Advisory Group

As Chief Executive Officer since 2011, Helen Archontou has guided YWCA Northern New Jersey to fully live its intersectional mission to eliminate racism and empower women by advocating against the oppression that many groups and individuals endure. Helen has directly overseen the development of a continuum of programs to support women and families in every stage of life as well as to raise awareness and take action to end racial and social injustice, advance gender equity, and promote the rights of all women.

In 2019 she accomplished her vision of expanding the organization’s service area to Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Passaic in addition to Bergen County and changed its name to YWCA Northern New Jersey.

Helen brings 25+ years of executive management experience in the not-for-profit sector, which included heading up Saint Clare’s Heath System’s Center for the Protection of Children serving Morris & Sussex Counties; founding and leading Wynona’s House, New Jersey’s first co-location child advocacy and treatment center of child abuse serving Essex County; and directing the Bergen County Literacy Volunteers of America chapter. She also served as Multidisciplinary Team Coordinator for the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes & Child Abuse Unit.

Advocacy and policy reform are always at the core of Helen’s focus. In June 2016, state leaders appointed Helen to serve on the New Jersey Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault. The 12-member Task Force undertook a yearlong mission to review policies and craft recommendations about how campus sexual assaults should be reported, adjudicated and most importantly, prevented. The Task Force report—Addressing Campus Sexual Violence: Creating Safer Higher Education Communities–was published in June 2017. She also co-authored a New Jersey Law Journal article after producing an educational training video, with funding from the New Jersey State Bar Foundation – Creating Safe Workplaces in New Jersey Politics. This project builds awareness and provides resources to political campaign staff so they can stay safe and free from sexual harassment and intimidation in their workplace.

In addition to her work at the YWCA Northern New Jersey, Helen volunteers with many other organizations including the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking, where she served as the Legislative Committee Co-Chairperson, Commerce, and Industry Association of New Jersey’s (CIANJ) Non-profit Steering Committee and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Committee. She is a board member of Women@NJPAC, and on the Childcare Research Collaborative at Rutgers University and Advisory Board of Let’s Talk about Women’s Wellness.

Helen testifies regularly on matters that are mission linked to the YW’s work. In May 2017, Helen traveled to Washington DC to present at a Capitol Hill policy briefing that focused on girls’ financial literacy. In 2023 she was invited to the White House to attend the “Communities in Action: Building a Better New Jersey” event. Helen is a sought-after speaker in the following areas including equal pay, women’s leadership, women’s and girls’ empowerment, racial justice, and considered a media expert on topics such as supporting survivors of sexual violence, and sexual violence prevention. In January 2019, she was a keynote presenter along with then NJ Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal at the Social Justice Forum hosted by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Committee of Ridgewood & Glen Rock, an invited keynote at the Laddey, Clark & Ryan LLP nonprofit conference, a special guest on Steve Adubato’s Lessons in Leadership podcast and a featured speaker on WPIX 11. She is also an adjunct professor at Montclair State University for almost twenty years where she teaches in their School of Social Work.

Helen’s professionalism has drawn several high-level accolades. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observance Committee of Bergen County awarded the organization the 2016 Lee Reid Award for the organization’s profoundly important work in promoting racial and social justice–a tribute to Helen’s leadership and diligence. That same year, the Bergen County Commission on the Status of Women honored Helen at their Women’s History Month Event Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government. In 2017, Helen was honored with a Women Empowering Women award by Key HR (Human Resources) Consulting. In 2019, Helen received the Crime Victims’ Rights Award from the NJ Office of the Attorney General and the Excellence Awards for Victims’ Justice. She has also been named among Insider’s NJ The Powerful Women of NJ Power List from 2019-2023. In 2020, Helen received the Top 50 Women in Business Award from NJ Biz and the Top 25 Women in New Jersey Award from Leading Women Entrepreneurs. In 2021, Helen was recognized by Commerce & Industry Association of NJ (CIANJ) as a Women Leader on the Rise. In 2022 she was a finalist for the ATHENA Award through the Monmouth County Regional Chamber of Commerce. In 2023 she was named one of NJ BIZ Empowering Women Honorees.

