Staff

Executive & Senior Team
Maya Nussbaum, Founder & Executive Director
Molly MacDermot, Director of Special Initiatives
Erica Silberman, Director of Curriculum & Engagement

Staff
Kelsey Adolphs, Operations Manager
Arnell Calderon, Intern
Andrew Eastwick, Senior Grant Writer
Kelsey LePage, Development Associate
Teresa Mettela, Intern
Lisbett Rodriguez, Community Coordinator
Amara Thomas, Senior Community Coordinator
Kyndal Thomas, Senior Community Coordinator

Maya Nussbaum

Maya Nussbaum has grown Girls Write Now over the last two decades from a loose association of women writers into a dynamic, volunteer-powered community, and a nonprofit after school program distinguished by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities as one of the top 15 in the nation, by the Nonprofit Excellence Awards as one of New York’s top 10 nonprofits, by Time Out New York as one of the best places to volunteer, and by Youth INC with the Innovators Award for improving the lives of New York youth. Maya has been named one of the Top 40 Feminists under 40 by The Feminist Press, one of the Top 20 Philanthropists under 40 by The Observer, a Local Hero by Metro New York, an Education Hero by The New York Times, a Diane von Furstenberg (DVF) People’s Voice Nominee, and a 2016 White House Champion of Change.

Molly MacDermot

Molly MacDermot found the teen years hard until she discovered books and a diary, which she wrote in daily. She thanks Charlotte Brönte and Harper Lee for paving the way. Molly served as Editor-in-Chief of five national magazines, including J-14, the #1 teen entertainment magazine in the US. She conceptualized and managed several teen websites and their social media components. Molly is a regular columnist, consults as a media strategist and has written five young adult books. Molly was featured in The New York Times, Adweek, Mediaweek, and Folio, and has appeared on MTV, Vh1, Inside Edition and several morning television shows to talk about pop culture and the youth market. Molly started her career at The New Yorker, and previously worked at Marie Claire (Australia) and Redbook.

Erica Silberman

Erica Silberman fell in love with Girls Write Now when she group-taught a playwriting workshop for them in 2005. Through the years, she has stayed involved with the organization as a mentor, a teacher in various outreach programs, and a member of both the Program Advisory Committee and the Host Committee. Erica has an extensive and wide-ranging background in the theatre as an actress, playwright, director, teacher, acting coach, and producer, as well as experience in the design world. She formerly served as co-president of the Women in the Arts and Media Coalition and on the board of the League of Professional Theatre Women. Erica is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and the Dramatic Question Theatre, where she runs a monthly literary and music salon.

Kelsey Adolphs

Kelsey Adolphs is thrilled to be a part of Girls Write Now, which combines all of her passions: social justice, creative writing, community organizing, and youth empowerment. Kelsey comes with extensive experience supporting a variety of nonprofit and community-based organizations—most recently with the Human Rights Program at Hunter College. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Michigan and a Master of Social Work degree from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, where she focused on community organizing and policy. Prior to pursuing her MSW, Kelsey worked in publishing. She adores books and miniature things, and is currently on a mission to find the best vegan pizza in the city.

Arnell Calderon

Arnell Calderon is a writer and Girls Write Now alum, born and raised in Harlem, New York City. She received her BA in Literature at Eugene Lang College of The New School. With a passion for writing, storytelling, education, and social justice, she is excited to join the organization.

Kelsey LePage

Kelsey LePage comes to Girls Write Now with great experience from administration and fundraising to developing curriculum and teaching youth. She has worked in creative, educational, and humanitarian settings serving local communities — at YMCA, Playworks, and most recently in sales and event management at NY Kids Club. Originally from New Hampshire, Kelsey enjoys hiking, kayaking and would be perfectly happy getting lost in a museum or library for a day. She is excited to be starting a new life in a new city and to be sharing her passions with the Girls Write Now team.

Teresa Mettela

Teresa Mettela is a rising sophomore at The City College of New York with the Macaulay Honors Program. She intends to major in International Studies and minor in Journalism and Economics. Through taking classes at City College, Teresa became immersed in writings by bell hooks, Audre Lorde, and Silvia Federici, and she is so excited to further delve into these areas of interest through her internship with Girls Write Now. When she is not writing papers for college, you can probably find Teresa exploring the city with her boyfriend, writing poetry, or binge-watching Chopped on Food Network! As a Girls Write Now alumna, Teresa is especially looking forward to assisting the Girls Write Now staff in welcoming and engaging with the upcoming generation of girls that will soon change the literary and digital world!

Lisbett Rodriguez

Lisbett Rodriguez is a Girls Write Now mentee alumna and a Brooklyn College graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in English. While an undergraduate, she contributed to making two publications of the Brooklyn College literary magazine, The Junction. She has previously worked with two women’s organizations, Legal Momentum and the Brooklyn College Women’s Center, to help and empower women.

Amara Thomas

Amara Thomas comes to Girls Write Now with a background in non-profit work and journalism. Her work has been published in the Village Voice and on the FADER. She received her B.A from Hunter College in Creative Writing. She is extremely passionate about social justice and advocacy for marginalized communities in New York City, and she is excited to bring her two loves of writing and activism to Girls Write Now. When she’s not working or writing, Amara enjoys skateboarding and gardening.

Kyndal Thomas

Kyndal Thomas has a background in nonprofit work, with experience volunteering for organizations like Best Buddies and Special Olympics and working for Poets & Writers, Inc. She received her B.A. from Northwestern University with a major in Creative Writing and a minor in African American Studies. From Texas to Chicago, Kyndal has landed in Brooklyn on the hunt for the best open mics and barbecue spare ribs. She is extremely excited to bring her love for intersectional advocacy and creative writing together at Girls Write Now.