Brooklyn, NY – Power of Two today announced three new board members who will each help support the organization’s work to nurture the inherent potential in every child and family—equipping them to transform their own lives and strengthen their communities.
“We’re excited to expand our board with three new members who will bring diverse insight and experience to our work,” said Co-Founder and Executive Director Erasma Beras-Monticciolo. “With great intentionality we have worked to ensure that Power of Two’s board and leadership represents a variety of voices from education, public health, mental health, early childhood, finance, advocacy, law, community development, and the newest board members are no exception.”
The new board members began their three-year terms with Power of Two effective January 2022 and can serve a maximum of two terms. The three new board members are: Yatonia Chestnut-Corry, Marjorie Singer, and Maria Solorzano. All three have joined the Board during a moment of growth and promise for young children and their families. Board Chair, Ann Marie Foss states “Yatonia, Marjorie, and Maria all come to Power of Two with a wealth of coaching, mentoring, and advocacy expertise. We are confident they will help ensure that we remain grounded as we pursue our ambitious Five Year Strategic Plan and partner with more communities.”
This new cadre of leadership affirms Power of Two’s Core Values as well as our foundational commitment to diverse perspectives and experiences and sharing power with our communities to move forward our mission. Please continue reading to learn more about Yatonia, Marjorie, and Maria, and please join us in welcoming them to their new role on Power of Two’s Board.
About the New Board Members
Yatonia Chestnut-Corry is a Christian, comedian, poet, songstress, and child care specialist. During her time as a Logistics Specialist with the United States Army, Yatonia consistently achieved exceptional results while leading a team of six in a dynamic, fast-paced environment in both civilian and military capacities. Yatonia has worked in the education system for more than eight years. She graduated from Power of Two’s ABC program in June 2019 and served as a Community Ambassador in the 2020 cohort. She currently serves on the policy council board at the Beanstalk Learning Center as a parent ambassador and advisor. She is a mother to three beautiful boys and married to her loving and devoted husband, Wesley Corry.
Marjorie Singer graduated from NYU Law School in 1971. In 1975, she developed and taught a course in Women and the Law at the University of Washington. In 1977, Marjorie joined the Vera Institute of Justice, where she served as general counsel from 1978 to 2000 and vice president 1998 onwards. After she left Vera, Marjorie taught law to ninth grade students at John Jay High School in Brooklyn and for two years served as chief program officer at CASES. In 2014, she was appointed counsel to John Jay Counsel of Criminal Justice, where she worked until August 2019. During 2015-16, Marjorie served as a member of the Washington State task force exploring a pay-for-success home visiting model. Marjorie is on the Board of Directors of the New York City Criminal Justice Agency and Congregation Ansche Chesed. Maria Solorzano is married and a mom to two beautiful girls, Chrystie and Cailynn. She graduated as an accountant from the University of Economics and Auditing in Ecuador. Since 2018, she has served on the Family Advisory Board for United for Brownsville, a collaborative of families and professionals who are improving the early childhood system in Brownsville, Brooklyn. She and her youngest daughter, Cailynn, graduated from Power of Two’s ABC parenting program in 2018, and Maria as a Power of Two Community Ambassador in 2021. Maria believes in building communities, strong families, and organizing for a better future for all children.