Our Community

Co-Founder, Executive Director

Imani Worthy is a Bronx native whose family  was impacted by the child welfare system in 2019. Following this experience, she pursued advocacy work, holding roles such as Public Speaking Coordinator at Rise Magazine and Family Advocate at the Center for Family Representation. Imani is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Black Families Love and Unite (BLU), an organization dedicated to empowering Black and Brown families and dismantling systems of oppression. She holds an MBA and is deeply committed to holistic and restorative justice practices, including circle keeping and somatic wellness to create meaningful change for our communities.

Co-Founder

Shamara Kelly, Co-founder, has six years of advocacy and organizing experience. As a community organizer and expert in domestic violence policy reform, she has galvanized survivors to bring about social change and empowerment. Shamara has focused on systemic changes in child welfare, police reform, and revamping the emergency shelter system for survivors of violence. She has conducted training for both private and public sectors on domestic violence and has recently developed community-based supports in the New York City Metro Area that do not involve government intervention.

Assistant Director of Programming

Sejal  is a South-Asian first-generation therapist-ish, social worker, and yoga practitioner passionate about the role that our imaginations play in creating a world in which folks feel loved and cared for. Sejal's work is informed by their belief that children and families deserve care rooted in consent, rather than coercion and carcerality. Sejal graduated from NYU with a Master of Social Work in 2022 and has 

been fueled her passion in understanding how our racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual identities influence the ways we view “success” in our inner and outer worlds, amidst capitalist and imperialist forces. Sejal supports with the creation and facilitation of BLU's Somatic Wellness Workshops and Holistic Advocacy Intensives. Sejal also assists in organizing community events centering BLU's Reparations work, along with doing outreach to different community partners. Sejal is so excited to be a part of BLU and to support the transformative & intersectional work of co-creating accessible spaces for reparative justice and harm reduction.

Senior Community Organizer 

Nancy Fortunato, Senior Family Organizer, has over 10 years of advocacy and organizing experience as an impacted parent and an expert on systemic racism. She graduated from the Child Welfare Organizing Project and the Institute of Transformative Mentoring at The New School. Nancy has held roles at the East Harlem Community Partnership Program, the Center for Human Development and Family Services, and RISE, where she was promoted to Senior Parent Leader. She is currently a Peer Navigator at Justice For Families.

Community Organizer 

Tyreena Anderson, Community Organizer with three years of advocacy and organizing experience, is an impacted mother deeply committed to her children and family advocacy. Her passion drives her work in supporting and uplifting other affected families.

Lived Expert Panelist

Cassandra Gonzalez, Family Organizer with two years of advocacy and organizing experience, is an Afro Latine parent of two boys who embraces inclusivity and gender diversity. With a passion for cooking and a commitment to empowerment, Cassandra utilizes their life experiences to support and uplift fellow parents, reflecting their resilience and compassion.

Lived Expert Panelist

Naashia B, Family Organizer with five years of advocacy and organizing experience, is a single Black mother and a social worker with a background in both city agencies and nonprofit sectors. She advocates for harm-free environments and reparations that include accountability. Naashia's lived experiences have prepared her to be a radical voice for the unseen and unheard in our communities.

Lived Expert Panelist

Teresa Bachiller, Senior Family Organizer, brings over 20 years of experience as a community advocate, activist, and system survivor. She has passionately focused on family policing issues, amplifying parents' voices, and advocating for systemic change. Teresa joined Rise in 2019 as the Program Director of the Rise & Shine Parent Leadership Program and has held significant roles at Graham, the East Harlem Community Partnership Program, and the Child Welfare Organizing Project.