Meet the Team

Message from the Executive Director
Long Island is not one place, it’s many places — stretching over 100 miles from an urban border with New York City to rural farms in eastern Suffolk County. In our neighborhoods, playgrounds, schools and churches, Long Islanders reflect the full diversity of American life. We strive for the same security as families across the nation. Whatever’s happening on the news is also happening in our own backyards.
Project Safety Net is a new agency focused on identifying needs and creating solutions so Long Island’s diverse communities don’t get left behind. Informed by current research and by individual lives, we design programs and provide services that are practical and effective. Our spirit of care and advocacy was first mobilized during the AIDS crisis to support people spread across a wide geography. Today our field staff continue the road warrior tradition, packing access into our vans and meeting people where they’re at.
Project Safety Net is headed down a new road. We welcome partners and peers to join us. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover!
Colin Pearsall, Executive Director
Board of Directors
James
Swift
Bio
Jimmy Swift is the National Executive Director PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies. PLA is a Non-Profit Organization that specializes in School Turnaround for K -12 Schools across the country in underserved communities and serves over 10,000 students. Jimmy’s role is to build and run the organization’s Workforce Development Program that is offered exclusively to PLA students’ families to help them acquire the skills needed to achieve gainful employment and move from poverty to prosperity.

Dr. Kevin
Jordan
Bio
Dr. Edward
Martinez
Bio
Janet
Powers
Bio
Shaun
Rasmussen
Bio
Shaun Rasmussen is the Director for External Relations & Engagement for CUNY’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP), a nationally recognized associate degree completion program serving 25,000 students. In this role, Shaun leads program marketing and citywide outreach efforts. In addition to his experience at CUNY, Shaun has held a variety of positions focused on the arts, education, and employment opportunities for young adults in New York City. Shaun holds a BA in International Criminal Justice and MS in Organizational Leadership.
Dr. Erwin
Cabrera
Bio
Ilvan
Arroyo
Bio
John
Maresca
Bio
Our Program Staff

Jane Bertsch-Wells |
Associate Executive Director
Elizabeth Kann |
Director of Development
Loida Santos |
Community Service Director
Jennafer Spedaleri |
Director of Grant Programs
Lenny Spada |
Program Coordinator
Olivia Clark |
Prevention Specialist