Elyse Cherry is Chief Executive Officer of Boston Community Capital, and the President of Boston Community Venture Fund, an affiliate of Boston Community Capital. Ms. Cherry helped found Boston Community Capital in 1984 as a member of its original Board of Directors. Since then, Ms. Cherry has been integrally involved in the development and growth of Boston Community Capital from a start-up organization to what is, today, a national model for community investment. During Ms. Cherry’s thirteen-year tenure as CEO, she has spearheaded two successful rounds of aggressively implemented strategic planning and has grown assets under management by a factor of more than thirty-five. Under her leadership, Boston Community Capital has grown from a single, debt-based business line to a multi-tiered organization that includes two double bottom-line venture funds, a national tax credit program, a mortgage brokerage, a mortgage lender aimed at stabilizing urban neighborhoods, a real estate acquisition entity, and an alternative energy initiative focused on controlling utility costs in multi-family affordable housing developments. Among otheractivities, BCC now has invested more than $700 million in low-income communities, has financed more than 12,800 affordable housing units and 850,000 square feet of commercial real estate in distressed communities, has invested in more than twenty companies, and has created or preserved more than 1,500 jobs. Since 1992, Ms. Cherry has served on the boards of directors of more than a dozen privately held companies including Pilgrim Insurance Company, ZipCar, and Acelero Learning. In addition, Ms. Cherry is an active civic leader. She currently serves on the Advisory Committee to the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, the Boards of The Philanthropic Initiative and The Forsyth Institute, the Dean’s Council of Northeastern University Law School, the Mission Driven Investment Committee of the Kellogg Foundation, and the external Board of the Institute for Global Leadership at Tufts University. She served as a member of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s nineteen-member statewide transition team. She is a recent past Chair of both the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Mass Equality, an organization dedicated to the establishment and protection of civil marriage for the GLBT community. She has also served as Vice Chair of Opportunity Finance Network, a national organization of community finance intermediaries. Ms. Cherry is a frequent panelist and speaker at national conferences. She is also an avid traveler, particularly in the developing world. Ms. Cherry is an attorney and a former partner at the law firm of Hale and Dorr, now known as Wilmer Hale, where her transactional practice focused on commercial real estate finance and development. In 1992, Ms. Cherry left Hale and Dorr to become Vice President and Counsel of SRB Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation. She subsequently served as CEO of Earthwide Products Corporation, an investment fund targeting environmental businesses. Early in her career, Ms. Cherry served as a field examiner at the New England region of the National Labor Relations Board and as a VISTA volunteer in rural Tennessee. Ms. Cherry is a graduate of Wellesley College (1975) and the Northeastern University School of Law where she delivered the student commencement address. MA Licensed Loan Officer (NMLS # 649173).
Our Staff
Boston Community Capital’s employees are our greatest asset. Dedicated to excellence and mission, BCC’s staff draws from a variety of professions and sectors to advance our clients’ goals and develop healthier communities.
DeWitt (Dick) Jones is Executive Vice President of Boston Community Capital and serves as President of BCC’s Boston Community Managed Assets and Solar Energy Advantage (SEA) affiliates. Under his leadership, SEA has developed approximately 1 megawatt of PV capacity on affordable housing developments across Massachusetts, representing a 17% increase in total solar PV capacity in the state. SEA is the largest solar PV power purchase provider for affordable housing in Massachusetts. He has served as a member of BCC’s leadership team since it was established in 1984. Dick leads and oversees BCC’s sustainable development activities, including the Green Building Production Network, BCC’s Sustainable Housing and Communities Initiative and its affordable housing and renewable energy initiative with the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and Mass Housing Partnership. Prior to joining Boston Community Capital, Jones was Executive Director of the Massachusetts Urban Reinvestment Advisory Group and served as a VISTA volunteer from 1980-1981. A founding member of the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), and served on its board from 1988-1996 where he chaired its Financial Services and Public Affairs committees. From 1991-1998, Dick was co-owner and treasurer of Maria and Ricardo's Tortilla Factory, a national industry leader located in Boston's inner-city. Dick serves as a director of the Boston Community Venture Fund and Boston Community Loan Fund and chairs the board of Boston Day and Evening Academy, a public charter high school serving over-age high school students. He is the former treasurer of the Center for Women and Enterprise, a regional women’s business development center. He has served on Boston Mayor Menino’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Housing Finance and as Board president of the Penikese Island School. He is a graduate of Harvard College and its Kennedy School of Government. He is a resident of the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. In 2008, Dick and his wife, Viki Bok, received the City of Boston’s Green Residential Award.
