A Team Dedicated to
Mindfulness in Action
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you interested in supported our mission as a volunteer? We are always seeking new team members who are looking for a rewarding way to get involved with mindfulness, support Pittsburgh communities, learn new skills and have fun doing it!
Our small but mighty operation is made possible through a team of dedicated, part-time staff and a large network of volunteers and supporters.
Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the dedication of our board, staff, partners and supporting donors all working together to foster well-being, empathy, and compassion for all through evidence-based mindfulness programs, activities, and events.
SHAWN MEREDITH
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
Shawn is the owner of Skillful Leadership, an executive coaching firm that specializes in the human factors of leadership and teaming. He coaches globally and has served clients on every continent but Antartica. Shawn has been a professional coach since 2013, after leaving a 15 year career in community mental health serving all of Allegheny County. In that career, he started as an Ecosystemic Family Therapist and in time was promoted to an executive member of the leadership team. Shawn started his exploration of mindfulness in 2001 while working on his senior dissertation: Cognitive Dissonance in Politically Active Sri Lankan Buddhist Monks. Since then, he continues to pursue mindfulness both experientially and academically in the spirit of better helping those he coaches. He is a self described "human biologist", who often tells his clients that, "mindfulness is the cardio of the brain, which is essential for growth." Shawn currently resides in the South Hills of Pittsburgh with his wife and two children.
SHAWN MEREDITH
Board President
SHAWN MEREDITH
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
Shawn is the owner of Skillful Leadership, an executive coaching firm that specializes in the human factors of leadership and teaming. He coaches globally and has served clients on every continent but Antartica. Shawn has been a professional coach since 2013, after leaving a 15 year career in community mental health serving all of Allegheny County. In that career, he started as an Ecosystemic Family Therapist and in time was promoted to an executive member of the leadership team. Shawn started his exploration of mindfulness in 2001 while working on his senior dissertation: Cognitive Dissonance in Politically Active Sri Lankan Buddhist Monks. Since then, he continues to pursue mindfulness both experientially and academically in the spirit of better helping those he coaches. He is a self described "human biologist", who often tells his clients that, "mindfulness is the cardio of the brain, which is essential for growth." Shawn currently resides in the South Hills of Pittsburgh with his wife and two children.
LORA MCKNIGHT
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
Lora McKnight serves as Chief Operating Officer at Vibrant Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that accelerates the business community toward equitable, inclusive, and diverse workplaces, creating a future-forward region. Lora has developed and facilitated a variety of programs to accelerate the adoption of best practices in diversity, equity, and inclusion, including Vibrant Councils, Vibrant Workplaces education and learning solutions, and the Vibrant Index. In addition to board service with Awaken Pittsburgh, Lora currently serves on the Board of Directors of Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance. Previously, Lora worked with The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southwestern PA and Chatham University. Lora received her Bachelor of Science (Psychology) degree from Illinois State University and holds a MLIS degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
LORA MCKNIGHT
BOARD Secretary
PAUL BLOCK
Board TREASURER
Paul Block has been a CPA for 40 years, working in the nonprofit arena as a tax preparer and consultant for over 20 of those years.
Besides graduating from Allegheny College with a BS in economics/mathematics, and an MS in Taxation from RMU, he also holds an MBA and JD from Duquesne University School of Law.
He is a member of the American Institute and PA Institute of CPA’s, the Estate Planning Council of Pgh and the Pgh Planned Giving Council.
He serves on the boards of the Chatham Baroque (treasurer), Service Coordination Unlimited (treasurer), The Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows Program (treasurer), The Three Rivers Business Alliance (treasurer), POWER, and The Allies for Health and Well Being (Treasurer).
PAUL BLOCK
BOARD TREASURER
COURTNEY DAVENPORT
STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE CHAIR
Courtney currently works on the Strategic Programming Team in The Office of Belonging and Inclusion at BNY. In this role she supports the company's employee business resource groups, corporate volunteer events, and belonging and inclusion leadership development programming. Prior to this role she spent four years as a Community Impact program administrator, also at BNY, where she supported employee volunteerism and Pittsburgh-based corporate sponsorships. She is a double University of Pittsburgh graduate, earning both a BA in Health Services with a focus in Managing Health Services Programs and Projects and a MPA with a focus in nonprofit and public management from the institution. She also serves as Board Chair for the Union Project, which uses the art of ceramics to build meaningful community connections.
