Our organization is led by a Coordinating Committee, using consensus and participatory democracy practices. The Coordinating Committee is made up of the Executive Board, members, volunteers, and staff.
Results from our most recent member assembly votes can be found here.
Our Board of Directors includes:
Co-Chairs: Jenifer Benn
Treasurer: Jody Bolluyt
Secretary: Rio Riera Arbogast
Board of Directors Member: Shanatia Bygrave, Juan Flores, and Sarah Rogerson
Ex Officio Members: Co-Executive Directors Diana Laura Cruz, Ivy Hest, and Bryan MacCormack
Coordinating Committee Members (Click their names to see a photo and biography):
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| Rio Riera Arbogast, Secretary, Board of Directors
| Co-Chair, Board of Directors
| Mabel Bermejo
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Jody Bolluyt, Treasurer, Board of Directors
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| Shanatia Bygrave, Member of the Board of Directors
| Juan Flores, Member of Board of Directors
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Kit Fraser, Volunteer Coordinator
| Daniel Hernandez
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| David Quituisaca, Volunteer Coordinator
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| Sarah Rogerson, Member of the Board of Directors
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| Juan Sanchez, Co-Founder |
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Jenifer Benn, Board of Directors Co-Chair
Jenifer (she/ella) is a native of Guyana. She has been a CCSM member for over 5 years. Jenifer is extremely involved in activism, and wears many hats within the community. She has evolved into a leader within the organization, and is committed to the growth and development of CCSM. She has been a part of various committees as well as the Coordinating Committee. She is eager to continue to grow her leadership role within CCSM, and believes she is a good fit because she knows first hand how big of an impact CCSM has on our community.
Jenifer serves on the Coordinating Committee, Personnel Committee, Hiring Committee, Intake Committee, and helped plan our 5th anniversary celebration.
David Quituisaca, Board of Directors Co-Chair
David (he/el) is a native New Yorker who grew up in Downstate New York and moved to the Catskill region in early 2018. David felt like there was a lack of diversity and progressive views in the Catskill area, which almost drove him to move back downstate. All that changed when he joined CCSM. David was able to meet so many LatinX folks in the area and make connections with some incredible Allies. David beleivesThe Catskills should be a home to everyone, no matter where you came from.
David currently serves as CCSM's Volunteer Coordinator, and is on the Coordinating Committee, Latinx Festival Committee, Personnel Committee, and emcee/helped plan our 5th anniversary celebration.
Jody Bolluyt, Treasurer of Board of Directors
Jody Bolluyt (she/ella) has served as treasurer of CCSM for the past 3 years. She is one of the farmer owners of Roxbury Farm CSA, one of the largest CSAs in the country based in Kinderhook, NY. She also serves on the board of Equity Trust.
Jody also serves on the Coordinating Committee and Financial Committee of CCSM.
Rio Riera Arbogast, Secretary
Rio (they/them) is Cuban and Irish/Alsatian-American, born in Queens and raised in Greenwich, NY. After living out of state for several years, they were immediately drawn to CCSM’s powerful and beautiful work upon returning. They began their involvement as a volunteer in 2020 and have grown to deeply appreciate the CCSM community. Rio is a member of the Latinx Festival planning committee and Coordinating Committee.
Shanatia Bygrave, Member of the Board of Directors
Shanatia “Tia” Bygrave is the Branch Manager of Greylock Federal Credit Union Greenport/Hudson branch. She has nearly 20 years in banking industry and is a certified financial coach with the National Credit Union Association (CUNA), a recent graduate of the AACUC Diversity Equity and Inclusion Leadership academy for financial professionals and a recipient of the 40 under 40 award in 2022. Tia is a Rotarian and also has the role as Treasurer of the Hudson Rotary Club. She is a long standing member of the board and also treasurer of FOHY (Friends of Hudson Youth). Shanatia also sits on the board of Columbia County Chambers and CREATE Council of the Arts.
Shanatia is passionate about financial wellness for all and works with many local organizations to provide seminars for their employees on topics like budgeting, credit, building savings, homeownership and many more. Tia believes that having financial freedom and stability is an important key to a better life. If our low to moderate income families don’t know how to have this, it will continue the cycle of feeling bound to living paycheck to paycheck. She also feels educating our youth at a young age is very important to help break that cycle and will not stop until our youth learn all they need to learn to reach this goal. As Branch Manager, Tia has played an instrumental role in supporting CCSM’s Financial Empowerment programming by co-organizing workshops for members on Opening a Bank Account, Applying for an ITIN, and Owning Your First Home. In addition, her branch recently received the "Juntos Avanzamos" Together We Advance' designation, which is awarded to credit unions committed to serving and empowering Hispanic consumers.
Juan Flores, Member of the Board of Directors
Juan Flores (he/él) is a retired assistant principal. He is a graduate of Teacher's College with a masters in Bilingual Bicultural education. He worked in the Bronx NY for 25 years serving immigrant families by addressing the needs of English language learners. His work at CCSM includes addressing the needs of immigrant families and the academic needs of unaccompanied minors.
Juan has served as Board Secretary for the past 3 years. He also sits on the Coordinating Committee and Emergency Fund Committee.
Sarah Rogerson, Member of the Board of Directors
Sara Rogerson is a professor of law and director of The Edward P. Swyer Justice Center at Albany Law School. She is also the faculty Director of the Immigration Law Clinic, in which students represent immigrant victims of crime including child abuse and neglect, persecution, domestic violence and sexual assault. Under her supervision, her students also represent wrongfully detained immigrants and regularly participate in legislative advocacy and community outreach initiatives. Before joining the faculty, Professor Rogerson worked as a housing and immigrant rights public interest attorney in Newark, New Jersey and in Dallas, Texas.
Her scholarship addresses flaws in the administration of immigration law and policy, including intersections with domestic violence and international law. She has also been published on current issues such as crisis lawyering, education policy and gun safety, having direct lived experience with each of those topics. Professor Rogerson has been a long-time supporter of CCSM, collaborating with us on numerous Know Your Rights and legal clinics in the Capital Region. Recently, she served as the government liaison for the Capital Region Sanctuary Coalition to support the resettlement of immigrants relocated to the capital region from the southern border and New York City.