Who We Are Staff

Cynthia is currently an inaugural Eisner Prize Fellow, developing Gen2GenQ, an LGBTQIA+ intergenerational network. She received a Masters of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, a Nonprofit Management and Leadership Certificate from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. In her free time, Cynthia is an avid movie and museum goer.

Read Less

After graduating college, Stephenie served two years as an AmeriCorps Massachusetts Promise Fellow and helped youth grades 8-12 on college and career readiness as well as volunteer and community engagement. She then went on to work as a bilingual SCO Case Manager at Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services and was later given the opportunity to have her dream job working with intergenerational programs at LBFE.

Stephenie enjoys painting handmade watercolor cards, doing arts and crafts, playing tennis, volleyball, hiking and kayaking.

Read Less

Jean’s early career includes time as an early childhood teacher, corporate marketing manager for an educational publishing company and business development manager for an educational software company. She earned her BAs in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Human Development from Boston College.

Jean enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, music, and serving as a community volunteer in multiple organizations on the North Shore. She lives in Middleton, MA with her husband, Greg, three children, Emma, Max & Ruby, and black goldendoodle, Rockie.

Read Less

Zachary’s professional career has focused on working with youth as an Assistant Director for Girls Inc. of Worcester and working in career education for Suffolk University. He is eager to focus his career on working with nonprofit organizations to provide support and resources for the people of our communities.

He is also a Big Brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/MetroWest. Zachary finds his purpose in community and collaboration.

Read Less

In her professional experience, Madison has worked in numerous roles. She has spent time in the field of marketing and sales as a Territorial Sales Associate. Additionally, she has experience working with older adults and children from her previous roles at Coaching4Change and Brookdale Senior Living.  

Madison is very excited about her new position and continuing her work in the nonprofit field. When she’s not focusing her efforts on bettering the community, Madison enjoys reading, crocheting, and cooking.  

Read Less

In terms of previous positions, Bricen has worked as a Residential Assistant for Seven Hills Foundation, as a Case Manager for Central Boston Elderly Services and a Peer Wellness Coach for Digital Ready. He aspires to continue working in the nonprofit sector to provide ailment, counseling and/or providing resources to those who want to better one’s own mental health.

Bricen is excited to engage with population groups he has worked with previously but is thrilled to implement further implications of community building and providing face to face services. Through personal experience and further research, he also is very passionate about the ties between physical activity and its mental health benefits. Some interests he enjoys includes going to the gym, exploring new areas, spending time with family/friends and reading.

Read Less

Originally from Nigeria, Chisom’s professional background primarily involves governmental organizations, showcasing her dedication to public service. Noteworthy experiences include serving as a program assistant for the Center for Learning and Academic Success at Suffolk University and working as a congressional intern at Senator Edward Markey’s office.

In addition to her formal positions, Chisom is actively engaged in volunteer work with the American Red Cross Association and a youth ambassador for World Literacy Organization, demonstrating her spirit of altruism. Her decision to join LBFE reflects her strong desire to explore the nonprofit sector. Her passion for addressing disparities in access to resources and technology highlights her commitment to promoting digital equity and literacy while empowering communities.

Read Less

In previous roles, Joesha has been an advocate for her peers as a class senator drafting bills and resolutions based on student needs at Florida Atlantic University. She has also held other outreach and development roles, working alongside the MBTA, MassDOT and different cities around Massachusetts.

Joesha is thrilled about her new position and is excited to joined LBFE and serve Boston’s many neighborhoods. She enjoys engaging with others and serving her community. Her favorite activities include going to the beach, spending time with her family, reading and nice long walks.

Read Less

Levi previously interned at the Center for Women and Community at UMass Amherst where he helped educate college aged students about bystander intervention and sexual violence on college campuses. He hopes to help foster intergenerational friendships and solidarity in the LGBTQ+ community as Program Assistant for the Gen2GenQ program. He strives to bring people together by fostering discussions that help communities understand each other better.  

Levi loves to draw and paint in his free time. His art often focusing on disability, LGBTQ+ issues, or other minority experiences. He enjoys analyzing many different genres of film/television and often discusses what he is watching with his family and friends.  

