StreetWise Partners

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Jeff Andersen

Finance & Operations

Emilee Ballaro

Director of Development

Emilee has been with StreetWise Partners since the summer of 2007 and is responsible for the organization's fundraising and special events, and individual donors. She is a graduate of Mercyhurst College–with a B.A. in Performing Arts Management, Magna Cum Laude–and the State University of New York College at Buffalo–with a M.S. in Multidisciplinary Studies, Summa Cum Laude. Emilee enjoys the arts and dancing, and creating lasting memories with her family and friends. During her time as Miss Buffalo 2006, Emilee was an ambassador for Upstate New York Transplant Services to increase the awareness and support for organ and tissue donation.

Melanie Christianson

Interim Executive Director

Melanie joined SWP in February 2008 and has an extensive background in fostering corporate partnerships for nonprofits as well as managing programs. She comes to StreetWise Partners after working at New York Cares as a Corporate Service Manger, and as a Program Manager in London, England, where she managed a program that brought together business volunteers with schools in an under-served borough of London. Melanie has got a BA and an MA degree from Cambridge University, England. She has also spent time teaching English in Sri Lanka and Peru. Melanie's diverse and global experience in the non-profit sector brings a vast array of insight and talent to StreetWise Partners; providing consistently innovative ways for our organization to develop and grow.

Seekqumarie Kellman

Development Associate

Seekqumarie Kellman is responsible for market research and knowledge management relevant to resource generation and client support from our key supporters at StreetWise Partners. Prior to StreetWIse Partners, Seekqumarie worked at the English Speaking Union of the US as a program and development assistant, the Urban Assembly School for Law & Justice in Brooklyn spearheading a support group of students for after school programming and organizing fundraising events, and Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School decreasing disruptive behavior by students. She’s an active leader in the community and has been a volunteer for The Ethical Community Charter School and Girls on the Run and is a peer mentor for StreetWise Partners. Seekqumarie has a BA in American Studies from Wheaton College , MA and is a graduate of the StreetWIse Partners 2009 Young Adult Career Ventures program.

Lauren Libera

Director, Washington D.C. Region

Lauren is responsible for the growth of programs and resources for StreetWise Partners’ Washington DC site. Prior to StreetWise Partners, Lauren was the Community Coordinator at the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter where she managed shelter volunteers and programs and resource development for the shelter, including adult programs, youth programs, and special events. Prior to joining the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter, Lauren was responsible for the overall operations of LIFT-DC (formerly National Student Partnerships), which provides services to no-income and low-income individuals in the District of Columbia. Lauren established and maintained partnerships with community-based organizations and served as a thought partner for LIFT's local and national growth strategies. Lauren has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Georgetown University, where she graduated Cum Laude and participated in the Psychology Honors Program.

Laura Maltz

Director of Corporate Relations and Programs

Rasheem Palmer

Client Services Manager

As Client Services Manager, Rasheem manages all participant services, recruiting and interviewing candidates, and provides overall staff support. Rasheem founded the Peer Mentorship program at SWP, which works in juxtaposition with SWP's Career Ventures Program by connecting current participants with recent graduates to provide additional support during their development in the program. A graduate of the spring 2005 cycle of SWP's Core Training Program, Rasheem returned in the fall of 2005 to complete an internship with SWP. At the end of his internship, Mr. Palmer was offered a full-time position on staff. Rasheem is often the first face that greets prospective clients; his dedication to the StreetWise Partners program stems from his personal knowledge of the transformative experience it gives, making him an engaged and encouraging mentor to all our clients.