Courtney Davenport
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
Elize Giese
Board Member at Large
Elize is a finance and technology leader, executive coach, and passionate advocate for positive impact. With an engineering background and over 15 years of experience in banking and innovation, she specializes in solving complex challenges and helping leaders
grow.
Originally from South Africa, she served as an executive at the country’s largest bank, leading initiatives across eight African countries, India, and China to develop inclusive financial solutions. Now based in Pittsburgh, she is dedicated to contributing to her new community by coaching executives to build their businesses and expand their impact.
Through her work with Awaken Pittsburgh, she aims to foster mindfulness, resilience, and leadership development, creating ripples of good that extend far beyond the boardroom.
Elize Giese
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
SARA HAMILTON
Board MEMBER AT LARGE
As a Board Member of Awaken Pittsburgh Sara is a dynamic CPG leader with experience across government, enterprise software, and sales. She has a unique blend of expertise in quantitative data analysis, category management, and shopper/consumer insights, which she uses to drive growth for Fortune 500 CPG companies. She has a proven track record of success in leading sales teams, closing strategic deals, and delivering value to clients. She is also the Treasurer for The Seats Foundation, a non-profit that encourages civic engagement and community connection through a mobile app. She and her husband currently live in Idaho with their two dogs, Kona and Bella and enjoy exploring the outdoors.
Sara HaMILTON
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
Jacki Hoover, LSW
Board MEMBER AT LARGE
Jacki Hoover, LSW is the Division Director of Fiscal Policy and Compliance within the Bureau of Budget and Fiscal Support for Pennsylvania’s Office of Children Youth and Families. Her responsibility lies in the overall planning, development, implementation and evaluation of fiscal policies and federal reporting for the Bureau. Jacki spent 28 years in Allegheny County in various positions from caseworker, FGDM Manager, Independent Living Manager, Teaming Institute Director as well as Deputy Director for the Office of Children Youth and Families. Jacki was also an adjunct professor for the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh. Jacki is a graduate from the Slippery Rock
University and earned a master's in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. Jacki includes yoga, running, hiking and meditation in her mindfulness practices.
Jacki Hoover, LSW
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
Scott Hughes
Board MEMBER AT LARGE
Scott Hughes brings over a decade of experience in finance and operations, with a focus on supporting mission-driven organizations. He currently works as a Senior Financial Analyst at Resources for Human Development, an non-profit dedicated to providing essential social and mental health services. Scott’s connection to mindfulness is closely tied to his love of jazz music, where the act of improvisation mirrors the balance and presence cultivated through meditation. This interplay fuels his passion for fostering well-being and personal growth within his community.
He holds a B.S. in Physics from Temple University and is a Pittsburgh native who currently lives in the North Hills.
Clinton Kehr, PhD
Board Member at Large
Clinton is a dynamic, forward-thinking Learning and Development Leader at a large Pittsburgh human services organization. He is renowned for successfully revamping programs to foster growth, enhance engagement, and facilitate change, and a PhD scholar recognized for upholding high ethical standards and possessing exceptional interpersonal skills. His ability to identify and implement strategic solutions to meet regulatory demands, drive developmental objectives, and cultivate a culture of dignity within human service organizations is profound. He seeks to continuously integrate expertise spanning process enhancement, operations, and product life-cycle management to optimize capabilities and introduce methodologies that fuel growth and streamline operations while emphasizing continuous learning, innovation, and engagement initiatives to prioritize the personal and professional growth that exceed expectations for organizational and individual performance in transformational and developmental situations. He lives with his spouse and two kids north of the City of Pittsburgh and spends many days trying to improve his transcendental meditation practice.
CLINTON KEHR, PhD
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
Hao Luo
Board Member at Large
Hao Luo is an expert in risk management and quantitative analytics within the banking industry. He currently works at BNY, after his tenure at PNC, where he leads a global team in identifying and mitigating potential risks the banks are facing.
Beyond his professional life, Hao has actively contributed to his community by volunteering at the Pittsburgh Chinese Academy. There, he supports school operations and coaches in the chess class.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Wuhan University and a Master of Science in Financial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
HAO LUO
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
MEGAN MARRANGONI
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
Megan Marrangoni is the Vice President of Operations at Pennsylvania Environmental Council. In her role she is responsible for finance, human resources, and facilities management. Prior to PEC, she worked as the Associate Executive Director for Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, where she led the organization through a merger and helped to shape its culture and strategic plan.
