Estephany Almanzar Hernández joined the SSYP staff in 2018 as a Parent Mentor at the Blackstone School. She was born in the Dominican Republic and came to the United States with her father and brother in 2011. She earned her high school diploma at Charlestown High School, and then, at age 17, began working in an industrial laundry where hotels send their materials to be washed. She became a mother in 2013 and that changed her life, as she began to look for opportunities to build a better life for her daughter and husband--the two most extraordinary people in her life.

In 2019, Estephany was promoted to become the Coordinator of the Parent Mentor Program, overseeing the ten parent mentor team at the Blackstone Elementary School. Estephany is also a home health aide, with a certification in CPR. In her free time, she likes to paint and spend time with her family.

Ada joined the St. Stephens family in 2017 as a parent mentor and then as a lead counselor in the B-SAFE summer program. In 2021, Ada took on a new role as the Site Manager at the 419 Shawmut location, and is very excited to connect and work directly with students and families to provide the support they need. Ada enjoys working and learning with different cultures. 

Born and raised in El Salvador, Ada moved to Texas as a teenager. Now, Ada lives in Roxbury with her husband of 16 years, and is a proud mother of two boys ages 15 and 10. “My family is my greatest blessing.” Ada is currently pursuing an Associates degree in Early Education at Urban College of Boston.

Email ada@ssypboston.org

Kasey initially joined the staff of St. Stephen's Youth Programs in the summer of 2013 as a Teen Staff Coordinator for B-SAFE. She has her masters in International Education Policy from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Kasey grew up in Dunedin, Florida and moved to Boston for graduate school after living abroad in Liberia, West Africa. She is passionate about using education for positive social change and strives to increase the professional development of our teens and prepare them for college and their careers.

Jasmine came to SSYP through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and then served an additional year through the Massachusetts Promise Fellowship. This year, she is excited to be joining the SSYP staff as the Teen Program Manager. In this role, she is looking forward to supporting high school students academically, working on job skills and professional development with our teen staff, and creating relationships and community. Jasmine is enthusiastic about encouraging young people to find their passions and be confident in who they are!

Email jasminebruner@ssypboston.org

Tyler holds a bachelor's degree in music with a concentration in vocal performance from Westfield State University. With over 15 years of experience in youth work, including licensed camps and childcare, teen leadership programming, mentoring, and arts education, Tyler is excited to bring his experience to the development side of the table. He has a passion for building community and creating opportunities to celebrate diversity and inclusion in all ages but especially in young people. Tyler currently lives on the South Shore where he is an active performer in community theatre, choirs, and recitals.
Email tyler@ssypboston.org

Before joining us in 2016, Jen was the Executive Director of Wondermore, a small literacy non-profit that brings children's book authors and illustrators into Boston Public School classrooms for visits and writing workshops. Jen has worked for 20+ years in youth-focused non-profits, including the American Youth Policy Forum and Jobs for the Future. She is a proud graduate of the Boston Public Schools, as well as Brown University. She is also a long-time church and school volunteer and knows how critical volunteers are to so many organizations, including St. Stephen's. As a parent of three sons with very different personalities and interests, she appreciates the wide range of programs and opportunities St. Stephen's offers to our young people as they pursue their own individual passions.

Email jen@ssypboston.org

Meghan holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Concordia University in Portland, Oregon. She is returning to SSYP for a second year with Americorps Mass Mentoring Program. Meghan is passionate about affirming young people of their endless potential.

In September 2022, Meghan moved into the role of Director of Enrichment & Partnerships.

Email meghan@ssypboston.org

“Hi! My name is D’Andra Evans but everyone calls me Dede! I am born and raised in Boston, MA and just recently graduated from Mars Hill University in North Carolina. I started with SSYP in 2015 as a JCIT and been privileged to hold leadership positions in the organization. I love walking, listening to music, and learning new things so I am excited to spend this year of service learning as the MPF Fellow helping youth with their post-high school plans.”

Email: dede@ssypboston.org

Dani Fearon joined St. Stephens staff as the Manager of Social and Emotional Support Programs in August 2018. Dani holds a BFA from MassArt and a master’s degree in mental health counseling and art therapy from Lesley University.

During her undergraduate studies, she explored mixed media sculpture, including jewelry design, handmade paper, ceramics, surface design on fabric, large metal fabrication, and fine art mediums. Dani considers herself a lifelong student with eclectic skills and interests. She is an artist, licensed massage therapist, lover of nature, dog enthusiast, amateur yogi, and reiki master, to name a few.

Her graduate studies largely focused on creative interventions for children and families with developmental trauma. Dani has worked in various settings, including transitional housing, dementia care, substance abuse recovery programs, family reunification, therapeutic schools, and various community spaces. In these spaces, she uses art processes to connect with people, teach skills, and create positive change.

Since starting at SSYP, Dani has enrolled in a series of trainings on restorative justice, racial equity, and social and emotional learning. She is excited to continue her journey at St. Stephens and is dedicated to laughter and learning everyday!

