OUR TEAM

Marelyn is the Executive Director of the Center for Hispanic Policy, Research, and Development, a State office that provides multifaceted support to Hispanic communities and organizations throughout New Jersey. She previously served as Communications Director at NJDEP, as an Aide to Governor Phil Murphy, and as Chief of Staff to a Hudson County Freeholder. From 2015 to 2018, Marelyn leveraged her professional insight to serve as a host of "North Hudson", a bi-lingual local access television show focused on community leaders and local causes. Her philanthropic and community involvement is vast and ranges from serving as a co-founding Trustee of the Hudson County Young Democrats, to Trustee Emeritus for the Jersey City Youth Foundation, to helping raise funds for grants as a Board Member for Party With Purpose. Her 15 years of experience in public and private sectors have paved the way for her to pursue her endeavors out of passion and cause. Marelyn studied Fashion Marketing and Management at Berkeley College as a first generation student. She was raised in a Honduran family in Hudson County and has traveled to Guatemala to volunteer and build homes for families in need. Marelyn lives in Trenton with her cat and dog, Kitkat and Gaia.

As a founding board member of I Am Trenton Community Foundation in 2007, Kelly has served on the board continuously in various capacities to grow the foundation and build its strength and position within the community. She served as board President for three years and is thrilled to remain on the board to support the team where needed to ensure I Am Trenton Community Foundation is a lasting resource for the city. Painting and creating decorative finishes is another love of Kelly’s. Running her own business, Kelly Ingram Finishes, for over 30 years, she is intent on doing so for the next decade and beyond. Kelly believes in the growing potential of Trenton and the good people that call Trenton home. . For 39 years, she and her husband Ray have lived in Cadwalader Heights with their sassy dog Samantha. They remain enthusiastic in supporting the building of an even better Trenton.

Stuart's bio is Coming Soon

Tammy's Bio is Coming Soon

Michelle is the Senior Director for Communications at Foundation Academies, a two-campus charter school in Trenton. She is former newspaper reporter and editor who has covered state, local, and national issues in newsrooms in Capitol Hill, New Jersey, and elsewhere in the country. Her subsequent work included partnering with a range of nonprofit groups in New Jersey and Pennsylvania to share messages and engage audiences. She worked as the Communications Director for Trenton Health Team for three years, sharing public health messaging including an effective, multilingual COVID-19 campaign. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has lived in Mercer County for 25 years and moved to Trenton in 2018.

A lifelong Trenton resident born and raised in the city, Najah Masudi is a community connector whose work spans civic leadership, youth empowerment, arts, and local culture. She is a graduate of Leadership Trenton’s Class of 2004, an issues-based leadership development program originally established in collaboration with Thomas Edison State University and launched in 2001 as a major initiative of the John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy. Najah served from 2006 through 2018 on the Trenton Zoning Board of Adjustment, bringing thoughtful stewardship to neighborhood development and land-use decisions. She is a regular volunteer coach with Girls in Gear, helping young riders build confidence and life skills through bike skills. She is the founder of Trenton Knit n Stitch, a long-running meetup that nurtures creativity and connection, and the creator of the weekly Zung Jung Mahjong group hosted at Classics Bookstore; two spaces that reflect her commitment to building community through shared activity and personal connection. Recently confirmed as a member of the Trenton Democratic Committee, Najah continues to invest in the civic life of the city she proudly calls home. Above all, she is a Trenton mother, wife, and resident dedicated to strengthening community ties and creating welcoming spaces for all.

Meaghan is a born-and-raised Trentonian deeply excited to serve her city. She is the owner of Out Of Step Boutique and General Store at the Trenton Farmers Market, a spinoff of the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market founded by her partner, Joe, which offers a variety of artisan and specialty items. She also works at Isles, Inc., managing placemaking and community reinvestment initiatives. She previously worked at the Trenton Downtown Association for six years, overseeing fundraising as well as a number of revitalization efforts including the Levitt AMP Trenton Music Series. Prior to joining the board, Meaghan helped IAT design, launch, and implement the Small Business Emergency Fund in 2020, an effort that incorporated simultaneous fundraising and disbursement in real time with a group of community volunteers. She is passionate about ensuring that Trenton youth have more opportunities to stay and build careers within the City, and that Black and Latinx communities are supported, uplifted, represented, and given the resources to thrive. Meaghan lives in Mill Hill with her partner, Joe, and beloved pup Khaleesi. Her superpowers include making phenomenally delicious sweets.

Thelma's Bio is coming soon

Regina joined the board in January of 2024 after many years of working with IAT as a planning consultant and volunteer. Ms. Podhorin, now retired, was the owner of The Leadership Group, a consulting firm that specialized in small to mid-sized capacity building for nonprofits. As a 40+ year Trentonian, Ms. Podhorin is involved with a myriad of local activities and has deep knowledge about Trenton, the nonprofit sector and how both apply to small nonprofits that have a heavy reliance on volunteers. Ms. Podhorin is the Chair of the IAT Grants Committee.

As a lifelong resident and Senior Program Manager at Trenton Health Team, my focus is on driving equitable community growth right here in our city. Along with my deep local roots, including 17 years empowering youth and families at Rutgers Cooperative Extension Mercer County 4-H, I help organizations grow from the inside out by bringing three powerful pillars together. First, I focus on people as a long-time True Colors Facilitator dedicated to helping teams communicate better. Next, I focus on culture as an IDI Qualified Administrator, helping groups move past basic awareness into real, measurable cultural understanding. Finally, I bring resilience to the table as a newly certified NJ DCF trainer in "Foundations of Trauma, Resilience and Healing-Centered Strategies," helping teams navigate toxic stress with deep care. When we combine communication, culture, and care, real transformation happens, and I can't wait to bring this passion to the board to champion the incredible people and bright future of Trenton!