Andrew joined Boston Community Venture Fund (BCVF) in 1998 as a Venture Officer to assist in the management of BCVF’s initial fund. He is currently a Managing Director with continuing responsibilities for the Venture Fund’s first and second funds. As Chief Financial Officer for Boston Community Capital, he is responsible for the financial management and budgeting efforts of the organization. Andrew currently serves on the Board of Directors or actively monitors several of BCVF’s portfolio companies. Prior to joining BCVF, Andrew headed an investment firm specializing in start-up companies in the advanced materials industry. He was also a general partner in two real estate investment and development syndicates. Andrew has a doctorate from MIT in Technology, Management and Policy, where his research focused on materials processing and technology commercialization. He also holds S.M. and B.S. degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT and The Johns Hopkins University, respectively.
Rachael joined Boston Community Capital in February 2012 as General Manager of the SUN Initiative. As General Manager of SUN, Rachael manages the team of mortgage loan originators, processors, underwriters, negotiators, and loan closing staff. In addition, Rachael works with senior management on outreach and expanding the SUN model. Prior to joining Boston Community Capital, Rachael was associated for nearly 30 years with the law firm Mintz Levin in their commercial real estate practice, working with clients on a wide variety of matters including affordable housing finance. Rachael serves on the Board of Directors of Supportive Living, Inc., a nonprofit developer of housing for brain injury survivors, and is a Trustee of the Cambridge School of Weston, an innovative independent high school. Rachael received her Bachelor’s degree from Reed College and attended Boston University School of Law where she graduated cum laude. Rachael also holds a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from Harvard University.
Amy joined Boston Community Capital as a senior executive in October 2011 to support the strategic and operational growth of the organization. She is responsible for managing all aspects of day to day operations and works with other senior managers to integrate and facilitate long term growth. Amy is focused on further developing BCC’s culture of continuous improvement and preparing the organization for substantial near term growth. She has held similar positions with United Biosource Corporation (a unit of Medco Corp.), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and The Customer Management Group, where she was a founding partner. She is an alumna of Arthur D. Little and The Bank of New York. Amy graduated cum laude from Wellesley College and received an MBA from The Tuck School at Dartmouth College. She additionally serves as a moderator for leadership education programs at Harvard Business Publishing.
Michelle has 18 years of experience structuring financial transactions for charter schools, social service providers, and non-profit and for-profit real estate developers across New England and down the East Coast. As Loan Fund President she has overall responsibility for the Loan Fund’s lending activities, including raising capital, staff training and supervision, production, financial management, building external relationships and new business lines, loan and portfolio monitoring, and social impact reporting. She directs Loan Committee meetings and reports on Loan Fund results to the BCC Board of Directors. Prior to becoming Loan Fund President she was Team Leader/ Senior Loan Officer. In this position she managed a four person lending team, a loan portfolio of approximately 100 loans and net loan exposure of approximately $200 million. Before joining Boston Community Capital, she worked as an Assistant Vice President at Bay Bank of Boston, and before that at Management Sciences for Health, a Boston based non-profit. Michelle was a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received her B.A. with honors in History, and she holds a Master’s degree from Yale's School of Management.
Sundee joined Boston Community Capital in August 2011. As Underwriter for BCC's SUN Initiative, Sundee analyzes clients' eligibility before making an offer on their home. For the past fifteen years she has been working at various levels of the residential mortgage industry, particularly in underwriting. She has vast knowledge of home mortgage financing from loan origination to the sale of loans to the secondary market and has been successful in training mortgage loan officers, processors, and underwriters. She graduated Cum Laude from UMass Boston with a B.A. in Spanish Literature. Sundee is a licensed real estate agent in MA.
