Meet the Team

  • Janelle Duda-Banwar, PhD, MSW

    FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

    janelle@onthegroundny.com

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  • Sahiyra Dillard

    RESEARCH ASSISTANT

    Former Teen Empowerment Youth Organizer

    sahiyra@teenempowerment.org

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  • Nicole Pratt, MS

    RESEARCH ASSOCIATE (former)

    nicole@onthegroundny.com

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  • Austin Retzlaff

    COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST (former)

    austin@onthegroundny.com

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  • Rafael Rivera, Jr.

    RESEARCH ASSISTANT (former)

    rafael@onthegroundny.com

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  • Melina Golembiewski

    RESEARCH ASSISTANT (former)

    summer 2023

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