Meet Our Team

Abraham moved to Florida in 2018 and joined Catalyst Miami in 2019 as Community Prosperity Coordinator. While getting his Bachelor’s in Public Health at Brigham Young University - Idaho, he was a Hispanic advocate who helped domestic violence victims and later coordinated care for patients in need of services they couldn't afford. His desire to help others comes from different angles; for example, he would like to help the community by making sure public funds are not poorly administered. For this reason, he is currently working toward a Master’s in Public Administration.

Aidil joined Catalyst Miami in 2016. She develops strategies and programming to support the organization’s coalition building and advocacy efforts. She previously served as Vice President of Policy and Advocacy. 

She provides support to various other organizations to further social justice in Miami, as well as across the state. Towards this goal, she also serves on several local and national boards.

Previously, Aidil was an attorney and pro bono coordinator for Americans for Immigrant Justice, where she represented and advocated on behalf of immigrants, including unaccompanied children, and oversaw the pro bono program.  She has also worked for various other nonprofits and served as a consultant to various community organizations and groups to empower and improve the lives of vulnerable and underserved populations. In 2009, her research was published in Churches and Charity in the Immigrant City: Religion, Immigration, and Civic Engagement in Miami. 

Aidil holds a Master’s degree in Comparative Sociology from Florida International University and a JD from Fordham University. She is passionate about protecting our planet and making the world a more just, mindful, joyful, and equitable home for us all.

Anaruth currently serves as the Policy & Advocacy Manager for Catalyst Miami. Previously she acted as Community Engagement Coordinator for South Dade, which gave her the chance to work alongside residents getting more involved in their neighborhoods. As the Policy & Advocacy Manager, she is dedicated to promoting more democratic, just, and equitable forms of policy across Miami-Dade County, bringing that same passion for change from her previous role. Anaruth graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor's in Political Science. In December 2021 she obtained her Master's in Public Administration & Nonprofit Management from Barry University.

As the former Vice President of Community Economic Development at Catalyst Miami, Ahmed oversaw worker and investment cooperative development, small business assistance and community building, and other programs centered on community wealth and economic democracy. An attorney and community economic development activist, Ahmed has worked with and represented worker cooperatives, tenants battling eviction in both courts and through advocacy, and affordable housing and community development nonprofits in Miami, South Texas, and New York City. He has a JD from Columbia Law School, an MA in Political Economy from Columbia University, and a BA in Philosophy from Florida International University. Ahmed serves on the board of The Allapattah Collaborative CDC.

Camilo Mejia’s background as a peace and immigrant rights activist is what originally led him to Catalyst Miami, where he currently serves as Director of Policy and Advocacy, and where his work revolves around community-led policy and engagement initiatives designed to build collective power and achieve collective gains, with a special focus on housing, climate, financial and health equity. Camilo has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a master's in conflict resolution. He lives in Coconut Grove with his daughter.

Chelsea serves as the Senior Director of Advancement for Catalyst Miami, overseeing and supporting fundraising and communications activities. She joined the organization in 2022. In this role, she brings experience from the philanthropic sector to support the organization’s annual operations and program development. Previously, Chelsea served various roles at The Miami Foundation, managing competitive grant programs, in addition to leading nonprofit engagement for Give Miami Day, an annual giving event aimed at growing support for Miami-Dade County nonprofits. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Chelsea graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology, Spanish, and Latin American Studies. Since then, she has worked with nonprofits in the US and in South America in areas related to education reform and social justice.

Chris serves as Senior Director of Economic Justice where he oversees all asset building initiatives that Catalyst Miami offers. In his previous role, he helped create Future Bound Miami, Florida’s first Children’s Savings Account (CSA) program. He is dedicated to enhancing economic stability for all through financial coaching, education, and asset building. Previously, Chris was Director of Social Impact at WorkSquare. He has held several roles within organizations such as Miami Dade College, Branches, and the United Way Center for Financial Stability. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelor of Arts and the University of South Florida with a Master of Education.

