Staff
Michelle Garzon
Operations Manager
Michelle Garzon is a graduate from Queens College where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Urban Studies. She is passionate about cultures and social relations. Growing up in a multiethnic neighborhood in Queens, NY exposed Michelle to a diverse environment while also allowing her to maintain her Colombian roots. As a Latina, Michelle hopes to see the Latinx community progress and prosper against the systemic issues its people endure. Her goal is to bring awareness to the various inequalities Latinas of all ages experience. More specifically, in ending the stigma against mental health within the Latinx community. Michelle is inspired by the mission of the L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program and its goal to support and empower young women throughout the city and is delighted to be part of the team.
Nancy Mares
Program Manager
With over five years of experience in various educational and social service settings, Nancy is passionate about empowering the youth through mentorship and education. As Program Manager at L.O.V.E., she oversees the implementation and evaluation of school-based and community-based programs that support the academic and personal growth of young women in NYC.
Nancy has a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The City College of New York, and is fluent in Spanish. Nancy also has experience as an Assistant Teacher, a Peer Mentor, and a Supplemental Instruction Leader, where she gained valuable insights into the educational needs and challenges of diverse and underserved populations. She is motivated by the mission of L.O.V.E. Mentoring, which empowers young women to identify their innate strength to fulfill their personal and professional goals through mentorship and health education. She believes that by providing mentorship and guidance, she can help mentees achieve their academic and personal goals while contributing to the Latino community. She's excited to be part of a team that values diversity, inclusion, and excellence, and that strives to make a positive impact on the lives of young Latinas.
Tiffany Moreno
Program Coordinator
Tiffany holds a Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology with a minor in Counseling from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Tiffany became interested in working with young women of color since she learned about the challenges these young women face related to mental health. Her experience working within the mental health and reproductive health fields have inspired her to pursue a career as a Crisis Counselor. Tiffany first got involved with L.O.V.E. as a volunteer mentor. She appreciates being part of the L.O.V.E. team as a Program Coordinator where she can support young women to make sure their voices are heard.
Kiana Calderon
Program Associate
Kiana is currently an undergraduate student at Hunter College majoring in Human Biology with a concentration in Body, Mind, and Health intended to graduate in May 2024! Starting as a mentor herself, Kiana was inspired by L.O.V.E.’s mission to foster positive relationships and serve as an advocate for young girls throughout their academic and personal endeavors. Having benefited from mentorship in high school herself, Kiana understands the transformative power of having a support system to break barriers and achieve success. Her mother established a legacy of higher education by being the first to attend college, thereby paving the way for Kiana and her older sister to dream big and strive for excellence. As a Program Associate, Kiana brings this unwavering dedication and enthusiasm into the classroom, experiencing first-hand the fulfillment in empowering our mentees to discover their strengths and reach their full potential. Kiana organizes lessons and leads discussion surrounding the L.O.V.E curriculum, and provides one-on-one support to help her mentees navigate through the challenges of academia and personal growth.
Silvia Albarracin
Program Associate
Throughout her years as an undergraduate at Hunter College, Silvia discovered her passion towards empowering communities who society deemed as vulnerable. After working for an Early Head Start program for over a year, she decided to pursue a Masters in Social Work at Long Island University. Silvia's inspiration came from working in social services for children and families. Through her journey as a first year graduate student, Silvia discovered L.O.V.E. and had the opportunity to become a Program Associate. She thrives to empower and build self resilience amongst young Latinas and the latinx community overall. While facilitating classes, Silvia has the opportunity to provide guidance and support to young Latinas who have full potential to strive for success.
Larissa Santiago Escaso
Volunteer Mentor Coordinator
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Larissa started her career as a teenage model in the fashion and entertainment industry in San Juan. Later, she decided to put her college education on hold and moved to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming an international model and actress. She experienced first-hand how the beauty industry’s unregulated and unrealistic beauty standards impact young women’s mental health. Now, she wants to help other women realize their own potential to create the life of their dreams through the power of community, and by creating awareness of mental health, eating disorders, self-love, and access to post-secondary education.
L.O.V.E. has become a launchpad for Larissa to experience working in the nonprofit sector, which enriches her own social entrepreneur aspirations in the mental health field. She joined L.O.V.E. as a volunteer mentor and currently works as a Volunteer Mentor Coordinator. She has an Associate’s Degree in Advertising Communications from Universidad de Puerto Rico. Larissa also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Communications and Literature from the School of Professional Studies at the City University of New York.
Nicole Zito
Research & Development Coordinator
Nicole obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from SUNY College at Old Westbury. She also received her Master of Science degree in Applied Social Research and Digital Sociology CUNY Hunter College. Her interests lie within the realm of gender and sexuality. Nicole believes in equal opportunity for all. She is passionate about achieving gender equality and advancing women's empowerment, especially amongst marginalized groups and communities. Nicole joined L.O.V.E. as an intern hoping to gain hands-on experience within the non-profit sphere to help uplift and support young women in New York City. Now, she is honored to continue to support the team as a Research and Development Associate.
Angela Ixim
Communications Coordinator
Angela Ixim is a passionate advocate and storyteller who graduated from The New School with a Bachelor of Arts in Culture and Media. As a first-generation student and witness to her parents' challenging immigrant experience in the United States, Angela was inspired to amplify the voices of the "voiceless" in society through her creative work. Her portfolio includes numerous impactful short films and documentaries, with her notable work "Undocumented" even being featured in The New Yorker Magazine. Joining L.O.V.E. as a social media intern, Angela demonstrated her unwavering commitment to empowering the Latinx community. Now serving as our Communications Coordinator, she continues to build a vibrant and inclusive community.
Lev Tatz
Digital Consultant
Lev moved to New York in 2001 from Lithuania. He started building websites in high school and received a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from NYU. Lev is driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and passion for developing beautiful and efficient software. After several years freelancing as a web developer and working on early stage startups, he began working as a software engineer at later stage startups in New York City.