Under Helen’s guidance in 2020 YWCANNJ received a $3 million dollar grant from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott and recently received $2 million dollars in funding to support The Center for Racial Healing, New Jersey’s first clinical racial trauma program.

Helen holds a Master of Social Work from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Montclair State University. She is also a graduate of the New Jersey Child Abuse Institute and completed the Finding Words NJ program, a child-friendly forensic interviewing protocol for professionals involved in investigating and prosecuting child abuse. Most recently she completed a Leading with Equity in the Nonprofit Sector Certificate from the Kellogg Center for Nonprofit Management at Northwestern University.

Helen’s love and passion for her life’s work in social justice is only topped by her love for her family. She is married to a professional musician in the blues genre and is the mother of eleven-year-old twins and a three-year-old double doodle.

Dr. Jesselly De La Cruz, LCSW, earned her BA in Political Science from Rider University and both her MSW and DSW from Rutgers University. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Jersey and currently serves as Executive Director of the Latino Action Network Foundation, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to advancing progressive policy. A daughter of immigrants and an alumna of the NJ Governor’s Hispanic Fellows Program, Dr. De La Cruz has spent her career supporting underserved communities. She has held roles in direct services and program management across various Latino advocacy organizations and completed a post-graduate certificate in Family Therapy from the Multicultural Family Institute. With over 15 years of experience as a bilingual clinician, Dr. De La Cruz provides individual, group, family, and community-based treatment in both English and Spanish. Her expertise includes Latino mental health, trauma-informed care, and clinical supervision. She is committed to the development of future social workers, serving as a field instructor and mentor.

Dr. De La Cruz is a Lifetime Member and Past President of the Latino Mental Health Association of NJ, a Clinical and Research Member of the NJ Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, and an active leader within the National Association of Social Workers – NJ Chapter. She is also a published author and frequent presenter on topics related to trauma, mental health, and culturally responsive care.

Amanda Krause DiScala is the Director of Early Childhood Education and Childcare Initiatives, United in Care at the United Way of Northern New Jersey. Previously, she was the Executive Director of a child care center and an adjunct professor in Northern NJ . She has served as the VP of Public Policy and President, and is still, the Shared Services Program Director for NJAYEC.  Amanda has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Scranton, a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Rutgers University, and is currently defending her dissertation for her Doctorate in Early Childhood Education from Walden University. She is also the author of the Red Leaf Press publication, Understanding Shared Services in Early Childhood Education.  She is a leader and advocate for children, families, and providers across the state.

Ebony D. Grace is the Chief Executive Officer at NJSACC. Prior to joining NJSACC in 2014, Ebony worked for the New Jersey Department of Education responsible for providing programmatic/budgetary oversight and technical assistance for 21st Century Community Learning Centers and Even Start Family Literacy program grants, assisting with implementation of quality out-of-school time programs, ages birth through adulthood. For over ten years, Ebony worked at various Upward Bound programs assisting first-generation students in their goals to graduate high school and obtain post-secondary education. Ebony graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology from Temple University and a Master’s degree in Family Therapy from MCP Hahnemann/Drexel University. She also has experience as a practicing family therapist providing therapeutic services to individuals, families, couples and adolescents.

In 2015, Ebony was accepted as a White-Riley-Peterson Policy (WRP) Fellow at The Riley Institute at Furman University. In partnership with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the WRP Fellowship is a 10-month, national program designed to equip graduates with a real-world understanding of policy-making for afterschool and expanded learning.

In July 2019, The National Afterschool Association welcomed Ebony as one of two newly elected Board of Directors members, serving a three-year term.

Ebony also has a diploma in Baking and Pastry from the Art Institute of Philadelphia. She and her husband live in southern New Jersey with their two dogs.

