Our Board of Directors

Alan Kantz | Board Secretary

Alan has been involved in organizing and student activism since his college days. He has experience with nonprofits from several years working in the public health nonprofit sector. Alan has been a member of the YA-YA Network board since 2020. He lives in Astoria and works in software development.

Joi Rae | Board Treasurer

Joi joined the YA-YA Board in 2023 and currently serves as Treasurer. She brings a wealth of professional experience from the public and nonprofit sectors. She currently serves as the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Special Projects for a national advocacy organization dedicated to protecting voting rights and strengthening American democracy. Prior to this role, Joi worked in various positions in local government and at nonprofits.

Don Kao

Don is founder and director of Project Reach. He is a resident of Manhattan, has served on the board since 2015, and a co-founder of GAPIMNY.

Mariella Villacorta

Mairella joined the YA-YA board in 2025. Mariella comes from the civic engagement and youth organizing space. With 8 years of experience at the local and national level, she has helped leverage resources to help movements organizations and leaders create community-led change. As a justice-centered fundraiser, she has worked and consulted with progressive foundations and non profit organizations. She is currently the Development Officer at North Star Fund. Previously, she was at Alliance for Youth Action and New York Historical. Mariella is a proud immigrant from El Salvador.

Jerry Chen

Jerry is currently a full-time student at Boston University. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, he lived in a low income, minority neighborhood and received public education from Pre-K - 12. He has interned for the United States Attorney’s Office District of Massachusetts, United States Eastern District Court of New York and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Jerry serves as the youngest board member since May 2022 and is an alum of YA-YA’s programs.

Shalena Broadnax | Board Chair

Shalena serves as Chairperson and has been on the board since 2018. She is a resident of Washington, D.C., is principal and founder of Work Renewed, and pursues  a Ph.D. at George Washington University. Shalena is an alum of YA-YA’s program.