Team

Cara Lisa Berg Powers, Co-Director

“Society communicates through media. If we are not able to effectively use these tools, then we cannot communicate the needs of our communities. Without a voice, we become dependent on a system that does not include us when determining the priorities and perspectives that are important.”

With over 9 years non-profit youth work experience, Cara is currently a candidate for her doctorate in Education and Media Studies. Cara holds an MA in Transformative Media Arts and a BA in Screen Studies with a focus in Urban Development/Social Change. Cara has overseen program development and implementation for youth media programs in Boston, Lowell, and Worcester, has facilitated workshops at several local and national conferences, and is the author of By Any Media Necessary, a guide for youth organizing through media.

Joanna Marinova, Co-Director

Email Joanna

“Having your voice respected and a say in your destiny is an unalienable human right. I do this work because I believe in the value of our communities, the richness of diversity, and the power of our stories to transform. I dedicate my work to giving the silenced people, issues, and communities a voice.”

With a B.S. in International Relations and Economics from the University of Toronto, Joanna has solid corporate experience having worked for Citizens Bank and Wellington Financial Management. She was the founder and president of Women in Life Learning, a Toronto based nonprofit. Joanna has over 7 years of experience and a proven track record in management, operations and development work in nonprofits.

Gabriel Mugar, Founder

“My work is driven by the desire to help people transcend their cultural differences and realize the common struggles of being human.”

Gabriel has produced and worked on a number of high profile segments for the international news network Current TV, had his footage featured on ABC, NBC, FOX, and CNN, and produced fundraising videos for a number of Boston based nonprofit organizations. He has also worked as a full time Television Production teacher at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School in Boston. Gabriel received a B.A. in Philosophy and Religion from Boston University, an M.A. in Media, Culture, and Communication from New York University, and is currently in his second year as a Ph.D student at the Syracuse University School of Information Studies.

Peter Kelman Esq., Attorney

Peter is an attorney with more than 15 years experience working with companies and individuals. His primary focus is advising clients in the high-technology sector. He provides counsel to numerous companies, spanning the life-cycle of a business from corporate formation to termination strategies. He specializes in issues that concern electronic commerce, Internet operations, and the licensing of intellectual property. In addition, he advises companies on the day-to-day matters that all businesses face: matters of equity distribution, employment matters, debt and venture capital financings, non-disclosure agreements, and trademark prosecutions, to name a few.

Board of Directors

Anna Feder
Boston Underground Film Festival

Sam Neudel Powell
Realeyez Independent Cinema

Nerissa Williams
Emerson College

Patricia Mallios
Oak Hill Community Development Corporation

Michael Crosby
Deloitte Consulting

Board of Advisors

Gabriel Mugar
Syracuse University

Neil Sullivan
Boston Private Industry Council

Marie-Jose Banham
Deloitte Consulting

Andrew Fairbairn
Fairbairn Ventures

Pauline Eveillard
World Monuments Fund

Nathan Hirsch

Adam Waller
Charlie Rose Show

Manolia Charlotin
Boston Haitian Reporter

Jason Pramas
Open Media Boston

Carolyn Mugar
Farm Aid

Charlie Rose
City Year