CYCLE Team
Diana Araujo, Technical Assistance Program Manager
she/her/ella
Diana manages the technical assistance CYCLE provides to support youth leadership, youth-adult partnerships, and adult ally / youth worker growth and development. Before joining CYCLE, Diana worked with high school youth including, recently arrived immigrant Latinx youth and students in New York City, Central Falls and Providence supporting them to redefine success. Diana has led intergenerational grassroot efforts to push for equitable college access for undocumented students and community-based workforce development programs that center youth voice. Diana is a proud Ecuayorker—a native of Ecuador and raised in Brooklyn, New York—and is very happy for her deepening roots in Rhode Island. She finds joy in gardening with her partner, practicing herbalism and being in community. Diana holds a B.A. in Politics and Latinx Studies, with a concentration in migration from Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School University, and she is currently working toward a Masters of Social Work from Rhode Island College.
Mary Arkins Decasse, Administrative Manager
At CYCLE, Mary works with CYCLE team members, RWU departments and external vendors to support the program work of CYCLE. Before joining CYCLE, Mary retired from the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University where she held several financial and event planning positions over 27 years. Mary is excited to be back in the university setting supporting the CYCLE mission serving students and communities. Mary holds and AS in Nursing, high honors, from CCRI and is a licensed RN in the State of RI. In her free time Mary hangs out with her husband and old dog Taz, enjoys long walks, reading and occasionally volunteering with RI Medical Reserve Corps.
Juan Pablo Blanco, Research Manager
He/Him/El
Before joining CYCLE, Juan Pablo held various community organizing and research positions in organizations like Massachusetts Jobs with Justice, the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts (PHENOM), and Harvard Medical School. His community organizing has focused on workers’ rights, public education justice, and immigration. Juan Pablo was born in Argentina and migrated to the US with his family, becoming undocumented for 15 years, something which fueled his passion and interest for social justice. He moved to Rhode Island in 2020 and hopes to build community in his new home. Juan Pablo Received a BA in Philosophy and an MS in Critical Ethnic and Community Studies from the University of Massachusetts Boston. In his free time, Juan Pablo enjoys playing bass, cooking and hiking with his partner and his dog, Okra.
keith catone, executive director
Before CYCLE, Keith served as Associate Director for Community Organizing and Engagement at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education at Brown University. He was the project director for the Youth 4 Change Alliance in Providence, RI and co-founded the New York Collective of Radical Educators, a citywide grassroots teacher activist group, while teaching high school social studies in the Bronx. Keith has served on the board of directors for the Education for Liberation Network and College Visions. Author of numerous research and opinion pieces, his first book, The Pedagogy of Teacher Activism: Portraits of Four Teachers for Justice, explores connections between pedagogical purpose, power, and possibility in the context of working with teachers, youth, families, and communities to change the world. Keith holds degrees in public policy (AB; Brown University) and education (EdM, EdD; Harvard University). Aside from educational justice, the things he loves most in life are his son, partner, kitchens, and karaoke.
Ian Colomer, Program Associate
He/Him/HIS
Ian is responsible for supporting the CYCLE Youth Leadership Team with technical assistance, training, and research to support the work of youth organizing partners across RI, the New England region, and nationally. Prior to starting at CYCLE, Ian worked with the RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence managing the client services database and supporting the RICADVs policy agenda. Ian received a Bachelor's in Fine Arts from Roger Williams University and fostered a passion in social justice through his involvement on campus. Ian is a first generation college grad, Latinx from NYC, and has called RI home for more than half his life.
Preetilata Hashemi, Program Manager, OSPVD Community Alliance Coordinator
Preetilata’s role at CYCLE is to support the OurSchoolsPVD Alliance to ensure that youth, parent, and community voices are centered in the transformation of the Providence Public School District. Preetilata is excited to work alongside and learn from local youth and community leaders who have been fighting to ensure a just education system, even before the current state takeover of PPSD. Prior to joining CYCLE, Preetilata was the Inclusion & Equity Initiative Manager at Social Enterprise Greenhouse, working with local Black and Brown owned businesses that are building solutions and wealth for their communities. Preetilata is a founding member of SISTA Fire, where she is building community and power with womxn of color in Rhode Island. She is also a doula, honored to support pregnant and birthing families. Preetilata is a Bangladeshi immigrant and has lived in Bangladesh, Maryland, and Massachusetts before landing in Rhode Island. Preetilata has a BA in Economics and Global South development studies from Smith College.
