Meet DOC’S Team
Eridania Garcia
Operations Manager
eridania@dignityofchildren.com
Eridania has served as the Project Manager for Dignity of Children, Inc. (DOC) since August 2010. The wealth of ideas and insights that she has contributed so far have not only assisted in moving DOC to the next level, but have also earned her the current position as Operations Manager at DOC. Eridania continues to be responsible for overseeing the operations (logistics) and client relations of DOC. She is a management team key member of DOC. Eridania has a B.A. from Hamilton College and is a certified Transformative Life Coach from Supercoach Academy. She has extensive experience in project management and is very competent in the field of human transformation. She is thrilled to be using her skills at DOC for a meaningful cause. When Eridania is not working at DOC, she is coaching her clients, singing, reading, or spending time with loved ones.
Johanna De Jesus
After School Educational Facilitator
Johanna is an experienced manager, leader and trainer with firsthand knowledge of Youth Development Principles. She has over 15 years of senior management and direct-service experience in building exemplary youth and family programs in NYC. She has held key leadership positions in the Youth Development field, including as the After School Program Director for the Children’s Rescue Fund-Icahn House Tier II Homeless Family Shelter, Program Director for the Sports and Arts In Schools Foundation, Director of Education and Youth Development Services for the Community Association Progressive Dominicans (ACDP), Regional Parent Support Officer for NYC Department of Education, Special Assistant to Chicago Board of Education’s Chief of Language and Cultural Education, and most recently, Chief Program Officer of Youth and Community Development Services at Grand Street Settlement.
Johanna is an Adjunct Special Lecturer at Long Island University C.W Post Continuing Education teaching Human Behavior in the Organization, and Organizational Structure to adult students transitioning from private to public sectors. She also provides technical assistance and professional development opportunities to build organizational capacity and enhance existing youth and family services. In addition, she has created and implemented a youth development philosophy that showed significant academic improvement by 80 percent using the holistic approach.
She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and minored in Education from the College of New Rochelle. She graduated from the National Urban Fellows’ leadership development program, majoring in a Master’s Degree in Public Administration at Bernard Baruch College, Graduate School of Public Affairs. She has a certificate with Hispanic Federation Leadership Institute Nonprofit Management Program and a Leadership Development Certificate with the Institute for Not-for-Profit Executive Education Columbia Graduate School.
Egeria Bennett
Regulations & Compliance Specialist
Egeria Bennett, has been a key administrator in the youth development field for the last 31 years, contributing to the growth and development of programs for thousands of youth in the Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Olinville Baychester, and Co-op City sections of the Bronx. Egeria worked for a leading creative arts center and for a Boy’s and Girl’s Club of America agency. During her tenure at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club organization, she was responsible for the supervision of Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Beacon programs, The Afterschool Corporation (TASC) programs, and community center-based program sites serving 8,000 youths annually in after-school, evening, and weekend and summer programs. Her responsibilities included the implementation of program contracts with budgets totaling three million dollars, and the creation of programs that met youth development standards with measurable outcomes and staff training. As a senior staff member she contributed to major policy-making decisions for the organization, the development of proposals for youth division funding, and served as public relations strategist and representative of the agency.
Carmen Colon
Early Childhood Education Specialist
Carmen Colon is a graduate school faculty member at Bank Street College of Education. Currently, she is a fieldwork advisor and instructor. She teaches courses in Early Childhood Curriculum and Practicum. Her career includes experience as an Early Childhood classroom teacher, after-school Spanish teacher, a trainer for people dealing with child abuse, Professional Development facilitator for the Department of Education, and Educational Consultant in Curriculum Development in Dual language, General and Special Education practice.
Carmen has an MS degree in Dual Language/Bilingual Early Childhood Special & General Education from Bank Street College of Education, as well as New York State Professional Certification in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education and Dual Language Education.