Natasha Atkins, MSW, Executive Director

Natasha A. Atkins, MSW, MA, is an award-winning social worker and HPAC’s first black executive director. She has two decades of experience leading teams to deliver high-quality programs and services to marginalized communities in New York City and has worked with individuals and families most heavily impacted by chronic and complex trauma.

As a nonprofit leader, Natasha is deeply committed to increasing access to services and programs for students of color and reducing economic disparities that can jeopardize their human potential. Since joining HPAC in November 2021, Natasha has introduced classical ballet and STEM programming to HPAC’s service pipeline and positioned HPAC as a leader in pediatric mental health. Through these new initiatives, Natasha increased access to the prominent stakeholders in ballet and STEM and increased HPAC’s student reach by 20%. She also grew HPAC’s operating revenue by 10% in her first year as HPAC’s executive director.

Natasha is the pioneer of neuro-trauma-informed social work - a branch of study that builds awareness of the neurobiological effects of trauma on the brain across the lifespan. Through this work, she is transforming mental health care for K-12 students. One of her cornerstone programs is the Mood Meter Project, a simple electronic psychosocial assessment tool that identifies students’ emotional states and equips them with self-regulatory strategies to increase the likelihood of feeling psychologically safe. Her original design, the Mood Meter, has successfully reduced the need for clinical and emergency mental health interventions. Natasha is also the architect of The Brain Science Club, a neuroscience-themed program that provides instruction about the science of social and emotional learning (SEL), and a founding member of BioQuest STEM enrichment program designed to give students opportunities to explore pathways and careers in science, biotech, and medicine alongside mentors in these fields.

In addition to being a nonprofit executive and social worker, Natasha is the founder of Women Impact, Inc., an organization committed to supporting female-led nonprofits in the Caribbean. Since 2017, Women Impact, Inc. has invested significant financial resources and expert consultancy to organizations in Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, & Puerto Rico. Women Impact has coordinated and led post-disaster projects in Dominica and Puerto Rico following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, secured funding for youth development programs in Barbados and an annual summer camp hosted by the University of the West Indies in Jamaica and led two research teams that secured International Review Boards in Barbados and St. Kitts & Nevis to study the prevalence of fibroids, PCOS and other debilitating reproductive disorders. Each research project was subsequently published in The Journal of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Disorders. Natasha received the Global Social Work Award from the New York University Silver School of Social Work (‘18) for her leadership in International Social Work.

Natasha received her MSW from NYU (‘18), MA from Teachers College, Columbia University (‘15), and BA from SUNY Purchase (‘02). She completed five years of postgraduate studies in neuroscience, education, and mental health and is completing her doctorate in behavioral health at Arizona State University.

Pety Acebo, Finance and Operations Manager

All runs smoothly at HPAC because of Pety Acebo, who has worked at HPAC since 2010.

Previously, Pety worked as a Crew Leader Assistant at the U.S. Census Bureau. She also worked in the Accounting Department at Stuyvesant Oil Company for almost five years, where she pursued a college degree after immigrating to the U.S. from Ecuador.

Pety graduated from Lehman College with a B.A. in accounting in May 2009 and received her MBA in May 2019.  Pety also is an individual taxpayer preparer and notary public, licensed in August 2013.

Omar Canelas, Information Technology Coordinator

Omar Canales was born and raised in The Bronx, of Honduran-Ecuadorian heritage. With more than 15 years of experience in the Information Technology industry working passionately with all people to meet their technology needs. Omar has over three years of working proudly with the HPAC team providing technical support.

Omar is a graduate of Pace University with a B.S. and M.S. in Information Systems. Other occupations also involve working with local food and hospitality establishments. Also shares a passion for his Bronx community by advocating for small locally owned businesses and promoting culture.

