Aleyx knows all things Meta-related as the Drop-In Manager and has been a member of the founding group of Pa’lante Peer Leaders since 2015. His work is deeply rooted in the teachings of Dr. Sayra Pinto on indigenous circle practice. Evolving from one of the program’s first alumni fellows into a restorative justice coordinator into a manager, Aleyx has been responsible for organizing a wide range of circles, such as conflict circles, grief circles, support circles, and celebration circles. Aleyx now focuses on creating a safe and joyful drop-in youth center, rich with opportunities to connect, grow, and get support. He is especially passionate about LBGTQ+ rights, supporting youth in foster care, and tapping into the wealth of resources in his hometown of Holyoke. Aleyx is a cat whisperer and the unofficial weatherman of Pa’lante. Youth appreciate his gentle and steady support.

Growing up in Holyoke, Katelynn Cruz learned from her parents how important it is to show up for people in the community. When she was in high school, Katelynn got involved with Pa’lante after noticing how some of her peers and close friends were slipping through the cracks and quietly getting swallowed up by the school-to-prison pipeline. This love for her friends and community lit a fire in Katelynn to pursue social justice, both in circles hosted by and for her peers and through Youth Participatory Action Research Projects to change the root conditions leading to inequities. Katelynn earned her undergraduate degree in Social Work from Westfield State and is now pursuing her Master’s in Social Work. As a Training Manager, she loves seeing Peer Leaders be the expert in the room, and share what’s possible when we trust in the leadership of youth. She is a proud mom, and avid reader and is looking forward to her next trip to Puerto Rico to visit her grandparents.

Hailing from the Midwest, Danielle brings with her the teachings of young people and elders in both Saint Louis and Cleveland who taught her that we need to stick together if we want to realize our dreams of racial justice and collective liberation. As a history teacher for nearly a decade, Danielle loved the daily work of community building, learning alongside youth, and creating projects where youth could creatively share their knowledge – from map making to speculative fiction to mural projects. Danielle relocated to Western Mass to teach in Holyoke’s Ethnic Studies program, with the hopes that one day she would get to collaborate with Pa’lante! Five years later, she has held down many different roles in the org. Now our Director of Development and Communications, she is grateful to spend her days writing and strategizing, gathering resources, and putting her graphic design skills to work alongside young people she loves and admires. When she’s not at Pa’lante, you can catch Danielle outside with her kids, reading a good book, or cooking for friends and family.

Isabella Lecona, known to most as Isa, was raised in Eastern Massachusetts, traveling between wealthy and WASP-y suburbs and underserved predominantly Latine communities — though she’ll probably just say she’s “from Boston” to keep things simple. She recently graduated with a BA in Psychology and Public Policy from Smith College, and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from the same institution. Isa was raised by an immigration lawyer mother and a Mexican immigrant father, both of whom instilled in her a strong sense of justice and a desire to fight for migrant rights. In undergrad, Isa spent her summers interning at immigration law firms and human rights NGOs, or volunteering in refugee camps abroad. Isa has been a lifelong dancer and performer, but these days she mostly just performs for her foster cats and the ghosts that live in her very old and very haunted house.

A proud Puerto Rican native, José moved to the United States at age 20 after joining the U.S. Army, where he served nearly nine years as an avionics technician. After separating from the military, he continued working in the avionics field in the private sector. Over time, José’s passion for understanding people and advocating for social justice inspired him to pursue a new path in social work. José began his higher education at the University of Phoenix as a psychology major, then transferred to Westfield State University in 2023, where he changed his major to social work. José earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) in May 2025 and is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) at the same institution. Outside of work and academics, José enjoys playing the guitar and the barril de bomba, embracing and celebrating his cultural roots through music. He is also a passionate reader and writer, with strong interests in social justice, culture, and history. José is married and the proud parent of two adult children. José’s life and work are grounded in service, equity, and cultural pride.

Anibella Reeves, also known as Bella, was born and raised in Springfield but now resides in South Holyoke. When compounding crises pushed Bella from an honors student to being on the cusp of dropping out, Bella found near peer mentors at Pa’lante that helped her recover academically and graduate from Holyoke High School in 2022. Bella went off to Holyoke Community College for an associate degree in Latinx Studies. She came back to Pa’lante in August of 2023 as an Alumni Fellow of the program and is now a Youth Coordinator, where she is beloved for being the “Mom” of Pa’lante. Bella has testified at the Holyoke School Committee, Holyoke City Council, and the Massachusetts statehouse on a variety of topics including decriminalizing youth, rent control, and harm reduction. She leads our statewide youth coalition work, and she plans to pursue a law degree in the future to fight to change the immigration, incarceration and education systems to be more humane.

Born and raised in Holyoke, Kayla is deeply rooted here and passionate about women’s leadership, cultural pride and connecting people with resources. Kayla brings extensive financial knowledge and operations experience to our team. As the former Executive Director of Nueva Esperanza, she established the four day Fiesta Patronales in Holyoke which brings together thousands of people from across Holyoke and the region! She is a proud mom of three, a volleyball player, and a humble leader. Her favorite quote is “A girl should be two things, who and what she wants.”

Born in Western Mass, David has called Massachusetts, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, New York and Holyoke home, gaining many perspectives along his path. As a Peer Leader, David hosted circles, spoke at conferences, went on a meditation retreat, and learned how to organize with his peers. Years later, as an alumni fellow, he returned to Pa’lante to be an empathetic and committed mentor. Studying Psychology and Human Services, he plans to become a therapist. David also cares deeply about the environment and reviving Pa’lante’s house pants when needed, teaching others, and he loves to travel.

Growing up in Western Mass, Alicia persisted through predominantly white institutions to earn two Masters degrees and become a beloved history teacher. Throughout Alicia’s time teaching and coaching teachers over the last decade, she has been committed to teaching young people the skills to challenge racism, adultism, and other systemic inequities. As the Co-Executive Director at Pa’lante, Alicia blends theory and practice- she supports staff members in their development of professional skills, programming plans, and youth leadership/community building. She also works with other non-profits on task forces and in coalitions to pass policies that enhance the well-being of young people in Holyoke and across the Commonwealth. The absolute best components of her work are being able to practice radical love, laugh every day, and be surrounded by people who believe in growth and the unlimited possibilities collectivism brings to our communities.

A native of Springfield, Ja’Niah connects her strong character to her upbringing in Holyoke and the support of her family. Her passion for being an alumni fellow lies in uplifting the next generation, driven by her personal experience of not having a positive growth environment like Pa’lante until her senior year of high school. She cherishes the memory of building community and having fun as a Peer Leader. She connects effortlessly with young people, leveraging her excellent communication skills and natural leadership. Her goal is to establish her own daycare, where she can prove to people that young kids should never be stereotyped or judged prematurely. She is also an accomplished volleyball player. Her theme song is “Tell Her.”

Luke started working in Holyoke in 2012 as a school-based therapist at Holyoke High School. As he watched brilliant young people being pushed out of school from all angles, he knew he couldn’t just sit and listen to their problems; he had to join them in fighting for the education and the world they deserve. He co-founded Pa’lante in 2015 with visionary educator-activist Jerica Coffey and a group of 15 powerful students and has been in a collaborative leadership role in the organization ever since. He brings 20+ years of community organizing, conflict resolution, and youth development experience, including directing a drop-in center for transgender people in San Francisco before landing in Western MA. When not conspiring with teenagers to dream of a new world and work together to build it, he enjoys riding his bike, laughing with his two kids, and eating as much chocolate as possible.