Executive Sponsor, Persons of Color (POC) ERG
Kate Barrand began her tenure as President and CEO in November of 2015, but has been supporting Horizons for more than 25 years. She has served as both a volunteer going into shelters to play with children and as a member of the Board of Directors. Her deep experience and knowledge from a career spent in the for-profit sector inform her visionary leadership at Horizons. She is passionate and strategic as a thought leader and advocate for the poor, inspiring her team to reach new heights serving families experiencing homelessness.
“To thrive we must be willing to ‘test and learn’ as individuals and as organizations only when we hang on to ‘the way’ do we spiral downward.”
Laura DiMaria is focused on building and evolving Horizons’ organizational culture and practices in the areas of transparency, respect, empowerment and inclusivity. Together, she and her team oversee the policies, procedures, and systems that improve the experience of every member of the Horizons team.
“Being self-reflective and open to transformation is something we should celebrate, not fear.” -Alok Vaid-Menon
Sharon Fuller serves as the project manager for the new Edgerley Family Horizons Center and has helped structure and manage the financial intricacies of the joint venture. Her financial services expertise complemented by her negotiation and project management skills serve the organization broadly and have been particularly crucial to the success of the building project.
Jayd Rodrigues handles the day to day operations of the Early Education Center, overseeing educators, operations and practices that create a high-quality learning environment where children thrive. Her positive outlook and ease connecting directly with colleagues, family members and children make her a valued leader and contributor.
“No two leaves are alike, and yet there is no antagonism between them or between the branches on which they grow.” -Mahatma Ghandi
Executive Sponsor, Hispanic/Latinx ERG
Ayesha Rodriguez is a strong advocate for families and knows from her years in human services that children thrive when their families have access to the right supports, guidance and encouragement. She and her team work with hundreds of parents each year to find their strengths, empowering each family to build a better tomorrow.
“You are your best thing” -Toni Morrison
Deborah Stolbach has been a social worker for more than three decades, working with women and families experiencing homelessness, poverty, addiction, and violence. She is grateful for the lessons about resilience that she learns from families every day. Deborah is committed to building organizations that incorporate trauma-informed principles on every level: safety; trustworthiness and transparency; peer support; collaboration and mutuality; empowerment, voice, and choice; and cultural and gender responsiveness. She seeks to balance hard work with joy, humor and fun.
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”- Audre Lorde
“If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution.” – Emma Goldman
Kara Beauchemin started her career as a teacher and fueled by her interest and desire to build a more robust program at Horizons, she has developed her skills and broadened her knowledge of the funding landscape. Today she and her team work to ensure that enrollment requirements are met and most importantly, families are warmly welcomed and orientated to Horizons’ programs.
“Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together.” – Brene Brown
Megan Cohen brings expertise and enthusiasm to her role at Horizons leading the development initiatives that fund our mission. She and her extraordinary team engage and partner with key stakeholders who care deeply about the essential work of Horizons including individual supporters, volunteers, foundations and corporations.
“We are the good news that we have been looking for, Demonstrating that every dusk holds a dawn disguised within it. Today we don’t burst into a new world. We begin it.” – Amanda Gorman
Co-chair, Persons of Color (POC) ERG
Shavon Drayton brings a passion for education to her role and works to build a culture and environment of inclusion and excellence in the Early Education Centers. Her focus is on building relationships and competencies amongst the teachers and support staff so that they are well prepared and adept at handling the challenges implicit in their roles of supporting children experiencing homelessness.
“You are someone’s ancestor, what will your legacy be?” -Vanessa Garrison, GirlTrek COO & Founder
Co-chair, Allies ERG
Deanna Dwyer brings a creative perspective and business orientation as she and her team work to ensure the creation and delivery of consistent, compelling communications that keep Horizons’ community and supporters connected to the mission.
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Co-chair, Allies ERG
Brendan Fogarty manages Horizons’ analytics and technology portfolio, and he uses the lessons learned within these verticals to plan and lead Horizons’ policy advocacy program. His background is focused on policy and analytics, and he has worked in state and federal service, the tech sector, and in a statewide issue campaign before his time at Horizons.
“As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.” -Abraham Lincoln
Lynne Gaines has a deep knowledge of early childhood development which she built as a child-life specialist at Children’s Hospital in Boston. She leverages this deep knowledge as the Statewide leader of the Playspace program. With a focus on volunteer management and delivering value to families living in shelter, her innovative ideas are helping to build an already strong program into one that is diversified and meeting the needs of children and families during the pandemic in new ways.
“Supporting children to play requires us to remember what life is all about. It’s not about getting from A-Z, but rather dreaming beyond both.” -Vince Gowmon
Executive Sponsor, LGBTQIA+ ERG
Tammy Reder has a diverse financial background, working in multiple industries at non-profit and for profit organizations with a strong orientation toward fiscal accountability and management. She consistently works in the best interest of Horizons’ short and long term financial future and has proven herself to be adaptive to the complex financial and technological landscape.
“When we focus on what we can do instead of what we can’t; a world of possibility opens unto us.”
“You are not a true success unless you are helping others be successful.”
We use a TRAUMA-INFORMED, STRENGTHS-BASED, WHOLE-FAMILY approach. Our children learn through play.