Adam Langdon Beattie is a Massachusetts licensed mortgage loan officer (NMLS #317331). Adam joined Boston Community Capital in April 2012. As a Mortgage Loan Officer, he works to review and process client applications in the Stabilizing Urban Neighborhoods (SUN) Initiative. Prior to joining BCC, he worked at Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston as a housing counselor helping delinquent homeowners obtain loan modifications. Before working as a housing counselor, Adam was a loan officer with Mortgage Master, Inc., a project manager with the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility, and a fair housing investigator with HUD in New York City. Adam has also lived in Cape Town, South Africa, while working as a research assistant for an economic research organization. Adam graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in Economics and Japanese. Adam is currently a graduate student at UMass Boston where he is completing his final year of studies for his Masters in Public Affairs.
Gail joined Boston Community Capital in January 2007 as Portfolio Manager for the Loan Fund. She collects information and develops reporting on the social, economic, and environmental impact of Boston Community Loan Fund’s holdings. She is also responsible for monitoring compliance and trends within the portfolio, and conducting loan and portfolio reviews. Prior to joining BCLF, Gail worked as a Portfolio Manager with Boston Capital, where she was responsible for the ongoing portfolio management and investor reporting for over $1 billion in gross equity across multi-investor corporate and direct placement LIHTC funds. Gail has also worked as an Investment Analyst with Boston Capital, serving as the primary asset management contact for a portfolio of LIHTC properties nationwide. She began her career in property management, holding positions with Federal Management Company and Boston Union Realty. Gail has volunteered with Transition House, participating in 30 hours of training as a confidential domestic violence advocate and completing a term as Board Treasurer. She currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Theta Omicron (MIT) Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and volunteers as a facilitator for ULI's UrbanPlan program. She graduated with Honors from Rutgers University and holds a Master's degree in Urban Affairs from Boston University. Her graduate studies focused on the application of planning tools to address economic disparity and social inequality.
Nora Bloch joined Boston Community Capital in 2011 as Senior Loan Officer for the Loan Fund. This position is part of a job sharing partnership with Sarah Kitterman. Together Nora and Sarah market Boston Community Loan Fund to potential borrowers, underwrite loan requests, and conduct ongoing portfolio management. Prior to joining BCC, Nora and Sarah worked in a job share for ten years at Wainwright Bank on the Community Development Lending Team and then more recently at Eastern Bank after Eastern acquired Wainwright. Prior to Wainwright, Nora worked in Fleet Bank’s nonprofit lending group. She has also held varied positions in the nonprofit and public sector. Nora is a graduate of Grinnell College in Iowa and holds a Master’s in Public and Private Management from Yale University. Nora is an active volunteer with Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation, Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, and the Escuela Rafael Hernández Parent Council.
Jess Brooks joined Boston Community Capital in 2001. She works closely with our external constituents, maintaining relationships with our investors and donors, raising new funds to support our work, and organizing events that showcase our borrowers and portfolio companies and their work. Jess came to Boston Community Capital from The New York Times where she was in charge of online community development and affiliate management for abuzz. Her prior experience includes positions as a securities trader on Wall Street, and at Safe Horizon, a nonprofit organization providing services to battered women and other crime victims. Jess chairs the board of trustees for The Food Project, a local nonprofit that brings together young people and adults from diverse backgrounds to grow and distribute healthy local food to communities that need it most. She is past chair of the boards of directors of the Boston chapter of Social Venture Partners, and Cascap, a nonprofit organization providing affordable housing and services for people with special needs. She serves on the Brown University President's Committee on Relations with Tougaloo College and is a 2007 alumna of the Boston Center for Community and Justice's LeadBoston program. Jess is a graduate of Brown University.
Tony joined BCC in January 2011 as an Accounting Associate. As Accounting Associate, Tony provides accounting and loan servicing support for Boston Community Capital and its Affiliates. Before joining BCC, Tony worked with Lena Park CDC, as a Senior Accounting Clerk and prior to that, as Cash Reconciliation Representative at National Amusements Theatres. Tony graduated from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC with a B.S. in Business Administration and concentration in Accounting.
