ECNV’s mission is to empower people with disabilities to live independently.
Our goals are to enable individuals with disabilities to:
Improve the quality of their lives
Participate in all aspects of society
Determine their own lifestyles
Secure their human and civil rights
Exercise self advocacy
Ensure a system for consumer control and policy direction
Our team
Dominique Dunford-Lack
Executive Director
Sarah Askri
Peer Mentor/Independent Living Specialist
Rosalia Fajardo
Director, Strategic Partnerships
Hunter Cardwell Jr.
Travel Trainer
Cherie Takemoto
Lead, Disability Justice and Strategic Innovation
Alexa Mavroidis
Information & Referral Specialist (and DME)
Jimena Barron
Lead Community Activist
Joe Albert
Independent Living Specialist
Margarita Baquero
Travel Trainer/Independent Living Specialist
Hannah Choi
Youth Services Coordinator
Arlethia Champion
Laura Kim
Policy & Advocacy Coordinator
Tim Fuchs
Deputy Executive Director
Natalie Asmen
Bi-Lingual Independent Living Specialist
Andrew Shaw
Training & Mobility Manager
Maura Schmidt
Youth Services Development Manager
Imran Hamidi
Bookkeeper
Melinda “Mindy” Niland
Travel Trainer
Starr Robertson
Manager of Independent Living Services
Karla Nativi
Travel Trainer
Joe Postow
Travel Trainer
Vanessa Romero
Community Transition Liaison
Pansy Walker
Senior Expansion and Outreach
Karen D. Arnett
Travel Trainer
Kevina Brown
RAMP Program Coordinator
Lelena Dagne
ACER Program Coordinator
Carlos Marquez
Peer Mentor
Tracee Garner
Manager of Peer Support
Alicia Simms
Travel Trainer
Aleshia Whatley
Travel Trainer
Paul Whitney
Manager of Youth Programs
Emily Kudron
Development and Communications Manager
Hannah Roberts
Director of Programs
Roman Senbato
Travel Trainer
Erica Simmons
Independent Living Specialist
Our Board
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Susan has dedicated her career as a social worker to the equity and inclusion of people with disabilities, including those from intersectional groups. Her career has included many senior level positions, including staffing a federal assistant secretary, being. a Commissioner twice over for the City of Alexandria: first as a vice-chair of the Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities, and secondly, on the Alexandria Commission for Employment. Her knowledge of independent living is extensive, having served on two independent living center boards, worked several different positions as staff and management of independent living centers and been a project officer of three regions of the federal independent living program. Her knowledge of benefits is extensive, and she is certified in Work Incentive. Ms. Picerno believes that independent living works best when all boats rise equally on the tide of progres and self-actualization.
Susan Picerno
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Keri Gray is a dynamic entrepreneur, facilitator, cancer survivor, and a passionate advocate for racial and disability justice. As the CEO of Ignite by Keri Gray, she is dedicated to fostering professional communities that are intentional and equitable, with a strong focus on education on racial and disability justice. Keri’s work has garnered attention from major publications and media outlets such as TeenVogue, the New York Times, People Magazine, Time Magazine, PBS NewsHour, Madamenoire, and the Diet Coke campaign #Unlabeled.
Keri Gray
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Heidi Bacote is a Strategic Technology Program Leader with 17+ years of experience delivering multimillion-dollartechnology and data programs across public health and complex enterprise environments. Professionally groomed inbanking and financial services, she brings a strong foundation in financial stewardship, risk management, and operationaldiscipline to her current role at a leading defense contractor, where she oversees large-scale programs supporting nationalpublic health systems.
As Treasurer, Heidi combines financial rigor with a mission-driven approach to board service. Her work advancing publichealth for broad populations has deepened her awareness of systemic gaps and strengthened her compassion for disabledindividuals and other underserved communities, shaping her commitment to inclusive, equitable solutions.
Outside of work, Heidi enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures, whether through local cuisine, art, or everydaymoments that make each place unique. She is also an avid Pilates practitioner, a routine that helps her stay grounded andreinforces her belief in maintaining both physical well-being and balance in everyday life.
Heidi Bacote
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Vannice Evans provides administrative support to both the Program and Development teams at ACT for Alexandria, helping to amplify the work of the Alexandria community by bringing people and resources together. She is currently a Master's of Public Policy and Administration candidate at Northwestern University. Vannice graduated from American University with a B.A. in Justice, Law, and Criminology, along with becoming a dedicated member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. With a brother diagnosed with autism and a father living with bipolar disorder, Vannice has a deep, personal understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and mental health conditions. These experiences have fueled her passion for advocating for disability justice and mental health awareness. Vannice works tirelessly to promote inclusive policies and support systems that ensure equal opportunities and improve the quality of life for those with disabilities. Her advocacy efforts extend to raising public awareness, fostering community support, and working with organizations dedicated to these causes, including ECNV, whose mission is to empower people with disabilities to live independently.
