OUR TEAM
As a youth at the Newton Boys & Girls Club David Sellers developed leadership skills and a management philosophy that focuses on honesty, clear expectations, teamwork, and accountability – qualities that were found in abundance in the games room and on the gym floor at 101 Dalby Street. Now in his 17th year as Executive Director, David has endeavored to improve the image and level of professionalism of this venerable organization while rebuilding its fundraising engine from the ground up. Working with a talented staff and through the support of the Club’s dedicated Board of Directors, during his tenure the Annual Fund of the Club has quadrupled, Major Giving has increased 10 fold, and a permanent endowment was established to support the Club’s programming. Many improvements were made to the Club’s physical plant which save the Club thousands of dollars annually and improve access to technology. He is proud of the high profile the Club maintains in the City of Newton when it comes to key issues effecting young people and gladly serves on the managing bodies of several key civic minded organizations including the nonprofit committee of the Charles River Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Newton. David has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Frank Ponceano has spent the past 11 years in leadership roles with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell. During that time he created and implemented Club programming; trained staff, interns, and volunteers; and was responsible for the creation, execution, oversight, and stewardship of new and pre-existing STEAM programs. Whether in science, technology, engineering, math, and/or the arts, his expertise will well serve all our programing in particular our expanding arts and technology/media programs. His youth leadership and programming work has been recognized by the national Boys & Girls Clubs of America being twice honored with the National Service to Youth Award. And as reported locally in 2018 by The Lowell Sun, Frank was recognized by the Association of Boys & Girls Professionals Yankee Chapter for his "outstanding service to the profession and the youth the clubs serve."
Julie A. Lima has an extensive experience of leadership and development in the non-profit sector. She has worked in the social service sector of Greater Boston throughout her career, including at Saint Joseph Prep, The Second Step, YMCA of Greater Boston, Cradles to Crayons, and Pine Street Inn. Julie is a Newton resident and is committed to strengthening the relationships within Newton and Greater Boston, which have been the foundation of the Club's impact over the years, while also expanding its reach through partnerships and collaborations. Apart from her work, Julie enjoys coaching Cross Country, spending time with her father on the Cape, and being outdoors. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Stonehill College and a Master of Social Work degree from Boston College.
Rob, a Massachusetts native, has spent most of his professional career in youth development. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Rob sharpened his youth leadership development skills by attending the National Outdoor Leadership School and participating in the BEST Initiative’s Youth Workers Supervisors Training program. His summers were spent in various leadership roles at Camp Sangamon in Vermont. While at Camp Sangamon, he co-led 24 young people, ages, 15-17, in a cross cultural immersion education trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. He was worked with several Boston area nonprofits including Horizons for Homeless Children, the Youth Opportunities Program at the Appalachian Mountain Club, and more recently spent seven years with the Boys & Girls Club of Somerville working in a number of leadership roles from Program Specialist to Club Director. Outside of the Club he enjoys the outdoors, swimming, and ceramics. He spent 5 years serving in the role of Youth Engagement Coordinator. He has joined our administrative team to broaden his non-profit experience in hopes of someday pursuing a role in management.
Dawn Proia is the Club’s longest tenured employee having devoted a little more than 15 years to helping the Club’s young people learn and grow. She started as the Club’s Art Director in 2004 and she was named Kids Corp Director in 2007. Serving in these dual roles, Dawn has brought increased structure to the Club experience of almost 200 members while continuing to foster creativity through a wide variety of artistic endeavors. In addition to drama, chorus, beadwork, and pottery programs, she started the wildly successful Proud to Be Me Program in 2008 and has served as the advisor to our Keystone Club. Dawn has a Certificate for Child Development from Newton North High School and spent 9 years working for JoAnne’s Little Wonders Preschool prior to joining the Club’s Team.
Jordan Kithcart has 7 years of experience working for the Club. He began his journey as a consistent member his senior year of high school. That same year of 2013, he became the first member of the John M. Barry Boys and Girls Club to ever place in the top four of the Massachusetts State Youth of the Year Competition. In 2014, Jordan won the Judge Julian Yesley Young Adult Award in which “recognizes a young adult between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five who has made a significant contribution through service to or involvement with the young people of Newton”. Jordan is also a Recruiting Coordinator and Head coach for an AAU basketball program. He was able to coach his team to their first national tournament in 2019. He is part of a basketball training group called Boston Elite that has trained collegiate players from schools such as (Stanford, Princeton, Boston College, and more). Jordan received his U.S.A. Youth Development Coaching license in 2017. Jordan takes great pride in being a mentor and a positive influence to Club members.
