Who We Are

delphene.mooney@ontherise.org

Delphene Mooney (she/her) is a relationship-builder and leader in fundraising, change management, community engagement, strategic planning and culture. With nearly 20 years of experience in philanthropy and nonprofits, her areas of expertise span multiple sectors, including healthcare, human services and higher education. She is a strategic leader of diverse people and perspectives and has a proven track record of inspiring teams to achieve shared goals and create values-driven impact. Delphene holds an MPA from Suffolk University Sawyer Business School and a BA from Boston University.

charyti.reiter@ontherise.org

Charyti Reiter (she/her) has over 25 years of experience in the human service field working with and advocating for survivors of domestic violence and people who are experiencing homelessness. Charyti believes deeply in the transformative power of relationships, and she works to build those relationships as a helper, a colleague, a collaborator, and a community member. A social worker by training, Charyti believes in meeting people where they are and building on their strengths and resilience while also advocating for change within the systems that perpetuate inequities.

andrea.henneberry@ontherise.org

Andrea Kalsow (she/her) is a versatile, mission-focused professional specializing in development, marketing and communications. She is experienced in a variety of nonprofit settings, both in terms of size and mission, and is committed to the social health and wellbeing of local communities. Andrea increased revenue at every organization she worked with through fundraising efforts deeply rooted in relationship building as well as equity and inclusion.

nora.allenwiles@ontherise.org

Prior to joining On the Rise, Nora Allen-Wiles (she/her) co-founded, and was the Executive Director, of GRCB, a non-profit organization in Boston that utilizes music education, performance, and mentorship as tools to empower girls, women, and gender expansive youth and adults. She has extensive experience working in program coordination and youth advocacy/outreach positions in a variety of non-profit organizations dedicated to arts and culture, and empowering girls, women, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Ciara Neal (she/her) brings a strong background in community services to On The Rise. She has worked with people from many backgrounds, serving those most in need. Over the past few years, she worked as a case manager specializing in obtaining documentation and workforce development for unhoused people. Ciara supported people with resume building, job searches, and job training. She builds meaningful relationships with On The Rise participants while supporting their personal journeys.

Erin McLaughlin (she/they) has a passion and dedication to working with people unable to access mainstream resources. Prior to joining On The Rise, she helped run a residential program for formerly incarcerated transgender folks with nowhere else to go, counseled tenants facing eviction, and helped sue a prison for wrongful conditions of confinement. She creates a warm and welcoming space for our queer and trans community, as well as folks from all walks of life, and is a co-coordinator of On The Rise’s Trans Access Program (TAP). Erin also spreads the tools she learned from her legal education among participants, helping them become even more effective advocates in their own lives and communities.

As a bilingual (Haitian Creole) Community Advocate, Kennysha Pierre (she/her) holds a Master’s degree in Health Policy and a Bachelor’s in Public Health Sociology. Originally from Brockton, she is deeply committed to understanding the social determinants of health and the systemic factors that impact health equity. By identifying and addressing the root causes of health disparities, she strives to create more inclusive and equitable communities where everyone has the opportunity to achieve optimal well-being.

Her passion for advocacy and policy-driven solutions continues to shape her work, ensuring that marginalized populations receive the resources and support they need. Outside of her professional pursuits, Kennysha enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to music, and shopping!

Ab (they/them) is passionate about connecting people with resources that will provide them with what they need to live their best lives. They hold a BA in Psychology from Oberlin College. For the past two years they taught food and garden education to elementary school students in a public school district and took a leading role in growing a farm to school program in the community. This role involved engaging families in the farm to school program and hosting events to help connect families to local food access resources. They are excited to expand on this work at On The Rise by building relationships with participants and helping them access resources to improve their lives.

Sophie (she/her) is a Community Advocate at On The Rise. She previously worked in the community as a Peer Support Specialist, providing advocacy, resource coordination, and non-directive support to individuals navigating mental health and social services, drawing on lived experience. Before that, she worked in both nonprofit and corporate communications. She is passionate about working with and learning from people, especially on their terms. She loves board games, long runs, crafts, cats, and Diet Coke. She strives to connect with people and create a shared sense of belonging, solidarity, and safety.

JC Collins (they/them) previously worked at OTR as a summer Safe Haven intern and now returns as a part-time Safe Haven Advocate. JC studied at Wellesley College, where they double majored in Sociology and Spanish.

Meghan Chu (she/her) is a development professional with a background in sales, account management, and recruiting. She has experience leveraging strong relationship-building skills to mobilize resources and drive impact. Meghan is passionate about learning, networking, and advancing philanthropy that fosters equity, wellbeing, and lasting change.

Alisha (she/her) has a background in marketing communications, recruiting, human resources, and administration. After building her career in the corporate sector, she has made the transition into the nonprofit space, where she can apply her skills in service of mission-driven work and community impact. Alisha has a degree in Marketing Communications from Emerson College. She lives in Melrose, MA with her husband, three children, and their dog.

maya.talwarhebert@ontherise.org

Maya Talwar-Hebert (she/her) graduated with her Master of Public Health in Social Determinants of Health from Columbia University in 2024. After serving as the Keep The Keys Program Manager, Maya has transitioned to the role of Institutional Giving Officer (IGO) in On The Rise’s Development Department. In this role, she helps build relationships with foundations and institutional funders to secure the resources that sustain and strengthen On The Rise’s programs and services. She is passionate about forging strong bonds with the communities she works with based on trust, care, and mutual aid. She spends much of her free time involved in grassroots community organizing and dancing with a local company.

Emma (they/them) joined On The Rise in 2021. As Operations Coordinator, they provide organizational and administrative support throughout the agency for both staff and participants, while also specializing in Data/IT, Facilities Management, and Financial Administrative support.

Jessica Cruz (she/her) graduated from Year Up in February 2016 majoring in business management with a background in financial operations. As a DACA recipient, she is passionate about community outreach and Latinx representation in corporate spaces. When she isn’t spending time with her two sons and partner she is either painting or participating in local markets and community events showing and selling her artwork.

Jenna (she/her) is passionate about serving her community and is excited to work with both participants and the broader community in service of On The Rise’s mission. In her free time, she likes biking around the greater Boston area, hosting potlucks on her patio, sailing on the Charles, or volunteering in her own time! Jenna grew up in North Carolina but lived in both Breckenridge, CO, and Chicago, IL before relocating to Cambridge.

Owner/Operator
1369 Coffee Houses

Senior Project Manager
Boylston Properties

Clinical Social Work / Therapist

Program Manager
Cambridge Savings Bank

Healthcare Marketing Executive (Retired)

Executive Vice President, Finance Programs MassDevelopment

Union Side Labor Lawyer (Retired)

Clinical Staff Boston College, University Counseling Service (Retired)

Associate Professor of Education Leadership
Neag School of Education, UConn

Personal/Professional Coach & Non Profit Consultant