Liora Schwartz joined the Wediko NY team after more than fifteen years’ experience working with non-profits serving New York City public schools, both providing direct services and as a supervisor and program director. She is committed to incorporating best practices in the areas of creative expression, youth development, trauma-informed practices, positive behavioral supports, and social and emotional learning into programs for youth. In addition to her clinical experience, Liora’s strengths lie in program development and quality implementation, evaluation, staff training and support, and grant-writing.

Sam Bromfield started working with Wediko in 2008 as an activity counselor in the Summer Program. Through this work, Sam developed a passion for working with at-risk youth and families, with a concentration in students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Sam continued working with these students and families in middle schools in the Boston area and with the Summer Program from 2008-2013. He credits his experience in the Summer Program for giving him a strong clinical foundation for his current and future work with children and families.

Salem began working with Wediko in 2009 as an activity staff/residential counselor in the Summer Program. Through this experience, Salem developed a true passion for working with at-risk youth and their families. Salem continued this work in NYC by serving students and families in public schools and the NYC child welfare system. Salem is thrilled to be a part of the Wediko NY team at MS 363 and is excited to watch the program continue to grow!

Kathleen has over 13 years of administrative manager experience in the New York City non-profit community, supporting programs that serve at-risk students in NYC public schools. As Contract Specialist, Kathleen assists the NY Co-Directors in the fiscal management, human relations, administration, and grant outreach for Wediko NYC. In addition Kathleen is proficient in program creation and supervision, development of assessment materials and tracking, and office management. Kathleen truly believes in the impact of enrichment services that empower students with the social-emotional skills they need to navigate life.

Kendall Johnson-Smith has worked in a variety of roles in non-profits and public schools in both Chicago and New York City. Through this work, Kendall developed a strong passion for working with children and their families. Her experience as a youth advocate, community organizer, and performance artist brings a creative, healing, and highly engaging energy to her work with children and the communities they live in. Kendall has worked with mostly high school students, and she enjoys the unique learning opportunities in working with middle school students and diverse populations. As a strong team player, constructive problem solving, effective communication, leadership responsibilities, and idea sharing are all skills that she embodies in her work and encourages in her teammates. Ubuntu, South African proverb meaning ‘my humanity is tied to yours’, is one of the core values that drive her approach to service for others.

Sonya Robbins, LMSW joined the Wediko NYC team in September 2015 as a school-based clinician and consultant. She received her MSW from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College graduating with Honors distinction in 2014. Sonya’s professional background spans many disciplines including classroom teaching and contemporary dance. As a clinician she is particularly interested in supporting further integration of mental health services within the education system.

Lauren Bachman started working with Wediko as a School-Based Clinician with the New York Programs in the Fall of 2015. Lauren has her masters in both Social Work and Public Health, and has spent time working across important social topics including mass incarceration and social justice, education provision, mental health, and HIV. Through her experiences Lauren has developed a strong passion for working with at-risk youth while engaging in restorative justice, complicated grief work and trauma-informed care.

Dominique started as a Clinical Supervisor for the Wediko Summer Program. From this experience, she has been able to grow as a social worker and strengthen her ability to service at-risk youth and their families. Dominique is very intrigued by trauma and plans on expanding her clinical experience to further understand its effects.

David Kim started working with Wediko in 2010 as a residential counselor in the Summer Program. The first summer is where David realized that he wanted to continue working with underserved populations and led to him pursuing his Masters in Social Work. The experiences from the Summer Program has helped shape his professional and personal growth. He hopes to be able to continue to learn and grow to better serve the communities he works in.

Julissa Paulino started working with Wediko as a bilingual school-based clinician for New Directions Secondary School, which serves over age and under credited students in the South Bronx. Born and raised in New York City, Julissa has a passion for the youth and families of the city that runs deep. She was a special education teacher for New York City and Boston public schools for five years. Through this work she seeks to empower students and families to live healthy and productive lives by providing social and emotional support.

Melanie Roth developed her passion for working with at risk youth and children with Autism at a school for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. After receiving her Masters in Social Work, Mel worked as a case manager for children with special needs in foster care before joining the New York branch of Wediko in the fall of 2015. Mel works as a school based clinician at two community middle schools, M.S. 363 and I.S. 291. Through this work Mel seeks to empower students and their families by providing social and emotional support.

Sophia Soloway started working with Wediko in 2015 as a School-Based Clinician. She is a born-and-raised New Yorker and received her M.S.W from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Before starting with Wediko, Sophia worked at a program based out of the Child and Adolescent Outpatient Mental Health Clinic at Maimonides Hospital, where she provided direct services to children and adolescents with emotional disturbance. She has also worked in both public and charter school settings. Sophia is passionate about working with at-risk youth. With Wediko, she is currently serving the students at I.S. 291 and Choir Academy ALC through individual and group counseling, family work, referrals, and providing opportunities for social and emotional learning.

Melissa Treadgold started working with Wediko NY as a School-Based Clinician in 2015. Prior to joining the wediko team, she was working with children in schools and community organizations in various capacities to help them overcome barriers to success. She is passionate about working with diverse populations of youth in progressive settings to assist them in identifying unique personal strengths and then utilizing these strengths to overcome obstacles.

Jolyon started at the Wediko Summer Program in 2014 after spending 2 years working at Andrus Charter School in Yonkers, N.Y. as a Direct Care Worker and Per Diem. Andrus, as a nonprofit organization that helps students of emotional and behavioral disturbances through empowerment and promoting innovation, was excellent experience for Jolyon before joining the Wediko community. With Wediko, Jolyon works at New Direction Secondary School, which serves over age and under credited students in the South Bronx. He runs advisory sessions for students and helps all students improve their academics as well as improving basic social skills by providing social and emotional support.​

Joselin started at Wediko summer program in 2013 after spending the last 7 years maintaining safety at a corporate building of over 1,000 tenants in the heart of the financial district in New York City. With Wediko, Joselin works at New Directions Secondary School which is a school for over age and under credited students in the South Bronx. He runs advisory sessions for the Spanish speaking students and helps all students with developing/improving their basic social skills and providing social and emotional support.

Erick works with middle schoolers by giving them guidance, emotional support as well as assisting school staff. Erick works closely with students that have Spanish as their primary language and therefore help them close the culture gap. Previously, Erick worked as intern and lead intern in NYC camp settings for National Park Service during 2013 and 2014 summer seasons and as SYEP Supervisor for Hispanic Federation in the summer of 2015. Erick also served as active member for Rotaract of New York at the United Nations (2014-2015) which is an non-profit organization that focus its work on helping children and education.

After graduating from Boston College, Veronica began working for Wediko’s School-Based Services in the fall of 2010. She currently serves as the Boston office Administrative Coordinator and loves providing support services to the staff, students, and families that make up the Wediko community.