Megan Lemmon joined the Boys & Girls Club as the Curiosity Club Director in 2018. Megan has a degree in Secondary Mathematics education and has worked in Licensed School Age programs for the past 10 years. She moved to Newton with her husband and 2 year old son from Long Island, NY. Originally from the Midwest, Megan and her family have enjoyed living on the East Coast the past few years. Some of Megan’s interests include spending time with her family, logic puzzles, and organizing. Megan brings a positive attitude and boundless energy to every project and her creativity is second to none! Under her leadership the size of the Curiosity Club program has more than doubled.
Curiosity Club Director
Megan Lemmon
mlemmon@newtonbgc.com
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Vicki is a Boston native who graduated from Lesley University in 2015 with a degree in Expressive Arts Therapy. This showed her a path that had a combination of working with people and being creative. Previously, she spent a little over 10 years working in Cambridge in the public school system and managing Muckykids Art Studio. From these experiences, she found that every person has an artistic muscle, and it just needs to be stretched! Not everyone’s creative outlet is the same. A self-proclaimed ‘professional dabbler,’ she spends time exploring different mediums to add to her skillset. Her main passions currently are ceramics and collage-work of which she sells at markets around Boston and the Greater Boston area. Outside of the art world, she spends time on nature trails with her dog, Charles, and going to see live music with friends.
Kara holds a Masters in Community Arts Education from Lesley University and a Bachelors of Arts degree in English from UMass Lowell. Kara has been involved in the BGCA Movement for 5 years. Prior to becoming the Club’s Teen Director, Kara was previously at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell as the Cultural Enrichment Program Coordinator. She also worked at BGC Lowell as a Youth Development Managerial Intern and in the Teen Pathways department as the College and Career Center Lead. Kara has also worked as a substitute teacher for Lowell Public Schools, and as a Program Intern through TeenBLOCK at the Lowell Community Health Center. In her current role, Kara works with all Club Members grades 6 - 12 on providing 1:1 mentoring as teens develop their individual trajectories for their futures. Kara helps all teens ages 11 to 18 with resume skill building, SAT/ACT prep, financial aid, and college and high school info sessions. She also coordinates and chaperones culturally enriching field trips, college tours, outside activities and guest speakers for all Club members ages 11 to 18. Kara enjoys implementing cultural enrichment programming into the Teen program, including: making collaborative/ solo art, having conversations/ group discussions based around identity, culture, & self-love. She also assists Club teens in the Youth of the Year application process.
When Kara is not working at the Club, she enjoys participating in community service and leadership opportunities, is the Events and Logistics Coordinator and a performer with Lowell's Mill Advised Dance Crew, and enjoys thrift shopping, yoga, and spending time with her friends and family and cat, Sara. Kara works at the Club because her passion is helping and serving others, and because working here allows her to impact the daily lives of our incredible youth in the city of Newton. Kara loves being part of the devoted staff team and feels that she is always learning from Club members and alongside her fellow colleagues.
Rae Wakeman grew up on the South Coast of Massachusetts, moving to the Greater Boston Area in 2015. Previously, Rae spent 6 years at the Boston Museum of Science, specializing in operating many of its iconic theaters and exhibits, and engaging with the museum's visitors. They are excited to bring their skills and enthusiasm into their local community by joining the Boys and Girls Club team. Apart from their involvement with the club, Rae is also an artist who studied Printmaking and Book Arts at the Niigata College of Art & Design in Japan. During their free time, Rae loves making art, playing video games, embarking on adventures with their friends in Dungeons & Dragons, and quality time with their cat Ryebread.
Caileigh's journey with the Boys & Girls Club has truly come full circle. A former Club member herself, she is now proud to serve as Education Director. With a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Westfield State University and a Master of Education in Higher Education in Student Affairs from Salem State University, Caileigh is passionate about creating impactful learning experiences for youth. She leads initiatives that focus on STEAM activities, equipping young people with skills that will benefit them both academically and personally. Outside of the Club, Caileigh enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog, Buzz, and cherishing moments with family and friends.
A passionate, creative marathoner whose two children attend the Boys & Girls Club, Maria brings great energy to our gameroom area. This multitalented dynamo has earned certificates from Johnson and Wales University and Blaine Beauty School and has worked in the Kids Corner Program at the West Suburban YMCA. A member of the Pellegrine Family, Maria continues that family's proud tradition of providing fun, inspiring activities to the kids at the Boys & Girls Club!
Carmen is a dedicated and compassionate professional with over six years of experience in art education and youth development. As a Camp Counselor, she has successfully led and supported diverse groups of children in outdoor, educational, and team-building activities, fostering positive and inclusive environments. In her role as an Art Specialist, Carmen has focused on cultivating creativity and self-expression, enabling young people to grow emotionally and socially. A 2023 graduate of Newton North High School, she is passionate about fostering personal growth, building resilience, and empowering children through engaging and creative learning experiences.