With over eight years of experience in program development and nonprofit management in the states and abroad, Christina has led strategic initiatives focused on community empowerment, economic resilience, and social justice. She has a robust background in grant management, operational strategy, and impact analysis, particularly in underserved communities.

Christina graduated with her bachelor's in Sociology/Anthropology from Florida International University, and her master's in Nonprofit Management from The New School in New York.

Fluent in Haitian Creole and passionate about equity, Christina is excited to bring her commitment to Catalyst Miami’s mission, supporting innovative, community-driven change across Miami-Dade.

Cristina has over fourteen years of experience as an office administrator and worked for local businesses, police departments, and city governments before her position at Catalyst Miami. She has her Bachelor of Science Degree in Office Systems Technology and is currently finishing a second degree in Translation and Interpretation Studies at Miami Dade College. Cristina has two boys and is a passionate advocate for the city, having worked with the Miami Workers Center and other local organizations on issues of housing justice. She is active in the Catalyst community and has participated in many in-house offerings, bringing personal expertise to her role as the Intake Coordinator.

Destini has worked with several non-profit organizations for redemptive justice. From serving as founding staff and fitness coach with Noble Clay Fitness to advocating for fair housing recommendations in Atlanta, Destini has a passion for cultivating thriving Black communities. Additionally, Destini serves on the board of SMASH, a housing justice organization, community land trust, and cooperative. Destini has a passion for empowering youth leaders, championing Black women, and igniting faith leaders to pursue equity and justice. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Emory University and a Master of Education in Community Building and Social Change from the University of Miami.

Emma serves as the Leadership Programs Coordinator at Catalyst. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Development from Covenant College and has extensive experience working in nonprofit sectors alongside historically marginalized communities. Her work advocating for small businesses and connecting them to resources, organizations, and faith leaders has inspired her to start her own ceramics business. Passionate about fostering equitable and creative spaces, she is dedicated to providing individuals from diverse backgrounds opportunities to express themselves through the arts. Her goal is to help underserved communities unite and thrive holistically.

Gustavo relocated to Miami in 2014 from Venezuela, where he obtained his specializations in criminal justice and administrative law. His passion for financial education and community service drove him to volunteer for the Economic Mobility Corp program and pursue studies as a financial coach. Outside of work, Gustavo is a culture and gastronomy enthusiast. He loves pets and his favorite hobbies are traveling, and spending quality time with his family.

Kat Yamamoto-Calvo is a seasoned operations leader known for her expertise in managing complex systems, optimizing processes, and driving organizational effectiveness. Having lived and worked in multiple countries, she brings a global perspective through her extensive work in cross-cultural and multinational communications. Her focus on streamlining operations and fostering high-performance teams has consistently led to increased efficiency and collaboration.

Kat has had the privilege of serving military families overseas, where she developed a strong commitment to public service and community impact. As part of a military and multiracial family, she is passionate about creating inclusive environments that embrace diversity.

A firm believer in the power of communication, Kat excels in building relationships that drive positive outcomes. She’s also passionate about integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into organizational strategies. Outside of work, Kat believes in the magic of coffee and a good meal (big plus if it’s dimsum!) to fuel both creativity and connection.

Manuel joined Catalyst as a contractor in August 2019 and has since taken the role of Data & Evaluation Manager, where he manages data and operating procedures to improve processes and data reporting that the staff and clients depend on.

Maria Claudia currently serves as the Climate Justice Policy Manager at Catalyst Miami. Within this role she is able to connect with community members throughout Miami-Dade County, engaging them in equitable climate policy at the local, state, and federal levels. Maria Claudia began her career as a place-based climate educator designing experiential courses for high school students. She later worked with educators and youth supporting the implementation of climate education in classrooms throughout the East Coast of the United States. Outside of work, Maria Claudia engages in activities that foster joy and nurture community.