Email dani@ssypboston.org

Lanaya started at St. Stephens in Summer 2016 as a Counselor-In-Training (CIT) and continued through all four years of high school. In the summer of 2021, Lanaya took on more responsibility as the Site Assistant for LEARN, and in January 2022, was hired as an SSYP Fellow, where she will continue to serve as a Site Assistant. “SSYP paved my way to become successful and get into college and now I’m a site assistant. Started from the bottom and I’m still here but rising.”

In September 2022, Lanaya moved into the role as Teen Staff Manager

lanaya@ssypboston.org

Yesenia began a professional relationship with St. Stephen’s Youth Programs about 7 years ago when she offered parenting workshops through Families First. In September 2021, Yesenia joined in a much bigger capacity as SSYP’s Social Worker, where she supports youth and their parents during situations of homelessness, domestic violence, immigration, academic difficulties (IEP), and mental health. 

Yesenia came to Massachusetts 18 years ago from Puerto Rico, where she completed a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Social Work. Yesenia is passionate about social justice, the environment, children, and animals. She is a mother of three and has two granddaughters.

Yesenia@ssypboston.org

Rafaela Polanco joined SSYP in 2015, starting as a parent leader and then as a staff person. She now leads SSYP's Parent Mentor Program at the Blackstone Elementary School, a program based on a model from Logan Square Neighborhood Association in Chicago and the only one like it in the Northeast. Rafa has a bachelor's degree in legal studies from the Universidad Tecnologica de Santiago and a master's degree in business law and economic development from the Pontifica Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra. She came to the United States from the Dominican Republic, first to Puerto Rico in 2009, and then to Boston in 2014. Rafa loves talking with people and celebrating all the different cultures we have in SSYP. She is the parent of a fourth-grader at the Blackstone; he is the greatest gift God has ever given to her.

Email rafaela@ssypboston.org

Latasha Scott is a New York native and currently lives in Roxbury, MA. She has been integrated with St. Stephen's since the fall of 2017 as a lead counselor. This year her role has shifted to YLC Program Director after serving 2 years as Massachusetts Promise Fellow. She is enrolled in Northeastern University as a health science major. Latasha likes to build relationships and connect with the youth in a fresh way. She enjoys learning and teaching about current events.

Email latasha@ssypboston.org

The Reverend Liz Steinhauser joined St. Stephen's staff as the Director of Youth Programs in August 2003. She brings over 30 years of professional training and experience as a youth worker and community organizer to the position. As Lead Organizer of the Boston Youth Organizing Project, Liz developed the leadership of over 750 youth. Together, they won $1 million for additional textbooks in high school classrooms, new procedures for cleaner bathrooms in the schools, and longer hours of free public transportation for students. She also did labor organizing with the Service Employees International Union in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, building a union of school support workers and in Boston, Massachusetts mobilizing community support for janitors.

Trained by Dr. Marshall Ganz, as well as the Industrial Areas Foundation, Liz has taught community organizing to graduate students at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, undergraduates at Stonehill College, and high schoolers in various organizations throughout Massachusetts. Following the tragic shooting death of a St. Stephen’s teen in September 2012, Liz helped convene teens, young adults, and others to take leadership in the B-PEACE for Jorge Campaign, a diocese-wide effort to address the root causes of violence.

Liberation theology developed her commitment to social justice. Girl Scouts built her arts and crafts skills and her repertoire of goofy songs. She is a graduate of Colgate University and Harvard Divinity School and is an ordained priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. She lives in Roslindale with her modern family, including her eleven-year-old son, Heschel, who is working on his fencing skills while studying to be an actor.

Email liz@ststephensbos.org

Emily Tabor first joined St. Stephen's Youth Programs in 2011 as an AmeriCorps VISTA fellow, where she began a career in non-profit development. After two years and equipped with the community organizing skills she gained at St. Stephen's, Emily went on to build partnerships, fundraise, and manage volunteers at an adult education organization and a public interest law firm. In 2020, Emily returned to St. Stephen's in a new capacity as the Operations Manager.

Emily grew up in New York City and received her BA in Sociology from Wheaton College. She currently lives in Jamaica Plain, where she is a member of the JP Neighborhood Council.

Email emily@ssypboston.org

Betsy earned a degree in Special Education from Vanderbilt and subsequently worked with preschoolers with special needs in the South Bronx. She moved to Boston where she studied counseling psychology and raised a family. Betsy chaired the Outreach Committee at Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester for twelve years, and led their partnership with St. Stephen's. She is also a member of SSYP's Advisory Board and the board of El Hogar Ministries.

Email betsy@ssypboston.org

Alex was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He earned his degree in Family and Human Services, and a minor in Psychology. Alex is a Jesuit Volunteer who will be serving as the Christian Education Coordinator for the 2022-2023 year. He is looking forward to getting to know the St. Stephens community and serving on the East Coast!

Email: alex@ssypboston.org