Vannice Evans
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Kelley Buckland is a prominent American disability rights leader. Recently serving as a Disability Advisor at the U.S.Department of Transportation. A power wheelchair user with quadriplegia, he previously served as the long-time ExecutiveDirector of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) (2009–2021) and has been a leading voice for disabilityrights since 1979." It includes a career background in Idaho, an educational history with a BA from Boise State University and a master's from Drake University, notable accomplishments like induction into the National Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame, and an advocacy focus on the independent living philosophy
Kelley Buckland
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Aída Janet Pitot Bolívar is a Seasonal Instructor Leader with the City of Alexandria's Department of Recreation and Cultural Activities, where she leads programming for adults 50+. A native of Peru, Aída brings years of community service rooted in a deep commitment to equity and inclusion — from her early years as an Akela (wolf pack leader) in a Scout group in Callao, Peru, to her advocacy work in the United States on behalf of people with mental health conditions, including volunteering with NAMI's "In Our Own Voice" program and with Pathways Homes.
Aída is bilingual in English and Spanish, and her personal lived experience with disability gives her both insight and passion for ECNV's mission to empower people with disabilities to live independently. She is committed to ensuring that underserved communities — particularly those navigating mental health challenges, housing instability, and domestic violence — have access to the resources and representation they need. Aída joined the ECNV Board of Directors in 2026.
Español
Aída Janet Pitot Bolívar es Instructora Líder Estacional en el Departamento de Recreación y Actividades Culturales de la Ciudad de Alexandria, donde dirige programas para adultos mayores de 50 años. Oriunda del Perú, Aída aporta años de servicio comunitario basado en un profundo compromiso con la equidad y la inclusión — desde sus primeros años como Akela (líder de manada de lobatos) en un grupo Scout en el Callao, Perú, hasta su trabajo de defensa en los Estados Unidos en nombre de personas con condiciones de salud mental, incluyendo su labor voluntaria con el programa "In Our Own Voice" de NAMI y con Pathways Homes.Aída es bilingüe en inglés y español, y su experiencia personal vivida con una discapacidad le otorga tanto perspectiva como pasión por la misión de ECNV de empoderar a las personas con discapacidades para que vivan de manera independiente. Está comprometida con garantizar que las comunidades marginadas — en particular aquellas que enfrentan desafíos de salud mental, inestabilidad habitacional y violencia doméstica — tengan acceso a los recursos y la representación que necesitan. Aída se incorporó a la Junta Directiva de ECNV en 2026.
Aída Janet Pitot Bolívar
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From 2011 to 2021, Pedro began his university adventure in the area of Health Education and Public Health. He graduated from Northern Virginia Community College in 2014 with an Associate of Science degree in General Studies. Shortly after, in 2015, Pedro attended the University of the District of Columbia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in public health/health education. In 2018, Pedro began another adventure in the academic field. Now, at George Mason University he enrolled for a Master's Degree in Public Health with a concentration in Global Health. Pedro obtained his MPH in Global Health in May 2022.
In 2014, Pedro began working at Sports Network and Fitness (SNF), a sports facility located in Manassas, Virginia in the United States. In 2015, Pedro became the assistant manager of the sports facility and in 2016, he became the operations manager.
Since 2016 as operations manager of Sports Network and Fitness, Pedro developed and renewed the quality of sports performance of clients and athletes. Pedro also improved the quality of sales, atmosphere, and customer comfort in the sports area. Under his leadership, Sports Network and Fitness showed a constant increase in revenue each year. In 2020, Pedro began working at JMZ Construction, a construction company with more than 10 years of experience in the cement area in commercial and residential areas. Pedro works as an executive assistant.
In 2021, Pedro founded Académie Sportif, a sports academy with the focus of showing and educating the children's community in the area of soccer through various programs.
In 2022, Pedro began working for Second Story, a nonprofit organization located in the area of Bailey’s Crossroads. Pedro is currently the Strategy Director at Second Story, running the Opportunity Neighborhoods program, an initiative from Fairfax County.
Other endeavors that Pedro has under his profile are Villela Deigns and Vista Migrante. Villela Designs is an association that buys, fixes, and resales properties in Mexico. Vista Migrante is a Podcast that talks about issues in the migrant community and how overcome the barriers that these individuals face.