Stephanie joined Boston Community Capital in November 2011 as in-house counsel. Stephanie currently reviews title examinations, purchase and sale agreements and negotiates short sales and purchases of Real Estate Owned properties. She obtained a degree in Business Management from Suffolk University in 1998 and her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in 2002. She has ten years of residential real estate experience which includes representing Buyers, Sellers and Lenders, as well as representing Lenders in residential foreclosure matters. She also obtained her LL.M. in Banking and Financial Law from Boston University in 2010.
Denise joined Boston Community Capital in August 2011. As Loan Processor for BCC’s SUN Initiative, Denise works with our large customer pipeline to prepare and complete client files for underwriting. Denise brings to this position more than thirteen years of processing and originating experience working for the Mortgage Center of America as a Loan Processor/ Loan Consultant where she managed the office and worked with the loan officers to help them complete and close their files. Denise attended Bridgewater State College in 1981 for Business and Psychology.
Judy has been consulting with Boston Community Capital on organizational infrastructure issues since October 2000. In April 2001, she joined BCC as an Infrastructure Project Manager. She is responsible for the evaluation and implementation of new systems which improve BCC’s organizational efficiency, including our loan management software and our new software and hardware systems.
Constance joined Boston Community Capital in March 2011. As a Negotiator for BCC’s SUN Initiative, Constance negotiates short sales and purchases of Real Estate Owned properties with servicers and lenders. When necessary, she will also negotiate debt settlements on behalf of SUN Initiative clients. Prior to joining BCC, Constance worked as French attorney licensed with the Paris Bar. In Paris, she had a strong litigation practice with a focus in commercial and contract law. In 2007, Constance decided to specialize further in Banking and Finance and attended Boston University School of Law. Constance graduated in 2008 with a Master's in Banking and Financial Law (LL.M) and a concentration in Securities Transactions. Most recently, Constance worked as a HUD approved Housing Counselor and Foreclosure Prevention Manager at the Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH) where she assisted over 400 homeowners requesting short sales, home loan modifications and other workouts under the US Treasury’s Making Home Affordable Program and/or investor guidelines.
Steve joined Boston Community Capital in August 2011. As Administrative Assistant, he serves as the first point of contact into Boston Community Capital and our partners. He assists in marketing and investor relations; meeting scheduling and coordination; invoicing and record keeping; database upkeep; copying, binding, and mailing jobs; and purchasing and management of copiers, phone systems, office products. He also generally answers to the call of “Help!” Before coming to BCC, Steve served as volunteer and logistics associate at Project Bread's Walk for Hunger, as a project manager for City Year Rhode Island, and as an Americorps National Civilian Community Corps member and team leader. He is a graduate of Plymouth State University.
Matthew joined Boston Community Capital in 2001 after working in commercial banking for twenty-one years. Matt is responsible for all financial management and accounting functions, including budgeting, investments, portfolio management, and financial reporting. Prior to joining BCC, Matt worked at FleetBoston Financial or its affiliates, most recently as Manager of Planning & Analysis in Fleet’s Small Business Services unit. He has also held positions in commercial real estate, financial analysis, and loan operations. Matthew attended Fisher College.
Jamila joined Boston Community Capital in October 2011. As Underwriter for BCC’s SUN Initiative, Jamila analyzes clients’ applications to determine their stable income and the “right size” mortgage for their circumstances. Additionally, Jamila analyzes clients’ eligibility for two grant programs that help borrowers who had predatory mortgage loans. Jamila began her career in the mortgage industry in 1986 as a loan officer, moving into positions as a mortgage processor, underwriter, and underwriting manager. Jamila received her B.S. in Business and Finance from UMass Boston. Jamila also holds a Masters from Cambridge College in Counseling Psychology and a Doctorate from Argosy University in Pastoral Psychology. Jamila also works as a Pastoral Psychologist in private practice and is Professor of Psychology for a major on-line university.