Megan was born and raised in Pittsburgh and has always enjoyed nature and being outdoors. She spent most of her childhood visiting her grandmother’s property near Cook Forest, PA. It was here that her grandmother taught her mindfulness practices, often sitting at the edge of a pond and connecting to breath.
Megan holds an MBA from Keller School of Management and participated in Leadership Pittsburgh in 2022. In her free time, Megan enjoys time with her husband and children, volunteers, and hikes with her pup, Ruth.
CHRIS PEYRE
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
Chris Peyre is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in operations, supply chain management, and startup growth. With a proven track record in optimizing processes, driving strategic initiatives, and building high-performing teams, Chris has held key leadership roles at companies like Amazon, Beyond Meat, and Medly. His passion for rapid growth and operational excellence has positioned him as a sought-after advisor for organizations looking to scale efficiently. Chris’s commitment to innovation and continuous improvement is matched by his ability to inspire those around him to achieve ambitious goals. Based in Los Angeles, he is the founder of Hi Point Ventures, an Operations and Supply Chain consulting company.
CHRIS Peyre
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
STEPHANIE M. ROMERO, Ed.D.
Founder & Executive Director
Dr. Stephanie Maietta Romero, founder and Executive Director of Awaken Pittsburgh, works to bring mindfulness practices to those who are experiencing high levels of stress and secondary trauma throughout Western PA. Dr. Romero has 20+ years of experience teaching elementary, middle school, high school, and college students. She is a certified Meditation and Mindfulness Instructor, 200RYT Antiracist Raja Yoga teacher and has been a meditator and mindfulness practitioner since the early 2000s. Finding that her meditation practice profoundly influenced both her personal and professional lives, Dr. Romero explored the integration of mindfulness into her classroom space through her dissertation, culminating three years of research into mindfulness in education. She is grateful to be able to bring these life-changing practices to individuals and systems every day.
EDDY PAUL THOMAS, MAOM
Marketing and Communications Manager
In his role as the Fraction Marketing and Communications Manager, Eddy Paul Thomas orchestrates Awaken Pittsburgh's print and digital landscapes, showcasing the transformative impact of their work. At the helm of a highly skilled and creative team of marketing interns and volunteers, Eddy crafts compelling narratives and innovative strategies that not only tell Awaken Pittsburgh's story but also amplify its reach and resonance. His leadership in this space isn't just about managing – as a former Professor of Cross-Cultural Communications, it's about inspiring a wave of change and connection through every message and campaign.
With his master’s in organizational management (MAOM), Eddy’s business expertise aids his nonprofit experience. He brings a diverse perspective to the executive table and challenges leaders to move beyond their comfort zones. Eddy’s work intersects organizational growth, leadership development, digital marketing, and entrepreneurial expansion.
SHELBY MASTOVICH-GRUBER
BUSINESS AND PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
Shelby Mastovich-Gruber has over a decade in business development expertise within both the nonprofit and corporate sectors. In addition to growing Awaken Pittsburgh's connections, Shelby manages SeaShelby Boutique LLC, working to keep as many garments in circulation and out of landfills as possible. She has been a frequent meditation and yoga practitioner for over 15 years but began a daily mindfulness practice after experiencing the effects of burnout on her mental health. As someone who personally understands the significant positive impact having access to mindfulness tools has on wellbeing, she is thrilled to help bring these resources to others in the community.
SHELBY MASTOVICH-GRUBER
BUSINESS AND PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
Shelby Mastovich-Gruber has over a decade in business development expertise within both the nonprofit and corporate sectors. In addition to growing Awaken Pittsburgh's connections, Shelby manages SeaShelby Boutique LLC, working to keep as many garments in circulation and out of landfills as possible. She has been a frequent meditation and yoga practitioner for over 15 years but began a daily mindfulness practice after experiencing the effects of burnout on her mental health. As someone who personally understands the significant positive impact having access to mindfulness tools has on wellbeing, she is thrilled to help bring these resources to others in the community.
JOANNA L. SINCHAR
Bookkeeper
Joanna is a founding member and President of Albanese Sinchar Smith & Co with more than 35 years of experience in the accounting industry. She services clients in a variety of industries including not-for-profit organizations, labor unions, and employee benefit plans.
