About
Taking responsibility for things that matter
FYI operates school-based and community-based sites across Northern Manhattan, offering dedicated programs where children, youth, and families learn, create, and thrive.
PS 128 Audubon Elementary School
560 West 169th StreetOur Program Model
LEARN
Integrated Academic Enrichment & Language Access (Cradle-to-Career)
“Joyful readers, lifelong learners.”
LEAD
Holistic Youth Development, Civic Agency & Sports
“Developing tomorrow’s leaders today.”
HEAL
Mental Health (School-Based & Community-Based El Centro)
“Healing that speaks your language.”
THRIVE
Community Engagement & Family Wellness
“Caring for our community, together.”
Our Roots
1993: Founded by Andrew Rubinson
FYI was founded in 1993 by Andrew Rubinson on the radical belief that youth were not problems to be solved. They were leaders in their community and agents of positive change.
Working together, a cohort of neighborhood young people collaborated to beautify local parks, paint community murals, sew sleeping bags overnight, and deliver hot soup to unhoused neighbors. FYI is built in the community, by the community, for the community, and with the community.
2000: Visionary Growth
By 2000, the number of youth attending programs grew to 250, driving FYI to embark on a visionary campaign to build a community center that today serves over 1,200 people.
Today: Serving Washington Heights & Inwood
Today FYI serves families in 3 local school-based programs in Washington Heights and Inwood and our community center located at 505 West 171 Street.
Tomorrow: Reimagined Community Center
FYI is preparing to relaunch our headquarters as a community center offering intergenerational culturally responsive bilingual mental and behavioral therapy, social services and civic engagement. Support our efforts by joining our capital campaign.
Staff and Leadership
Our dedicated team of leaders, clinical directors, and youth development professionals work alongside our Board of Directors to guide FYI’s mission every day.
Executive Leadership
Guiding organizational strategy and community programs
Catherine Shugrue dos Santos
Executive DirectorWendy Pena
Chief Operating OfficerBeatriz Oliva
Chief Clinical OfficerStaff Members
Jeremiah Roman
Senior Director of Programs
Eddie Baca
PS 128 Program Director
Aileen Barinas
Amistad Program Director
Mary Guillermo
Luperon Program Director
Annabel Jiminian
PS 128 Assistant Program Director
Ashley Vasquez
505 High School Program Coordinator
Ileanka Alifonso
Luperon High School Program Coordinator
Carlos Rivera
Sports and Wellness Coordinator
Darielle Fernandez
Community Education Specialist
Edilenni Paula
Office Manager & HR Administrator
Sofia Hernandez-Carrillo
Noelia Vinas Tavarez
Development & Communications Coordinator
Board of Directors
Rebecca Sale
Senior Director, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Dan Temple
Managing Director, JP Morgan Chase
Edward Lehmann
Vice President, State Street
Yuriy Boykiv
Chief Executive Officer, Front Row
Lisa Brestansky
Senior Manager, PwC
Davis Chheang
Director, Golub Capital
Ilya Feldman
Managing Director, Barclays
Bobby Jahani
Vice President, Macquarie
Manuel Lorenzo
Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Neuberger Berman
Frances Moore
Learning & Development Strategist, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)
Jeff Panzo
Managing Director, SMBC NIKKO SECURITIES AMERICA