Youth Services Staff



Gregory Rideout, Deputy Program Officer for Youth Services and Workforce Development, is responsible for day care, after-school, camp services, and adolescent services including college prep and youth employment.  Prior to joining Henry Street in 2005, he was Director of Catholic Charities’ Brooklyn West Family Center. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Colby College and a master’s degree in social work from Washington University.
 

Katha Cato, Henry Street’s Director of After-School and Summer Camp Services, joined the Settlement’s staff 17 years ago as a drama instructor at the Abrons Arts Center.   For the last seven years, Katha and the after-school leadership team have built a solid program that spans six sites and a summer camp across three of those sites. She holds a Master’s in Fine Arts from the University of Oregon, a New York State School-Age Child Care Credential, and in 2008, was one of six after-school practitioners in the state honored by the New York State Department of Education for “Exemplary Service in After-School Programming.”
 

  Leonor Colon, a native of the Lower East Side, has served as the Boys & Girls Republic Site Coordinator for the past six of her 12 years with Henry Street. She previously worked at the Settlement as a bilingual typist, activity specialist and self-government coordinator. Leonor is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Education.
 

  Alan Davage has served as Henry Street’s After-School & Summer Camp Site Coordinator at P.S. 20 since the program’s inception in 2001. A graduate of Rutgers University, he arrived at the position with more than 20 years of experience in youth development, the arts and education. His previous positions include Artistic Director for the After-School Dance Program at Teaneck High School, Production Coordinator and Assistant to the Dance Program Director at Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts, Program Manager at ArtsConnection, and Arts-in-Education Associate for Henry Street Settlement’s Abrons Arts Center.
 

  Danielle Morales, the After-School Site Coordinator for Youth in Unity at P.S. 110 and After-School at 301 Henry Street, is a Lower East Side native and Henry Street alumna, having participated in the Summer Youth Employment Program, the Abrons Arts Center’s Summer Arts Camp and Camp Henry Day Camp (both as a camper and a counselor).She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Barry University and has worked full-time at the Settlement for six years.
 

  Regina Ramirez-Perez, the After-School Site Coordinator for P.S. 134, is a Lower East Side native and started her relationship with Henry Street at 4 years old, when she was enrolled in the agency’s day care program. She has held her position for six years, and her program is a model program for The After-School Corporation, which funds the program at P.S.134. She holds a School-Age Child Care Credential from New York State, and also serves as The After-School Corporation’s Site Coordinator for Coaching Projects.
 

  Matthew Phifer, Henry Street’s Director of Adolescent Educational Services, has 10 years of experience working with youth and joined the Settlement’s staff in 2005 as a counselor to high school and middle school students, helping youth with severe attendance issues and one-year suspensions. He now oversees Henry Street’s programs that prepare more than 300 youth annually for higher education, including a 10-week college-readiness class, SAT preparation courses, school-based services at local high schools, tutoring services and college visits. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and African Studies and a Master’s degree in Social Sciences, both from Binghamton University.
 

Linda Flores-Rivera, a Lower East Side native, has served as Henry Street’s Director of Early Childhood Services since 2005, overseeing the Settlement’s Day Care and Universal Pre-Kindergarten Programs, as well as the Urban Family Center School. She began teaching pre-school at Henry Street in 1998 before being promoted to Assistant Director in 2003 and Director in 2005. Linda holds a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Touro College. She works with teachers to offer high-quality language, literacy and pre-reading skill development activities, and her focus in special education has allowed her to help to prepare young children with disabilities to enter and succeed in elementary school.
 

Kristina Sepulveda, the Director of Youth Employment Services, follows a simple motto in her work: “Who you are right now isn’t who you have to continue to be.” Before joining the Settlement, where she oversees Youth Employment Services, Kristina worked as an executive recruiter. She holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Florida State University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in urban policy at The New School.
 

Jennifer Walters, who joined Henry Street’s staff in 2008, has worked with youth for seven years and has an extensive background in counseling adolescents and disconnected youth. As our Expanded Horizons Program 301 Site Coordinator, she supervises our team of college counselors, oversees tutoring, organizes college tours throughout the northeast and acts as a liaison between the Settlement and area high schools, college admissions offices, parents and students. Walters holds a Master’s in School Counseling from St. John’s University and a permanent certification in school counseling.