Habibah Johnson is a Program Administrator at Rutgers Law School, a Parent Leadership Council co-leader with Advocates for Children of New Jersey, a higher education administrator for over 15 years, a wife, and a mother to four wonderful children. She has been advocating for children and families for the last five years in her role as a parent advocate in New Jersey. She is a proud graduate of Leadership Newark Class of 2021. Habibah earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from San Francisco State University and her Master’s degree in Urban Studies from Long Island University. She hopes to integrate her studies and passion for advocacy to continue to advocate for policy changes, and improve the lives of families across the state.

Peg Kinsell is the Policy Director at SPAN Parent Advocacy Network working on both state and federal issues. She also provides technical assistance for NEPACT the regional and CPIR the national parent technical assistance centers on juvenile justice as well as military connected students. As a USAF veteran and former military spouse Ms. Kinsell has a special expertise working with military families. She is the director of the Military Family Support 360 Project at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst which supports military connected children and youth with disabilities and/or special healthcare needs throughout New Jersey.

Ms. Kinsell is a member of the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities and in that role chairs the subcommittee on children and youth. Additionally, she sits on multiple, national regional and state committees and task forces.

Rich Maroko is the President of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, AFL-CIO, the union representing 40,000 workers in the hotel and gaming industries in New York and New Jersey.  He also serves as Business Manager for UNITE HERE Local 6, and as the Recording Secretary of UNITE HERE International Union, which represents 300,000 workers across the United States and Canada.

During his 20 years with the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, Rich has distinguished himself as a fierce negotiator and advocate for workers.  He has negotiated hundreds of collective bargaining agreements with major hotel and casino chains, including as lead counsel in bargaining the Union’s master NYC contract, valued at over 2.5 billion dollars per year.  Over the past several years, he has overseen the union’s explosive growth in NJ and upstate NY, where the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council doubled the number of union hotels and won the first ever statewide master contract in the hotel industry.

Rich was intimately involved in the Union’s expansion into the gaming industry, including the organizing of virtually all the operators in New York State and the negotiation of collective bargaining contracts with each of them.  He has also played a key role in overseeing the union’s political and legislative program, which has been successful in numerous policy initiatives benefiting hospitality workers on the state and municipal levels.

President Maroko took the helm at HTC at an exceptionally challenging time for the Union’s members, as the hospitality industry reeled from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  As a result of his recent efforts, furloughed workers at HTC-represented facilities received over half a billion dollars in supplemental pay and continued healthcare during the pandemic-caused shutdown.  He also crafted strict safety protocols designed to keep workers and guests safe at facilities that remain open, and successfully secured agreements across New York’s and New Jersey’s hospitality industry to codify those protocols.

Before coming to the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council in 2002, Rich practiced labor and employment law in New Jersey and New York.  He fought cases in front of state and federal courts and before the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, and the Division of Human Rights.

Rich has served on the New Jersey Transit Board of Directors since February 2020, after being appointed to that position by Governor Phil Murphy.  As a central player representing New York’s hospitality industry, he was also appointed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams to the mayor’s COVID Recovery Roundtable, and to the “New” New York Blue Ribbon Panel, which was co-convened by the mayor and New York Governor Kathy Hochul.  He was a long-time adjunct professor of Labor and Employment Law at Queens College, and is currently on the Board of Cornell University’s Center for Innovative Hospitality and Employment Relations.  He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Rutgers College, earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and later received a Master’s degree in Labor and Employment Law, with distinction, from Georgetown University Law School.

Dena Mottola Jaborska was appointed Executive Director of New Jersey Citizen Action in 2022 after eight years with the organization, where she served as Associate Director and Director of Advocacy and Organizing. With 27 years of social justice advocacy experience, she previously led New Jersey Public Interest Research Group and Environment New Jersey. As executive director, she has focused on expanding advocacy and direct services for working families, strengthening electoral engagement, and advancing strategic planning around diversity, equity, and inclusion across staff, board leadership, membership, and coalitions.

