Inés Palmarin, Executive Director

Prior to joining the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s, Inés worked as the Senior Program Officer for Resilient Communities, Resilient Families for LISC Boston. She spent over a decade in the public government as a Senior Planner/Project Director for the Boston Redevelopment Authority, where she managed the Fairmount Indigo Planning Initiative and worked on numerous neighborhood planning and economic development initiatives.

As a first-generation Puerto Rican woman, Ines has dedicated 25+ years of personal and professional life to providing resources and access to BIPOC communities to improve their economic wellbeing. She believes that working in service and partnership with community is a calling. 

Inés is the co-founder of Boston Mothers Care, a volunteer-run organization focused on bringing humanitarian aid to children and their families in Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Boston. She served on the Vital Village board and is currently attending Gordon Conwell pursuing a new path focused on Latinos and Global Ministries. Ines is passionate about civic engagement, women empowerment, and young leaders, especially in urban neighborhoods.

Inés graduated from Wheelock College in 1992, where she fell in love with Boston neighborhoods and the network of nonprofits. In 1999, she received her Master’s in City Planning from MIT.

Ines@ssypboston.org

Cecile Romiette Auguste, B-PEACE Program Manager

Cecile Romiette Auguste is a Physical Therapist from Haiti. After finishing high school in her hometown she was awarded a full excellence scholarship by the Taiwan Government. For the next 7 years she lived in Taipei and pursued her bachelor at the prestigious National Taiwan University and then she got her MBA in Healthcare Administration at Taipei Medical University. She was very involved in the Foreign student associations, advocating for her fellow students and organizing activities for them.in 2017 with diploma in hands, she returned to Haiti to give back to the society. She worked as a PT at the Institut Haitien de Rehabilitation and because she has a passion for education she was the PT program coordinator and also served as the vice dean of a PT faculty. She also taught healthcare Administration and physical therapy at two other schools. She moved to the US in 2020 and kept teaching Haitian students online. She is enrolled in an online transitional doctor of Physical Therapy. She is also licensed to practice in the United States as Physical Therapy Assistant.

In 2022 She was one of the awardees of the African Bridge Network Administrative fellowship program. She then worked at Boston Children Hospital as program coordinator of the Rehabilitation program. In 2023 she joined McLean Hospital ECT and Ketamine clinic as Administrative coordinator. During her times at Childrens she got her lean six sigma white and yellow belt certificates. One of her passion is to work as a volunteer in helping immigrant families adjusting to the United States. In february 2024, she gladly accepted the offer to serve as Program director at St Stephens. She will work with a team and with partners in various violence prevention projects and activities in the St Stephens community. 

Cecile is a mother of three beautiful kids who keep her very busy and happy. She loves to do yoga, dancing, reading and hiking in her spare time. She is fluent in Haitian Creole, French, English and Mandarin Chinese. 

cecile@ssypboston.org

Ari Branz, Director of Organizing

Ari Branz (they/them) began organizing families at St. Stephen’s Youth Program in 2015. They built up the family organizing program at SSYP through campaigns for public education and immigrant justice. They also led SSYP to pilot and grow the Parent Mentor Program. From 2019-2022 they worked organizing across the city with the Boston Teachers Union. They returned to SSYP in 2022 as Director of Organizing. In their free time, Ari enjoys hiking, playing the oboe in a community orchestra, and eating fresh eggs from their backyard chickens.

Ari Branz (elle) comenzó a organizar familias en St. Stephen's en 2015. Construyó el programa de organización familiar en SSYP a través de campañas de educación pública y justicia para inmigrantes. También llevó a SSYP a implementar y crecer el programa de Padres Mentores. De 2019 a 2022 trabajó organizando a través de toda la ciudad con el Sindicato de Maestros de Boston. Regresó a SSYP en 2022 como Director de Organización. En su tiempo libre, a Ari le gusta caminar, tocar el oboe en una orquesta comunitaria y comer huevos frescos de sus gallinas de patio.

aribranz@ssypboston.org

Tyler Cavanagh, Deputy Director of Programs and Operations

Tyler holds a bachelor's degree in music with a concentration in vocal performance from Westfield State University, and in 2023 received a certification in Social Impact Management and Leadership from The Institute for Nonprofit Practice and the Tisch School of Civic Life at Tufts University. With over 20 years of experience in youth work, including licensed camps and childcare, teen leadership programming, mentoring, and arts education. Tyler spent his first five years at SSYP supporting the Development team and is excited to return to the program and leadership side of the table where he can leverage his passion for building community and creating opportunities to celebrate diversity and inclusion in all ages but especially in young people to help take SSYP and our community to next level. Tyler currently lives on the South Shore where he is an active performer in community theatre, choirs, and recitals. In addition to his work at SSYP he currently serves on the theatre faculty at Spotlight Music and Theatre Academy in Scituate where he is also a voice student and a board member.

tyler@ssypboston.org

Jonathan Fritz, Jesuit Volunteer Corps Fellow

Jonathan, having just graduated this past year from St. Joseph's University, is excited to be a part of the SSYP family. Jonathan specialized in digital communications, partnering with several non-profits in the Philadelphia area while in college. He has also loved his time working with youth through different camps and programs. He is driven by his ability to make an impact and create positive change in the communities he works in. In his free time, Jonathan enjoys running, reading, spending time with family, and anything to do with the performing arts.

jonathanf@ssypboston.org

Lanaya Kimble, Teen Staff Manager

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.”

lanaya@ssypboston.org

Yesenia Menendez, Social Worker

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@ssypboston.org

Tracey Merrill, Director of Development

Tracey is thrilled to return to SSYP as its first, full-time Director of Development. Tracey has previously held part-time grant writing roles at SSYP. She is excited to work with Chris, SSYP's Governance Committee and the exceptional staff leadership team on advancing SSYP's mission through philanthropy. Tracey has worked on both the institutional side of fundraising, for among others, Quincy College, the Life is Good Kids Foundation and the YMCA, and provided development consulting services to a wide range arts, education and social service non-profits. She lives on the South Shore with her busy family, including two poorly behaved - but adorable - golden retrievers.

tracey@ssypboston.org