New York Lexy Mayers
Executive Director

Lexy joined Room to Grow as Executive Director of the New York site in 2006. She oversees all programmatic, administrative, and fund raising activities for this office, ensuring that the organization is able to serve its capacity of clients. Prior to joining Room to Grow Lexy spent four years as Executive Director of Cool Culture, an organization that brings low-income families to NYC museums and other cultural institutions. Before that she worked in consumer marketing at American Express. Lexy has an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a BA from Harvard University.
lexy@roomtogrow.org

Veronica Farje
Development Director

Veronica joined Room to Grow in 2008. She is responsible for the organization’s comprehensive fundraising activities. She was previously a Senior Associate Director at the American Museum of Natural History, where her eight-year career spanned government, foundation, and individual fundraising, and financial monitoring and planning. Prior to that, she was a family policy advocate for Citizens’ Committee for Children, specializing in the areas of housing, homelessness, and income support. Veronica has a BA from Hunter College and is a graduate of the Public Service Scholar Program.  veronica@roomtogrow.org

La Shell Wooten
Senior Director of Client Program

La Shell joined Room to Grow in 2007. She received a BA from The City College of New York and an MSW from New York University. La Shell has provided social work service to the foster care system, to various adolescent groups and most recently to prenatal women at Beth Israel Hospital. In addition, she is the author of two children's books.
lashell@roomtogrow.org

Sarah Leahey
Director of Client Program

Sarah joined Room to Grow in 2006. She is a Speech-Language Pathologist, and prior to Room to Grow, she provided parenting support and speech therapy to infants and toddlers at the Therapy and Learning Center in Brooklyn. Sarah received an MS from The University of the District of Columbia and a BS from Geneseo State University.
sarah@roomtogrow.org

Simotra Houston
Program and Development Associate

Simotra joined Room to Grow in 2007 having previously worked as a consultant at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. She is an educator and writer and also teaches music and theatre to children throughout NYC. Simotra received her BS from Syracuse University.
simotra@roomtogrow.org

Paolo Andino
Inventory and Volunteers Manager

Paolo joined Room to Grow part time in the summer of 2007. He is a successful actor in television, film and theatre. He is involved with the Miami based Yes Institute which works towards the prevention of gay teen suicide and here in NY with Live Out Loud which connects gay students with professional out role models. Paolo holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from University of Missouri - Kansas City.
paolo@roomtogrow.org