OUR TEAM

Pronouns: She/Her

Borah is passionate about empowering young people to live authentically, and a believer in the power of transformative experiences and nature. As a High School Program Manager, Borah supports mentors to hold space for their mentees’ kaleidoscopic experiences, grow in their own amazing ways, and model healthy work/life balance by celebrating, taking care, and being fully present in our own lives.

Before joining Summer Search, Borah taught literacy and global citizenship in the Bronx. Borah received the 2017 Excellence in Education award from the Committee for Teaching on the United Nations for her work as a NYC Junior Ambassador Educator.

Borah holds a BA from Boston University and an MA from the Hunter College School of Education.

A wilderness enthusiast herself, Borah has participated in an archeological expedition in Mongolia, camped in the Adirondacks, canoed the Delaware, and hiked all over upstate NY with her baby girl (safely strapped into her carrier). When she’s not in the woods, she’s probably singing, knitting, soaking up time with family and friends, or making dumplings.

Pronouns: She/Her

Dedicated to social change and a commitment to understanding history, culture and the impact that racism and other intersections have on individuals and communities, Jené is continually inspired by authentic conversations and relationship building.

Jené provides mentoring and training support to Program Associates and loves the opportunity to create spaces where people feel supported and heard.

Jené graduated from Brandeis University and holds a MSW from Hunter College School of Social Work.

In her spare time, Jené enjoys laughing, learning from, and supporting her friends and family. She enjoys music, reading fantasy books, cats, swimming in the ocean, and sleeping in. She has spent the last couple of summers travelling to Cuba, and getting involved with community organizing efforts.

She currently lives in Brooklyn, and dreams of spending the winters in the Caribbean.

Pronouns: She/Her.

Trish’s passion for learning and growth started with her first job at Chuck E. Cheeses, pushed her to study abroad in college, pulled her into college access and success work, and guides most of her life choices to this day. As a first-generation college student Trish had to overcome many challenges in her pursuit of higher education and quest for fulfilling her purpose. She is grateful to those who helped her come to this point as a Post-Secondary Manager at Summer Search!

Trish holds her bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College and her Master’s in Education Studies from Boston University, Wheelock College. She’s spent all of her career working in the education realm as a college access AmeriCorps volunteer, doing school operations and recruitment in Boston, and working with college access and success counselors here in NYC.

Originally from a small town in Bucks County Pennsylvania, Trish has lived in Brooklyn since 2014. Outside of work she enjoys reading all genres, biking around the city, spending time with her little brother, nieces, and nephew in PA, devouring her mother-in-law’s cooking, going on walks with her dog Bishop, and making her partner pick new shows for them to watch together.

Pronouns: He/Him

Dominic Cathey loves traveling around the world, meeting new people whenever possible, and enjoys attending the arts, tasting chocolate desserts, listening to music, going to brunches, swimming and gathering with friends and family.  He is also a first-generation college student, the oldest of 5 younger brothers, a former collegiate athlete, an artist, an entrepreneur, and a recently married gay Black man.

Dominic earned his M.S.W. and Social Enterprise Administration degree from Columbia University, as well as a B.A. in African American Studies where he concentrated on social policy, at-risk community development and the African Diaspora in relation to power, privilege and oppressive ideology from the University of California, Berkeley.

As a leader, Dominic is focused on developing social emotional learning cultures and innovative programs rooted in equity, antiracist ideology and young people’s voice. He’s deeply passionate about cultivating safe environments for marginalized humans to push past systematic barriers and reimagine life’s possibilities and their full potential.

Valerie is a dynamic leader responsible for spearheading and overseeing a comprehensive fundraising program at Summer Search NYC. As a Latinx and first-gen student, she understands firsthand how critical it is for underprivileged youth to receive guidance and support as they navigate life’s complexities and plan for their future.

Prior to joining Summer Search, Valerie spent 12 years at The Lower Eastside Girls Club where she started as a member and worked her way up to becoming the Director of Development. Throughout her fundraising career, she has helped secure over $25 million in philanthropic investments from private foundations, government, corporate, and individual sources.

Valerie was born and raised in NYC’s Lower East Side neighborhood. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones, traveling, and taking Pilates classes.