Dana Lee Mengwasser,
Executive Director
Pronouns: they/ them/ theirs
Dana Lee Mengwasser began working with The Brick House in the Spring of 2014. They are committed to advancing opportunities for youth leadership and empowerment through principles of Positive Youth Development. Dana works in the Teen Center where they oversee drop-in hours, design and facilitate programming, and supervise the AmeriCorps Member and Youth Program Support Staff. Dana is dedicated to fostering community collaboration through participation in local coalitions, including the Gill-Montague Community School Partnership, Youth Services Council, Youth Career Connections Council, Communities That Care Coalition, and Mass Grad Coalition.Dana Lee graduated from Hampshire College with a BA in Liberal Arts, where they studied arts, social justice, and non-profit organizational structure. and they have a long history of work within youth programming and non-profit organizations. In their life away from the Brick House, Dana facilitates a preschool story-hour at a local library and coaches a synchronized swimming team. They enjoy houseplants, glitter, and being by the ocean.
Dana Lee Mengwasser began working with The Brick House in the Spring of 2014. They are committed to advancing opportunities for youth leadership and empowerment through principles of Positive Youth Development. Dana works in the Teen Center where they oversee drop-in hours, design and facilitate programming, and supervise the AmeriCorps Member and Youth Program Support Staff. Dana is dedicated to fostering community collaboration through participation in local coalitions, including the Gill-Montague Community School Partnership, Youth Services Council, Youth Career Connections Council, Communities That Care Coalition, and Mass Grad Coalition.Dana Lee graduated from Hampshire College with a BA in Liberal Arts, where they studied arts, social justice, and non-profit organizational structure. and they have a long history of work within youth programming and non-profit organizations. In their life away from the Brick House, Dana facilitates a preschool story-hour at a local library and coaches a synchronized swimming team. They enjoy houseplants, glitter, and being by the ocean.
Xinef Afriam,
Youth Programs Manager
Abby Graseck,
Family Services Liaison
Pronouns: she/ her/ hers
Abby grew up in Connecticut, but moved to western Massachusetts from Tucson, Arizona in 2011. Before moving to this area, she was involved in immigrant rights work in the US/Mexico border region. She also taught literacy and advocacy skills for adults in Adult Basic Education programs and Family Literacy classes at several of Tucson’s community education centers and schools.When Abby is not at The Brick House, she spends her time gardening, cooking, playing in the woods, and raising kids. As a parent herself, she finds it particularly rewarding to be able to work with other parents and their children. She values collaborating with the many organizations that serve families in Franklin County, and is glad to be a part of the larger effort of The Brick House to make this community a stronger and more vibrant one.
Abby grew up in Connecticut, but moved to western Massachusetts from Tucson, Arizona in 2011. Before moving to this area, she was involved in immigrant rights work in the US/Mexico border region. She also taught literacy and advocacy skills for adults in Adult Basic Education programs and Family Literacy classes at several of Tucson’s community education centers and schools.When Abby is not at The Brick House, she spends her time gardening, cooking, playing in the woods, and raising kids. As a parent herself, she finds it particularly rewarding to be able to work with other parents and their children. She values collaborating with the many organizations that serve families in Franklin County, and is glad to be a part of the larger effort of The Brick House to make this community a stronger and more vibrant one.
Arizona Miller,
AmeriCorps Member
Pronouns: they / them
Arizona is a photographer, writer, and connoisseur of big feelings serving at the Brick House through the DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps program. Arizona sparked a passion in working with youth while teaching horse-back riding lessons on their family farm in Zelienople, PA. After four years studying to earn a BFA in Screenwriting from the Cinema program at Point Park University, they hope to share the skills they’ve garnered with the youth in the Franklin County Community, while picking up some skills from the youth as well. Through their AmeriCorps term at the Brick House, Arizona hopes to build a foundation of knowledge in order to work towards their career goal of starting a rural camp program for queer youth. In their spare time, Arizona enjoys scouting out natural swimming spots, making memes, and building community with other rural queers.
Arizona is a photographer, writer, and connoisseur of big feelings serving at the Brick House through the DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps program. Arizona sparked a passion in working with youth while teaching horse-back riding lessons on their family farm in Zelienople, PA. After four years studying to earn a BFA in Screenwriting from the Cinema program at Point Park University, they hope to share the skills they’ve garnered with the youth in the Franklin County Community, while picking up some skills from the youth as well. Through their AmeriCorps term at the Brick House, Arizona hopes to build a foundation of knowledge in order to work towards their career goal of starting a rural camp program for queer youth. In their spare time, Arizona enjoys scouting out natural swimming spots, making memes, and building community with other rural queers.
