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. She has worked at leading news outlets including RiverheadLOCAL en Español, News12, Long Island Wins and Fortune Magazine.
Frangelin has been organizing in various sectors for over 10 years including but not limited to: immigrant rights, criminal justice, student rights, labor and economic justice. She is a vibrant, passionate and dedicated transformative strategist and coalition builder in multiracial, multigenerational and faith communities. During her work at the Nail Salon Worker School, Faith in New York and the Poor People’s Campaign, Frangelin has gained experience in movement building, deportation defense, faith-based community organizing, labor organizing and consensus-based coalition building.
Curlene Coulter-Crawford brings over 15 years of experience with non-profit and corporate industries to RMM. Curlene has spent much of her time teaching, advocating for others – especially children and giving back to the community utilizing her skills in accounting. She has served on the New York City Policy Council for NYC Public Schools as Treasurer, and has worked with the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Program as a graduate of Saints Philip and James School and Parish. She is currently a member of the Valley Central Middle School PTA serving as Board Treasurer. Curlene has an M.S.
Lionel Charles is a graduate of Stony Brook University College with a Bachelor degree in Psychology. Mr. Charles spent most of his professional career empowering young adults to create a path to their own success by discussing their personal goals, skills, and motivation to achieve success. As the son of immigrants, Lionel has always heard the calling to assist those who are in need. He spent over 13 years in the non-profit sector empowering youth. Mr. Charles began his professional career as a Direct Care Worker, before becoming a Home Base Crisis Intervention (HBCI) Counselor.
Shawn is a former community organizer, educator and entrepreneur with a background in international human rights law, sustainable development, grassroots organizing, and project design and implementation with youth, rural and indigenous communities. Originally from Idaho, he has lived and worked in California, Oaxaca, the Yucatan, Costa Rica and Spain. He believes in the use of art, storytelling, food, sport and building political power in marginalized communities to create social change.
Rachael Kraft originally joined us in Summer 2020 as our Development & Rural Women’s Assembly Program intern. Rachael is a graduating senior at Vassar College, majoring in Environmental and Hispanic Studies. She has experience in social-justice nonprofit event planning and development, and is passionate about climate justice. Rachael grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, but soon will call the Hudson Valley her home!
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.
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.
Born in Peru, Angel immigrated at the age of 15. While attending Nassau Community College as an undocumented student, Angel joined the Dreamer movement fighting to pass the NY Dream Act. Angel’s main mission as a student advocate was to educate, motivate and create awareness about current issues affecting immigrant students, by speaking at different Conferences, High Schools, and Universities. Prior to coming to Rural & Migrant Ministry, Angel worked as a Community Organizer with LatinoJustice PRLDEF.
Juanita Sarmiento is the Catskill Regional Coordinator in Sullivan County, NY, an economically depressed community with some of the highest poverty indicators in the state. Juanita started as a Fellow with the Youth Economic Group (YEG) and transitioned to YEG Coordinator a few years later, a position she still occupies.