Monique Dennis Farrington, Community Ambassador

Monique Dennis Farrington grew up in Hunts Point and attended P.S 75. She has worked and volunteered throughout the Bronx at whichever schools her four children were attending. She has been involved in eight PTAs serving in officer positions. She enjoys fundraising and cooking to support the children and families who attend local schools. She currently serves on the board of directors for Metro Community Health Centers whose mission is to work with children and adults with special needs. 

She now considers herself an advocate for the community by using the knowledge she has gained helping find resources for her special needs son. She is a proud parent of a college grad from Penn State, a college senior at Morrisville and a daughter who is currently studying culinary arts. She was a Community Liaison for NYCHA and a Community Representative for Soundview Partnership and she has participated in many advisory boards. 

Shannon Fasanella, LMSW, Social Worker

Shannon began her education and youth development career in 2015, working with middle school students in North Philadelphia as an AmeriCorps City Year. From 2016-2018, Shannon continued supporting students at Democracy Prep Public Schools and Hunter College before pursuing her Master's degree in social work. As a social work intern, Shannon worked with older adults at the Greenwich House Senior Center. Her internship experience also included coordinating public hearings, creating resource guides, and promoting communication among city agencies at the Department of Youth and Community Development.

In 2020, Shannon supported young people on supervised release, an alternative to the bail program in the Bronx, at The Fortune Society. Before joining HPAC, Shannon managed six case planners to deliver services to 55+ foster care youth at the Jewish Child Care Association.

Shannon was born in Medellin, Colombia, and raised in New Jersey. Shannon likes to read, go to concerts, and learn to play the drums in her spare time. She is passionate about music, books, and skincare and is a big supporter of self-care!

Shannon graduated with her BA in literature from Emory University and obtained her MSW from NYU. Shannon is a New York State licensed social worker.  

Emily Garcia, Arts Programming & Partnership Associate

Emily Garcia, originally from Dallas, Texas has moved to the city to pursue Directing, Casting and Arts Administration. She is a proud Guatemalan storyteller with a calling for more inclusive, innovative, empathetic, and authentic work. She has worked with multiple artistic programs throughout the Austin area. She is most interested in work that focuses on artists' mental health advocacy and programs that will uplift the voices of people of color. Through her work, she hopes to help highlight the emotional complexities of humanity.

Reina Garcia, Senior Manager, Early Childhood Education

Reina is a seasoned early childhood education professional with over 12 years of experience in the field. She graduated from Lehman College with a B.A. in psychology and minor in early childhood education, and a M.S.Ed. in bilingual early childhood education.

Before joining the HPAC team, she was employed by Saint Dominic's Home TORCH (To Reach Children) Therapeutic Preschool, as a special education early childhood lead teacher for ten years. She is passionate about working with HPAC 's youngest children and families and is committed to shrinking the educational achievement gap in low-income communities. In 2019, Reina was awarded the Emily Fenichel Award by the Zero-to-Three Network in recognition of her tireless work to enrich toddlers and empower their families.

Amina Henry, Mighty Quills Instructor

Amina is an educator and playwright. She was a Resident Teaching Artist for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for three seasons and is currently a teaching artist with the Teachers & Writers Collaborative, as well as HPAC. As an adjunct lecturer, she teaches expository writing and literature courses at Brooklyn College, as well as playwriting at SUNY Purchase. As a playwright, her productions include The Animals, Ducklings,  and Hunter John and Jane at JACK, Bully (SUNY Purchase, Clubbed Thumb WinterWorks, and elsewhere), Cindy and Sleeping Beauty (children's theater commissions by Project Y Theatre) and The Great Novel (New Light Theater). Her work has been produced, presented at, and/or developed by Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ars Nova, Page 73, The Flea, National Black Theatre, HERO Theater, Project Y Theatre, Dixon Place, and other venues. She is a New Georges Affiliate Artist and 2018-2019 Audrey grant recipient. BA (English/Film Studies), Yale University. MA (Performance Studies), New York University. MFA (Playwriting), Brooklyn College.

