thank you to our 2022 board of directors

Our Board of Directors is composed of diverse, influential, passionate, and knowledgeable leaders throughout our city and region. Each director brings unique value to our organization, including specialized skills, connections to networks, access to resources and personal experience and passions. We thank you for your service and for sharing your talents and expertise.

Jonathan Brelsford
Chief Investment Officer and Senior Vice President, Operations, The Pittsburgh Foundation

Gerald S. Dickinson
Associate Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh

Abigail Horn
Director, Office of Community Services, Allegheny County Department of Human Services

Mark Peterson
(Retired) CEO, Board Member Emeritus, Bridgeway Capital

Morton Stanfield
Senior Vice President/Head of Community Development, Dollar Bank

Tammy Thompson
Executive Director, Catapult Greater Pittsburgh

Diamonte Walker
Chief Executive Officer, Pittsburgh Scholar House

thank you to our staff

The Neighborhood Allies staff shares an authentic and underlying purpose of making life better for all Pittsburghers–each coming from a diverse background and bringing our personal experiences, knowledge and expertise to our organization. We are committed to embodying the best practices in our field. Above all, we strive to be self-reflective, compassionate and hold the highest ideals of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion at the core of who we are and all that we do.

Leadership and Administration Staff:
• President and CEO: Presley Gillespie
• Chief Operating Officer: Stephanie Chernay-Miller
• Controller: Violet Graham
• Senior Program Manager of Fund Development and Operations: DeOndra Parker
• Executive Assistant and Office Manager: Ben Emswiler

Equity Staff:
• Director of Equity: Shad Henderson
• RISE HIGH Internal Team: Shad Henderson, DeOndra Parker, Demi Kolke, Glenn Grayson, Tamara Emswiler, Itha Cao, Robin Sheffey

Communications Staff:
• Director of Communications and Storytelling: Talia DePasquale
• Senior Program Manager of Impact Relations: Jael Jones
• Program Manager for Communications and Outreach: Chelsea Contino

Community Mental Health/Steel Smiling Organization-In-Residence Staff:
• Founder and Managing Director: Julius Boatwright
• Operations Director: Cait Lee
• Program Manager of Wellness Services: Robin Sheffey
• Program Manager of Implementation and Evaluation: Courtney Abegunde

Real Estate Staff:
• Director of Real Estate: Matt Madia
• Senior Program Manager of Corridor Development: Demi Kolke
• Senior Program Manager of Real Estate Development: Glenn Grayson Jr.
• Policy Intern: Abby Bonilla

Social Impact Design Staff:
• Senior Program Manager of Social Impact Design: Tamara Emswiler
• Social Impact Designer: Jordan Swartz

Digital Inclusion Staff:
• Director of Digital Inclusion and Innovation: Itha Cao
• Senior Program Manager of Digital Inclusion: Karen Lue

Economic Opportunity Staff:
• Director of Economic Opportunity: Sarah Dieleman Perry
• Senior Program Manager of Empowerment and Outreach, Toni Corinealdi
• Program Manager of Economic Opportunity and Investment: Javier Janik

To all of our supporters, volunteers, funders, and investors, we are grateful for your generosity and trust. Without you, we could not work towards our vision for all neighborhoods to be thriving, resilient, and equitable for all.