Meet the Team

During the last eleven years she has spent in Providence, Madalyn has worked for a number of community and education based organizations including the Feinstein Institute for Public Service at Providence College and the Providence After School Alliance. As a first generation college graduate, Madalyn is particularly committed to work advancing access to and affordability of post-secondary education, topics which she focused on in her graduate studies. Madalyn has worked with the College Promise Campaign in Washington, D.C., and was a contributor to Civic Nation Voice on Forbes.com, focusing on Providence Promise and the power of Promise programs. Madalyn is passionate about family and community engagement, and believes that families and students must be at the center of this work, as well as in the Board Room. Madalyn received her bachelor's degree from Providence College and her Master of Arts in Urban Education Policy from Brown University.

Sheila is a first generation college student who has always viewed post-secondary education as a means to become socially mobile. As a first generation immigrant, she values the importance of higher education, and strives to encourage and support the current youth to attain it. She has earned 2 degrees from the University of Rhode Island, a B.S and a B.A. She just recently attained her Master of Arts in Urban Education Policy from Brown University. She is an active education activist who serves on the Board of Directors for the high school she attended, The Greene School. Sheila has been with the Providence Promise team for 2 years now and is eager to continue doing amazing work for the students we serve.

Lucrecia is originally from Guatemala. She has spent the last 12 years working in the tax preparation industry servicing, in large part, the Latinx community. Her passion is working with families and youth. She has served as a youth and family counselor for her church for the past 20 years and also serves as an interpreter in religious services as well as many community outreach events. During the pandemic, she ran a program called Project Compassion that serviced over 500 families by providing much needed grocery boxes every Saturday. Lucrecia is an adamant believer that education is key to transforming our communities and empowering them to overcome the challenges of today. She is eager to partner with the parents of Providence Promise to educate, motivate, and support the children to aspire to higher education and to thrive while doing so.

Rachel is thrilled to join the Providence Promise team and is excited to lend her skills and experience to make an impact in Providence, RI. She believes deeply that a quality education should be a right that is guaranteed to all youth regardless of financial means and can be a powerful tool for systemic change. During her time at Bentley University, Rachel became heavily involved in the service-learning center. She quickly became passionate about fighting the inequities experienced by youth and families in Waltham and across the country. Following graduation, Rachel became the President of the Prospect Hill Community Foundation, a nonprofit that operates a free and accessible after-school program for Waltham's largest subsidized housing community. Rachel has previous experience with Teach For America - MA, Providence Public School District, Citizens, APA Associates, and the City of Providence. She currently resides in Massachusetts where she enjoys coaching and playing youth soccer, exercising, and spending time with her loved ones (including her dog). She holds a Masters Degree in Urban Education Policy from Brown and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Communications from Bentley University.

A health care worker and professional with over 30 years of experience, Juan has worked predominantly with the immigrant communities in Rhode Island. He started his career with the homeless through shelters and the Providence Center. Juan finished his Associate degree work in Biology, Laboratory studies, and Psychology at Rhode Island College and with the Miriam Hospital. He is an Alumni of the Upward Bound, PEP, and Work-Study programs. While transitioning to a professional career, Juan continued to improve his bilingual skills and volunteer work focusing on real health issues of marginalized and low-income people in Providence. Juan has earned certifications as a health and legal interpreter, and used these skills as a parent leader for the dual-language program at Alfred Lima Elementary School. Most recently, Juan Interpreted for Governor Gina Raimondo during the COVID-19 pandemic. Juan is passionate about all his collective education and is looking forward to serving in his new role.

Chandana began her journey within the field of education through a Masters program in Urban Education Policy from Brown University. She is passionate about students’ rights to accessibility and affordability, and hopes to embody these passions in her work towards educational equity. She is driven by the belief that quality education can empower students, especially those in marginalized communities, and pave the path to their success. Chandana hopes to ultimately be a part of reforming the system and creating policies that will uphold the principles of "no child left behind." She received her Bachelors from Chapman University in Strategic and Corporate Communications and her Master of Arts in Urban Education Policy from Brown University. In her spare time, Chandana enjoys reading, cooking and traveling!