Growing and Glowing
Stonewall’s community is growing and glowing! From a staff expansion and a new Board VP to some incredible media recognition of our network’s incredible leadership, we couldn’t be more proud of the community we’ve built.
Expanding our Staff
From left to right: new Stonewall staffers Kalli Flores-Lyon (they/them) and Tenzin Saldon (she/they)
We’re beyond thrilled to announce the addition of two new staff members, filling two brand-new roles here at the Foundation. Kalli Flores-Lyon (they/them) will be coming on board as our new Executive & Operations Assistant, and Tenzin Saldon (she/they) will be joining as Program Assistant. Kalli and Tenzin will be instrumental in expanding Stonewall’s capacity and deepening our investment in grassroots LGBTQ nonprofits.
Ahead of their first day, we asked each new staffer what excites them most about joining the Stonewall team. From Kalli: "I am so incredibly thrilled to be joining the Stonewall Community Foundation team! I'm excited to support the amazing work already being done, and to contribute new ideas to expand that work and build even more power within our community. I look forward to getting to know everyone and getting started as soon as possible!" And from Tenzin: “There’s incredible power in recognizing that we are all part of a collective that has a responsibility to care for one another, especially in times like we’ve been experiencing in these past few years. I’m so excited to be joining Stonewall because of our emphasis on putting these values into practice through all aspects of our work, so that we can continue working towards a better future for the queer community in New York City and beyond!"
We’re just as excited as they are to welcome them to the team.
Welcoming our new Vice President
Newly elected Board of Directors Vice President, Melissa Madzel (she/her)
There’s also been some movement within the leadership of our Board of Directors. Melissa Madzel (she/her) was recently elected to step up into the position of Board Vice President. Joining our President Rachel Korberg (she/her), Melissa brings to the VP role a wealth of experience in the social justice and DE&I spaces. We look forward to utilizing her unique expertise as we move Stonewall’s mission forward.
Upon joining the Board in 2021, Melissa remarked, “We're seeing now, more than ever, the impact that community-based philanthropy can have on marginalized communities. Joining the Board of the Stonewall Community Foundation is an absolute joy for me because I have the opportunity to partner with incredible leaders who are leveraging the power of giving for the communities that are closest to my heart." We’re proud to be supported by her brilliant leadership!
Recognizing our team’s Leadership
The Stonewall community is made up of some truly incredible leaders. Take a look at some of the folks mentioned in recent recognition lists:
Huge congratulations to Board members Cecilia Gentili (she/her) and Neill Coleman (he/him) on their well-deserved inclusion on City & State’s Pride Power 100 list. Cecilia is the founder of Transgender Equity Consulting as well as a leading voice in the fight for LGBTQ rights and the decriminalization of sex work. In addition to being Stonewall’s former Board president, Neill is a prolific leader in the realm of philanthropy and currently serves as Executive Director of Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies, directing some incredibly innovative grantmaking programs. View the full list here.
We’re also proud to see our very own Executive Director, Jarrett Lucas (they/them), named among this year’s New York LGBTQ Power Players – a joint effort by Politics NY, Gay City News, and AM New York. Asked about the importance of Pride, Jarrett remarked “Pride is a false container when it comes to elevating the importance of LGBTQ+ lives, experiences, and struggle. We are always important. Every day is an opportunity for meaningful action recognizing that." Check out the full profile here.