Our Team | America's Promise Alliance

Our Youth Leaders

A core belief of America’s Promise is that young people are experts on their own experiences. We continually work to operationalize that belief by uplifting young people’s voices and providing them authentic opportunities for leadership, including the opportunity to serve on our Board of Directors and Board of Trustees. In this capacity, youth leaders bring a fresh perspective and a deeper connection to the issues that affect young people most—from changing learning environments, to innovations in technology, to evolving social change movements. Youth leadership in our organization enables us to make better, more informed decisions.

Brittany Amano

America's Promise Alliance Youth Trustee
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Sophia Hala Chin

Youth Board Member, America's Promise Alliance
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Cristian Gaines

America's Promise Alliance Youth Trustee
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Jahari Shelton

Youth Board Member, America's Promise Alliance
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Calvin Tran

America's Promise Alliance Youth Trustee
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Trinity Woodson

Youth Board Member, America's Promise Alliance
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Maria Salmeron-Melendez

America's Promise Alliance Youth Trustee
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Board of Directors

Our Board Members, who represent leaders from all sectors of America, guide the work of America's Promise.

Nicole Anderson

AVP of Social Innovation and President of the AT&T Foundation
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Joe Louis Barrow, Jr.

Former CEO, The First Tee
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Michael Brown

Principal at Public Purpose Strategies
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Brian A. Gallagher

Former President and CEO, United Way Worldwide
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Sophia Hala Chin

Youth Board Member, America's Promise Alliance
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Jennifer Lowe

Vice President, National Strategy & Engagement, Boeing
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Paul Luna

President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation
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C. Gregg Petersmeyer

Chair, America's Promise Alliance; Founder & CEO, Personal Pathways, LLC
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Alma J. Powell

Chair Emeritus, America's Promise Alliance
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Michael K. Powell

Vice Chair, America's Promise Alliance; President and CEO, NCTA - The Internet & Television Association
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Stefanie Sanford

Vice Chair America's Promise Alliance; Chief of Global Policy and External Relations, College Board
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Jahari Shelton

Youth Board Member, America's Promise Alliance
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Javier Alberto Soto

President and CEO, Denver Foundation
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Trinity Woodson

Youth Board Member, America's Promise Alliance
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Staff makes it work

Our Team

America's Promise Alliance is guided by a talented, committed and diverse group of leaders. Get to know our team.

Kiara Battle

Director of Youth Engagement, Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
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Nico Connolly

Director, Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
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Grace Fisher

Senior Manager, Communications
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Sean Flanagan

Senior Director of Research, Center for Promise
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Timothy D. Foster

Senior Manager & Lead Designer, Communications
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Liz Glaser

Director, Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
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Benjamin Goldberg

Associate, Resource Development and Administration
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Maya Grigorovich-Barsky

Senior Director, Executive Operations & Events
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Monika Kincheloe

Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
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Melissa Mellor

Senior Director, Communications
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Mike O'Brien

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
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Deshaun Rice

Associate, Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
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Michelle Smith

Director, Alliance Engagement on the Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
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Rachel Stephens-Murphy

Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
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Cynthia Straughter

Senior Director, Administration
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Emily Waechter

Chief Financial Officer / Chief Administrative Officer
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Carinne Wheedan

Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
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Alliance Trustees

Alliance Trustees

Our Trustees are national leaders from all sectors who shape America's Promise Alliance strategies, champion its initiatives, and advise the Board of Directors.

Research Council

Research Council

These prominent experts in child and youth development set a national research agenda for America's Promise Alliance.