Kim Perrelli is the Executive Director at Child Care Resources of Monmouth County, with over 20 years’ experience in the Child Care Resource and Referral profession. Kim is the past President of Child Care Aware of NJ, the state network that represents local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies across the state. Kim is a member of Child Care Aware of America’ Joint Council, and membership committee. She is also a member of the NJ Child Care Advisory Council, Monmouth ACTS Advisory Council, and is the co-chair of Monmouth County’s Early Childhood Success Hub. Kim is a SHRM Certified Human Resources Professional and has a BA in Humanities and Psychology from Georgian Court University. Much of Kim’s career has been dedicated to supporting the advancement of child care for working families in NJ.

Petal Robertson, a 20-year high school English teacher working in the Montclair School District since 2004, is secretary-treasurer of the New Jersey Education Association. Robertson was elected in April 2021, taking office on Sept. 1, 2021.

Robertson holds a bachelor’s degree in English education and communications from Seton Hall University (2001) and a master’s degree in secondary education from Seton Hall University (2004).

Before becoming an NJEA officer, Robertson served as the President of the Montclair Education Association (2017-21) and a member of the NJEA Executive Committee (2020-21). A dynamic leader and truth-teller, Robertson also held positions as vice president, negotiations chair, and social committee chair throughout her time with the Montclair Education Association. At the state level, Robertson served as a member of the NJEA Delegate Assembly (2018-20), NJEA Pandemic Response Subcommittee (2020), the Property and Personal Committee (2020-21), and the NJEA PAC Operating Committee (PAC) (2020-21).

Outside of formal leadership roles, Robertson has found creative ways to organizing union members for different causes. In 2017, she co-founded Restorative Justice Montclair, an initiative that led the district to reimagine school discipline. In 2020, she founded the Vision and Voices program, which connected hundreds of NJEA members and helped those involved find their power. In that same year, Robertson started the 8:46 Project, which saw the Montclair Education Association bring community members and union members together through a shared passion of and a commitment to fight for racial, social and economic justice in and outside of the school community.

The general duties of the NJEA secretary-treasurer include overseeing all funds of the association, including the staff pension fund. Robertson serves as the NJEA officer liaison to several NJEA committees, including Budget, Health Benefits, Membership, School Finance, and Worksite Safety & Health. She will also join her fellow NJEA officers as a member of the Government Relations, NJEA PAC Operating Committee (PAC), and Strengthening Locals committees. Part of her responsibilities include serving as liaison to the New Jersey Retirees’ Education Association (NJREA) and the Center for Future Educators (CFE) at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ).

Robertson’s parents immigrated to the U.S. from Guyana, and the experience of growing up as the youngest child of first-generation Americans has shaped Robertson into the passionate leader she is today. Robertson lives in Old Bridge, New Jersey.

Michele N. Siekerka, Esq., President and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, leads the nation’s largest, most influential employers’ organization, advocating on behalf of New Jersey’s large and small businesses for policies that will make New Jersey more affordable and regionally competitive.

Being known as a collaborative leader, Siekerka leads an NJBIA established coalition (New Jersey Business Coalition) comprised of more than 100 business and nonprofit associations across the state to tackle the tough economic and business challenges our state faced during COVID 19.

Well versed on the ‘boots on the ground” issues affecting our state’s business community, Michele is often the “go to” resource for media and is sought after to share her expertise in public forums across the state.

Under Siekerka’s leadership, NJBIA’s award-winning research on outmigration documented the loss of $24 billion in wealth from New Jersey over 12 years and set the agenda in Trenton for the enactment of a series of important pro-business reforms, including the recent repeal of the estate tax, and the adjustment of the state income tax threshold for taxing retirement income.

Siekerka has also been at the forefront of efforts to build more effective workforce development alliances in New Jersey between academia, business and government. The NJBIA Postsecondary Education Task Force’s yearlong study of New Jersey’s highest-in-the-nation millennial outmigration produced a13-point action plan that is driving policymakers’ discussions on how to retain our future workforce.

Siekerka came to NJBIA in 2014 from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, where she last served in the critical position of Deputy Commissioner.  At DEP, Siekerka was a principal player in the state’s charge to restore New Jersey after Superstorm Sandy with the responsibility of coordinating funding, outreach and resources for rebuilding environmental infrastructure.