Sarah Kitterman joined Boston Community Capital in 2011 as Senior Loan Officer for the Loan Fund. This position is part of a job sharing partnership with Nora Bloch. Together Sarah and Nora market Boston Community Loan Fund to potential borrowers, underwrite loan requests, and conduct ongoing portfolio management. Prior to joining BCC, Sarah and Nora worked in a job share for ten years at Wainwright Bank on the Community Development Lending Team and then more recently at Eastern Bank after Eastern acquired Wainwright. Prior to joining Wainwright Sarah worked in BankBoston’s Community Development group as a Loan Officer at First Community Bank. Sarah also has extensive overseas experience working in the field of international development, in particular in Eastern Europe and Asia. A graduate of Harvard University, she holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Columbia University with a specialization in finance and nonprofit management.
Andrew joined Boston Community Capital in April 2012 as Director of Operations. As Director of Operations, Andrew is responsible for human resources, technology, and facility management. He also leads strategic improvement projects linked to the growth of BCC and its lines of business. Andrew brings to this position over 16 years of experience leading the operations of both professional and non-profit groups through growth and transition phases. Prior to joining Boston Community Capital, Andrew was a Product Manager & Account Manager with Dovetail Health and spent 10 years as the COO of ASV Technologies, a leading multi-national banking check fraud solution provider. Andrew also served as VP of Operations & Business Development for Itenki Health, an early-stage eHealth company. He began his career as a healthcare and technology investment banker with Adams, Harkness & Hill, where he completed over 40 financial and strategic advisory engagements including M&A advisory services as well as public/private equity financings. Andrew has a degree in Economics from Dartmouth College and has served on the Board of several Boston-area non-profit organizations.
Anne Marie LaSalvia is a Massachusetts licensed mortgage loan officer (NMLS # 706660). Anne joined Boston Community Capital in March 2012. As a Mortgage Loan Officer, she works to review and process client applications in the Stabilizing Urban Neighborhoods (SUN) Initiative. Prior to joining BCC, Anne worked at Sovereign Bank as a Business Development Officer, State Street Bank in commercial lending and cash management, and Fleet Bank. She was also the Program Director for Riverside Community Care, which serves young mothers with counseling, parenting classes, and access to needed resources. Anne is also a member of her local Chamber of Commerce. Anne graduated from UMass Boston with a degree in Criminal Justice and Social Work and has a Masters in Social Work from Boston University.
Sarah joined Boston Community Capital in August 2010. As Development & Communications Coordinator, Sarah helps maintain relationships with our investors and donors, coordinates our websites and social media activities, and helps organize meetings and events that introduce potential clients and investors to our work. Sarah works closely with the SUN Initiative team, participating in marketing and outreach activities. Before coming to BCC she interned at the grassroots political organization, Democracy for America, as a field/political intern, and at Senator Patrick Leahy’s office in Burlington, Vermont. Sarah graduated Cum Laude from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont with a B.A. in Political Science.
Luis Matienzo joined Boston Community Capital in November 2005. His job has three components: Loan Administration, Information Management and Portfolio Management. Luis was most recently at Bank of America as an Information Officer for a $7 billion real estate loan portfolio and also has experience at Bank of Boston and Fleet as an Operations Manager/ Team Leader and Loan Administrator for a $200 million real estate portfolio located in low and moderate income areas in New England, and at Fleet’s Community Development Bank. He brings to his position expertise in construction loan management and information management.
Kathryn McHugh joined Boston Community Capital in 2001. She markets Boston Community Loan Fund to potential borrowers, underwrites loan requests, and conducts ongoing portfolio management. Prior to joining the Loan Fund, Kathryn was a Program Officer at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation office in Providence; a housing development specialist with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and a project manager for real estate development at CASCAP. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, she also holds a Master's degree in Public Policy from Tufts University. Kathryn is a resident of Brookline and is an active volunteer on Boston and Massachusetts housing issues, especially with homeless groups. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Somerville Homeless Coalition, and is a trustee for the Castle Square Tenants Organization’s Charitable Trust and the Jamaica Plain Housing Trust. She also consults with the State of Massachusetts and various municipalities on their housing and homeless policies and programs. She is currently assisting Attleboro and Taunton with their Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness.
