2025-26 White-Riley-Peterson Fellows

Contrell Armor directs PSAYDN, one of 50 Mott Foundation-supported networks advancing high-quality out-of-school time programs. With over 30 years in youth development, he brings extensive experience in program design, leadership, and systems-building—with a strong commitment to access, opportunity, and elevating youth voice in every facet of his work. 

Poonam Borah, Executive Director of the Youth Development Resource Center in Detroit, leads strategic, youth-focused initiatives through evidence-based design, strong partnerships, and continuous improvement. With experience at UNESCO MGIEP and the Forum for Youth Investment, she specializes in social-emotional learning, leadership, and advocacy to drive transformative change.

CJ Butcher is the Advocacy and Grants Manager at United Way of Greater Knoxville, leading efforts that blend policy strategy with grant development. CJ drafted and lobbied for the bill extending Tennessee’s $170 million TANF Opportunity Pilot Initiative and helps shape state policy as part of the Tennessee Nonprofit Network’s Community Action Council. As a White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellow, CJ is deepening partnerships with the Tennessee Afterschool Network and advancing pragmatic, data-driven public policy. 

Kate Connolly is a Senior Policy Analyst at United Neighborhood Houses, where she advances youth policy initiatives related to afterschool, juvenile justice, and city funding. She previously served as Chief of Staff & Budget Director in New York City Council and has a background in nonprofit program and grants work. 

Ali Escalante is the Director of Development of Girl Scouts of Silver Sage in Boise, ID. An experienced policy advocate and grassroots activist, she is passionate about providing expanded educational opportunities for all. Ali has served on the Idaho Out-of-School Network Policy Workgroup since 2021. 

Marquise Guzman (they/them) is Senior Program Director at the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies at Rutgers-Newark. As principal investigator for several out-of-school time programs, they conduct research, author reports, and present findings to local stakeholders and state and national audiences. 

Heather brings experience in formal and informal education, rooted in environmental education and collaboration. As Strategic Initiatives Lead for the Montana Afterschool Alliance, she leads efforts to expand STEM learning statewide. She recently launched the Montana STEM Ecosystem to connect partners and strengthen out-of-school STEM opportunities across Montana. 

Dr. Traymanesha Lamy is President & CEO of NextUp, an intermediary increasing access to quality out-of-school programs for Richmond youth. With 20+ years in youth development, she is evolving Richmond’s expanded learning system with 140+ partners. Dr. Lamy previously led Newark Thrives! and the Newark STEAM Coalition in New Jersey. 

Jaene Miranda, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County since 2013, leads 20 Clubs serving 46,000 youth annually. With a background in corporate marketing and chamber leadership, she now spearheads a $30 million comprehensive campaign to build a new flagship Club opening in 2026 in West Palm Beach. 

Alison O’Toole, Ph.D., is the VP of Beyond School Bells. A strategic nonprofit leader, she brings expertise in workforce development, grant administration, and statewide youth programming. Known for strategic leadership, partnership-building, and data-driven design, she has helped secure national funding and expand Nebraska’s role in youth development and out-of-school learning.  

Jackie Scott is a dedicated afterschool advocate and statewide organizer with Wisconsin Youth Company and the Wisconsin Partnership for Children and Youth. A former middle school social studies teacher of ten years, she co-founded an afterschool program when she saw the critical need at her school. Jackie’s broader work in education, organizing, and workforce development reflects her deep commitment to building more just and equitable systems for communities to thrive. 

Claire Slattery is the Director of Outreach and Engagement at the Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership. Before joining the organization in 2024, she assisted in research exploring empathy development in young adults and worked with middle and high school students in special education. Claire is passionate about community development and advocating for social change. 

JD Smith leads strategic efforts to expand quality afterschool programs in Greater Cleveland in his role as COO of Horizon Education Centers. He also chairs the Ohio Afterschool Network Public Policy Coalition, collaborating with partners across the State to advocate for youth, families, and just systems that empower communities. 

Kelly has spent 20 years in the nonprofit sector, much of it working with youth, educators, and out-of-school time (OST) providers. Her favorite projects include teaching personal finance and service learning to both children and older adults, and leading a youth-driven philanthropy program for elementary students driven by youth voice and choice. Now, as Executive Director of the Colorado Afterschool Partnership, she works to build bridges between communities and create space for those voices to be heard—loud and clear.  

Dr. Kinyatta Trice is the Associate Director of the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network (GSAN), leading the Building Opportunities in Out of School Time (BOOST) Grants Program. She holds a BA in Political Science from Mercer University, an MA in African American Studies, and a PhD in Educational Policy Studies from Georgia State University. 

Ana has over 15 years of experience working in the out-of-school-time sector, both in the US and internationally (Spain and Argentina). She is a fierce advocate for equitable access to quality, culturally relevant programming for children, as well as for collaboratively developing the holistic supports their communities need to thrive.