See upcoming youth events at Center Calendar: Youth

Nicole Avallone, LMSW, Director

Nicole is a social worker with extensive history providing support and advocacy to the LGBT community. A graduate of NYU, most recently Nicole served as Program Director at the Rainbow Heights Club, the only government funded psychosocial club specifically geared toward serving LGBT adults living with mental illness. Prior to this, she worked as a psychotherapist and later program director at CitiWide Harm Reduction in the Bronx, where she also helped develop and secure funding for the agency's first LGBT-specific programming. Nicole's early professional career included a year-long internship with The Center and she continued facilitating groups for the Center's Gender Identity Project for many years, primarily focusing on support for trans-partners. Nicole is in love with everything about the YES program – from the inspiring and creative staff, to the powerful energy of the young people, to the daily joys of being part of a community where LGBTQ and allied people work to create a world where we can all shine!

Natasha Jones, Program Coordinator for Education & Training

Natasha has served as the Coordinator of Education and Training at YES since May 2010. She has worked in youth development for over 10 years and before coming to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, she was an Assistant Director for a Universal Pre K program and summer day Camp Director for school age children at Bronx House. She has a passion and background in Theater and graduated from Lehman College with a degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology and minor in Education. She served as a liaison between several community based organizations and the NYC Department of Education to provide children and families with support and guidance. Her experience as a Summer Day camp Director was working with large population from school age to high school, where young people were involved in daily recreational activities on the Henry Kaufman Campgrounds in Rockland County. At YES Natasha continues to support young people in their educational goals, artistic creativity and development of their whole self!

Amy Henderson, LMSW, Prevention Social Worker

Amy currently works as the Prevention Social Worker the LGBT Center's Youth Enrichment Services program. Amy is a licensed social worker who provides prevention social work services for youth at the LGBT Center's Youth Enrichment Services program. As part of her role in YES she also provides emotional fitness coaching and support for Youth Pride Chorus members in addition to all YES members. She holds a BA in Women's & Gender Studies from Smith College as well as a Master's Degree in Social Work from NYU and post MSW training in Clinical Practice with Adolescents at the NYU School of Social Work. Amy has experience working in a diverse range of social services settings in the NYC area focusing on mental health, substance abuse, trauma, development and identity issues. She is very excited to be part of the YES & YPC team!




Raul Rivera, Arts & Media Specialist

Raul attended Talent Unlimited High School for the Performing Arts as a theater major where at sixteen he discovered a passion for social services; by age twenty-one he already had volunteered & worked for numerous non-profit agencies such as GMHC, People Of Color In Crisis, & The Hetrick-Martin Institute; while also attending The Bronx Dance Theater on scholarship. For his community work Raul was picked for the TEACH Intern program of NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, & Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Raul completed the TEACH intern training requirements & was certified a Community Health Specialist. Raul has worked diligently mentoring, advocating, coaching, and creating innovative programming for thousands of New York City LGBT youth and has gained an in depth perspective on LGBT youth concerns; such as gender identity, HIV/AIDS prevention, sexuality, homelessness, and ballroom culture.

Christine Cruz, Christine Cruz, Youth Enrichment Services Leadership & Learning Lab Specialist

Christine is the "keep it real" staff member who is understanding, relatable, and energetic! Christine is a strong Latina, athletic, queer woman. She has studied martial arts for over 15 years and has played ice hockey for over 13 years. While she loves languages, mathematics and philosophy, she has been incredibly moved by her youth work, hence choosing this career path. She started youth work when she was just 17 years old as a part of PAL (Police Athletic League) through the Summer Youth Employment Program. As the YES Youth Leadership & Learning Lab Specialist she reaches youth in our community and helps them grow into successful and confident individuals by providing them help with resumes, school, and leadership opportunities. She helps develop their life skills and self-awareness. Christine has a BA from Connecticut College in Philosophy and wishes to pursue a Master's in Social Work soon.

Brian M. Smith, Community Organizing Specialist

Brian serves as the Community Organizing Specialist at YES. Brian grew up in Ann Arbor, MI spending much of his time in community and athletic programs indulging his interests in acting, writing, filmmaking, football, and track. Through these outlets and relationships with his mentors, he developed a passion for mentoring youth and was driven to share the same support he received with young people in his community. While in Michigan he worked as a drama and media literacy instructor for the University of Michigan Gear Up program. Upon moving to New York in 2008, he continued teaching media literacy in various schools and afterschool programs. He became involved in his Harlem community providing media and education services for the Civic Association Serving Harlem and even founding his own organization called What's Left Out in 2009.

Brian arrived at YES in early 2010 infusing his media literacy background, transition experience and energy into his role as community organizer. He enjoys mentoring and cultivating future leaders through the Safe Schools, YO! and POL internships he facilitates and finding new ways to encourage critical thinking and creativity during his activity groups.

Jordan Wishner, MSW

Jordan is a small town lad who grew up daydreaming about being an X-Man, playing tennis, and breakdancing. He got his Master's in Social Work at Hunter College and loves working at YES! Jordan studied Theatre and Psychology in college and always likes to create an inventive way to combine those two passions. At YES, you can find Jordan facilitating energy-popping groups as well as being available as a drop-in counselor.

Olin Winn-Ritzenberg, MSW, Education & Training Specialist

Olin was raised in Washington, DC where a public school education and two public school teachers for parents infused in him a passion for public education and social justice. After completing his undergraduate education at the University of Michigan, Olin worked at a mental health club and was introduced to community-driven services. He received his Masters of Social Work in 2011 from Hunter College School of Social Work, where he studied community organizing with a focus on youth and families. He spent one year interning and organizing for Make The Road NY's LGBTQ project, GLOBE, and one year interning for a public middle/high school in Brooklyn while studying at Hunter. Olin's trans experience connects him deeply to the LGBTQ community and has allied him to similar community struggles for economic and social justice. At the YES Program, Olin serves as the Education and Training Specialist. He loves his work supporting LGBTQ and allied youth in their educational/professional goals, and through the Safe Schools Internship. Olin also facilitates the OutSpoken Views Zine Group, The Current, a current events discussion group, Study Hall, and Saturday Community Discussion.

contact us Call 212.620.7310 and ask for the YES program (or a specific staff person's name), or email us at YES@gaycenter.org.