Melissa Emidy

Executive Director

Melissa is the Executive Director of Inspiring Minds. Prior to joining the Inspiring Minds team in October 2017, Melissa was the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Grant Officer at the Rhode Island Department of Education, Association Director of School Age Child Care at the Hockomock Area YMCA, and Operations Director at the Providence Youth Services branch of the YMCA of Greater Providence. Melissa received a B.S. in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and a M.S. in Nonprofit Management, from Northeastern University. Melissa is passionate about youth development, education, and community development. Melissa lives in Woonsocket with her husband Jeff, and her son, Calvin.

Sokeo Ros

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sokeo Ros, M.Ed is the Executive Director of Inspiring Minds. Sokeo has over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector and has been working with young people and communities since the age of 16. He served as the Director and founder of Case Closed! (2004-2021), Artist/Creator/Co-Artistic Director of Everett Company Stage and School (1999-2021, Co-Artistic Director for 2 years), Manager of Equity and Implementation/Lead Artist at Children’s Youth Cabinet (2018-2020), and Director of Moore Hall at Providence College (2021-2023). As an artist, Sokeo has been performing, teaching, and working with communities throughout his professional career. In 2016, Sokeo was awarded Rhode Island Monthly’s Best Documentary Theater for this solo show and was invited to perform/speak at TedxTalk Providence 2016. Academically, he has worked with students in middle schools to help them cope and understand their trauma in collaboration with the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS). He also worked, for 5 years, with incarcerated youth in Massachusetts in collaboration with the Department of Youth Services. Sokeo received his Bachelor of Science from College Unbound and his Master of Education degree in the Urban Education Program from Providence College. He is currently a faculty member of the Urban Education Program at Providence College and a professor at College Unbound. Sokeo is presently enrolled in the Johnson & Wales Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership and is looking forward to graduating in May of 2025.

Betty Clinton

FINANCE AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Betty is the Finance Director at Inspiring Minds. Betty holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Liberia, a M.B.A. from Johnson and Wales University, and a certificate of Human Resource Management from Bryant University. She has worked in many non-profit organizations including Southside Cultural Center, Lutheran World Relief, The Genesis Center, Providence CityArts for Youth, and Crossroads RI. In her free time, Betty enjoys traveling, gardening and volunteering with community organizations.

Emily Markovitz

Program Director - In-School Tutoring and Mentoring

Emily brings to Inspiring Minds 15 years of experience in early education and out-of-school time programs as a teacher, director, and education coordinator. She holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Special Education and is committed to supporting education and affirming the interests and lives of students in RI, whose public schools have educated every generation of her family since their emigration to the US. Emily loves being out with her family around Providence (though finds it's impossible to engage with everything the community offers!), reading, and playing board games.

Shannon Smith

Program Director, Resilient Kids

Shannon is the Program Director of the ResilientKids mindfulness-based social and emotional learning curriculum. She was a classroom teacher for 17 years and has been a part of the ResilientKids Program for 9 years. She is excited to share these essential life skills that will help students (and teachers) navigate life’s stressors while managing their emotions and learning to be resilient. Shannon has a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University and a Bachelors of Science in Education, Elementary and Early Childhood Education from the University of Nebraska. She grew up in Nebraska, but has been an east coast resident for the last 25 years. She enjoys traveling and visiting new places. Shannon loves snow and relishes in free time to read a new book, explore an antique store, or use her creativity. Her strong mindfulness practice keeps her grounded in the present moment.

Matthew Buckley

Manager of In-School Tutoring and Mentoring

Matt is the Manager of In-School Tutoring and Mentoring for Inspiring Minds. He has a degree in Liberal Arts and a passion for community development. He brings with him five years of international education experience, working with international NGO's and children across the world--from Cambodia to South Africa. He strongly believes that every individual deserves access to opportunity and a strong support system to help them reach their full potential. Matt is thrilled to join Inspiring Minds and to continue his passion of working with students and volunteers! In his free time he enjoys nature, hiking, being on the water, and sports, among other things.

Kia Minor

CAREER DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Kia comes to Inspiring Minds with 8 years of youth mentorship experience through coaching college basketball and teaching middle school. Kia holds a Bachelor's degree in Education and a Master's degree in Sport Business Management. She is passionate about creating an environment for all students to be seen and supported regardless of their race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.

Annabelle Carrascoza

Finance and Admin Assistant

Annabelle is the Finance and Admin Assistant for Inspiring Minds. She is originally from the Dominican Republic where she got a bachelor’s degree in industrial design from INTEC. She has more than 15 years experience in management and finances from working in hospitality. She was part of the non-profit organization Providence Swings where she was a treasurer for 4 years. In her free time, she loves to spend  time with her family and friends, especially with her son.

Michelle Petrarca

ResilientKids Instructor

Michelle Petrarca is a ResilientKids Instructor at Inspiring Minds. She was born and raised in Guatemala City. She graduated from Johnson & Wales University with an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts, a B.A. in Hospitality and Restaurant Management and a Masters in International Business. Since she was in college, she has discovered that she loves teaching. After being a stay at home mom for several years, she realized that she wanted to get back in the classrooms so she started substitute teaching. Her passion for teaching has continued to grow along with her knowledge and practice of mindfulness. Michelle recently completed two new mindfulness courses through Little Flower Yoga and she is hoping to embed this new knowledge into her ResilientKids classes. In her free time, she enjoy taking care of my family, exercise and feeding other people’s souls through cooking. Michelle strongly believes we all need to take care of our mental health and she loves helping others find their inner light.

