The GGE Community
Our Founder - HerStory
Joanne N. Smith, Founder and Executive Director, moves Girls for Gender Equity (GGE) closer to its mission through strategic advocacy, development, and leadership cultivation. Ms. Smith is a Haitian-American social worker born in NY. A staunch human rights advocate, Joanne co-chaired the nation’s first Young Women’s Initiative for girls of color in NYC, is a steering committee member of Black Girl Movement, and a Movement Maker with Move to End Violence-a 10-year initiative designed to strengthen the collective capacity to end gender based violence in the United States. Joanne is an alumna of Hunter Graduate School of Social Work and Columbia Institute for Nonprofit Management. She has co-authored Hey Shorty: A Guide to Combating Sexual Harassment and Violence in Public Schools and on the Streets. Girls for Gender Equity’s work to combat sexual harassment in schools is featured in the 2014 documentary Anita: Speak Truth to Power. Joanne has received many awards including the Ms. Foundation 2018 Gloria Award as a Woman of Vision, a Commendation from NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer and Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies - Local Women Leading Change award. Joanne resides in Brooklyn, NY.

“We must cause strategic disruption that changes society’s moral compass around trafficking, sexual assault, violence against girls, women and gender nonconforming people of color. This commitment to ending gender based violence and the devaluing of human rights is life long and I’m honored to fight with survivors, allies, and friends as we say NO MORE.”
Our Board
Sandra Park, Esq, Board Chair
ACLU
Naomi Abraham, Board Secretary
Resonance
Mary Ferry, Board Treasurer
Fund Manager of Benefits Fund of Wardrobe 764
Afua Addo, MHC
Center for Court Innovation
Monica Dennis
Epifani Enterprises, Inc
Dr. Pei Desrosiers
NYC Administration for Children’s Services/
Division of Financial Service, NY
Rovika Rajkishun
The New York Immigration Coalition
Cynthia Steele
EMpower
Joanne N. Smith
Girls for Gender Equity (GGE)
Our staff
Executive Team
Joanne N. Smith, President & Chief Executive Officer | JSmith@ggenyc.org | 718-857-1393 ext. 106
Tiffany Williams, Chief Operating Officer | TWilliams@ggenyc.org | 718-857-1393 ext.104
Michelle Grier, LMSW, Chief Programs Officer | MGrier@ggenyc.org | 718-857-1393 ext.115
Development & Institutional Advancement
Shakira O’Kane, Esq., Senior Director of Institutional Advancement | SOkane@ggenyc.org
Peggy Hupcey, Director of Development | PHupcey@ggenyc.org | 718-857-1393 ext. 103
Tiffany Lee, Development & Operations Liaison | TLee@ggenyc.org
Operations
Onika Williams, Deputy Director of Operations | OWilliams@ggenyc.org | 718-857-1393 ext. 118
Kristina Torres, Finance and Operations Coordinator | KTorres@ggenyc.org | 718-857-1393 ext.109
Katie Healy, Bookkeeper | KHealy@ggenyc.org
Marketing & Storytelling
Diana Walker, Manager of Graphic Design & Visual Content | DWalker@ggenyc.org | 718.857.1393 ext. 119
Tess Weiner, Manager of Marketing & Storytelling | TWeiner@ggenyc.org
Community Partnerships, Programs, and Social Work
Nicole Hamilton, Director of Community Partnerships | NHamilton@ggenyc.org | 718-857-1393 ext. 120
Vanne Paige Padgett, Director of Programs|VPpadgett@ggenyc.org | 646-377-2812
Hollisha Liverpool, YWAC Programs Manager | HLiverpool@ggenyc.org
Shelly Strothers, GGE Program Facilitator | SStrothers@ggenyc.org
Gerina Davis, JustUs Program Manager | GDavis@ggenyc.org
Erika Chambers, JustUs Program Coordinator | EChambers@ggenyc.org
Maya Guttman-Slater, Executive & Program Operations Manager | MGuttman-slater@ggenyc.org
Chelsea O’Neill, SIS Program Liaison | COneill@ggenyc.org
Policy & Organizing
Quadira Coles, Deputy Director of Policy | QColes@ggenyc.org | 718-857-1393 ext.119
Toni Wilson, Director of National Organizing | TWilson@ggenyc.org | 718-857-1393 ext. 113
Breya Johnson, Deputy Director of Organizing | BJohnson@ggenyc.org
Damala Denny, Organizing Manager | DDenny@ggenyc.org
Interns & Fellows
Dastina Myers, Youth Fellow, Vera Institute of Justice | dmyers@ggenyc.org
Tyahija Martin, JD, Legal Fellow, Equal Justice Works | tmartin@ggenyc.org
Julisa Joseph, Social Work Intern | jjoseph@ggenyc.org
Ella Grace Downs, Social Work Intern | egdowns@ggenyc.org
Aaliyah Thomas, Social Work Intern | athomas@ggenyc.org
Nia Oden, Social Work Intern | noden@ggenyc.org