Belinda Hu, Organizing Project Specialist
As part of the CYCLE Organizing Strategy & Training team, Belinda supports the work of the OurSchoolsPVD coalition in centering young people and community in Providence public schools. They are excited to help build radical, caring, and powerful youth-led community in Providence through fighting for Ethnic Studies and more. Belinda majored in Ethnic Studies at Brown University and comes to this work with experience in student organizing around global and US colonialism, grassroots Asian American youth organizing, research supporting QTBIPOC land stewardship, and legislative and electoral work based in their hometown of Greenville, North Carolina. Belinda dreams of anti-carceral community care, affirming spaces for queer trans and disabled people of color, spicy Hunan food, and making music with old & new friends!
Taylor Kahn-Perry, Program Associate
SHE/HER/HERS
Taylor coordinates the CYCLE Youth Leadership Team's direct work with youth leaders across the New England region by convening and supporting youth leaders who provide guidance and direction for the Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) and New England Youth Organizing Network (NEYON). In addition, Taylor also supports the team's technical assistance activities with youth organizations in the field. Prior to CYCLE, Taylor spent five years co-directing the youth-led nonprofit Student Voice while completing her undergraduate degree in Justice and Peace Studies at Georgetown University. At Student Voice, Taylor worked alongside youth leaders to advance equity in US public schools and equip adult partners to co-create educational transformation with students. She has facilitated youth voice capacity building partnerships with several foundations, think tanks, and two southeastern school districts and is passionate about making educational decision-making accessible to youth. Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Taylor brings her love for and learnings from the US South to CYCLE’s work in New England. Taylor enjoys bookstores, coffee shops, and having long conversations on walks.
Gideon Linkous, Data Analyst
As CYCLE’s Data Analyst, Gideon supports the SCORE project in putting together data visualization tools and running statistical analyses on the data collected in Providence public schools. Originally from Christiansburg, Virginia, Gideon obtained a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mathematics and Biology from Roanoke College. Beginning his career at Total Action for Progress (TAP) in Roanoke, Virginia, Gideon has gained experience in public and youth advocacy, leadership, and community action.
jon Martinez, Associate Director for Organizing Strategy & Training
Jon began his extensive career in organizing, activism, and public policy as a youth organizer in California, where he worked to advance educational equity programs and defend against right-wing ballot initiatives. After earning a BA in history from Occidental College, Jon became a community organizer at SCOPE, where he and colleagues organized residents in South LA, West LA, and the Hollywood area to win equitable economic development policies and programs. Jon later joined the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, where he served as project coordinator, senior project coordinator, and director of field operations. In 2015, Jon moved to Rhode Island to serve as senior program associate at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University, where he provided community organizing skills training and issues education to parent organizing efforts in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Vermont. At CYCLE, Jon leads our organizing strategy and training efforts, including the CYCLE Strategy Institute and our support of the OurSchoolsPVD alliance.
Vianna Mercedes, Youth Leadership Program Manager
Vianna’s role at CYCLE involves the management and support of youth organizing and research projects. Currently, she manages CYCLE’s design, planning, and facilitation of the Youth Leadership Institute (YLI), and plays key roles in support of the New England Youth Organizing Network (NEYON) and Schools & Communities Organizing for Racial Equity (SCORE) project. Vianna serves as a board member for several organizations, including Worcester Addressing Childhood Trauma (Worcester ACTs). Previously, her work involved leading youth development and mental health initiatives focusing on traditionally underrepresented communities in Massachusetts. Prior to CYCLE, Vianna received a BS in Sociology and Global Studies and MS in Non-Profit Management from Worcester State University. In her free time, she loves to spend time with family, gardening, and cooking.
