Staff

Ziheem Edmonds is a 25-year veteran of working with the Rural & Migrant Ministry Overnight Leadership Camp. His background is in music and arts, and he holds an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Herkimer College, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law Enforcement Leadership from SUNY, Canton. He has deep roots in the Hudson Valley, and hopes to use his experiences and education to build his community. His goal is bringing about positive change for youth and their families, by introducing them to artistic and musical pathways to success.

Manuel Martinez was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. He grew up in the coastal region, where he worked on banana plantations, both as a laborer and as a union organizer. Since 2006, Manuel has lived in Fallsburg, New York. During this time, he has been active in various community organizing efforts in Sullivan County such as Census 2010, the Green Light Campaign, and other issues. Manuel and his wife have two children, and their son attended Overnight Camp.

Claribel Oliveras has over 20 years of administrative and leadership experience. She has worked for several small and medium sized businesses managing people, processes and accounts. Claribel was born in Puerto Rico, and relocated to the Rochester area in 2010. She is a talented, solutions-oriented, multi-tasker with a passion to connect people with resources to help better their lives. Prior to coming to RMM she ran a café in Lyons, NY

Maria Angelica Uribe-Hernandez, also known as ‘Angie,’ has extensive experience working with Migrant and seasonal families and is currently employed by Finger Lakes Community Health as a Facilitator Enroller, where she visits farm camps seeking migrant farm workers needing medical attention. She has also worked for ABD at Geneva, as the Program Assistant where she visited and got to know agricultural families. She is passionate about helping others and is even more exciting to ‘help my own community by advocating and educating them.

María del Mar Piedrabuena is an award-winning multimedia journalist, editor and publisher. She is the founder and publisher of Tu Prensa Local, a local Spanish news site on the East End of Long Island. She is also a reporter for RiverheadLOCAL and a contributor of Voices of New York. Maria has over 10 years of experience working as a journalist. She is passionate about local journalism and social justice, something that is reflected in her work.

Wilmer Jimenez was born in Guatemala and migrated to the United States when he was 14 years old. Upon arrival, he worked in a strawberry and apple farm for about a year. He eventually transitioned to a dairy farm in Auburn, New York. He worked there for 2 years as a milker, cow pusher, and machine technician. At the age of 17, he decided to pursue an education at Fulton High School in Upstate New York. By 2014, he had graduated with his High School diploma and decided this was not the end of his educational pursuit.

Born in Ivory Coast, Francklyne immigrated at the age of 14. She attended Saint John Fisher College where she majored in International Studies and minors in French, Spanish and Women and Gender Studies. After facing and observing some injustices on campus, Francklyne and her three close friends decided to form a Black Students Union Committee to fight and educate students and staff members on the prejudices that minorities were facing right on our campus.

Deirdre is a writer and educator with a background in community-based projects and faith formation. Raised in a Catholic Worker family in the City of Newburgh, NY, she earned a Bachelors degree at Smith College and a Masters at the Graduate Theological Union. As a young adult, Deirdre was mentored by the international Grail women's movement. She has been active in various grassroots efforts with immigrants and farmworkers for over 20 years, and also lived in Mexico with her husband and children. Deirdre and her family make their home in the Hudson Valley.

Working with not-for-profit and social justice groups and in the public sector for more than 40 years, Debi has developed a broad range of skills and capabilities. She writes and edits for diverse audiences to make information and services more accessible. She has served the needs of members and constituents in both national and regional groups, organized dozens of conferences and professional development programs, provided referrals and technical assistance, managed a range of projects, advised on grant applications, and made and administered a grant program.

Elizabeth Grese, an alumni of the Youth Economic Group of Sullivan County, is a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology where she majored in International Hospitality and Tourism Management, concentrating in Event Management. Elizabeth is a woman, sister, daughter, alumni, volunteer, cancer survivor and Special Events Coordinator. Elizabeth is elated to join the fundraising team and continue her high school efforts in supporting the mission and vision that RMM embodies.