Leadership

Board of Directors, Marketing & Finance Committee
Betty Diaz –

Board of Directors – Treasurer, Dery Rodriguez – Dery Rodriguez is an innovative facilitator and staunch advocate for students of color and their families. She has an unwavering commitment to amplifying their voices for a better and equal future. A seasoned family and community empowerment professional currently working at the New York City Department of Education’s Family and Community Engagement office (FACE). Dery’s extensive experience within youth-serving organizations spans the philanthropic, Pre-K to 12, and nonprofit and government sectors. Dery is a committed proponent of social justice and equity for under-served communities, with a particular passion for expanding resources and opportunities for Title I school student bodies. Central to Dery’s work is the critical need to engage parents and school staff as partners in maximizing students’ academic achievement. Dery’s work extends from New York City to the shantytowns of the Dominican Republic. She is the co-founder of a women-led, organization, Building Young Leaders (BYL), a STEAM-focused, innovative model for sustainable family development. Dery has developed a collaboration with Dominican Republic grassroots organizations to distribute school supplies to students in impoverished neighborhoods. Dery leverages relationships with key  community stakeholders to bring invaluable resources to marginalized communities. Dery has a genuine affinity for the students, and parents that she serves, based upon her childhood experiences as an ESL student from a low-wealth, non-English speaking immigrant family. She attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice, studied public administration, and resides in Harlem, New York City.

Board of Directors – Secretary, Elizaveta Reyes – Elizaveta Reyes Tomé is a non-profit leader and activist passionate about the environment and equality and equity issues. She is the current President of NALFO, the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, the umbrella organization for Latino/a/x Fraternities and Sororities in the United States. She works as a Senior Director in the Technology Services segment of FTI Consulting, Inc., a global business advisory firm, and has been engaged in several international investigative matters over the course of her tenure with the company. She currently serves on the Executive Board of Coordinadora General de los Dominicanos Residentes en el Exterior (Cordigen Dorenex), and is a volunteer on several committees of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Elizaveta has over 15 years’ experience in nonprofit management and leadership having served as past National President and Board of Trustees Chair of her Sorority. She is a servant leader who dedicates much of her free time to serving her community and philanthropic efforts. She has raised thousands of dollars towards, and volunteered many hours to, the American Diabetes Association through participation in their Tour de Cure event, the Ray of Hope Walk to Raise Awareness of Violence Against Women, Cycle for Survival (an event focused on fundraising towards rare-cancer research), Steptember (benefitting the Cerebral Palsy Alliance), Manos Unidas a La Obra, and Community Clean-Up and Park Beautification events through New York Cares and the Dallas Department of Park and Recreation. Born in Moscow to Russian and Dominican parents, Elizaveta grew up in New York City and currently resides in Dallas, TX with her family

Board of Directors, Julie Mejia, is an accomplished Sr. Executive Administrative Assistant and Mortgage Loan Processor for Canyon Mortgage Corporation. With over 25 years of experience in the B2B Market, Julie held several positions from Account Executive to Sales Operations Analyst, and Office Manager. As a Mortgage Loan Processer, Julie’s top priority is to provide customer satisfaction. Her motto is, “a happy home begins with a happy customer”. Prior to working at Canyon Mortgage Corporation, Julie worked at HSBC Bank USA where she maintained daily operations for the department. Her prior work experience included developing relationships, business strategies and operations. Julie is a Certified Professional Receptionist and Certified Peer Educator.

Julie received her Bachelor of Science degree from State University of New York College at Oswego graduating with a major in Business Administration and a concentration in Finance. She minored in Spanish and Italian. Julie served in several leadership capacities throughout her college career that included serving as the Director of ALANA (African Latino Asian Native American) Student Leadership Conference for five years and Vice President of El Ritmo Latino Dance Troupe at SUNY Oswego.

Julie was born in the Dominican Republic and arrived to New York just before she celebrated her first birthday. As a teen, Julie began volunteering her time with local organizations in her community and continues to volunteer with these same organizations today. The organizations Julie assists with in the Dominican Republic include Ramas Juvenile Veristas, Logia en Republica Dominicana, Episcopal Youth Ministries, and Catedral de la Epifanía Episcopal de Santo Domingo. In the U.S., Julie volunteers with St. Peters Episcopal Church, St. Matthew’s and Trinity Episcopal Church. Additionally, Julie also advocates for the inclusion of autistic children in education and often supports Autism Speaks.

Julie currently resides in New York with her two children, ages seven and eight. She has a passion for family, community, diversity, and education