An attorney by trade, Siekerka’s background includes serving as the president and CEO of the Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, senior legal counsel and vice president of human resources with the Automobile Association of America, and as a partner in a Mercer County law firm.

Siekerka serves on the board of directors of Citizens Financial Group, Inc.; The New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors; Choose New Jersey; the New Jersey Innovation Institute and Junior Achievement of New Jersey.  As a testament to her passion for women’s leadership, she serves on the advisory council of both SheTek and Wings for Growth

Siekerka’s leadership is annually recognized through her inclusion in Power and Policymaker list rankings by Insider NJ, Politicker NJ, South Jersey Business and NJ BIZ. She is a proud Laureate of the NJ Business Hall of Fame.  A Robbinsville resident, Siekerka earned a B.A. in Political Science and German from Rutgers University and a J.D. from Temple University School of Law.

Dr. Winifred Smith-Jenkins joined Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) in 2023 as Director of Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy. With more than 20 years managing three family-owned child care programs in northern New Jersey, she brings deep expertise in early learning, maternal and infant health, and family support. She previously supported ACNJ by testifying before legislative committees, presenting on webinars, and partnering with policymakers to improve child and family well-being. At ACNJ, Dr. Smith-Jenkins leads the early childhood policy team to expand equitable access to high-quality early care and education, advance preschool expansion, and strengthen maternal and infant health initiatives. Her service includes roles with the South Orange- Maplewood School District, East Orange Preschool Advisory Council, and Mayoral Transition Team, as well as work as a foster parent, EMT, and community volunteer.

Meghan Tavormina is the Director of Public Policy for the New Jersey Association for the Education of Young Children. She previously served as the President and VP of Advocacy for the same organization. In addition to her roles with NJAEYC, Meghan is the Executive Director of The Learning Path Early Education Center. Through her blended roles, she is a strong advocate for robust investments and systems change in the early care and education space. Meghan is passionate about fixing the inadequate compensation of early educators and creating more effective systems to serve this industry. Her philosophy is that by lifting provider voices, and including them in high level conversations, we can create positive change. Meghan enjoys being a voice for the field of dedicated early educators. 

Meghan has an MS from Rutgers University in Political Science and has recently earned a Certificate in Early Education Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has been recognized by Congresswoman Sherrill for her work in the field as well as has participated in an ECE roundtable with Vice President Harris.

Outside of the early care and education field, Meghan is a wife and mother of two active teenagers. She loves to spend her time on the sidelines of her children’s various sporting events.  

As Executive Director, Atiya leads the Burke Foundation’s efforts to invest in the most promising and transformative programs and policies that foster the health, well-being, and resilience of children and families in New Jersey. She oversees the development and execution of its strategies to pursue targeted initiatives and partnerships focused on healthy pregnancies and births, healthy parent-child relationships, and high-quality early learning and care.

Before joining the Burke Foundation, Atiya was Executive Director at JP Morgan’s Philanthropy Center advising charitable trusts and family foundations on strategy, impact, and legacy for five years. At JP Morgan, she supported the development and launch of the Global Health Investment Fund, a $100 million social impact fund to advance the development of new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics, in partnership with the Gates Foundation. From 2001-2011, she led the Pfizer Foundation’s global health portfolio and spearheaded flagship programs, including Pfizer Global Health Fellows and Mobilize Against Malaria.

Atiya is interested in breaking silos and building coalitions, centered around community voices, to make systems change and build a cycle of opportunity across generations. She is passionate about collaborating with leaders across sectors to tackle the social problems facing underserved children and their families, and firmly believes that effective partnerships can unlock the potential of communities and create meaningful, lasting change.

Atiya graduated with degrees in biology and public policy from Brown University and has a Masters in Public Health in epidemiology from Columbia University. She is a 2021 Ascend Aspen Institute Fellow. She lives in Princeton with her husband and two sons.