Monica moved to Miami in 2003 from Guatemala, where she volunteered for five years in a literacy program helping children and adults. While attending college at FIU, she was a part of the FIU Finance and Management Association where she created and promoted free of charge programs that helped develop and enhance the basic financial practices for its members and non-members. She is happy to continue to serve the community.

Nathalie Setoute serves as the Small Business Support Director for Catalyst Miami. She brings to the team her background in community organizing and empowerment. Nathalie has a heart for underserved communities and hopes to empower impacted people and connect them to the resources they need to thrive. Prior to Catalyst Miami, Nathalie worked as an educator and has extensive experience in nonprofits. Her goal is to bridge programming and community work together to accomplish and implement initiatives that are practical, effective, and sustainable for everyone. She earned her B.S. and M.S. Degrees in Public Administration from Florida International University.

A graduate of SUNY Albany with a B.A. in Africana Studies, Nicole is currently the Overtown Community Engagement Manager, a community where she lives and serves. With a strong commitment to eliminating wealth, education and health disparities in marginalized communities of color, Nicole’s passion has been that of bridging the gaps affecting Black women's overall well-being. This, she attributes to her belief that educating and helping to empower a woman liberates an entire community. The legacy that Nicole endeavors to leave is one of love, faith, peace, joy and hope.

Shayna Johnson serves as the Senior Director of Catalyst Miami's Worker-Owned Businesses program. She directs the program's strategy, supports cooperatives under incubation, and connects cooperatives with partnership, business development, and funding opportunities. Prior to joining Catalyst Miami, Shayna was the Head of Education Programs for a social impact consulting firm, where she managed workforce development, community engagement, and leadership development programs for clients like Columbia University. Her previous work experience also includes strategic planning, operations management, and people management at a maintenance and repair operations company.

Shayna holds an MBA with a focus on Social Enterprise from Columbia Business School and a BA in Economics from Spelman College. She is passionate about eliminating education and health disparities in communities of color and is dedicated to empowering people to thrive.

In her spare time, you can find Shayna out in nature soaking up the sunshine, exploring her Jamaican roots, traveling, teaching yoga, dancing Haitian konpa, or learning something new.

Virginia Lora's background in storytelling, community engagement and relationship-building brought her to Catalyst Miami where she currently serves as Development Manager. Her work involves a range of fundraising and communication activities that deepen community relations and advance the organization's overall programming and advocacy goals.

Born in Peru, Virginia moved to the U.S. at age 13 and grew up in Miami, Florida. Much of her interest in stories and initiatives that center the margins comes from her early-career experiences interviewing people in communities all over the country for an oral history project, and her own immigration experience.

Virginia has worked as an independent audio producer, reporter and editor and has worn many different hats at various nonprofit and media organizations with a social justice vein. She is a Miami-Dade Public School graduate and has a B.A. from Amherst College.

A resident of South Florida for most of their life, Z returned after graduating in 2022 with a degree in Geography, which gave them the lens to see spatial injustice and the power of community organizing. During her second year of college, Z learned from student organizers to distribute mutual aid funds, provide popular education, and organize with, and on behalf of, underrepresented students for equitable treatment from the administration and campus community. Z has worked locally to organize with young people seeking civic engagement, community, and avenues for positive, long-lasting changes. In her previous roles, Z helped people parse through the Miami-Dade County budget, led community canvasses, given innumerable public comments, and met with the County's residents and staff to learn what problems and solutions each has. With ties to Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, Z feels the climate crisis and its urgency on all fronts of their life. Z knows that the goal of global climate justice will not arrive comfortably, and hopes to inspire everyone she meets to not only see their stake but also their power in building towards this vision.

Z has high hopes for the future of the region they call home. She has experience managing a small-scale regenerative agriculture farm, and dreams of a Miami that utilizes its favorable climate and historical ties to the Caribbean and U.S. South to become a capital for community gardens and agricultural cooperatives, healing the land, heart, and mind simultaneously. To restore from the constant work of organizing, you may find Z spending time at the beach, reading, making a new playlist, skateboarding, cooking a new plant-based meal, or simply sleeping.