The 826 National Team

Maggie Andrews

Director of Development

One of 826 Boston’s earliest after-school tutors, Maggie brings more than a decade of national fundraising experience to 826 National. She is dedicated to supporting organizations that serve youth and contribute to a vibrant, equitable community. A native and proud Pennsylvanian, Maggie now happily resides in Oakland, CA.

Laura Brief

Chief Executive Officer

Prior to 826 National, Laura held leadership positions at high achieving youth organizations including Build, First Graduate, Juma Ventures, and The Posse Foundation, where she developed the organization’s first national career, corporate engagement, and alumni programs. She holds a Master’s in Education and a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University, and is the Chair of the Board of Directors at Youth Speaks.

Lauren Broder

Director of Research & Evaluation

Lauren received her Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut where she conducted research on the effects of early childhood experiences on later development. She brings a strong background in statistical analysis, research writing, and data management, as well as five years of teaching at the collegiate level.

Daniel Cesca

Operations Manager

Daniel graduated from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where he studied fiction and taught undergraduate creative writing courses. After earning his MFA, he taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Iowa, and served as the Writer-in-Residence at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, one of the oldest biological field stations in the country.

Angela Gasca

Development & Impact Associate AmeriCorps VISTA

Before coming on board with 826 National, Angela worked with the Ragon Institute in Boston, taught students at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth in Baltimore, and interned with the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. She earned her BA in Studio Art and English Literature from Goucher College.

Kelson Goldfine

Field Operations Coordinator AmeriCorps VISTA

Anna Griffin

826 Digital Manager

Anna has spent much of her career teaching high school English in New Orleans and Chicago. She brings curriculum development, instructional coaching, and administrative experience to her role as Digital Manager. Prior to this role, Anna served as Program Development and Support Coordinator at 826 National.

Cecilia Juan

Corporate & Foundations Relations Manager

Cecilia earned her MA in Arts Administration from New York University and has over five years of experience fundraising for arts organizations in the Bay Area and New York City. Before becoming a grant writer, Cecilia taught English to toddlers, scientists, and everyone in between, in Japan and the Czech Republic.

Okailey Okai

Program Development & Support Coordinator AmeriCorps VISTA

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Okailey attended art school at Alfred University and taught English in South Korea before obtaining her Masters in Arts Management from Claremont Graduate University. Some of her interests include K-POP, Japanese fashion and pushing the number of colors she can wear at one time.

Raquel Olvera

Communications Coordinator

Prior to joining the 826 National team, Raquel fell in love with 826 as an Outreach & Development intern and then as an Americorps VISTA Marketing & Communications Assistant at 826LA. She earned her B.A. in English and Art History from Boston College. On the weekends, you can find her frequenting a local museum, listening to Drake, wearing big earrings, and eating different cheeses—usually all at the same time. 

Kait Steele

Director of Field Operations

A founding member of 826CHI, Kait played a key role in program/curriculum development, serving as the organization’s first Programs Coordinator and later as its Director of Education. Prior to joining 826, Kait taught creative writing in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. She holds a B.A. in English/Creative Writing from Northwestern University.

Sierra Swann

Research & Evaluation Associate AmeriCorps VISTA

Sierra graduated from Reed College in Portland Oregon in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. In her senior year, she completed a thesis entitled “Marginalized Voice and Agentive Choice: How Anti-Trafficking Professionals Frame People in Prostitution.” She is passionate about how qualitative and quantitative research can inform and elevate non-profit work.

Yusuke Wada

Salesforce Administrator

A veteran of the nonprofit world, Yusuke has spent the last 10 years working for low-income populations through food banking and economic development in both Asia and the U.S. He earned his M.N.A. at the University of San Francisco and is a certified Salesforce Administrator.