AVP Announces New Board Members

The New York City Anti-Violence Project is pleased to announce seven new members of our Board of Directors, installed during our summer board meetings. These accomplished individuals will bring years of expertise and knowledge to help shape AVP’s organizational and programmatic work through the completion of AVP’s new three-year strategic plan.

AVP’s Board of Directors is a group of distinguished professionals from a variety of industries, all dedicated to supporting our community of LGBTQ and HIV-affected survivors of violence. Board members sign up for two years terms, and are responsible for public engagement, policy and organizational stewardship, fundraising and development support, and strategic planning.

“AVP is thankful for the commitment of our board members, and for the important role they play in helping us achieve our mission to create a safer world for LGBTQ and HIV-affected survivors,” says Beverly Tillery, Executive Director of AVP. “We are excited about our new board members and the unique skills and assets they bring to the team. With their energy and dedication, we will be even more well-equipped to build solutions toward ending the continued anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ threats our community faces.”

Congratulations to the following new board members:

Stephen Barr (Univision): Stephen is a native New Yorker and the VP of Business Development for Univision Communications. Steven’s executive leadership expertise with a variety of global brands, strong business acumen and media knowledge will make him an excellent asset to AVP’s board.

Shay Huffman (Partnership with Children): Shay Huffman is a true AVP success story. Shay came to AVP as a client seeking support from intimate partner violence. Through work with AVP she became engaged as an advocate, and eventually became a social worker who advocates for children. Her first-hand knowledge of AVP’s survivor community and social work focus will be a wonderful contribution to the strength of AVP’s board work.

Stephanie Blackwood (Consultant): Stephanie Blackwood is a former marketing and development executive now running her own consulting firm working with organizations and brands to develop funding plans and development growth and engagement strategies. Her history includes years of experience with organizations uplifting women and LGBTQ people.

Eric Sosa (C’mon Everybody/Good Judy): Eric Sosa is one of the powerhouses behind LGBTQ nightlife in Brooklyn. The entrepreneur and talent manager is an owner of C’mon Everybody and Good Judy, two popular Brooklyn venues in the queer nightlife space.

Pamela Wilkinson (JP Morgan Chase): joins our board as an impassioned ally determined to contribute her energy and amplify the voices of LGBTQ and HIV-affected survivors. Pamela is a leader in financial risk management currently working for J.P. Morgan Chase.

Feras Amancheh (Jeffries): brings a wealth of investment banking and finance experience having worked in private equity and asset management firms in the United States and Canada focusing on
infrastructure, energy and renewable resources. He currently works as the vice president for power, Utilities and Infrastructure for Jeffries.

Chris Martin (Cooley LLP): is a New York-based attorney who specializes in business litigation within the financial services and technology sectors. He currently works for Cooley LLP as a Litigation Associate with a focus in high-stakes, complex business disputes.

And additional congratulations to our new Board officers for FY 2023:

Kito Huggins, Board Chair
Rev. Liz Edman, Board Vice-Chair
Raquel (Rockie) Joseph, Secretary
Aswini Krishnan, Treasurer

AVP is thankful to these leaders for their service to community and commitment to AVP’s mission. We are also seeking members for our associate board, targeted at young professionals under 40 who are interested in board service and dedicated to supporting AVP’s efforts to create a safer world. For more information on joining AVPs associate board, email Michael Thomas at mthomas@avp.org.