Joanna provides QuickBooks accounting services to not-for-profit organizations and small and medium sized businesses. Her experience includes entering accounts payable, recording cash receipts and disbursements, reconciling bank statements, payroll preparation, tax preparation, invoicing, tracking depreciation and producing financial statements.
In addition, Joanna serves as audit partner for a wide variety of clients and services, including financial statement audits, reviews and compilations, consulting and analysis of transactions, and compliance.
ANGEL ANDERSON
PROGRAM DELIVERER
Angel Anderson is a trauma-informed facilitator and community event planner with a passion for mindfulness and wellness programming, as well as youth empowerment through cultural awareness and personal and professional development tools, especially within nonprofit settings. Currently with Awaken Pittsburgh, Angel works closely with Black educators, those serving underserved populations, and youth, leading mindfulness workshops that build resilience and community well-being. At Community Forge, Angel collaborates with BIPOC wellness facilitators to develop inclusive and accessible wellness and professional development workshops. With expertise in focus group facilitation and qualitative reporting, Angel ensures programs resonate with participants' needs. Dedicated to empowerment and holistic well-being, Angel is committed to making a meaningful impact in community development.
DEBORAH BROOKS
PROGRAM DELIVERER
Deborah Brooks is a licensed dietitian-nutritionist, a longtime meditator, and an ordained member of the Order of Interbeing in the Plum Village Buddhist tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. She focuses in particular on mindfulness of the body as a source and subject of awareness and healing. Her professional background is in healthcare, working with older adults. Deborah has been teaching mindfulness meditation for 20-plus years and has led and organized many retreats, workshops, presentations, and days of mindfulness for her practice center, Laughing Rivers Sangha. Deborah’s practice is enriched by music and singing, exercise in nature, healthy eating and the love and support of her spiritual community . She is thrilled to have an opportunity to foster peace and healing by offering
mindfulness practice to people in the city that she loves.
Ashley Cifone
PROGRAM DELIVERER
Ashley Cifone is a regular human person with a deep desire for collective liberation. She believes that humans grow through and toward relationships, and that mindfulness is a practice that can nurture deep emotional connection. She has recently begun a new career as a counselor built upon 20 years of service educating children and their families in a variety of roles.
Mindfulness became a large part of her approach to guiding children and families through challenging moments, which ultimately guided her through them, too. Ashley believes that mindfulness can be made to fit anyone who wants to incorporate into their lives- there's no one, perfect way. She is a strong advocate for social justice and is dedicated to dismantling systems of oppression through her work as a caregiver, educator, and counselor and beyond, and within herself. She received her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is toying with the idea of getting a PhD. Ashley loves being a part of nature, gardening, and learning.
Tamera Dixon
Program Deliverer
Tamera Dixon is a dynamic Black woman rooted in community engagement, equity, and personal growth. A Raja Yoga student and mindfulness facilitator, she has led transformative classes with organizations like Awaken Pittsburgh, helping others connect with inner peace and purpose.
Certified in Restorative Practices and trained by the Racial Equity Conscious Institute (RECI), Tamera is passionate about building inclusive, compassionate spaces. She holds a Master’s in Community Counseling and has completed Project Management and Digital Training through the Andy Warhol Academy.
As Community Manager for Pittsburgh Brown Mamas, backed by her Meta certification, Tamera empowers women to lead intentional lives and build strong communities. Her global perspective includes international investigations in the Netherlands and mission work in Argentina.
A proud single supported mother to a 13-year-old multi-sport athlete and Keystone State wrestling champion, Tamera is a matriarch and trendsetter. She inspires mothers to raise Black sons with intentionality, pride, and resilience—and teaches families how to co-parent effectively without system involvement.
Through her work and lived experience, Tamera continues to create transformative pathways for individuals, families, and communities.
Program Deliverer
BRITT DORAZIO
Program Deliverer
In 2011, Britt made a deep resolve to take an active part in her healing process. Since then she has been a dedicated practitioner and facilitator
living at the intersection of inner space exploration and creative expression. She believes that working with the languages of the arts, the body, and the breath, together, in community, has the compassionate power to bring us back home to ourselves, each other, and the land. Britt received her meditation certification from Sarvaguna Yoga Institute in Dharamshala, India. She received her social emotional arts certification from UCLA’s Arts & Healing School. Britt has dedicated many hours of training in nervous system regulation, non-judgmental facilitation, and anti-violence in education. Britt works with a wide range of communities. Currently, she works most closely with youth and folks with autism, intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. This work has expanded her heart in ways she never imagined. In her free time, Britt loves nothing more than communing with the Earth and drinking tea with her loved ones.