Read Less

Sofia is interested in the intersections of art, community, the outdoors, and education, and these interests have brought her into working for LBFE’s Creative Connections program. She has previous experience at Addison Gilbert Hosptial where she provided art and social enrichment for older folks who were staying in the hospital. Sofia really valued this time in being able to learn from intergenerational experiences. She hopes that working at a preschool and LBFE will allow for her to learn from interactions with people of a spectrum of ages! 

Outside of work, Sofia loves to spend time with family and friends, create art, cook, dance, and be outside.  

Read Less

Before college, I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I chose to take this co-op position with LBFE because I wanted an opportunity where I could interact with people and engage with different communities around Boston. I am excited by the opportunity of getting to work with older adults. I hope our interactions will bring them joy, and I cannot wait to get to hear their stories and their perspectives. Everyone deserves a community where they feel heard and appreciated, and I am highly motivated to foster that community through my interactions with others.

Over these six months, I hope to maintain a creative outlook on how to best interact with the communities of older adults. The activities performed during visits should bring the participants joy and be a source of pride in their capabilities. Everyone deserves to feel proud in the things they can accomplish. I love to do arts and crafts. A few of my favorite activities include painting, journaling, and jewelry making. I also love to play games. I love word games, puzzle games, and card games. I am always happy to learn a new game or teach others how to play one of my own personal favorites, such as Skull, Sudoku, and Catan. 

I appreciate the value of interactions with those who have lived different experiences to my own, and I cannot wait to share these perspectives with the older adults I will get to meet during my time here at LBFE.   

Read Less

A little bit more about me is that I recently wrapped up my college soccer career at Northeastern, which was an incredible experience that taught me valuable lessons in teamwork, resilience, and leadership. Outside of academics and sports, I enjoy cooking, yoga and spending time with friends and family. I’m originally from East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, a small town located south of Boston.

At LBFE Boston, my role as Program Coordinator will allow me to gain hands-on experience in a non-profit setting. I’m particularly looking forward to contributing to the design and execution of programs that meet the needs of older adults. With my creativity and willingness to receive feedback, I’m excited to work with my team effectively to create engaging and impactful activities tailored to the participants’ preferences. 

This opportunity will also allow me to connect with and learn from diverse communities, which is something I am deeply passionate about. I’m eager to understand unique differences and strengths of intergenerational relationships and contribute to the growth and well-being of older adults. I look forward to learning and growing both personally and professionally, and I can’t wait to hope to make a meaningful impact during my time here!  

Read Less

I love singing and often record and post songs on music platforms. Through this, I have gained hands-on experience with media communication, like writing short blogs to promote my videos and songs. This experience has also helped me connect with a community of fellow music lovers, many of whom have become close friends.

I chose to work with LBFE because I am inspired by its mission of fostering meaningful connections between people. I believe in the power of shared experiences to create understanding and joy, and I want to contribute to support LBFE’s programs. During my time at LBFE, I hope to make a positive impact by organizing events that bring people together. Moreover, I also want to learn more about community engagement and improve my communication and planning skills.

I am most excited about the opportunity to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and learn from their unique stories and perspectives. I look forward to using my creativity and other skills to help design programs that foster connections among participants!  

Read Less

I was born in Alexandria, Virginia but was raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia before coming to the United States to acquire higher education. In my free time, I enjoy knitting, playing tennis and exploring new arts and crafts! I am always looking for a new knitting project to start.

LBFE’s mission to alleviate loneliness among older adults is what drew me to the organization. I was able to experience firsthand how impactful LBFE is through a Northeastern Service-Learning class in partnership with LBFE where I met with an older adult virtually every week and reflected on her life experiences; connecting and sharing stories with older adults filled a void I did not know was empty.  During my time at LBFE, I hope to explore the inner workings of a non-profit, build meaningful, strong relationships, and continue to learn!  

This experience will prepare me for a career dedicated to creating sustainable solutions and improving the well-being of underserved communities around the globe. I am beyond excited at the opportunity to contribute to and learn from the LBFE team and the older adults we serve. I see this experience as a two-way street—while I hope to make a meaningful impact through my work, I am equally eager to be shaped by the wisdom, resilience, and stories of those I interact with.   

Read Less