Yasmeen Casimir

Funeral Services

Yasmeen is a graduate of Funeral Service and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management at CUNY School of Professional Studies. Her background reflects a passion for service, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and supporting individuals and families through meaningful life experiences.

Yasmeen is also the author of an eBook focused on child grief, created to help families navigate conversations surrounding grief and loss with children. She is a proud NFP alumna and a two-time recipient of the Heart’s Desire Grant, experiences that have contributed to her personal and professional growth. As a mother and member of the Friends of NYC NFP Advisory Board, Yasmeen brings both professional knowledge and lived experience to her role.

She is passionate about using her voice and experiences to advocate for families, strengthen communities, and create meaningful opportunities for others.

“I’m grateful to be part of the Advisory Board and look forward to continuing to contribute to the Friends community.”

Michelle Chan

CEO & Founder Workplayce

As a mom of two kids in NYC, former social justice and startup attorney Michelle Chan saw a need to build a future of work and care that supports today’s families. She started Workplayce, family coworking and childcare space where moms and dads can focus on their work, stay close to their babies, and co-create a life for their family with the support of a community of caregivers.

“As a new mom, I felt a new set of injustices and created Workplayce to help parents like me who juggle childcare, work, home and health. We build physical infrastructure so parents can access services, build skills, and find community.”

Lisa Chin

Family-Focused Services & Outreach

Lisa is an administrative and community‑focused professional dedicated to supporting families and strengthening maternal and child health outcomes.

As a mother of two and a graduate of Friends of NYC NFP, she brings meaningful lived experience and a deep understanding of the challenges and resilience of parents navigating early childhood. In her professional work, Lisa specializes in quality assurance and organized, client‑centered support, ensuring that individuals receive clear communication, consistent follow‑up, and access to helpful resources.

Her background in outreach and family‑focused services shapes her commitment to programs that uplift parents and promote long‑term stability and well‑being.

“I am devoted to elevating parent voices, contributing thoughtful insight, and helping advance initiatives that foster healthier, more supported families across New York City.”

Susan Chinitz, PsyD.

Co-Director of the Training and Technical Assistance Center for the NYC Perinatal + Early Childhood Mental Health Network

Susan is a licensed psychologist and endorsed Infant Mental Health Clinical Mentor. She is the Clinical Co-Director of the Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) for the NYC Perinatal + Early Childhood Mental Health Network, and is a consulting psychologist and member of the advisory board for the New York Center for Child Development. She is a former Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she was
the Director of the Early Childhood Center and the Center for Babies, Toddlers and Families.

She also spearheaded the development of Infant Toddler Courts in New York State which are currently operating in 7 counties and Family Courts across the state. She has been the recipient of government and private foundation grants for the expansion and integration of infant and early childhood mental health services into other child and family serving systems, including pediatric practices, preschools, and foster care agencies.

Elisa Dunn

Nurse Practitioner (Retired)

Elisa was born and raised in New York City, where she attended public schools and earned her first undergraduate degree in Biology from City College.

Following her studies, she spent several wonderful years traveling and living abroad, including two years in Hawaii and five years in Japan, where she taught English and intensively practiced Shotokan karate.

Upon returning to NYC, she worked as an executive assistant before deciding to pursue an exciting career change. At age 37, she enrolled at Columbia University to become a Nurse Practitioner, a milestone she considers one of her best decisions.

Elisa has enjoyed a deeply fulfilling nursing career across various sectors, including an ACT team for formerly homeless individuals and in home hospice care. Most notably, she spent 16 rewarding years with the NYC Nurse-Family Partnership before her recent retirement.

Sarah Hayes

Senior Director of Economic Empowerment Programs at Sanctuary for Families

Sarah leads workforce development initiatives that help survivors of domestic and gender-based violence achieve economic self-sufficiency.

A licensed social worker with a Master of Social Work from the Silberman School of Social Work (CUNY), Sarah has dedicated her career to empowering individuals through career readiness, economic opportunity, and supportive services. Her expertise in workforce development and client-centered programming brings valuable insight to the Friends of NYC NFP Advisory Board.

Lauren Heck

Family Nurse Practitioner

Lauren Heck is a mom to an almost two-year-old living in Brooklyn. She has been a registered nurse for the past 10 years, including more than seven years as a bedside nurse in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). After earning her Family Nurse Practitioner degree, she transitioned into her current full-time role as a Family Nurse Practitioner, where she continues to support the health and well-being of children and families.

Outside of work, you’ll usually find her exploring Brooklyn with her toddler—whether at the playground, in the park, or enjoying the beach during the summer.

“I’m passionate about connecting with other moms and young families, and I’m excited to build meaningful relationships within this community.”

Claire Hoon

Host of The Catch Up With Claire

Claire Hoon is a New York City–based technology sales executive, entrepreneur, podcast host, and maternal mental health advocate. She brings more than 12 years of experience in relationship building, strategic partnerships, and business development.

Her own experience with postpartum depression deepened her commitment to improving the care, resources, and support available to women and families, particularly during pregnancy, postpartum, and the early years of parenthood. She is the host of The Catch Up with Claire, a podcast featuring candid conversations about the experiences shaping women’s lives.

Claire is also the founder of Her House, an experiential brand building a brick-and-mortar space for women in New York City designed around how women gather, work, create, seek support, and spend time together.

Listen here!

Kesia Hudson

Award Winning Startup Advisor

Kesia Hudson leads our entrepreneurship program. As a business coach, she works closely with under-recognized women to forge their own paths in the business world. Kesia has developed cutting-edge products and solutions for the financial, fashion, and consulting industries. Drawing from her own entrepreneurial journey, she creates signature frameworks and tools that address key areas and pain points that founders struggle with. Kesia finds joy in inspiring our moms to discover the possibilities that entrepreneurship can create for them and their families.

Jill Lerman

Simple Play & Parenting Coach

Jill Lerman is a play expert, early childhood educator, parenting coach, consultant, and host of *The Art of Playful Parenting* podcast. She empowers overwhelmed parents and caregivers to connect and engage with their little ones through simple prompts to play and create, helping make parenting feel more joyful and manageable.

Jill also serves as a play expert and consultant for brands, where she teaches classes, leads workshops, creates content, consults on product development, and develops play ideas. She facilitates professional development workshops for early childhood centers and speaks on play and parenting topics for employees at large corporations.

A mom herself, Jill understands how challenging it can be to get through the day, which is why her approach focuses on making play simple, accessible, and meaningful. She helps families create environments that see children as capable from their earliest days while fostering creativity, playfulness, bonding, and connection.

Jill lives in Jersey City and is a mom to a preschooler and an infant. To learn more about her private coaching, monthly membership, and podcast, visit her website at www.jillybeansnyc.com or follow her on Instagram @jillybeansnyc.

Maristella Lucchini, PhD

Sleep Scientist & Innovator

Maristella, a sleep health expert specializing in women’s health, maternal-infant sleep, and mental well-being. She works with companies in the sleep technology and consumer health industries to develop evidence-based solutions that improve sleep outcomes for families. With a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and extensive research experience at Columbia University, she is passionate about making high-quality sleep guidance more accessible to women and families.

You can watch Maristella’s LEAP session on safe sleep here.