Nestor Hernandez, Executive Director is a native of Newark, NY (Finger Lakes) and is a graduate of Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Spanish and M.A. in Student Personnel Administration. He is a former U.S. Army Reserve-Civil Affair Staff Sergeant, Veteran of Operation Iraqi/Enduring Freedom, former AmeriCorps member and Program Director, former Executive Director-Delaware Family Branch YMCA. He loves spending time with his family and enjoys playing golf and mountain biking. He is the proud husband of Christina Hernandez and doting father of two-Evan-4 years old and Ella 1 years old.

Jack Norton, Ed.D., Program Development was brought up, as he says in the three “P’s,” Philadelphia, Portland, Maine and the Philippines. He earned his Ed.D. in Curriculum Planning from SUNY at Buffalo. His dissertation was among the first to be printed from an Apple computer. Jack spent much of his career as a specialist in religious education and youth work, serving in churches in five states. He also taught in that field at Houghton College, pioneering distance learning so that he could teach on two campuses at the same time. After a time in what he calls, “the Car Biz,” he returned to the nonprofit world to direct an AmeriCorps*VISTA program which had 8 members when he began and 46 when he left. He has two children, Ken and Karen and two grandchildren, Riley and Carter with a third grandson on the way. When someone asks what he does, he says, “accidentalgrantwriter.com.”

Callie Johnson, Marketing/Communications Director is a native of Buffalo, NY and is a graduate of the University at Buffalo with a B.A. in Communication and a minor in Sociology and a graduate of Daemen College with a M.S. in Global Business with a focus in Marketing. She completed 2 terms of service with Buffalo AmeriCorps and worked as a team leader in the 2nd. She has a great passion to serve others and is the loving daughter of Michael Johnson and Sandra Johnson Sales.

JoAnn Hernandez, Finance Director is a native of Buffalo, NY and a graduate of Buffalo State with a B.A. in Social Work and is the wife of 28 years to Oscar Hernandez and the proud mother of Adam and Allison.

Lizbeth Medina, Receptionist is a native of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico and is a graduate of Escuela Superior Vocational Salvador Fuente De Aguadilla-Culinary Arts program. She has served in the past volunteering for a nearby church summer camp in Puerto Rico helping with children. Lizbeth is passionate about cooking, teaching and caring for her children and hanging out with friends.

Laurie Beck, Early Childhood Director is a native of Buffalo, NY and a graduate of Buffalo State College with a B.A. and M.A. in Education. She has worked 8 years as a Child Care Director and 1 year as a Preschool teacher and is a member NAEYC, AEYC and Child Care Resource Network. She is passionate about helping families, encouraging young parents to continue with their education to make the best possible life for themselves and their children and to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the children and day care staff alike at the Center to meet their fullest potential.

James McNeil, SACC Program Director is a native of Buffalo, NY and is graduate of ECC with a A.S. in Physical Education. James is very passionate about being the best father possible for his two children and being a positive male role model for the youth in all our communities.

Evelyn Pizarro, 21st Century Learning Program Director is a native of Buffalo, NY and a graduate of the University at Buffalo with a B.S. in Elementary Education and M.A. in Early Childhood Education and M.A. in Education Administration from Buffalo State. She is the 1st Hispanic female principle ever in the Buffalo Public School System. She is second oldest of 6 and is the wife of 38 years to Jose C. Pizarro and a mother of 3 and grandmother of 4.

Michael Szymanski, The Portal Program Director is a native of Buffalo, NY.

Otu Obot, The Portal Program Coordinator is a native of Buffalo, NY and a graduate of Baldwins Wallace College with a B.S. in Education. He is a former volunteer basketball coach for Holy Cross church, volunteer for the City Mission with food prep and clothing distribution. He is an active missionary in the Island of St. Vincent and has gone on several missionary trips around the country. Otu is passionate about ministry and serving the holistic needs of people in mind, body and spirit. (Matthew 25:36)

Daytaun Antonetti, Buffalo AmeriCorps Program Director is a native of Rochester, NY and is a graduate of Monroe Community College with an A.S. in Business Administration and B.A. in Communication from the University at Buffalo. He is a former AmeriCorps member and completed 2 years of service. He has a calling to serve and is most passionate about serving the community and helping to empower and encourage youth. Daytuan is the proud son of Maebell Gibson and David Antonetti.

Pamela James, Buffalo AmeriCorps Program Coordinator is a native of Buffalo, NY and is a graduate of the University at Buffalo with a B.A. in Criminal Justice, M.A. in Architecture and Regional Planning and M.A. in American Studies. She is the recipient of the Housing and Urban Development Scholarship and was nominated for the Schomburg Scholarship. She has conducted ground breaking research in the “Healthy Home Initiative” that focused on health and wellness issues of residents on the East Side of Buffalo. Pam is passionate about reaching out to those that are less fortunate and lifting them up to higher plateaus.

Grace Parker, Senior Wellness Program Director is a native of Niagara Falls, NY and has lived in Buffalo for 39 years. She has worked at The Belle Center for 25 years during 20 of which were spent working with loving children from the ages of 6-18. She is passionate about working with children and senior citizens which she has now been working with for the past 5 years. Grace is the proud mother of 3 children and 11 grandchildren and 2 wonderful son-in-law’s.