Our Team

Close-up of Ali Boak, executive director emeritus, with blonde hair smiling, wearing a black top and earrings, standing against a plain white wall.

Ali Boak

Ali is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day functions of LifeWay Network, including its safe housing and education programs, development, finance, human resources and strategy. As the lead public advocate for LifeWay Network’s mission, Ali works to champion LifeWay’s impact across its programs and the anti-trafficking field as a whole. For more than 25 years, Ali has worked alongside survivors of all forms of trafficking to develop innovative, survivor-driven approaches to prevent and address human trafficking across the United States, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS

Close-up photo of Jeannie Colangelo, director of finance and technology, with curly dark hair, brown eyes, and a big smile, wearing hoop earrings and a black top.

Jeannie Colangelo

As the director of finance and technology, Jeannie is responsible for managing the fiscal and system functions to ensure the smooth and efficient operations of the organization, as well as support organizational growth and program development with financial planning models. Jeannie also leads the development of the organization’s technology roadmap, including the identification of appropriate systems to meet growing organizational needs.

DIRECTOR, FINANCE & TECHNOLOGY

Josephine Crisostomo, director of people and operations, with curly black hair styled in a high ponytail, wearing a dark blazer and a blue top, smiling in front of a plain white wall.

Josephine Crisostomo

Josephine is a graduate of Syracuse University with a background in community engagement and mental health. She has focused throughout her career on ensuring that New Yorkers have access to culturally responsive services and information to make informed choices about their health. Before joining LifeWay, Josephine worked at the New York City Mayor’s Office implementing social-emotional and trauma-informed crisis management programming for youth, parents and educators.

PEOPLE & OPERATIONS MANAGER

Mary McMahon, executive director, with gray hair, wearing glasses and a colorful embroidered jean jacket, is sitting on a patterned couch in a room with beige walls, framed artwork, and a decorative sculpture of a sitting woman in the background.

Mary McMahon

Mary McMahon is a licensed clinical social worker in New York and a graduate of New York University’s School of Social Work. She brings broad clinical and program leadership experience across foster care, outreach services, school social work, medical social work and program design and development for a large Catholic Diocese in the New York region. Mary has provided trauma-informed support to adult survivors of abuse and is deeply committed to partnering with and advocating for individuals who have been victimized. In addition to her work with LifeWay Network, she maintains aclinical practice on Long Island, where she works with adults.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Julianne Will, marketing and communications specialist, with long, wavy white hair and light skin, smiling and wearing a denim jacket, standing against a plain light-colored background.

Julianne Will

Julianne has overseen LifeWay’s PR, website, social media, writing, graphic design and communications strategy and production since 2022. A graduate of Purdue University, her career has included roles as a newspaper reporter and editor; book editor; advertising agency account executive; ESL instructor; and marketing director. She’s also owned a freelance marketing and writing business for more than 20 years, serving clients internationally in a wide variety of industries, and she’s been published in numerous newspapers and magazines. Julianne is grateful for the opportunity to do work that makes a difference.

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Chloe Kastner Leonardo, director of development, with long dark hair wearing a royal blue top and black blazer, standing against a plain light-colored wall.

Chloe Kastner Leonardo

Chloe brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of fundraising to LifeWay Network. With her extensive background in connecting donors with meaningful causes, Chloe has successfully led numerous fundraising campaigns, helping us achieve our charitable goals. She is a true advocate for change and believes in the power of collective action.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND EVENTS

Venissa Vincent, care coordinator, with a smile, wearing a striped shirt, and standing against a plain background.

Venissa Vincent

As the care coordinator for LifeWay Network, Venissa is passionate about supporting individuals through personalized, compassionate care. With a background in health promotion and experience in community health and transitional support, she’s dedicated to helping people navigate challenging seasons and taking steps toward healing and wholeness. A master’s degree candidate at Fordham University, Venissa’s work is driven by a deep commitment to dignity, empowerment and holistic well-being.

CARE COORDINATOR

Tori Curbelo, director of education, with long brown hair and light skin, smiling with pink lipstick, wearing a sleeveless top with a black and white animal print, standing against a plain white wall.

