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LAYC Associate Board

LAYC's Associate Board is composed of young professionals that focus on developing new corporate and individual donor support, professional development and training opportunities, and a base of volunteers for LAYC. In addition to introducing LAYC to new supporters, networks, and institutions, the LAYC Associate Board coordinates fundraising events to benefit the agency.

Officers

Natasha Basey Pedroza, President

Natasha Basey Pedroza most recently worked in the Office of Advancement at Georgetown University (GU) where she helped oversee Main Campus Reunion. Previously she educated college students at GU, Indiana University-Bloomington (IU-B) and DePauw University (DPU), her alma mater. Pedroza holds a master’s in Education, Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from IU-B and a Bachelor of Arts in Conflict Studies from DPU. She has a professional certification in fund development for nonprofits from the Center on Philanthropy at IU. Pedroza hopes her work for LAYC will help create a future where all children and their families are supported during the transition into adulthood. 

Jose Contreras, Vice President

Jose Contreras is an associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, with over 15 years of experience in web-based systems development. As a native Washingtonian, he has volunteered for and served on the leadership for various local and national community-based organizations, focusing on youth and educational achievement. Contreras joined the LAYC Associate Board to share his experience and continue serving our youth. He holds a Bachelor of Science in information technology management from the University of Maryland University College. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, cycling and running.

Wendy Cervantes, Secretary

Wendy Cervantes is the vice president of immigration and child rights Policy at First Focus, an advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. Throughout her career, she has worked to promote policies and programs aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable Latino and immigrant families. She holds a Master of Arts in political science from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University of Southern California. Cervantes joined the LAYC Associate Board to make a difference for young people in her community. She enjoys traveling, dancing, hiking, and writing.

Jennifer Mauskapf, Treasurer

Jennifer Mauskapf is a partner of Brustein & Manasevit, PLLC, a Washington, DC-based law firm nationally recognized for its federal education practice. Her clients include state and local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and third party education providers. She holds a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center, a Master of Science in education and a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Rochester. Ms. Mauskapf’s commitment to youth development programs and the Latino community, as well as her desire to become more involved in her local community, drove her interest in joining the LAYC Associate Board.

Members

Alexandra Alderman, Events/Fundraising

Alexandra Alderman is the grants and communications manager at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School. Her previous experience includes the World Bank, Yale University's Innovations for Poverty Action, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Alderman holds a Master in Public Administration in International Development from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor of Arts in economics and Latin American studies from Northwestern University. She joined LAYC's Associate Board to learn more about non-profit management and operations. Alderman spends much of her free time cooking, running, and biking with her husband.

Claudia L. Barrera, Communications/Marketing

Claudia L. Barrera works for the U.S. Agency for International Development in the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization in Washington, D.C. She has ten years experience as a trust administrator working for trust companies and investment management firms in New York City. She holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of the District of Columbia and a Bachelor of Arts in communications and Spanish from Rutgers University. Barrera joined the LAYC Associate Board to get involved with the D.C. and Maryland communities that support youth and their families. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteer work and spending time with friends.

Caroline Brachman, Bylaws and Communications/Marketing

Caroline is the vice president of partner engagement at America's Promise Alliance, a national nonprofit that raises awareness about issues pertaining to at-risk youth. Brachman's experience includes project and program management, policy writing, partnership building, strategic planning, and event planning. Her true passion lies in enhancing the effectiveness of youth-serving nonprofits. Brachman has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Indiana University and a Master of Science in nonprofit leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. She joined the LAYC Associate Board to make a difference in the lives of young people in her community. In her spare time, Brachman enjoys cooking and playing softball.

Jessica Compton, Communications/Marketing Committee Chair

Jessica Compton is a Research Associate at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. Compton studies policies and service systems relating to household financial and employment stability of low-income youth and families. She holds a Bachelor of Science in economics and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and women’s studies from the University of New Hampshire-Durham. Compton joined the LAYC Associate Board to enrich the strength and longevity of effective programs serving youth and communities. In her spare time, she enjoys mentoring youth, attending various local artist events and visiting her hometown Chicago.