Mike Nilles worked as a full-time Senior Loan Officer at Boston Community Capital from 1996 – 2001, and rejoined us as a consultant in 2004, and full-time in 2005. He markets Boston Community Loan Fund to potential borrowers, underwrites loan requests, and conducts ongoing portfolio management. Mike has worked as a private consultant in community-based financing and real estate development. He came to Boston Community Capital in 1996 from BayBank, where he was an Assistant Vice President in a middle-market commercial lending group. A graduate of Georgetown University and the Yale School of Management, Mike previously served as a Jesuit Volunteer in Seattle. Mike is a CFA® charterholder.
Liz joined Boston Community Capital in August 2011. As Administrative Assistant, she serves as the first point of contact into Boston Community Capital and our partners. She works closely with our SUN Initiative team and assists in client intake; meeting scheduling and coordination; data entry and record keeping; copying, binding, and mailing jobs; and overseeing copiers, phone systems, and office products. She also generally answers to the call of “Help!” Before coming to BCC, Liz worked as a special education aide for the Carlisle Public Schools, as a marketing and public relations intern at the Handel and Haydn Society and as a Development Intern for Elderhostel, Inc. She is a graduate of Simmons College.
Amy Rose joined Boston Community Capital in August 2011. As Real Estate Paralegal with BCC’s SUN Initiative, Amy assists clients with keeping their homes by negotiating and making offers on short sales and Real Estate Owned properties, and preparing necessary documentation. Amy brings to this position over nine years of paralegal experience. Prior to joining BCC, Amy worked as a Mortgage Loan Processor at Admirals Bank, an REO & Foreclosure Paralegal at Portnoy & Greene, P.C., and a Mortgage Officer with Maximum Mortgage Concepts. Amy is a graduate of Kinyon Campbell Business School.
Sharon Shepard joined Boston Community Venture Fund in February 2001 and is responsible for identifying, structuring, growing, monitoring and exiting investments. Sharon brings to BCVF 13 years of venture capital and venture development experience as well as 16 years of broad industry operational experience, primarily in early stage and emerging growth high technology companies. In her role, Sharon has worked with numerous portfolio companies including Magellan BioSciences, Dynex Corporation, Trek Diagnostics, ESA, Eating Well Media Group, TekCel, Protedyne Corporation, geoVue, Zipcar, and CASTion Corporation among others with board/observer responsibilities for most of these companies. Prior to joining BCC, Sharon was the Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Consulting Services for Mass Ventures, a venture development company providing management and financial services to high growth early stage technology companies where she was instrumental in raising nearly $50MM of capital. In addition, she provided business coaching to entrepreneurs, recruited management talent, developed business plans and held interim senior management roles in such companies as Beliefnet and MetaEvents (acquired by Palm). As the CEO or senior manager of three technology-based start-up companies (Sensor Frame, Compunetix, Amerinex Applied Imaging), Sharon played a pivotal role in setting strategic direction, raising capital, developing new products, and designing and implementing operational plans. She was voted Woman Entrepreneur of the Year by the Pittsburgh business community. Sharon also is an active business community member. She was the founder and Chair of the MIT Enterprise Forum of Pittsburgh for many years. She has served on numerous non-profit boards including the MIT Enterprise Forum (national board), the MIT Alumni Association, the Pittsburgh High Technology Council, and the Western Mass Software Association. She also served as a Member of the MIT Corporation Visiting Committee for Student Affairs & Undergraduates. Sharon earned an S.M. degree in mechanical engineering from MIT.
Peris Judy Wangari is a Massachusetts licensed mortgage loan officer (NMLS # 807345). Peris joined Boston Community Capital in August 2011. As a Mortgage Loan Officer, she works to review and process client applications in the Stabilizing Urban Neighborhoods (SUN) Initiative. Prior to joining BCC, she worked at First North American National bank doing credit analysis and collection management, then she worked as a Mortgage Consultant at Home Banc Mortgage in Atlanta, Georgia. There she worked closely with builders, realtors, and customer referrals and received a recognition award of top volume producing loan officer. Later, Peris joined Countrywide Home Loans in their consumer markets division. Peris has been active in various organizations like the West Georgia Board of Realtors Association, The Network Professional Inc., Atlanta Rescue Partners, and Habitat for Humanity. Peris is a graduate of Kennesaw State University in Georgia and speaks Swahili.
