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 at NAN, Francesca enjoys utilizing her counseling and advocacy skills, while making a positive contribution and connection to the Nantucket community.

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 for 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 choices 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 trans-generational 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 and their families. Ashley joined NAN in the spring of 2007 as the Manager of Community Education and Outreach. She has held several positions in the organization since, and is currently the Director of Programs and Services.

Celeste Sylvia is a Nantucket native who always has loved helping others. After graduating from Nantucket High School in 2006, Celeste attended Eastern Nazarene College where she majored in Youth Ministry. Her love of Spanish and youth lead her to apply for a missionary trip to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, where she spent a week working at an HIV orphanage. In June of 2008, Celeste began working with NAN as an outreach worker and Spanish translator and has played a large role in NAN’s “What’s Your Status?” Campaign. She plans to take classes through the University of Phoenix to receive a degree in Human Service and is dedicated to help others dispel the myths and learn the truths about HIV and AIDS.