Who We Are
We are Immigrants and New Generation Americans committed to creating a culture of welcoming and belonging.
Board Officers:
Xavier Botana
Board Chair, Retired School Superintendent
Tim Wyand
Board Treasurer, Financial Advisor
Board Members:
Melinda Butler
Associate Professor at the University of Southern Maine
Melissa A. Hewey
Attorney, DrummondWoodsum
Charles Mugabe
Director of Migration at Catholic Charities Maine
Nicole Rancourt
Collaborator, Educator, Maine Humanities Council Program Manager
Advisory Board:
Pious Ali
IYNB Co-Founder, City Councilman
Dr. Krista Aronson, Ph.D
IYNB Founding Board Member, Director Diverse BookFinder, Bates College Associate Dean of Faculty
Deqa Dhalac
IYNB Founding Board Member, Maine State Representative
Jen Boggs
Writer, Researcher, Public Relations, Toderico Creative
Amy MacDonald
IYNB Founding Board Member, Author, Community Organizer
Audrey Maynard
IYNB Co-Founder, Children’s Book Editor and Educator
Maria Testa
IYNB Founding Board Member, Author, Poet, Activist
Founders:
Pious Ali
Co-Founder, City Councilman, Portland Empowered
Kirsten Cappy
Co-Founder, Executive Director
Katherine G. Cutko
Co-Founder, Public Librarian, Social Worker
Terry Farish
Co-Founder, Author, New Arrival Literacy Coordinator
Delanie Honda
Co-Founder, ELL Educator
Reza Jalali
Co-Founder, Author, Educator, Storyteller
Anne Sibley O’Brien
Co-Founder, Author/Illustrator, Diversity Advocate
Kimbery Simmons
Co-Founder, Board Chair Emeritus, Professor of Women's Studies