Today we launch a the FREE COLLEGE CAMPAIGN to make sure every resident knows about this NEW opportunity offered by the State of Minnesota Office of Higher Education. Click below to get started on your pathway to college!
Staff
Staff
Rebecca Gilgen, Executive Director
Serving the Brooklyns is an honor I have had since 2013. I came to the BBA with a background in community practice social work, community organizing, youth development, strategic planning, evaluation, community based participatory research, expanding diversity, equity and inclusion practices and organizational development. I am a certified Technology of Participation facilitator and a qualified Technology of Participation trainer, and IDI Qualified Assessor. I'm passionate about igniting energy, capturing consensus and building momentum for groups to solve problems and take action together. I have an undergraduate degree in Sociology from University of Wisconsin - Madison and a Masters of Social Work (Macro Practice) from the University of Minnesota.
Fun facts about me - I love singing karaoke, dancing and taking walks around Lake Nokomis with my two fantastic kids, and my amazing partner.
Liliana Cazanacli, Youth and Community Engagement Initiatives Coordinator
I am a political scientist, project manager with a master’s in public administration, and studies in community development.
My work experience includes working with youth, adults, and families in different school districts and non-profit organizations. I have had the honor of serving the community through committees, coalitions, councils, and boards and have received awards for the results achieved when working with stakeholders in issues that address equity, diversity, and inclusion.
I believe that the only way of having a good future is working with youth and their support networks, giving them a voice and making them part of the planning and decision-making process. The youth of today are the leaders of the future. Let's focus on promoting good leaders!
Very happy to be joining the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth!
Chia Xiong, Data, Evaluation and Youth Participatory Action Research Coordinator
Previous to the BBAY, I worked at Three Rivers Park District for several years in outreach, community engagement, program development, and focus on equity. My work in community and equity alongside knowledge and experience in GIS systems will be vital in bringing equity and engagement practice into BBAY’s data work. I have a Master of Public Health degree from the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Community Health Education from the University of St. Thomas. Grown up in the Brooklyns, I graduated from Champlin Park High School. My educational background and various experiences in community engagement, equity, and GIS brings a unique lens to the BBAY.
I enjoy spending my free time with family, exploring the outdoors, playing video games, and working on DIY projects.
Layne Benton, Youth Outreach and Engagement
Specialist
I am grateful for the opportunity to learn more about and build my relationship with the Brooklyns.
I am coming to the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance with a Bachelors in Social Work and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. I was a Coverdell Fellow at Arizona State University where I earned my Masters degree of Social Justice & Inquiry.
In my free time you can find me grilling, listening to music, playing/watching sports, playing video games, reading, and working out.
Rachel Warren, Reimagine Black Youth Mental Health Coordinator
I am excited to be a learner and contributor in the Brooklyns! Prior to joining the BBAY, my creative and culturally responsive planning, programming, and implementation have proven both engaging and effective for youth, families, and communities. My deep understanding of equity and justice has also made me instrumental in elevating organizations’ processes to better serve people. I have initiated and carried out high-quality programming with system-involved/impacted young people, and I have designed curriculum to deepen learning and skill-building aimed at equipping people to establish and sustain anti-oppressive workplaces. My experiences in Minneapolis, Chicago, Anacostia, and Madison have given me perspective on how to actualize necessary change in big ways.
I am results-driven, solutions-oriented, and consistent in my above-and-beyond approach to building authentic relationships that cultivate joy and move us toward new and healed ways of doing things.
I am a graduate of North Park University in Chicago where I earned a B.A. in Nonprofit Management, a B.A. in Sociology, and a Minor in Spanish. I was then an Advanced Opportunity Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where I earned a Masters of Social Work.
I enjoy reading, being active and outdoors, traveling, and spending time with the people I love.
Marwok Gure, Data Assistant
Before joining BBAY, I dedicated several years to educational and case management roles in the Twin Cities, focusing on empowering young minds. I also bring a wealth of experience from my time in affordable housing, a sector where I spent five meaningful years understanding and contributing to community welfare.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Linguistics, and I'm thrilled to be back in the field of community work, a domain I find both challenging and rewarding.
Outside of work, I am just as passionate about personal growth and enjoyment. I love spending time with my family, exploring new places and roller skating.
Kennedy Erickson, MSW Intern
I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with BBAY and the amazing communities of the Brooklyns. Prior to joining the team in September of 2023, I provided case management to youth experiencing homelessness or at-risk as well as leading independent living skills groups for foster youth.
I graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2022 with my Bachelor of Social Work. Presently, I am pursuing my Master of Social Work degree with a focus on community practice at the University of Minnesota. I am set to graduate summer of 2024. I am most interested in exploring career paths involved with youth-centered policy advocacy and community organizing.
In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, listening to vinyl, thrifting, and reading. I also love to take community ed classes to explore other hobbies. My most recent adventure was ceramics.