Get to Know Us
About Us
Staff
Anusha Alles
Behind the Walls Community Organizer
I am a first generation American whose family comes from Sri Lanka, an island in the Indian Ocean. I grew up in Texas and have been in Rhode Island for six years. I joined DARE as a volunteer member of the Tenants and Homeowners Committee in 2016, and volunteered for the Board as the Secretary in 2017-2019. In 2019 I was hired as the Behind the Walls Staff Organizer. I am not formerly incarcerated, and I did not grow up in a heavily policed neighborhood. Many people I love are impacted by incarceration and the prison system, including blood and chosen family. I am committed to organizing resistance to the prison system because I believe that everybody has stakes in dismantling it. Incarceration is a blight on our collective humanity and we will never build a safe, loving world as long as people are held in cages.
Christopher Samih-Rotondo
Interim Director
Christopher Samih-Rotondo grew up in Bristol, RI and attended the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, studying political economy, the historical development of capitalism and liberatory social movements, as well as popular education. After returning to RI and relocating to Providence in 2009, he began volunteering with DARE’s Tenant and Homeowner Association (THA) as a canvasser. After supporting the committee as a volunteer for over a year, Christopher became the committee’s staff organizer in 2011 and held that position until 2019, when he transitioned to Director of Organizing, Development, & Communications. Christopher lives in the North End of Providence with his wife and three kids. He’s also a writer, musician, soccer player and martial artist who believes that Palestine will be free in his lifetime.
Deborah Harris
Outreach & Recruitment Coordinator
I worked at DARE for 5 years. I did Data Entry for the first 4 years, now I am Outreach & Recruitment Coordinator and a member on the Behind the Walls committee. I was formerly incarcerated. I love what I do that is to help the incarcerated population.
Dee Wojcicki
Administrative Coordinator
Mixed-race woman, mother and grandmother, experienced in finances and keeping people organized, advocates for the elderly. Board of Directors Secretary for RI Black Storytellers. I enjoy teaching and sharing gardening knowledge.
Juan Turbidez
Communications Specialist
he/him
I was born and raised in Providence by a single mother. I have been in and out of jail since the age of 18. I was released a couple of years ago after serving 15 months and a friend brought me to DARE for help with court debt and I became a member of the Behind the Walls committee. I was very optimistic about the work and got hired as the Communications Specialist in 2022. I’m bilingual in English and Spanish.
Terri Wright
Tenant & Homeowner Association Community Organizer
My name is Terri Wright. I was born and raised in Providence RI. I am a mother of five beautiful children. I organize to mitigate past harm and ensure that gentrification is not an ongoing barrier in BIPOC communities while advocating for tenants’ rights. I love to write, and aspire to direct and produce my own movies, connected to an old childhood dream of mine. I love to sit by the water and listen to music and eat Iggy’s clam cakes and chowder. I am currently working on my first documentary centered around the housing crisis in RI. I also advocate for housing justice and the production of low income affordable homes.
Board
Antonette Wallace
Treasurer
Black woman. Mother and grandmother, experienced in finances and property management. Homeless rights, domestic violence, and women’s health activist. Antonette lives in Providence, RI.
Brenda Taylor
Committee Representative
Black Woman. Born and raised in Boston where she was a youth activist during the Civil Rights Movement. Member of the Tenants and Homeowners Association. Stands for love, compassion, and solidarity. Brenda lives in Providence, RI.
David Chavez
Board Member At-Large
My name is David and I am currently doing social outreach and am an active member of society. I am in CCRI becoming a social worker and have two part-time jobs.Â
Everett Pope
Board Member At-Large
Hey, my name is Everrett Pope. I am originally from Pawtucket, born and raised. I’m passionate about my people and I am very concerned about the environment. All in all, I just want to leave the world a better place when I’m gone.Â
Joe Benton
Sargeant-At-Arms
Joe is a graduate of Community College of RI and a graduate of Leadership Rhode Island. He’s received a number of awards throughout his divinity education and one of those awards is the spirituality award from the Lamp Stand Institute. He has a Citizen’s Citation from David N Cicilline, when he was Mayor of Providence, for outstanding contributions to Providence and its residents. He also received a Proclamation from former Mayor and current state representative, John Lombardi. He worked for MAP, alcohol drug and rehab center where he was a counselor and developed several re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated and substance abusers. He also worked for Amos House, counseling young men from the community and who were residents at Amos House and coming in from prison. He loves this community and these people and they’re part of his life. He also served a substantial amount of time in prison but came back to be part of a community solution, as opposed to a community problem.
Martha Yager
Secretary
Martha Yager has been a member of DARE since 2008 and been involved in most of the campaigns since then. She has been DARE treasurer since 2017 and loves to help out with member meetings and events. When not at DARE she volunteers at Movement Ground Farm. She and her partner Kathy have 2 kitties and a puppy.
Mónica Huertas
Vice Chairperson
DARE member since 2015, environmental Justice Organizer, Birth and Breastfeeding Doula, R.I.C Alumnus (BSW), Wife and Mom
Sheila Wilhelm
Board Chairperson
Sheila Wilhelm is a DARE co-founder, mother and grandmother and long-time resident of the West End, fighter around schools, neighborhood issues, police injustice, and prison reform, and is an ice cream connoisseur.
