Our Team
SARAH ADAMS
Operations Manager
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Sarah is an adventurous, well-traveled, young professional who earned her BA in Hospitality Management from the New York City College of Technology (CUNY). During her studies, she was catapulted into the event industry, where she fused customized and creative ideas for both social and corporate events. Sarah’s passions include giving back to her community by helping to combat the issue of food-deserts in low-income neighborhoods. With her diverse skill set, her goal is to help CitizensNYC execute projects and meet organizational objectives that deliver impactful and memorable experiences for residents and business owners across New York City.
EMAIL: SAdams@citizensnyc.org
CAROLYN BERNAL
Director of Operations
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Carolyn has almost two decades of experience in finance, audit, and project management in financial services firms managing teams on strategic projects and finance operations. She has managed audit teams, financial controller groups, and technology projects across multinational organizations. She excels when collaborating in a team to harness their collective strengths to accomplish goals. Carolyn earned a Master of Science in International Management from EM Lyon Business School in Lyon, France, a Master of Science in Secondary Education from St. John’s University in New York, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.. She is excited to join CitizensNYC to help the team in rebuilding New York City.
EMAIL: CBernal@citizensnyc.org
SAGE CLEGHORN
Development Associate
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Sage is a young professional who earned her BA in Political Science from Drew University alongside a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution & Leadership from the Casperson School of Graduate Studies. During her studies, she maintained consistent dedication and involvement in non-profit organizations across NYC. Before CitizensNYC, Sage worked as a Programs Associate with La Colmena: Community Job Center of Staten Island. Sage has a strong passion for community and a commitment to grassroots development. She is grateful for the opportunity to direct her passion and assist CitizensNYC’s development team in supporting leaders across NYC who are creating positive change in their communities.
EMAIL: scleghorn@citizensnyc.org
JOSÉ DOBLES
VP of Programs
Pronouns: he/him/his
José Dobles comes to Citizens Committee for NYC with over 20 years of leadership development and community organizing experience. Throughout his career, José has worked with young people and adults to leverage their lived experiences to examine, critique, and address the issues that matter most to them. It’s this commitment to lifting up the expertise of those closest to the problems facing our city that he brings to the Vice President of Programs position at CitizensNYC. José holds an M.Div from Union Theological Seminary and B.A. in Religious Studies from the College of the Holy Cross. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.
EMAIL: jdobles@citizensnyc.org
ALISON DORSI
Programs Manager
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Alison is an inquisitive, well-traveled, and passionate professional who seeks to improve the lives of her fellow New Yorkers. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science and economics as well as master’s degrees in political science and public administration. Her past work experiences include six years at L&G Research and Evaluation Consulting, internships in the British Parliament and United Nations, and served as an AmeriCorps member at the NYCDOE. Alison is an avid baker and enjoys experimenting with new recipes.
EMAIL: adorsi@citizensnyc.org
NICK HAYNES
VP of Development
Pronouns: he/him/his
As VP of Development, Nick builds partnerships with the individual, foundation, corporate, and government supporters who make CitizenNYC’s impact possible. He is grateful for the opportunity to support leaders across New York City who are creating positive change in their communities. Prior to joining CitizensNYC, he led fundraising for two edtech nonprofits, Read to Lead and PowerMyLearning, and has also held development roles at The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and St. John’s University. Nick earned a B.A. in History from the University of Richmond and an MBA in Marketing from St. John’s University. When he’s not working, he’s most likely reading, brewing beer, or spending time with his family.
EMAIL: NHaynes@citizensnyc.org
MICHAEL HICKEY
Chief Operating Officer
Pronouns: he/him/his
Michael Hickey currently serves as Chief Operating Officer for Citizens Committee for NYC, leading efforts to strengthen core practices, advance strategic initiatives, and deepen partnerships. Michael brings more than 20 years of experience co-creating public-private-nonprofit partnerships to solve some of NYC's most entrenched challenges. He has been a government executive, funder, banker, advocate, management consultant, educator, and twice a non-profit founder. His professional training is in social work, and he has served on numerous boards and advisory committees over the years. Mike has a B.A degree in English Literature from Ohio University, and a Masters of Science in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
EMAIL: MHickey@citizensnyc.org
ISI KIRSHNER-BREEN
Director of Communications
Pronouns: he/him/his
As Director of Communications, Isi is CitizensNYC’s chief storyteller, sharing opportunities with our communities, connecting partners with one another, and telling the stories of the thousands of people Citizens inspires every year. Originally from Minneapolis, he spent most of his career in Washington D.C., working on Capitol Hill. He served as communications director and press secretary to Representative Keith Ellison, America’s first Muslim Congressman. After Rep. Ellison left his seat to serve as Minnesota’s Attorney General, Isi worked for his successor, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, overseeing communications on her campaigns for reelection in 2020 and 2022. He’s a long-suffering fan of the Minnesota Vikings and his alma mater’s California Golden Bears, and a recently-suffering fan of kpop. He lives with his wife in Brooklyn.
EMAIL: isibreen@citizensnyc.org
ABRIL PEÑA
Corporate and Foundation Partnerships Manager
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Abril serves the Citizens Committee for NYC as the Foundation and Corporate Partnerships Manager. Born and raised in Queens, Abril is proud to work with CitizensNYC’s partners to best support local leaders and neighborhood-led projects for the betterment of NYC.
Prior to joining CitizensNYC, Abril worked at Echoing Green, JPMorgan Chase, and Virtual Enterprises International. Throughout her career, Abril has fostered strong partnerships with donors, partners, and community members; engaged hundreds of volunteers annually; and supported fundraising efforts through grant writing and reporting. Abril earned her B.A. in Corporate Communications with a minor in Sociology from Baruch College CUNY. As an alumna of Minds Matter, Abril has volunteered as a high school mentor and college coach for low-income, high-achieving students since 2020.
Abril is a first-generation New Yorker, a proud daughter of Dominican immigrant parents, and a published essay writer through the Dominican Writers Association.
EMAIL: apena@citizensnyc.org
CARLOS A. SANTIAGO
Programs Associate & Archivist
Pronouns: he/him/his/they/them/theirs
Hablo Español
Carlos works on programs, grant review, and archival projects at CitizensNYC. His experience at a genealogy nonprofit and in the public history field has equipped Carlos with the skills to bring CitizensNYC’s legacy to life, and he prioritizes bringing valuable information to communities in an accessible way so that New Yorkers know they are being heard by our team. As a born and bred New Yorker of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent, Carlos intimately recognizes the needs of New York City in the past and present. Carlos earned a BA and MA in History at the University at Buffalo and Brooklyn College, respectively. He also earned an Advanced Certificate in Public History at the College of Staten Island in 2020.
EMAIL: CSantiago@citizensnyc.org