Jai Nanda
Founder & Executive Director
Jai is a lifetime resident of New York City, attended Stuyvesant High School, and graduated with Honors from the University of Michigan. He was a teacher and basketball coach in New York City both at the high school level and at the City University of New York. Jai is a former member of Community Board 4, where he served as Chairman of the Youth Committee. In addition, Jai has served as a consultant for numerous non-profit youth agencies throughout the city.

Thrisha Andrews
Senior Development Associate
Thrisha was born in Grenada, a Caribbean island and later moved to Brooklyn, New York with her family at a young age. She received a B.A. in Psychology from Hofstra University. Thrisha has professional experience in both areas of youth development as well as a strong background in fundraising working on various noteworthy New York Urban League events. Thrisha is also a member a Young Professional organization, which she helped to grow and cultivate to over 300 members. After almost a year working with at-risk youth in the program sector, Thrisha is looking forward to a return to the development sector as an Urban Dove staff member.

Raymond Arroyo
Office Manager
Ray was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York but currently resides in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He did his undergraduate studies in Sociology and Psychology at Manhattanville College. Ray's professional administrative experience in the non-profit field has helped him fit right in. He is thrilled to be working with a great staff.

Jennie Bray
Development Associate, Grants Manager
Jennie moved to New York City from Tampa, Florida 4 years ago to attend New York University’s Nonprofit Arts Administration Masters program. During her time of study, Jennie interned in the development department at New York City Center. Through this experience she realized that she enjoyed working in fundraising and grant writing. After her completion of the Masters program she began her professional growth in fundraising and development at a Jewish philanthropic organization, the National Council for Jewish Women. Although she gained 2 years of valuable development experience, she desired to work for a nonprofit organization that did more direct service. She is excited to learn and grow personally and professionally with the Urban Dove.

Richie Cerrud
Program Director
Richie Cerrud came to New York City from Panama at the age of 8. He was educated in the NYC public school system at every level. He has been dedicated to youth sports and youth development since 1985 when he started his first football league to help bridge the gap between the youth of Yorkville and Harlem. Richie is passionate about youth development and has dedicated his life to developing innovative programs to help at-risk youth reach their full potential, often using sports as a vehicle to teach life skills, including teamwork, leadership, conflict resolution and responsibility. Richie has emerged as a respected leader in his field through his unique combination of personal and professional experience. He has served as mentor and role model for thousands of young people who have come in contact him over the past 20 years. In 1999 Richie was recognized by the Partnership for After School Education as a receipt of the 1st annual PASEsetter award for excellence in youth work.

Sara Clifton
Program Associate
Originally from a small town in Arkansas, Sara has called New York City home for the past five years and counting. Throughout her life she has felt drawn to working with youth and has taken on many such roles across the country. After graduating with a BS in Psychology, Sara worked as a guidance counselor at a residential boarding school and rehabilitation center for teenagers. Among many other volunteer opportunities, she recently spent a month teaching school in Ghana and also spent two summers as Camp Director for a program that works with girls in Brooklyn. Now as a staff member of Urban Dove, Sara is most excited about the opportunity to be involved in the education of the students in the College All-Stars program.

Jamie Lee Cruz
Program Associate
Jamie is a native New Yorker, who grew up in the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan. As a teenager she began working at the Hudson Guild Beacon Program as a peer counselor and eventually became the program manager within her eight years of employment. Jaime is extremely passionate about youth and community development and has assisted in developing and leading several programs in areas such as teen empowerment, youth council, after school and drama. She has also developed and directed over ten performing arts productions. Jamie came to Urban Dove as a Site Coordinator in February of this year and is looking forward to continuing her work for the HiRisers program as a Program Associate.

D. Maria Frazier
Program Manager
D. Maria is a native of Brooklyn, New York. She has a wealth of teaching and youth experience working with the National Urban League’s Education Department, the YMCA and The After School Corporation (TASC). D. Maria joined the Urban Dove team in October 2004 and has served as both a HiRisers Program Coordinator and College All-Stars Program Associate before being promoted to the College All-Stars Program Manager. Maria currently holds a B.A. from Brooklyn College in Psychology and Children’s Studies.

Libby Hill
Program Associate
Originally from Granville, Ohio, Libby is a recent graduate of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Libby earned her degree in International Studies and Political Science. While in the Allentown area, Libby began several volunteer initiatives at various after-school programs and mentored at-risk children at Valley Youth House. For two semesters, Libby studied and volunteered with youth development programs in South Africa and Kenya. Prior to joining the Urban Dove, she worked at Trail Blazers Camp, programming activities for the summer. After working for Urban Dove as a site coordinator and a workshop facilitator for the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) program, Libby is delighted to work more closely with the HiRisers program.

Thomas Hurley
Program Associate
Thomas is a native New Yorker with over eight years of experience in youth development. His area of interest is in the enrichment of youth through sports and recreation. His work as a Sports Coordinator at Asphalt Green allowed him to gain experience in organizing free sports leagues and developing and overseeing fitness programs geared toward preventing child-hood obesity. He also has worked in various New York City public schools where he provided students with life skills, games and knowledge of sports during the students recess period. Thomas’ goal is to provide students with the tools necessary to properly communicate with one another and to show them the importance of sportsmanship and teamwork.

Sarah Janoff
Program Associate
Sarah was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a recent graduate of Bates College in Maine, where she received a Bachelors degree in Philosophy and a Secondary Concentration in Educational Studies. Prior to Urban Dove, Sarah worked and interned for several social service and educational organizations, including Jewish Family and Children’s Services in San Francisco and the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence in Maine. While at Bates, she also taught and tutored in the Lewiston public school system, specifically working with Somali adults and adolescents who had recently immigrated to the United States. For the past two years, Sarah has spent her summers working for Seeds of Peace, mentoring teenagers from regions in conflict around the world. It was at Seeds of Peace where Sarah first met some amazing Urban Dove students and is so excited to be a part of this community.

Jason Wells
Senior Program Associate
At the age of 13, not wanting other youths to have negative experiences with coaches and mentors, Jason dedicated himself to serving his community in Portland, OR as a coach and mentor to younger children. Jason dedicated himself as a volunteer to several youth sports organizations for ten years. Two of Jason's Little League All Star teams were awarded the Sportsmanship Award at their District Tournament. As a result of his service, Jason was honored to carry the Olympic Torch during the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Torch Relay. Jason is excited about the opportunity to empower high school youths through the HiRisers program and to continue his passion for serving the community and to serve as the positive mentor that is so often lacking in the lives of young people.