BRITT DORAZIO
Program Deliverer
In 2011, Britt made a deep resolve to take an active part in her healing process. Since then she has been a dedicated practitioner and facilitator
living at the intersection of inner space exploration and creative expression. She believes that working with the languages of the arts, the body, and the breath, together, in community, has the compassionate power to bring us back home to ourselves, each other, and the land. Britt received her meditation certification from Sarvaguna Yoga Institute in Dharamshala, India. She received her social emotional arts certification from UCLA’s Arts & Healing School. Britt has dedicated many hours of training in nervous system regulation, non-judgmental facilitation, and anti-violence in education. Britt works with a wide range of communities. Currently, she works most closely with youth and folks with autism, intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. This work has expanded her heart in ways she never imagined. In her free time, Britt loves nothing more than communing with the Earth and drinking tea with her loved ones.
JACQUES
Program Deliverer
A husband, father and community advocate seeking to offer yoga to the most unlikely people aiding them in eliminating body-shaming, recovery from laziness, address mental health(depression/anxiety) or addiction. Jacques mat approach inspires people to ‘put a light on in a neglected room’ as they practice yoga. Students are invited to have true church, true confession within their own bodies.
Because he believes we are all teachers/students of life he treats every class as if it is his first, many of his students experience a safe, non-judgmental, welcoming environment. He taught students at various schools throughout the city and is currently the K-8 Yoga and mindfulness teacher at Falk Laboratory school. His lively roots based music elevates the mind-body vibrations which spins a twist for many new to the yoga experience.
Students are empowered by Jacques to ‘let it all out’.
He seeks to engage students of color so that they can realize yoga was engineered and designed just with them in mind. As they engage and practice more and more the students will minimize low self-worth, decrease poor health (obesity, diminished breathing) and establish and promote self-recovery.
LOVIE JJ FOSTER
PROGRAM DELIVERER
Dr. Lovie Jewell Jackson
Foster has served diverse roles in community-based social work for more than 25 years. Her current work focuses on organizational culture change emphasizing holistic wellness, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as Wellness Manager for Allegheny County Children, Youth and Families, where she has served since 2017. Prior to this, Dr. Foster was an Assistant Professor in the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work from 2011-2017, where she conducted innovative human-centered design and mental health services research with diverse youth—creating electronic tools for mental health education, screening, and referrals. Dr. Lovie has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Washington State University, a Master of Social Work from Portland State University, and PhD in social work from the University of Washington, where she also studied prevention science. She moved to Pittsburgh in 2008 to do research on translating evidence-based child trauma interventions for implementation in diverse communities.
Dr. Lovie is most passionate about healing
intergenerational trauma, especially in Black families and communities. As the founder of LOVIE (LOVe, Inspire, Empower), she consults and conducts mixed methods research, teaches yoga and meditation, and conducts wellness workshops for youth and adults
SHANNON JENKINS
Program Deliverer
Shannon has had two life events that have placed her squarely in the experience of life-before and life-after: cancer and the loss of mobility as-she-knew-it at age twelve, and the death of her brother when she was 27. Both carved the paths she would take to working with neurodivergent learners and the gravitation to mindfulness practice. Shannon began teaching neurodivergent learners in 1999, and has worked as a caseworker for non-profits and government agencies as well. She has been in relationship with meditation and mindfulness practice for 11 years. Shannon finds putting hands in soil, petting animals, laughter, silliness, movement, and deep hugs to be an important part of this practice. She believes learning to love where you are is a radical act.
KIKI
Program Deliverer
My name is Kiki, my pronouns are they/she and I am a multidisciplinary artist and educator. I am a certified reiki practitioner and a mindfulness meditation practitioner. My goal is to hold safe spaces for people of all ages to be and grow. I have led meditations, taught group voice lessons, private voice lessons, music theatre dance, and acting to ages 4-15 and adults. My self meditation and reiki practices are often processed through visual arts, poetry, intuitive singing, and intuitive movement. I’ve recently been sharing this practice through the perspective of performance art.
