans is a testament to the leadership development pathways created at Bikes Not Bombs, having served in multiple roles across the organization – from youth participant to youth director to Board member and now as Executive Director. He returned to lead the organization in 2017 after spending three years in the classroom as a Social Studies teacher through Teach for America. Elijah has a dual B.A. in Africana Studies and Hispanic Studies from the University of Massachusetts and has a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. He is an avid cyclist, and bike mechanic, and plays the steelpan.

John Heaster is a business analyst at JPMorgan Chase and helps businesses grow and scale. Prior to that, he worked at State Street in a variety of managerial and consulting roles, providing services to institutional investors. He has been a mentor and advisor to professionals and disadvantaged youth. In addition to the financial sector, John is an avid follower of real estate and startup ecosystems. He also serves on the Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation Board of Directors. John is passionate about improving economic development by building connections between the people, businesses, and organizations of a community. He is excited to contribute and help organizations achieve their goals and help them thrive economically and socially. John grew up in Hawaii and moved to Boston for school. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, training his dog, playing the saxophone, and meeting new people.

David Johnson Jr. brings 15 years of insurance expertise to the Catalyst program. David first started in the imaging Center for John Hancock scanning applications, checks, and documents in the Annuities division. Wanting to learn more about insurance, David moved over to the Long Term Care division. once there, David took a lead role in Post Issue Services as a liaison between the Boston office and Manila office located in the Philippines. After becoming a Subject Matter Expert, David decided to continue his journey through insurance by moving to the Life Insurance division at John Hancock. Currently, David is working as an Underwriter for Life Insurance at John Hancock.

Nabeel Kahn, a development sector professional from Pakistan, brings over 10 years of program management experience. He has worn multiple hats from program design, training to implementation and scale in microfinance, education and community-led programs across local, regional and national non-profits in Pakistan. Working in traditional development, he saw flashpoints within communities and decided to understand what causes conflict amongst communities and how to mitigate it through improved program design and is currently pursuing grad school at Brandeis University in Conflict Resolution and Coexistence. Travel, maps, humor, and random conversations fascinate him, and he enjoys volunteering time mentoring young adults with life lessons he learned as a late bloomer.

Dwayne Keys is a Financial Coaching Manager with Compass Working Capital, working one-on-one with Compass clients and overseeing a team of financial coaches. Before joining Compass, Dwayne held multiple roles in banking and financial services, focusing on service and relationship management for individuals and businesses. He is very active in the RI community, holds multiple positions on local non-profit boards, and volunteers as an advocate on behalf of historically excluded communities for economic justice. A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, Dwayne earned his B.S. in Marketing and M.B.A. in International Trade.

Claudio Martinez has worked to advance education, culture, and economic development in Boston and Massachusetts for more than 30 years, through nonprofit, private, and public leadership roles. Claudio is the Executive Director of Zero Debt Massachusetts and codirects Boston University’s School of Social Work BRIDGE (Building Refugees and Immigrant Degrees in Graduate Education) and MSW Pathways Programs. He is a Pahara Institute 2022 Fellow. Claudio co-founded and led The Hyde Square Task Force for 25 years and has promoted indigenous leadership and education reform efforts, serving as founding co-chair of the Boston Parent Organizing Network, Vice-chair of the Boston School Committee, and trustee of The Boston Foundation for many years.

Arnold Mukwanga Mikolo is the President and CEO of Lugha Translation Services and an Environmental Justice Advocate with the Conservation Law Foundation. He was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo Northeastern region and lived there until he was 11 years old. Arnold’s family moved often and left the country due to political instability. After graduating from high school, Arnold went to Uganda for his undergraduate studies in business. To give back to the community, Arnold volunteers with New Hampshire Legal Assistance, where he serves as a housing tester to end housing discrimination. Arnold is currently the Branch 1st Vice President of the Manchester, NH NAACP chapter. Arnold won the “Civic Leader of the Year” in 2016 with Stay Work Play, “40 under Forty” in 2017 with the Union Leader, and “2018 It List” with the New Hampshire Magazine. He was featured on the front cover of the 2019 Manchester Advantage Magazine with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. He was also awarded the 2021 Good Samaritan Award by Pastoral Counseling Services.

Angela Osei-Mensah brings over 17 years of experience working as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). She first obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in Psychology with Pre-Med Concentration and minor in Women’s Studies and went on to pursue her master’s degree in Social Work from Boston University. Angela has experience working in juvenile justice, hospitals, clinics, local government, psychiatric crisis in the emergency rooms, schools (public, private, charter), and outpatient. Angela currently serves as a Town Clinician, supervises mental health clinicians, and supports local nonprofits as a consultant.

Genesis Peralta brings nearly 8 years of experience to her role as the Associate Director of Development for Hearth, Inc. Prior to her current role she was the Philanthropy Analyst for Santander Bank where she focused on granting sponsorships and grants to 501c3 organizations. She began working in Philanthropy when she attended UMass Lowell and was a student alumni ambassador. Her interactions with donors and alumni provided the confidence that she needed to build community and make an impact. Genesis enjoys supporting nonprofits through assisting in translating, or volunteering. She spends a lot of time with her family, and she is the youngest of seven girls.

Priyanka Sharma, currently serves as a Regional Leader for Nashua Region Office of NH Vocational Rehabilitation, serving people with disabilities. She is a passionate leader and is skilled at managing and mentoring talents at all levels. Priyanka brings skills and knowledge of over 15 years from nonprofit and for-profit sectors from the US and internationally. Priyanka is curious and considers herself a continuous learner. She cares about maternal and child health, education and economic empowerment, social and racial justice. She enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies and loves being by the water. Priyanka is fluent in Nepali, Hindi, Bengali, and English.

Originally from St. Louis, MO., Doug Sutherland is summer camp professional with over 20 years of working with children and adults in an outdoor setting. He currently works with summer camps, businesses, organizations, and schools to form connections and enrich their community. Doug dreams of opening his own summer camp with a focus on creating an intentional community based on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

Gillian Van Delft has 30+ years in the nonprofit world. Currently employed as a METCO social worker and a contractor for the MA Public Defenders, she ensures some of our most vulnerable populations get a fair chance to thrive. Her experience includes K-12 teaching, management roles in organizations including MSPCC and Planned Parenthood, and various Board appointments. As a proud graduate of Roxbury Community College, Gillian went on to earn her M.Ed. and, later, her MSW. Gillian has made a lifelong commitment to dismantling the systemic oppression of Black and Brown people by educating all people through truth and justice.