Who We Are
Erie City Moms supports, uplifts, and champions Mother Figures from all walks of life via 100% free Moms groups, mentoring, advocacy, and basic needs help.
Since 2016, we've grown from a grassroots Moms group to an innovative nonprofit organization speaking life into and helping meet the needs of more than 1,000 diverse Mother Figures and 2,500 children.
In 2016, an unlikely group of Mother figures began to meet on Erie’s Lower East Side. Our goal was to learn and grow with and from one another. We went door-to-door and asked Moms to join us, for free dinner and child care.
We had little in common on the surface. Black, white, married, single, homeless, homeowner, urban, suburban, GED graduate, college graduate, working, stay-at-home—we could list our differences for days, but every one of us was committed to our families and we all believed that the health and well-being of local Mother figures was critical to the health of Erie.
While we have grown nearly beyond measure from those first days, Erie City Moms’ leaders and volunteers were, and still are, real, honest and vulnerable, which is a refreshing alternative to the media’s “perfect” parent and the urban core’s hard exterior.
They have navigated many hardships—addiction, violence, mental illness, racism, homelessness, and loss, to name a few. Yet, they are light in dark places and continue to transform themselves even as they inspire growth in others.
MEET THE TEAM!
Board of Directors
Board Chair and Acting Treasurer Janet Peters, advancement data manager
at Mercyhurst Preparatory School
Secretary Aurora Hardin,
counsel at Erie Insurance
Diane Kuvshinikov, administrative assistant
at Erie Insurance
New Yorka Morrow, community-based doula, self-employed
Staff, Contractors, Interns
Amanda P. Burlingham, Founder and Director
Darlene Cohen, Program Assistant
Lily Groenendaal, Marketing Intern
Keith Hardin, Operations Coordinator
Zeke Hokanson, Marketing Intern
Spring Stephens, Mentee Childcare Provider
Special Events and Fundraising
Erin Bizzarro
Ainslie Brosig
Gloribel Carmona
Julie Groenendaal
Melissa Hall
Carla Higgins
Mary Krysiak
Tara Prischak
Beth Terp
Good Friends and Mentors
Jane Johnson, Team Leader
Tracy Hokanson, Advisor
Shayla Jones, Advising Social Worker
Brandon Wiley, Advisor
Michael Anthony
Andrea Amacangelo
Barb and John Baker
Jerry Cafardi
Reina I. Cornejo
Susie Delo
Julie Groenendaal
Melissa Hall
Kirim Jeon
Diane Kuvshinikov
Karrie Lewis
Catherine Pugliese
Siriena Stephens-Stewart
Rebecca Wilcoxson
Phyllis and Jim Willats
Data and Outcomes Team
Josh Jaeger
Rich Ligo
Prayer Team
Jerry Cafardi
Catherine Pugliese
Kathy and Jim Schriefer
Siriena Stephens-Stewart
Reina I. Cornejo
Housing, Health, and Dignity
Joe Bizzarro, Advisor
Scott Bonnell, Advisor
Alan Hilling, Advisor
Tim NeCastro, Advisor
Jerry Cafardi
Lee Dennett
Melissa Hall
Jackie Messenger
Jim Schriefer
Peer Advisors
Za’Miyha Carson
Ashley Duran
Mary Krysiak
Mary Santiago
Kyryeah Way
Moms Night Leads and Partners
Alina Alaska
Za’Miyha Carson
Ashley Duran
Emily Weiss Early Intervention Services
ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum
Jeff Hokanson
Opened Eyes
Tara Prishak
Marci Stitt
Youth for Christ