URSULA LeSIC
PROGRAM DELIVERER
Ursula Lesic has over 25 years of experience as an organizational development consultant, coach, facilitator, and educator. She has spent her professional career helping individuals and teams live into their leadership by helping them connect to their purpose and their values along the way. By cultivating a strong foundation in resilience, vulnerability, courage, and empathy, Ursula’s clients are letting go of the idea of “armoring up” to succeed and are putting their talents and gifts into real practice, taking some risks, and taking good care of themselves. Ursula is passionate about working with her clients to develop mindfulness and presence for themselves and bringing these teachings into organizations. Her passion is fostered from her personal practices of yoga and meditation that have deepened with advanced practitioner training in stress reduction, mindfulness, compassion, shame, failure, and trauma informed practices developed by Jon Kabit-Zinn, Jack Kornfied, Tara Brach, David Trelevan, Brené Brown, Ashley Good, and Lakeside Global Institute.
SHEBA
Program Deliverer
Sheba is a Compassionate Joy & Liberation HeArtivist and the Co-Director of YogaRoots On Location Yoga Teacher Training. She | They is the Mother (Guide) to Alioune and sister to humanity. Sheba is an ancestor returned living in this iteration of the world. She is a heArtivist, Arts Educator, Co-creator of Space, Facilitator of Joy, Organizer with Community, and a Weaver of Truth. Sheba received her BA in Africana Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and has spent her career in the practice of equity and justice. She is a certified Wellness Coach (Institute for Integrative Nutrition), a Prenatal Yoga Instructor (SoulWork), and a 200-hr Raja Yoga Instructor (Yoga Roots on Location). Utilizing a multitude of mediums, Sheba presents workshops, co-creates integrative arts experiences, facilitates
affinity group spaces with Folks of the Global Majority, and exists as a member of humanity. Through her role with YogaRoots On Location, she bears witness and holds space for the healing and self-discovery that nurture individual and communal balance.
Yvette Shipman
Program Deliverer
Yvette’s life’s work in justice and transformative change embodies a social practice of creativity towards healing and spiritual growth. As a trained mediator and facilitator, Yvette moves through the world with integrity and ease; honoring folks where they are. She works to build generative spaces with individuals and organizations to bring about individual, collective, and societal transformation. Yvette feels most connected to herself and her ancestors when practicing the artistry of tea and tisane blending and conversation. Yvette has a B.A. in Communications and an M.A. in Social and Public Policy with a focus on Conflict Mediation and Peace Studies.
Yvette Shipman
Program Deliverer
Kristi Weidner
Program Deliverer
Kristy Weidner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Co-Owner of the Village Center for Holistic Therapy. She completed her master’s in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. She is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and has extensive experience in working with Deaf and hard of hearing clients, family members and within the culture of the Deaf Community. She has also taken an active role within our First Responders
Community and continues to offer events and workshops to this population. She became
a 200 hour certified yoga instructor in 2018, and studied with Max Strom, global speaker, teacher, actor, and founder of Inner Axis yoga. She also completed her mindfulness meditation teacher training with Lodro Rinzler, author and Buddhist meditation teacher based in New York City.
Kristi Weidner
Program Deliverer
Kristy Weidner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Co-Owner of the Village Center for Holistic Therapy. She completed her master’s in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. She is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and has extensive experience in working with Deaf and hard of hearing clients, family members and within the culture of the Deaf Community. She has also taken an active role within our First Responders
Community and continues to offer events and workshops to this population. She became
a 200 hour certified yoga instructor in 2018, and studied with Max Strom, global speaker, teacher, actor, and founder of Inner Axis yoga. She also completed her mindfulness meditation teacher training with Lodro Rinzler, author and Buddhist meditation teacher based in New York City.
DANIELLE WILLIAMS
Program Deliverer
Danielle’s work is in blending her knowledge of physical health with her experience in family-centered care and community building. She holds a B.S. in Athletic Training from the University of Michigan and a M.S. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Pittsburgh. Following burnout from the concurrent demands of graduate school and work, Danielle completed a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course. The draw of mindfulness was its simplicity, accessibility, and transformative potential. The fruits of which she continues to see blossoming within herself and the families and communities she has the opportunity to engage with. Danielle has great hope in Love, shown in part through mindful living, and its power to foster peace and awaken creativity. Danielle feels most at peace and creative being outside, listening to music, reading, and participating in many varied sports and forms of physical activity.
