Rita Mella: The Chairperson of the Board, Ms. Rita Mella, brings extensive experience in community activism, board participation, and a commitment to working for social justice. A native of the Dominican Republic, Ms. Mella first arrived in the USA at the age of 22 when, on a scholarship, she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Education. In 1988, she enrolled in CUNY Law School and completed her Doctor. of Jurisprudence law degree. She was elected as a Civil Court Judge in 2012 and is currently the first Latina Surrogate Court Judge in the Borough of Manhattan.
The importance of working for the public good, and in particular to benefit her community, is something Judge Mella learned from an early age. "I was raised in a household where morals and ethics played a significant role. From when I was very little, public service was encouraged by example in my house. And those values were reinforced in school. "If I had to define my life right now, I would say it is about public service."
She has been a member and chairperson of DWDC’s Board of Directors since December 8th, 1997.
Miosotis Cabrera is a businesswoman and philanthropist with a background in tourism, hospitality, and entertainment and is currently working in real estate in Westchester County, NY. She attended the Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (1990-1993) with a concentration in Hospitality and Tourism. She also received a Salesperson Real Estate Licensing Course Certificate from Westchester Community College in 2017.
She founded The Miosotis Cabrera Foundation in 2015 with the focus of providing technological education and opportunities to the children of New York City. For the past seven years her foundation has been providing toys during the holiday season for the children in DWDC’s programs.
Her foundation is also a contributor to the Medical/Dental Humanitarian Mission organized by SOMOS Community Care and the Dominican Medical/Dental Association in the Dominican Republic.
She has been a member of DWDC’s Board of Directors since April 25th, 2018.
Alyssa has been working for L’Oreal since 2010 where she has held several positions, the most current leading brand strategy and marketing as the Vice President of Omni Marketing for Lancôme Makeup at L'Oréal.
Alyssa is a highly passionate beauty industry professional with expertise in brand marketing, retail and digital marketing for luxury lifestyle brands.
Her specialties are: Brand management, operational and digital marketing, competitive analysis, entrepreneurship, customer experience, in-store merchandising and activation, budget and forecast management and relationship building.
She is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York where she obtained her Master’s degree in Professional Studies in Cosmetics, Fragrance, Marketing and Management; received a certificate from MIT Sloan School of Management in Mastering Business Excellence, and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Boston College, College of Arts and Sciences where she majored in Major in Hispanic Studies, Minor in International Political Economy, Latin American Studies, and Pre-med concentration.
As an education and development advocate, she has been a member of DWDC’s Board of Directors since December 3rd, 2019, is a member of the L’Oreal Women of Color Think Tank, and spends time mentoring young professionals with an emphasis on career development and self advocacy.
Luz Bermudez was born in Santiago, D.R. and came to NYC in 1962. She is a retired former needle worker and community activist. In 1997 she received a certificate in the first Political Action Institute of the United Needletrades, Industrial & Textile Employees Union (AFL-CIO). In 1998, she successfully completed the AFL-CIO Health and Safety Educators Training Program. In the same year she formed the Health and Safety Committee at the Michael Felmand Company which led to very important safety changes in the work environment for more than 75 employees. She also completed a workers’ compensation training to educate staff on how to negotiate the compensation process.
In 1993, she organized the Rose Court Tenant Association at 603 Academy Street to defend tenants' rights and address concerns to the landlord. This association is still active today. For the past 10 years she has been active in every election cycle working for the NY Board of Elections and educating residents about the importance of voting. In 1997, Ms. Bermudez graduated from the NYPD Civilian Academy, and has continued to work on improving police-community relations. In 2008, she was elected to the 34th Precinct Community Council. Ms. Bermudez has also served as the local "Madrina" (godmother) of the Inwood Firehouse and has organized large street prayer services for fallen firefighters.
She has been a member of DWDC’s Board of Directors since July 11th, 2013.
Karina Aybar is a Women's Empowerment psychotherapist, coach & community organizer. Her motto is "building women's resilience through vulnerability". Karina is a firm believer in the power of community organizing and advocacy to bring about systemic change, as well as educating and training different organizations and institutions to ensure more equitable and just practices via her workshops around intimate partner and gender equity, sexual harassment, breaking the stigma around mental health, self-care & stress management, identifying internalized oppression, among other topics. In 2017 she opened her own psychotherapy and coaching private practice in Manhattan, and virtually.
Karina is a citywide organizer & steering committee member of the Brides March Against Domestic Violence, an annual event that helps eradicate and raise awareness about the devastating effects of domestic and intimate partner violence. Karina serves on different boards and collective of women leaders dedicated to increasing political power and influence in all issues pertaining to women, mental health, and immigrant communities in New York City.
She has been a member of DWDC’s Board of Directors since October 27, 2016.
Tamara Romero is the Vice President of Long-Term Care Products at Healthfirst, Inc., the largest non-profit health plan in New York State, serving 1.9 million members. In this role, she is accountable for growth, profit/loss, sales and retention, and operational direction for the Long-Term Care and Integrated Product portfolios. She is exceptionally proficient at working within a fast paced, challenging business environment to identify, adjust and grow as the market changes. She specializes in developing models that enhance business propositions through sound leadership and negotiation abilities. Tamara is recognized as a strong leader across the healthcare industry, capable of rapidly solving critical issues, improving process performance by strategic business and market growth planning, P&L management operations and implementations in all functional departments to drive growth and gain market share.
Tamara immigrated from the Dominican Republic to New York when she was 9 years old and grew up in Washington Heights. A New-York resident, Tamara graduated from St. John’s University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She later obtained a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from The New School. She is the proud mother to Gabriella and Diego. In her spare time, Tamara enjoys volunteering with numerous non-profit organizations both here at home and abroad. Tamara has a strong and personal connection with her community; she understands the unique needs of the people she serves and takes pride in providing the highest standards of quality healthcare to her fellow New Yorkers.
Dr. Casilda Balmaceda was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and has an M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons specializing in neurology. She has also received postdoctoral neurology training at Montefiore Hospital, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Cornell University, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She has been an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Columbia University and Presbyterian Hospital. She has published 25 original articles in several prestigious journals. She has received 16 different honors and awards naming her as one of the best doctors in the field of neurology in the United States of America.
She has a neurological private practice in the heart of our community on Fort Washington Avenue and 176 Street. She has a very active clinical practice, particularly in headache, general neurology, and pain. She conducts patient education seminars for patients with fibromyalgia and pain conditions. She sees about 30 patients a day.
Dr. Balmaceda belongs to several professional organizations and is also a board member and volunteer at several organizations in the United States and in the Dominican Republic.
She has been a member of DWDC’s Board of Directors since December 3rd, 2019.