Dahiana Lessard, Family Project Case Manager

Dahiana connects families with a variety of social services, including external counseling, health or legal services, food pantries, job centers, youth programs, and public assistance. At HPAC, Dahiana has worked as bookkeeper, administrative assistant, food coordinator, and early childhood assistant. As early childhood assistant, she helped run programs for children such as Play to Learn and Homework Help.

In 2008, Dahiana received vocational training through Year Up, focusing on information technology. She earned an internship at Google, and obtained her CompTIA A+ certification. Prior to that, Dahiana served in the U.S. Army as a human resources/administrative personnel specialist.

Dahiana is attending Bronx Community College pursuing a degree in human services.

Pamela Martinez de Garcia, Early Childhood Education Teacher Associate

Pamela has eight years of experience working with children with special needs. She also worked with families in crisis at Home For the Homeless (Prospect Family Support Center) for six months. Pamela earned a degree in medicine from her beloved country Dominican Republic in 2016. She also worked for six years as an associate social worker.

Pamela is a wife and proud mother of two boys. She enjoys listening to music, dancing, planning events, decorating, cheering people up and supporting others. Pamela enjoys giving her time to all the people she has the pleasure of knowing.

Nisha Taveras, Development and Communications Manager

Nisha Taveras is a Hunts Point Native and has been a part of the Hunts Point Alliance for Children since 2008 where she formed part of the first group of scholars to begin the Shakespeare Ensemble. After graduating from Boston College in 2019, Nisha Taveras wanted to take the opportunity to return to the place that helped propel her academic and professional career to help students in her community not only have an equal level playing field in academic and professional spaces but also provide them with the tools to succeed in their fields of interests. She has served as a mentor for HPAC’s high school scholars, as graduate support for the Online Tutoring Program and is now a Student Success Associate. As a Student Success Associate, Nisha Taveras works across various HPAC teams to build high-impact relationships with students and families throughout their high school and college endeavors.

Eli Thacker Taylor, Senior Manager of Arts Partnerships and Programs

Eli Thacker Taylor, originally from Portland, Ore., moved to the East Coast to pursue arts, education, and the integration of the two. He has taught theater in after-school and residency programs throughout Brooklyn, directed plays for various festivals and venues in New York City, directed summer camps and recess programs, and written original script adaptations of classic literature for children. He is an avid music fan (both playing and listening), rides his bicycle to work from Brooklyn whenever possible, is constantly trying to catch up on podcasts, and is a lifelong Portland Trailblazers apologist.

Gladys Vasquez, Early Childhood Administrative Assistant

Gladys Vasquez is a Salvadoran-American and Bronx Native. She has over six years of experience working with high-needs families across New York in the foster care system. Gladys has worked with infants and toddlers at New York Foundling and later worked with at-risk teenagers and young adults in Sheltering Arms. In her previous roles, Gladys assisted parents with court order services such as drug treatment, parenting classes, immigration, housing concerns, and mental health services. Gladys enjoys working with people and hopes to make a positive impact in this world regardless of how small it may be. 

Gladys is a graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a B.A. in Forensic Psychology and her hobbies involve reading, brushing up on geography, traveling, and spending time with her dog Lucky. 

Kimani Wood, Storefront Ensemble Program Coordinator

Kimani is a Brooklyn-born Bronx-raised CUNY student with 7 years of experience in the New York City non-profit sector, serving in both administrative and direct service positions. He’s successfully managed federal, state and privately funded drug treatment shelters, after-school programs, and summer day camps. His previous position as Director of Operation for Kids Creative allows me to supervise a staff of 70+ employees, 30 interns and serve 600 students per semester. Continuously aiming to educate the whole person by acknowledging physical limitations and mental/emotional barriers gently. Kimani’s understanding and respect for program logistics, state and federal mandates combined with my passion for social-emotional learning make me a great asset to the Hunts Point Community.