MARK A.D. WILLIAMS
Program Deliverer
Mark is a father, partner, educator, gardener, musician, and mindfulness practitioner. More importantly, Mark is a human. Most importantly, we all are! Mark is a certified Pre K – 4th grade teacher with a masters in foundations of education and mindfulness for educators from Antioch University. He works to build bridges between the branches of our human family tree that have forgotten we share the same roots. It’s Mark’s hope that by remembering our shared identity we can be free to celebrate our uniqueness and work together to create a kinder world.
ELIZABETH BARGER
DATABASE BARGER
Beth is a managing partner of a women-owned consulting company in Northern Virginia. Beth is a Reiki practitioner and has been practicing mediation for almost ten years. As a passionate champion of meditation and mindfulness enhancing all facets of her life, Beth volunteers to maintain databases for Awaken Pittsburgh. By effectively collecting and organizing this information, Beth hopes to increase the participation of such life-altering programs.
YVONNE BENINATI
PrOPOSAL WRITER
Yvonne has a JD from the University of Pittsburgh, an MPH from the University of Texas School of Public Health, and a BS in Sociology from the University of Houston. Yvonne practiced law for 10 years, both in private practice and as a clerk with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. She has also served as a professional fundraiser working for such diverse organizations as the University of Pittsburgh, the Senator John Heinz History Center, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International. Yvonne loves spending time with her four granddaughters, doing artwork (bead-woven jewelry, floral paintings, and mixed media pieces), and volunteering her time as a proposal writer with nonprofit organizations. Yvonne took a mindfulness-based stress reduction class and has been meditating and practicing mindfulness ever since. Yvonne is grateful for the opportunity to work with Awaken Pittsburgh and hopes to help broaden its reach to serve more communities.
MERCILYN BERONIO
Google Ads Specialist
Mercilyn is a certified Google Ads Specialist with expertise in Search, Display, Video, Shopping, and Analytics. Passionate about leveraging data-driven strategies, she has honed her skills through hands-on campaign creation for niche industries—including Construction Services and Dental Practices—in a sandbox environment. Her work focuses on optimizing ad relevance, refining audience targeting, and maximizing budget efficiency while adhering to Google Ads Grants policies.
With a technical support and customer service background, Mercilyn brings strong problem-solving skills and a collaborative mindset to every project. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Cebu and thrives on turning complex data into actionable insights.
Outside of digital marketing, Mercilyn enjoys staying up-to-date with industry trends and exploring how technology can drive social impact. She’s excited to contribute her skills to Awaken Pittsburgh’s mission and help amplify its reach through targeted, results-focused campaigns.
Kim'Mia Bratcher
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
From Pittsburgh, Kim’Mia is a student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania as a Marketing major with a passion for content creation and digital marketing. She will be interning as a Social Media Coordinator for Facebook and TikTok in the summer. Kim’Mia has experience working with clean and conscious beauty brands, developing engaging content that highlights their values of sustainability, transparency and wellness. Kim’Mia has honed skills in social media strategy and influencer partnerships to developing storytelling to help brands engage with their audience in meaningful ways.
Kim’Mia is keen to inquire about mental health awareness as she has been practicing healthier lifestyle practices and aims for community outreach in black communities.
Alysha CarrolL
Multimedia Designer
Alysha is a Pittsburgh based multimedia designer, who is highly experienced in creating art for analog and digital media. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and Media Arts from Temple University, where she found her strengths in post production video editing. She gained experience in graphic and web design by receiving a Graduate Certificate in Multimedia Technology from Duquesne University, which led to past opportunities to work as a graphic/web designer at small Information Technology companies. Most recently, she pursued her dream of studying animation and received a Continuing Education Certificate in Animation from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Alysha is very interested in learning about stress management and alleviation through mindfulness and meditation practices. She looks forward to applying her skill sets to create compelling video content that expresses the message and values of Awaken Pittsburgh.
LARISSA EVANS
oNLINE COMMUNITY PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Larissa has been practicing meditation and yoga for over 15 years. She completed her MS in Couple and Family Therapy at Virginia Tech where she developed a passion for experiential therapies such as Internal Family Systems and Emotionally Focused Therapy. She was a full time parent for five years and is now working in education. Having also lived in Las Vegas, Southern California, and Northern Virginia, Larissa is proud to call Pittsburgh home now.