Tori Curbelo

With more than a decade of experience in human rights and program development, Tori has designed and facilitated trainings for more than 30,000 individuals across sectors. She has served as a trusted advisor to UNICEF USA, NGOs and global brands on issues ranging from human trafficking and child labor to digital child safety policy. Tori holds a master of international affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a master of public health from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy. She brings field-based insights from working in shelters, factories and trafficking safe houses into her policy and training work.

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Ellen Bellamy, co-house manager, with long, wavy, brown hair and earrings, smiling and wearing a green blazer, standing against a plain light-colored background.

Ellen Bellamy

Sabrina is a compassionate and dedicated social worker holding a master’s in social work from Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services. Sabrina is licensed to practice in New York State and has extensive expertise in trauma-focused work. Throughout their career, Sabrina has worked with diverse populations, including human trafficking survivors, domestic violence survivors, people living with HIV, individuals experiencing homelessness, and those with chronic mental health conditions. Sabrina’s approach is centered on empathy, advocacy and empowering individuals.

CO-SAFE HOUSE MANAGER

Lindsay Anderson, safe house manager for LifeWay Network, with long, straight blonde hair, glasses, and a black textured sweater, smiling in front of a plain beige wall.

Lindsay Anderson

Lindsay joined LifeWay as a house manager in November 2017. Her job entails day-to-day maintenance of the safe house as well as creating a safe, supportive and home-like environment for survivors. Lindsay enjoys working with the survivors, offering them each encouragement and support to grow and flourish during their stay. Lindsay always wanted to be part of an organization that allowed her to make a difference. Lindsay received her B.A. in human development from SUNY Oswego and has worked as a literacy tutor and life skills trainer.

SENIOR SAFE HOUSE MANAGER

Laraib Anjum, co-house manager, with dark, styled hair and a warm smile, wearing a pink garment with a cream-colored scarf, standing against a plain, light-colored wall.

CO-SAFE HOUSE MANAGER, LIVED-EXPERIENCE ADVOCATE

Laraib Anjun

Laraib moved from Pakistan to New York City with a master’s degree in teaching arts. She is a graduate of LifeWay Network’s safe housing program. Laraib has served for two years as a residential aide at LifeWay Network, where she provides supports and art therapy to current safe housing program residents. Currently, she also serves as a survivor advocate, sharing her lived experience with the LifeWay Network board, staff, residents, volunteers and consultants. Laraib also works in the security department at Montefiore Hospital.

Moriah Beatrice, survivor advocate, with dark hair pulled back wearing a colorful, patterned shirt, smiling and standing against a plain wall.

LIVED-EXPERIENCE ADVOCATE

Moriah Beatrice

Moriah Beatrice is a survivor of trafficking that began when she was a child. She exited her trafficking situation in 2017 with the support of human trafficking outreach professionals and began years of growth, culminating in reunification with her daughter and the birth of a second daughter. Moriah worked as a residential aide at LifeWay Network before taking a role as a survivor advocate. She’s also an addiction peer recovery coach and certified in ethics, intimate partner violence and mandated reporting.

Sister Claudia Stecker, host community member, with short brown hair and glasses smiling, wearing a color-blocked sweater with maroon, light gray, and dark gray sections, against a plain white wall background.

Sister Claudia Stecker

Sister Claudia trained as a high school music educator. She joined the RNDM Sisters in Winnipeg, Canada; in 1997; she was assigned to the Philippines, where she worked as an educator at Notre Dame University in Cotabato City, Mindanao, and at Asian Social Institute in Manila. She also served as a finance officer and in congregation leadership and formation. Master’s studies in pastoral sociology from Asian Social Institute and in business administration from the European School of Economics, London, UK, supported her in her ministries.

SAFE HOUSE HOST COMMUNITY

Sister Kate O'Neill, host community member, with short, gray hair styled upward, smiling, wearing a dark pinstripe blazer over a floral-patterned blouse, standing against a plain light-colored wall.

Sister Kate O’Neill

Following years of elementary school teaching in Australia, Sister Kate, a native Australian, joined the RNDM Sisters and lived for 11 years in New Zealand. After theology and social work studies, she worked for a nonprofit as a social worker for adolescents living on the streets. Sr. Kate was then missioned by her religious congregation to the Philippines, where she served for 19 years in Manila. She worked for and became the executive director of Kuya Center for Street Children, offering residential and community-based programs.

SAFE HOUSE HOST COMMUNITY