ashley@nantucketaids.org

Ashley Brooks is a longtime resident of Nantucket. She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and holds a MSW from Boston University. Prior to earning her social work degree Ashley served three years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cape Verde, West Africa where her primary focus was community development and health education. While at Boston University she interned at Big Sisters and facilitated healthy life choice groups for “at risk” adolescent girls in Boston public schools and housing projects. Ashley also worked for the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition and was responsible for creating and developing a transgenerational citizenship project with Cape Verdean youth and elders in their community. After graduating from BU, she worked as a Community Health Advocate in Dorchester with gang involved youth. Ashley joined NAN in the spring of 2007 as the Manager of Community Education and Outreach. She is responsible for youth programming, HIV counseling and testing and community outreach. Ashley is very excited to be a part of the NAN team and to continue working with youth and immigrant populations.

Francesca Ifantiedes joined the staff at NAN in 2006 as the Director of Client Services. She is a graduate of Penn State University and Vermont Law School, as well as a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Prior to pursuing her legal studies in Vermont, Francesca served as an Americorps volunteer in the public health community in Philadelphia. She worked on programs in a variety of areas, which included lead poisoning prevention, welfare reform education and assistance, and HIV prevention and education. Thereafter she worked as an HIV Prevention Counselor with the Health Federation of Philadelphia. During that time she provided community members with anonymous HIV testing, counseling and education. In her role as Director of Client Services, Francesca looks forward to utilizing her counseling and advocacy skills, while making a positive contribution and connection to the Nantucket community.

Kate Sulzer was born and raised on Nantucket where she became involved with Nantucket AIDS Network at a young age. As the 2003 - 2004 co-president of the high school education program, Peers Promoting Action & Awareness, Kate worked closely with NAN to create a comprehensive manual to teach peer to peer sexual education. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College in May of 2008 with a BA in English and Spanish and reconnected with NAN the following month to become the Administrative and Special Event Coordinator. Kate is delighted to work for an organization that has such an extensive impact within the community.