LARISSA EVANS
ONLINE COMMUNITY PROGRAM COORDINATOR
ANNELIESE LATONA
EVENT COORDINATOR
Anneliese holds a degree in English Literature from the University of Colorado Boulder, complemented by minors in Psychology and Sociology. She recently relocated to Pittsburgh and is eager to cultivate meaningful relationships and contribute to the community through volunteer engagements with like-minded individuals. Influenced by her father's commitment to mindfulness, Anneliese embarked on her own journey towards mindfulness during her formative years. In her new capacity as Volunteer Event Coordinator for Awaken Pittsburgh, she is enthusiastic about contributing to and planning the organization and execution of special events. Beyond her role as a barista and volunteer event coordinator, she enjoys rock climbing, leisurely walks, journaling, and reading.
CLAIR (XIANG) LI
DATA ANALYST
Claire (Xiang) Li is a data-driven analyst with a Master of Science in Business Analytics from the University of Rochester. She has extensive experience in quantitative data analysis, data science, and business intelligence. Previously, she worked as a Data Analyst in the CPG industry, where she extracted market trends from large datasets, optimized sales and marketing strategies, and supported strategic decision-making. In addition, Claire has a strong background in customer behavior analysis, web analytics, and conversion rate optimization, leveraging statistical modeling and machine learning to provide actionable insights.
Beyond her expertise in data, Claire values mental well-being and actively practices mindfulness for self-growth. She is grateful for the opportunity with Awaken Pittsburgh and looks forward to helping expand its impact, bringing mindfulness to more people.
RYAN MCCARTHY
LEGAL ADVISOR
Ryan is an attorney that provides legal assistance on various matters to the Executive Director of Awaken Pittsburgh. As a former soldier and Iraq veteran, Ryan has personally experienced the life-changing value of sustained mindfulness practice and connection with a community of practitioners. Ryan hopes to share his passion for mindfulness practice with others in need, especially first responders and other veterans.
TERESA MCPHERSON
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Teresa is a communications and social media professional who lives and works in the Pittsburgh area. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism and English. In her spare time, Teresa enjoys spending time with her family and two huskies, cooking, traveling, and working in her excessively large vegetable garden.
LISA MURSLACK
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Lisa is recently retired and enjoying the opportunity to learn new things as well as contribute to the administrative efforts of Awaken Pittsburgh. She worked for 17 years in banking before her first "retirement". She became a stay at home mom to 4 kids (including triplets) and actively volunteered in leadership and support roles in their schools and sports teams. For the last 9 years she was the office manager in a growing dental practice and helped the doctors in managing their business. Lisa enjoys running and working out, cooking/baking, reading, and traveling to see her kids!
Neena Sabherwal
Editor & Copywriter
Residing in Pittsburgh, Neena is a National Certified Counselor with a M.S.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Duquesne University. She is deeply passionate about merging her expertise in mental health, research acumen, and content creation skills to educate, empower, and uplift individuals from all walks of life.
As a dedicated advocate for the expansion of trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and easily accessible mental health services, Neena eagerly volunteered her time at Awaken Pittsburgh. She appreciates the opportunity to contribute to their mission of bringing the transformative power of mindfulness to individuals in the community and beyond.
MARYBETH SALAMA
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
MaryBeth is a retired Family Physician with added qualifications in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She spends her time now volunteering at Awaken and for The Neighborhood Resilience Project providing health care for those without insurance. She also volunteers with 412 Food Rescue to help distribute unused food and fight local hunger. She is a faculty member at The Academy of Communication in Healthcare (ACH); an institution
committed to improving communication and relationships in healthcare.
SARAH URBANIC
ONLINE COMMUNITY COORDINATOR
Sarah currently works full-time at a school for children with disabilities and is attending graduate school at Carlow University to one day become a professional counselor. She enjoys spending time with loved ones, outdoor activities, and taking care of her precious houseplants. Mindfulness has been an important aspect of Sarah’s life for over six years now and she’s so grateful to have the opportunity to volunteer for Awaken Pittsburgh.
BRIAN WALSH
oNLINE CONTENT DESIGNER
Brian is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh where he studied Supply Chain Management. He was drawn to volunteering with Awaken Pittsburgh by his belief that practicing mindfulness is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves, and sharing it is one of the greatest gifts we can give others. He began volunteering in 2020 and is grateful to be able to work with an organization that offers life-changing tools to the Pittsburgh community.
Awaken Pittsburgh fosters well-being, empathy, and compassion for all by teaching and encouraging mindfulness and meditation practices.
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5738 Forbes Ave,
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