The Strong Women, Strong Girls’ team ensures that girls and women in Boston develop skills, relationships, and role models to ensure future success.
Amy Howard
Executive Director
Amy Howard joined Strong Women, Strong Girls Boston in March of 2012. As the Boston Executive Director, Amy is responsible for the strategic development, management, and enhancement of the Boston program, as well as generating financial and community resources to support the mission of Strong Women, Strong Girls locally. Prior to joining the SWSG team, Amy served as Director of Development at Mass Mentoring Partnership. Amy has dedicated her professional life to addressing issues that affect women and children, and her past work experiences include work with the Elizabeth Stone House, Catholics for Choice in Washington, DC, and Family Planning Advocates of New York State. Amy has a Masters Degree in Social Work with a concentration in nonprofit management and resource development from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Skidmore College. Amy is currently a Leadership Coach with Strong Women, Strong Girls and on the steering committee of Women in Nonprofits.
Email: ahoward(at)swsg.org
Kenyora Johnson
Program Manager
Kenyora Johnson joined Strong Women, Strong Girls as a Boston Program Manager in 2011. Kenyora works closely with Strong Women, Strong Girls partners to implement excellent programming, provide appropriate trainings, cultivate community partnerships and provide ongoing support to mentors and chapter leaders. Prior to joining Strong Women, Strong Girls, Kenyora worked with METCO, Incorporated. Kenyora has served as President of the Black Student Organization, as the Coordinator for the Education Sparks Science program of the Scott/Ross Community Center, and as the Vice President and Co-Founder of the Honors Liaison at Simmons College. She has also been a Social Work Intern at the Peterborough Senior Center. Currently, she is an active member of the Boston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. In this role, she mentors local middle school girls through the Delta Academy program. She also serves as the President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Greater Boston. Kenyora holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health from Simmons College. She is second-year student working towards her Masters of Social Work at Boston University.
Email: kjohnson(at)swsg.org
Mikki Pugh
Program Manager
Mikki Pugh joined SWSG as Boston Program Manager in April 2012. Mikki is a graduate of Skidmore College and the University of North Carolina, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work. Most recently, she was the Coordinator of Match Support at Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, where she provided direct support to more than one hundred mentors, girls, and parents, trained women to become mentors, and supervised six staff members. Mikki also spearheaded an extensive revision of volunteer training at Big Sister, including providing train-the-trainer sessions to her team. Her passion for gender advocacy and women’s empowerment has taken many forms. She has facilitated support groups for girls in foster care, served as a volunteer teacher of social studies and life-skills to girls in India, and works part-time as a Reproductive Health Counselor. Mikki assisted with both research and editing for a few publications, including Grassroots: A Field Guide to Feminist Activism.
Email: mpugh(at)swsg.org
Jennifer Phillips
Development Consultant
Jennifer Phillips has been working in the worlds of government, non-profits, and academia for more than 20 years. Her skills help organizations build capacity, develop potential, and reach their goals, while remaining sensitive to their staff, culture, and experience. Her work focuses on three key areas: help drive an organization’s message; strengthen fundraising efforts; and develop strategic relationships and partnerships to ensure long-term success. Jennifer began in politics and local campaigns, where she learned the power of a good message and organization towards a goal; her continued work in state government taught her the value of strong partnerships among programs and across organizations. Jennifer’s time in the private sector demonstrated the power of a business-non-profit connection. Working with eager college students taught Jennifer the value of training leaders for the next generation. Jennifer works as a consultant with a limited number of non-profits each year. Her most recent work has been with Plum Productions Inc. and the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in Boston, for the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace. Jennifer holds a BA from McGill University and an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She lives with her husband, daughter, and many toy horses in Somerville, MA.
Email: jphillips(at)swsg.org
Erica Feldmann
Program and Development Intern
Erica Feldmann graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s degree in History and Sociology in 2007. Returning to school in 2010 to complete a Masters degree in Gender and Cultural Studies at Simmons College, Erica has taken a keen interest in Media Studies and the project of empowering girls and women through media literacy. While TA-ing for the History Department at Simmons, Erica found the experience of teaching college women incredibly rewarding. She hopes that her internship with Strong Women Strong Girls will help her to transition into the professional world utilizing the knowledge gained from her degree.
Email: efeldmann(at)swsg.org
Aishath Mohamed
Program Intern
Aishath joined Strong Women, Strong Girls in winter 2012 as a Program Intern. She is a recent graduate of College of the Atlantic, where she earned a BA in Human Ecology focusing on Bodywork, Photography and Women’s Studies. Prior to working at Strong Women, Strong Girls, she has had experience working with youth in rural India and worked closely on fundraising events for international organizations. Aishath has a passion for working with women, and in particular, using Energy work and Massage Therapy to foster personal empowerment through self-awareness and confidence. She hopes to start a graduate program in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine as she continues on her journey of empowering other women and herself.
Email: amohamed(at)swsg.org
Jillian Wakeham
Program Intern
Jillian Wakeham joined Strong Women Strong Girls in January 2012 as a Program Intern. She is currently a senior at Emmanuel College, where she is majoring in History with a concentration in Secondary Education. Prior to joining Strong Women, Strong Girls, Jillian has had experience volunteering in the Boston area with youth, ranging from ages 4 to 17. Jillian has always had a passion for community service and volunteering, making it her ultimate goal to attend graduate school in pursuit of a Master’s degree in Social Work; something she hopes will provide her with the opportunity and the skills needed to eventually work within the foster care system. Jillian finds the mission of the Strong Women, Strong Girls program motivating and is hoping that her internship with SWSG will provide her with the tools, enthusiasm, and gainful experience to further her future in serving her community.
Email: jwakeham(at)swsg.org