staff

Born and raised in the South Bronx, Anita has long been interested in helping students similar to Rocking the Boat's population transition to the next phase of their lives. She worked for 11 years with United Bronx Parents (a seminal community-based organization founded in the mid 1960's by her mother, Evelina), serving as a case worker and coordinating an occupational skills program. Most recently as Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Bank Street College, she provided guidance regarding the pursuit of higher education and advised students on financial aid opportunities. Anita brings considerable youth development and community organizing experience to her position as Job Skills Advocate, and her far-reaching network in the Bronx is a great advantage for Rocking the Boat's Job Skills Apprentices.

Anthony came to Rocking the Boat following a two year position as the head of the Ranger Conservation Corps, a program of the City's Urban Parks Rangers. There he pioneered numerous experiential environmental education programs for teenagers and prepared himself ideally for his first Rocking the Boat job as On-Water Program Director for Environmental Restoration. Tony possesses a comprehensive perspective on youth development and group dynamics to Rocking the Boat. After launching and leading the On-Water Job Skills Program for two years, Tony took over as Boatbuilding Program Director in 2009.

Joaquin has been involved with Rocking the boat for over six years. In that time he has been a boatbuilding student, both a Boatbuilding and On-Water Program Apprentice, and always a photographer. He became Rocking the Boat's first Photography Apprentice, and has now elevated to the first full time staff position ever held by a former student. Joaquin is responsible for all visual documentation and presentation of Rocking the Boat activities, including still photography, video, and website design. To see examples of his work, follow this link to the Rocking the Boat Archive.

Michael is a sophomore at Lehman College, and formerly an On-Water Program student and Apprentice.

A native of Manhattan, Adam graduated in 1996 from Vassar College with a focus on folklore and storytelling in American Culture. Through his work developing Rocking the Boat, Adam has received an Echoing Green Fellowship, a Union Square Award for grassroots organizing, a Manhattan Institute Social Entrepreneurship Award, has been the subject of a Queer Eye for the Straight Guy episode, and has been featured as a New York 1 New Yorker of the Week. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Bronx River Alliance and as a representative for the Bronx Borough President's office on the Hunts Point Monitoring Committee.

Addy has been working for Rocking the Boat since 1999, when she was hired to assist in Rocking the Boat's third-ever boatbuilding class. Since then she has worked in nearly all capacities for the organization, gaining experience in youth development and environmental education. This fall Addy re-joined Rocking the Boat's full time staff as the On-Water OST Program Director.

Dawn graduated in 2005 from Columbia University with a dual major in physics and environmental engineering. Prior to joining Rocking the Boat, Dawn worked in both the private and non-profit sectors, using her technical skills and expertise on watershed planning and pollution to address the needs and concerns of communities. Most recently, Dawn worked as an environmental planner at Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, where she led projects designed to improve the health of the Bronx River, increase public access to new waterfront parks, and empower community members to take action to further improve their local environment. Dawn has been a dedicated member of the Bronx River Alliance for over four years and currently serves on its Board of Directors and as the Co-Chair of its Ecology Team.

Victor first came to Rocking the Boat as an accounting consultant through Robert Half International, and then after a few months became Rocking the Boat's Director of Finance and Administration. A graduate of SUNY Purchase, Victor is currently pursuing his MBA in Accounting from CUNY Baruch.

Annie Kelly, LMSW attended Skidmore College ('00) where she studied Psychology and Music. Following graduation, she undertook 1.5 years of intensive work as a therapeutic wilderness instructor for struggling teens and led survival trips in the desert of Idaho where wilderness survival was used as a metaphor for growth and transformation. Annie's passion for counseling and mentoring youth led her to New York University's Clinical Social Work program ('04) during which time her professional interests expanded into the realm of conflict resolution. For three summers, at the Seeds of Peace Camp in Maine, Annie facilitated challenge courses and dialogue for youth from global conflict regions. Annie's desire to gain clinical experience led her back to New York City where she has been working for 5 years in a variety of challenging environments including a psychiatric emergency room in a city hospital and a community counseling center in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Annie is thrilled to be working at Rocking the Boat where she can combine her passion for the outdoors and working with youth with her clinical training.

Liz recently earned an M.A. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware, where she concentrated in Community Development & Nonprofit Leadership. She also holds a B.A. in Journalism and Sociology from the University of Massachusetts and has five years experience working in the nonprofit sector. As a grant writer for Rocking the Boat, Liz is very happy to have the opportunity to combine her interest in nonprofit development with her passion for social and environmental justice. Originally from Western Massachusetts, Liz possesses a great love for the outdoors and is excited to work for an organization that provides inner city youth with unique opportunities to experience nature and develop a deeper appreciation for their local environment.

A graduate of Vassar College, Jaye works from home in northern Westchester with the help of her six year old son Cole and new baby daughter Robin. Her husband, Peter Pockriss, is the Development Director of Historic Hudson Valley, a Rocking the Boat Advisory Board Member, and introduced Jaye to Rocking the Boat. Boy are we glad!

Woody discovered Rocking the Boat while wandering along the Bronx River in Fall 2003. He was four months old. He jumped into Adam's arms and has been living happily at the Rocking the Boat shop ever since. Woody has been involved in the building of more than 12 boats and has sat on the laps of over 150 students in his six years as Rocking the Boat's shop cat. Power tools don't faze him. Though often hyper before noon, Woody settles down by the time boatbuilding programming begins and can generally be found quietly curled up fast asleep in a corner.

Chrissy was a NYC high school teacher when she developed a program called Urban Green Spaces that connected high school students with opportunities in environmental programs; she helped children in Harlem start a gardening program; and she started an environmental high school internship on the Bronx River. As an educator at Clearpool Education Center, she introduced hundreds of students to the natural environment and stewardship. Chrissy co-founded Butterfly Project, an all-volunteer organization that works with community and school gardeners to assist in the development of native plants pollinator gardens. Butterfly Project has worked with over 100 gardens to educate about pollinators and to help reestablish native plants throughout NYC.