Alberto Dominguez, Events/Fundraising

Alberto Dominguez is an a Employment Advisor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Dominguez has over 10 years experience in career and educational development, program management, and educational advocacy. He specializes in designing, coordinating, marketing, and facilitating educational, career, and leadership workshops in the D.C. metropolitan area. He joined the Associate Board to continue his passion to work with viable organizations to assist youth in their social and educational development. A native New Yorker, Dominguez graduated from Syracuse University where he attained degrees in Political Science and International Relations and holds certifications as a career coach and youth development specialist.

Inez Gomez, Events/Fundraising Committee Vice Chair

Inez Gomez is an administrative coordinator at the Strategic Education Research Partnership Institute in Washington, D.C. She received a Bachelor of Arts in communications with a public relations emphasis from Marymount University. She has over six years experience in event planning and logistical coordination. Gomez joined the LAYC Associate Board to support and promote the programs for minority youth which is essential to their development for future growth. Her passions include biking, watching movies, spending time with family and friends and giving back to her community through her sorority, Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc.

Cynthia Gutierrez, Events/Fundraising

Agate Jose-Ivanina, Events/Fundraising

Adam Kent, Bylaws

Adam Kent is a math teacher at Bell Multicultural High School in Washington, DC. A 2010 Teach For America corps member, Adam is also working toward his master's degree in secondary teaching at American University and holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Macalester College. Previously, Kent worked as a policy researcher at the Urban Institute, where he analyzed trends in federal spending on children in reports published by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution. Adam joined the LAYC Associate Board to become more involved with the community organizations that serve his students and community. In his spare time, Kent enjoys music, reading, and running.

Cecilia M. Majors, Communications/Marketing

Cecilia Majors is a senior college program specialist at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. She is responsible for the management of the congressional internship program, which provides leadership opportunities to over 60 students each year. Majors is excited to be working with LAYC as she has a passion to advancing educational and leadership opportunities for Latino youth. Majors embraces her Hispanic heritage from Ecuador. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Latino studies from New York University.

Francisco Martinez, Bylaws

Francisco Martinez is an economic consultant at Deloitte Tax LLC's global transfer pricing group. Martinez has over five years of experience in the areas of strategy, business transformation and transfer pricing. He holds an MBA from the College of William & Mary and bachelor's degree in economics from the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, Caracas, Venezuela. Martinez is eager to use his professional knowledge and skills to further the mission and impact of LAYC. In his spare time, Martinez enjoys traveling across the United States and learning about Latin American and Spanish history.

Dania Matos, Events/ Fundraising Committee Chair

Dania Matos works at private law firm in Washington, D.C. She has over eight years of experience in international trade, immigration and environmental law. She is a graduate of Brown University where she attained a bachelor's degree in international relations and Catholic University's Columbus School of Law where she received her J.D. She joined the Associate Board to continue her keen commitment to serving youth in her community through advocacy, volunteerism and leadership. In her spare time, Matos enjoys continuing active engagement in her community through various service and community organizations.

William Antonio Miller, Events/Fundraising

William Antonio Miller, born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and raised in Washington, D.C., is a financial analyst at FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority). Miller has two and a half years experience working for the public offering review group of the corporate financing department. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Morehouse College. Miller joined the LAYC Associate Board to have a positive impact and to also give back to both the Hispanic community and the community where he grew up. In his spare time, he likes to play sports and travel the world.

Stephen Seed, Communications/Marketing Committee Vice Chair

Stephen Seed is the senior program officer at the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED) located in Washington, D.C. He is responsible for the planning and execution of CNHED's training institute, and the communications and special events for the organization. Seed earned a bachelor's degree in public policy with a minor in African American studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is excited for the opportunity to serve on the LAYC Associate Board and increase his personal commitment to our shared community.

Schuyler Woods, Communications/Marketing

Schuyler Woods is an Inspire fellow at Washington Area Community Investment Fund. She has worked in the financial services industry over the past three years in sales and trading and asset management. She holds a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Rice University. Woods joined the LAYC Associate Board to serve her new community in D.C. In her spare time, she enjoys Bikram yoga, blogging and grocery shopping.