PRESIDENT: Henrietta Shannon is a Licensed Social Worker employed at the Jersey City Medical Center Child Outpatient Psychiatry Department where she provides individual and family counseling to inner city youth and their families. She also maintains a private psychotherapy practice in Manhattan. Before becoming a Social Worker Henrietta was involved in the Social Service and Non-Profit sector for more than 10 years working as a grassroots activist, community organizer, program director and most recently (1997-2000) as the Executive Director of the Peace Center in El Salvador Central America. In these diverse positions she has worked with inner city communities to address such issues as: violence, public health and human rights.

VICE PRESIDENT: Cornelia Burns Geraghty, an elementary school teacher and mother of four, holds undergraduate degrees in Speech/Theater Arts and Elementary Education and  a Master's Degree in Teaching. Ms. Geraghty, a near life-long native of Bogota, New Jersey, spent four years living and teaching in Brooklyn, New York, where she assisted with several community projects in the inner city. She has worked extensively with children in many capacities including as the organizer of a children's theater group and as a girl scout leader. She also serves as an organizer of the annual Hackensack Run for Action Against Hunger.

TREASURER: Meghan Hudson is the Director of Financial Services for FJC - A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds where she works with donors to increase the impact of their charitable dollars. Prior to FJC, Meghan developed Arts and Cultural programming for the Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts in Long Island, NY.  Through BACCA, she was very involved in Art Advocacy and worked with community and state officials to secure funding for a number of Arts related programs. In total, Meghan has over 10 years experience within the non-profit sector. Personally, Meghan is a painter and fine artist and has enjoyed teaching painting and drawing classes to children and adults for many years.

SECRETARY: Elaine Papa was owner and president of E. Papa Associates Advertising and Public Relations agency from 1985 – 2001.  She is experienced in planning and implementing advertising and public relations strategies for a wide range of businesses including health care, telecommunications, hospitality, and business to business. Ms. Papa is currently active in the non-profit sector, handling public relations for the Bergen Museum of Art & Science in Paramus, New Jersey.  This pro-bono position includes writing and distributing press releases to local media contacts as well as interacting with the press on behalf of the museum.  She is also a client advocate for the Center for Food Action in both Elmwood Park and Mahwah, New Jersey.  Her responsibilities include interviewing low income clients at these food pantries, compiling intake information and making referrals to other social service agencies for assistance for these needy families.

Mitchell Kahn is Professor of Social Work at the School of Social Science and Human Services at Ramapo College of New Jersey. He has served as the Director of the BSW Program since 1980. Since 1981 Mitchell has been the Executive Director of the Bergen County Housing Coalition in Hackensack, NJ.  From 1977 to the present he has been the Vice President and Director of Organizing of the New Jersey Tenants Organization, an organization advocating for tenants’ rights in the state of New Jersey. In 1998 Mitchell was appointed by Governor Christine Todd Whitman as a Member of the NJ Landlord-Tenant Task Force.  Mitchell is a Founding Board Member of New Jersey Citizen Action, a citizen watchdog coalition, encouraging active involvement of New Jersey residents on issues that impact their lives. He is author of New Jersey Tenant Organizing Handbook (Hackensack, N.J.: NJTO, 3 editions: 1996, 2000, 2004) as well as numerous articles on social work and housing issues.  He has also authored the web publication The Rent Control Toolkit. www.policylink.com.

Jennifer Papa, founder and Executive Director of City Green, Inc. was the Media Director of E. Papa Associates Advertising and Public Relations from 1991-2000.  She was responsible for researching media vehicles for clients, including print, radio and cable, as well as creating and implementing media plans with budgets up to $500,000.00.  From November 2001 to July 2004 Jennifer was the Assistant to the Dean of the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program at Ramapo College of New Jersey.  Responsibilities included managing the MALS office, overseeing the program budget, recruiting new students and assisting in writing and publishing the program newsletter. Jennifer was a consultant for Earth Day New York for the promotion of environmental education in New Jersey schools through the distribution of environmental teaching resources, fundraising programs to create awareness of energy conservation. Jennifer is a life long gardener, a member of the National Gardening Association and the American Community Gardening Association, and is a volunteer gardener at Skylands Botanical Gardens in Ringwood, NJ.

Marla Arrington, a teacher since 1998, is currently  employed with the Paterson Public School system.  Marla delivers science instruction and enrichment to approximately 200 middle schools students at Paterson Public School 7.  She is enthusiastic about creating green spaces and strives to create learning opportunities, which are both practical and instantly impact the lives of students and the community of Paterson.  Marla was a 2006-2007 NJ Governor Teacher of the Year Award recipient and is a Member of the School Leadership Council.