Just-A-Start has named four new members to its board of directors: Ethel Ampey, Aliyah Gary, Joel Miranda and Susan S. Stockard.

โ€œWeโ€™re thrilled to add the unique perspective, experience and intelligence to our board that our new members bring,โ€ said Deborah Ruhe, executive director of the Cambridge nonprofit.

For more than 40 years, Just-A-Start has helped thousands of residents with affordable-housing, summer youth and biomedical careers programs and a partnership with YouthBuild. It continues to work to reduce homelessness, help at-risk youth find paths to success and support unemployed and underemployed people gain access to a career path.

Ampey, of Cambridge, serves on the cityโ€™s Council on Aging. She is a 2002 recipient of the Governorโ€™s Point of Light award and a recognized leader of senior programs. Previous affiliations include Foster Grandparents, The MLK Day Committee and the Maloney Corp. Committee. She has been a nominee of mayors E. Denise Simmons and Henrietta Davis to committees benefiting the public good.

Gary is the owner of iCare Realty Group, a philanthropic real estate company in Cambridge. She is a former real estate agent and legal assistant and paralegal. She serves as a member of the Cambridge Arts Council Advisory Board.

Joel Miranda, left, with other YouthBuild officials. (Photo: YouthBuild)
Joel Miranda, left, with other YouthBuild officials. (Photo: YouthBuild)

Miranda, of Revere, is the director of leadership development at YouthBuild USA and a 1998 graduate of YouthBuild Just A Start โ€“ the first YouthBuild graduate to serve as a director. He is a community fellow at Boston University School of Managementโ€™s Institute for Non-Profit Management and Leadership and a member of the 2014 American Express Leadership Academy for emerging nonprofit leaders.

Stockard, of Cambridge, is a retired partner and vice president at Maloney Properties and was the director of resident services. She is president of Four Our Communities, a nonprofit developed to start and support services for residents in affordable housing. Stockard brings expertise in elderly housing and is author of the Massachusetts Resident Service Coordinatorsโ€™ Handbook for MassHousing. In addition, she is a founding member of Common Place, a Cambridge housing cooperative formed in 1973.

For information about Just-A-Start, call (617) 494-0444 or go to justastart.org.

A stronger

Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.

We are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.

Please consider a recurring contribution.

Leave a comment