Catalina Perez, Associate Director for Youth Leadership
Catalina’s current work supports the development, coordination, and implementation of key technical assistance and training opportunities for youth and parent organizing groups all over New England, including leadership for CYCLE’s Youth Leadership Institute. Previously, she worked with young people and parents in Rhode Island supporting college access for middle and high school students in Pawtucket, Central Falls and Woonsocket. Catalina received a BA from Rhode Island College and a Community Interpreting Certificate from Boston University’s Center for Professional Education.
Tracie potochnik, Associate Director for Research & Learning
Prior to CYCLE’s launch, Tracie was a senior research associate at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University, working across the Institute’s District and Systems Transformation and Community Organizing and Engagement groups. Her work includes research and evaluation, policy analysis, facilitation, and technical assistance and support with school district and community partners in areas such as community organizing, youth and family engagement in education, and addressing the overuse and disproportionate use of school discipline. Tracie received a BA from Vassar College.
Christopher SAmih-Rotondo, Project manager
Christopher is the Program Manager for the CYCLE Strategy Institute (CSI). Before joining CYCLE, Christopher spent 12 years as a community organizer, development director, and executive director at DARE (Direct Action for Rights & Equality), a community organization in South Providence, focused on housing justice, criminal justice reform and prison abolition. Christopher's work at DARE was rooted in grassroots community organizing, leadership development, and direct action organizing campaigns, led by low-income families living in Providence & Rhode Island's communities of color. Born and raised in Rhode Island, Christopher studied political economy, popular education, the history and development of capitalism and social movements at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. Christopher is a martial artist, musician, writer, and soccer player, and lives with his three kids and wife in Providence.
Joanne Thompson, Research and Communications Associate
Joanne works with colleagues to conduct qualitative research studies and evaluations of reform efforts both locally and nationally. She also manages the development and distribution of external communications. In addition, Joanne provides technical assistance support to districts and community-based organizations and helps plan and prepare various meetings and site work. Previously, Joanne was a research associate at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Prior to her time at Annenberg, she was a teaching assistant in the Classics Department at Brown University. Joanne received a BA in classics and Spanish from the University of Missouri and has completed the coursework for a master's degree in classics at Brown University.
Interns & Fellows
Julie Hajducky, Development & Programs Intern/Bonner Fellow (she/her)
Julie is an education advocate, writer, and community organizer. Her passion for education equity began at an early age as she saw education funding issues impact her own classroom. Julie's work extends into the political realm, where she has managed local political campaigns and volunteered for a number of others. Previously, Julie worked with the CT Black and Brown Student Union as their Youth Coordinator and FaithActs for Education as their Organizing Institute Coordinator. A prospective Education Studies and American Studies concentrator at Brown University, she currently works as the Administrative Intern for CYCLE.
Alice Im, Research Intern/Bonner Fellow
At CYCLE, Alice is currently an education justice research and communications fellow/intern. Much like her title says, she works with Tracie to help conduct education justice research and communicate these findings. She is passionate about inequities in education and healthcare. Outside of CYCLE, Alice is a student at Brown University but an Oregonian at heart. She loves to go on waterfall hikes, find new coffee shops/restaurants, and play with puppies.
Kevin Kim, Youth Leadership Programs Intern/Bonner Fellow
Kevin is a member of the CYCLE team via the Swearer Center’s Bonner Fellowship Program at Brown University. Prior to joining Brown, Kevin has been involved in grassroots activism and community organizing within his community in Louisiana. As a first-generation student of Korean-American descent and a son of two educators, Kevin has developed passions in educational justice and issues surrounding race and identity. In addition to this, Kevin is an enthusiast for geek culture, such as Marvel and StarWars, and also enjoys sports, piano, and chess.
KAYLA MORRISON, youth leadership programs/BONNER FELLOW
Kayla Morrison (she/her) is originally from Denver, Colorado and planning to double concentrate in political science and journalism. She believes in the power of people and is dedicated to creating substantial change socially and systemically, which she hopes to advance towards through her time with the Bonner Community Fellowship. In her free time, Kayla likes to read, be with her cats, and bike ride.