Sarah Hopp

ResilientKids Instructor

Sarah is a ResilientKids^TM Instructor at Inspiring Minds. She graduated from the Evergreen State College in 2016 with a B.A. in Writing, Education, and the Social Sciences and since then, has worked with youth in schools as a classroom assistant and as an academic coach for GRAVITY, a drop-in center for young adults working to obtain their GED.  Sarah has also helped run a structured support group through the YWCA that focused on resiliency, female development, relational theory and skillbuilding. Sarah is deeply passionate about the intersections between mental health, education, and social justice and enjoys sharing what she’s learned with others. She has completed trainings in nonviolent communication and domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy, and has spent much time developing personal practices and philosophies around mindfulness and social-emotional healing. In her free time she loves to go on long nature walks, practice the guitar, and spend time cooking and gathering with her friends and loved ones.

Chrissy Collins

ResilientKids Instructor

Chrissy Collins was raised in Massachusetts and ever since she was a young child, she always wanted to be a teacher. She enjoyed “playing teacher” with her best friend. She graduated with a Masters degree in Counseling and a CEIS with goal of working with in Early Intervention teaching parents and young children. She has been practicing for 27 years and continues to love and fill passionate about what she is doing. In Early Intervention, Chrissy specializes in teaching families about development, supporting staff utilizing the PIWI philosophy and running support groups. Chrissy has a private practice where she supports families on their parenting journey. She often utilizes her mindfulness skills to help guide families. Her goal is help families become more confident with their parenting so that they can have fun as a family! Chrissy has cultivated her own personal mindfulness practice by establishing a daily routine of meditation, attending yearly yoga retreats and completing a Little Flower yoga training. Chrissy’s mindfulness teachings have been rooted in the Resilient Kids^TM curriculum that focuses on social emotional learning and mindfulness-based techniques.

Nicole Grace

ResilientKids Instructor

Nicole has always been a strong believer in the power of mindfulness and the importance of personal empowerment! She also believes being mindful can come in a variety of practices and forms. Exercise, yoga, meditation, enjoying nature and crafting are a few ways that she has found work for her. She has been in the health and wellness industry for over 20 years and is a Certified Professional Life Coach, Fitness Instructor and Children’s Yoga Arts Instructor. Nicole is also the owner and founder of Cultivate Wellness, a mindfulness-based well-being program developed to help individuals and organizations learn to manage stress, build resilience and develop healthy behaviors. Nicole has a bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies/ Health and Human Services from the University of New Hampshire. She is passionate about empowering children, teens and adults to care for themselves physically and mentally so they can thrive and live a purposeful and balanced life.

Diane Madsen

ResilientKids Instructor

Diane is delighted to be joining the Inspiring Minds community as a ResilientKids^TM instructor. She was a special education teacher for 13 years and prior to that was culinary instructor at Johnson & Wales University for 10 years. Diane has a Masters of Education in Elementary and Special Education from Johnson & Wales University and Certificate of Graduate Studies in Autism Education from Rhode Island College. She provides a wide range of life experiences around mindfulness, wellness, and education. She believes teaching social and emotional learning through mindfulness-based techniques helps students manage stress and develop inner-resilience to navigate their lives. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering outdoors through the URI master gardener & food recovery programs. She continues to use her own mindfulness practice to navigate through life’s many challenges.

Amber Hanks

ResilientKids Instructor

Amber Hanks is a teacher of mindfulness and social and emotional learning with the Resilient Kids^TM team. She is grateful to be sharing tools which she believes foster wellbeing from the inside out and help students feel more centered in a challenging word. Amber is a mother of three children, holds a B.S. in Psychology, is a R.Y.T. and yoga based mindfulness instructor, and an avid lover of playing in and with nature through walking, running, and surfing.

Awilda Reinoso Lopez

ResilientKids Instructor

Bachelor's in Economics from Clark University and a Masters's in Urban Education Policy from Brown University. She has over 8 years of professional experience working and advocating for systemic change, social justice, and equity on behalf of the BIPOC Community, through education policy, strategic planning, grant making, community empowerment, economic mobility, leadership representation, and advocacy. She is passionate about creating spaces for black and brown communities to tell our own stories. Awilda believes in lifting our existence and amplifying our narratives and journey. Her work primarily focuses on the design for liberation of our people by pioneering innovative ways of teaching decolonized mindfulness, community empowerment, financial literacy, wealth, and overall healing/wellness for the BIPOC population through a culturally relevant and equitable lens.

Stephanie Dowd

ResilientKids Instructor

Stephanie has been a registered nurse for more than 30 years, caring for children and teens, as well as their families, in hospitals and schools. Through the years she has become passionate about the need to cultivate more compassion and resilience in children and the world in which they live and grow. Stephanie has experienced the profound physical, emotional and cognitive benefits of mindfulness and has shifted her career path to become a certified mindfulness facilitator and share these skills. She has studied with world-renowned mindfulness teachers Sharon Salzburg, George Mumford and Oren Jay Sofer. She is so excited to join Resilient Kids!! Stephanie is also a mindfulness facilitator at the University of Rhode Island. A life resident of Rhode Island, she lives with her three beautiful children and in her spare time she loves mindful movement, walking her dog Joey, reading and cooking for family and friends.

Jane Lavoie

VOLUNTEER EXTRAORDINAIRE

Jane Lavoie is a volunteer with Inspiring Minds, after having been Director of Volunteer Services for 5 years and a KidsBridge volunteer. Prior to joining Inspiring Minds, Jane worked in the corporate world until her retirement in 2014. During that time, she became acquainted with Inspiring Minds through the Power Lunch program, which she participated in for a number of years. Jane has a BA in English and an MBA from URI. She has two adult sons and lives in Providence with her husband, Ray.