TK Graphic Stat
TK Graphic Stat
TK Graphic Stat
Why?
Community and connection matter now more than ever. They anchor us, bringing people across lived experiences together to care and support for one another. They ground our sense of purpose. They fuel positive change.
Today, people face isolation, polarization, and the decline of communal institutions—and we refuse to let the fabric of our lives fall apart any further. That’s why the Belfer Center helps build the capacity and social connection of leaders, which mobilizes people to build thriving communities that create solutions to the problems we face.
The Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact was founded in 2013 by Laurence Belfer at the 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY). 92NY was founded in 1874 as a home for newly arrived Eastern European Jews, establishing itself as a gathering space for New Yorkers of all backgrounds. Today, it endures as a beacon of connection for people across the globe. The Belfer Center channels this commitment to community, and harnesses it to create meaningful social change in the world. Improving lives and fostering community have always been at the heart of both Belfer and 92NY’s work, and the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact builds on 92NY's 150-year legacy of creating community and taking action for a better world.
- GivingTuesday
- Share Our America
- Women inPower
- Social Good Summit
- 7 Days of Genius
- Less Lonely
- 92nd Street Live
- Newmark Civic Life
- Ben Franklin Circles
- CultureSwap
- The Home Project
- Jewish Innovation Fellowship
Staff
Rebekah Shrestha (she/her)
Senior Vice President, Managing Director
Rebekah Shrestha leads the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact and the Office of Strategic Planning at 92NY. At the Belfer Center, she oversees the Center’s strategic direction, programming, and team — ensuring the Center meets its mission of creating scalable solutions to society's most pressing challenges. As the founding Managing Director of the Office of Strategic Planning, she infuses strategic rigor and scalable models across 92NY's innovative programming. Rebekah has worked in strategy consulting, movement building, and communications for 20 years, including roles at McKinsey & Company, Purpose, and Obama for America.
Shelley Hoy (she/her)
Senior Director
Shelley Hoy is the Senior Director of the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at 92NY. As Senior Director, Shelley leads the day-to-day operations of the Belfer Center, designing and implementing innovative and scalable programming that connects communities and creates positive social impact. Over the last decade, Shelley has worked in technology startups, education and social impact consulting in roles building impactful programs, effective teams, and scalable operations. Most recently, she served as Head of Programs of the international education nonprofit Re:Coded. Shelley received her Master of Public Administration from NYU and Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Hamilton College. Shelley’s early education in the arts developed a curiosity and passion for creativity which she brings to every part of her life and work.
Julia Rosenblum (she/her)
Director of Strategy
Julia Rosenblum is the Director of Strategy at the Office of Strategic Planning at 92NY. As Director, Julia aims to bring strategic rigor and share best practices within and across 92NY’s innovative programs. She specializes in asking questions and believes passionately in the power of lifelong learning. Prior to 92NY, Julia has worked at New York Road Runners and JPMorgan Chase in strategy, operations planning, and process improvement. Julia received her MBA from Columbia Business School and her BA from Wellesley College.
Carlos Terrones
Field Director, Share Our America
Carlos Terrones has 10+ years of experience turning around community programs in international development, government administration, and the nonprofit sector. Carlos has served in political appointment positions for the City of Seattle where he launched the first innovation team in a joint effort with Bloomberg Philanthropies and under Mayor Michael Bloomberg as the Assistant Deputy Commissioner, he reengineered the child support customer service operations. During the pandemic, Carlos assisted the State of California Department of Labor and Workforce Development Agency in launching the largest statewide community awareness campaign. Overseas, Carlos received meritorious awards from the U.S. Department of State and the Department of the Army for successfully scaling the governance and economic development programs in Iraq and Afghanistan. Carlos started his public sector career in the U.S. Marine Corps and then became a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Albania where he received an honorary citizenship from the Shkoder Mayor for successfully beautifying the main city entrance. Most recently in NYC, he optimized NYC non-profit Brighter Bites strategic pillars by creating the first nutritional ranking system for 17 NYC public elementary schools and reorganized the internal processes, thus impacting 5,546 families in the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and Bronx. Personally, he enjoys teaching wellness and lived in Nepal and India where he learned meditation and became a yoga teacher.
Alexandra Moreno (she/her)
Senior Program Manager
As the Senior Program Manager in 92NY’s Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact, Alexandra manages the Women inPower fellowship program and supports the design and implementation of innovative and scalable programming. Alexandra has worked in public health, program management, community organizing, and epidemiological research, including roles at Washington Heights CORNER Project, New York Harm Reduction Educators, the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and Columbia Psychiatry. Alexandra received her MA in Psychology in Education from Teacher’s College, Columbia University, and originates from Havana, Cuba.
Stachel Roberts (she/her)
Senior Program Coordinator
Stachel Roberts is the Senior Program Coordinator of the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at 92NY. At the Belfer Center she leads operations and supports across all programs. Stachel is a native New Yorker with experience in youth development, youth organizing and corporate partnerships for international development programs. She has worked with low income, first generation, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students on college and career access in Providence, RI, as well as at Oxfam America supporting their corporate partnerships work. Stachel received her Master’s in Sustainable International Development from The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University and her BA from Providence College.
Advisory
Committee
Laurence Belfer
Founder, Belfer Center
CEO, Belfer Management LLC
92NY Board Member
Asha Curran
Co-Chair, Belfer Center
CEO, GivingTuesday
Henry Timms
Co-Chair, Belfer Center
President and CEO, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Seth Pinksy
CEO, 92nd Street Y
Rabbi David Ingber
Senior Director, Jewish Life and Bronfman Center at 92NY
Penny Abeywardena
Former Commissioner for International Affairs, New York City
Catherine Hannah Behrend
Founder, VenturesinVision
92NY Board Member
David Dabscheck
Founder & CEO, GIANT Innovation; Visiting Scholar, Columbia Business School
Jamie Metzl
Founder and Chair, OneShared.World
Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
Nancy Friedman
Co-Founder, Feed Our Democracy
92NY Board Member
Josh Milstein
Investor, Ogden CAP Associates
Laura Clayton McDonnell
President, Corporates, Thomson Reuters
Aamina Awan Khan
Chief Partnerships Officer and Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of State
David Rose
Managing Partner, Rose Tech Ventures 92NY Board Member
Kippy Joseph
Senior Advisor, Gender, Global Innovation Fund
Andrew Shapiro Founder, Broadscale Group
Jonathan Greenblatt
Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee Member
National Director & CEO, Anti-Defamation League
Former Special Assistant to President Barack Obama & Director, White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation
Gail Saltz
Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee Member
Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst, Author
92NY Board Member