LEADING WITH LOVE
Mr. Rick Christopher
Assistant Finance DirectorRichard “Rick” Christopher grew up in Orleans County, but has lived and worked in Rochester since 1974. After retiring from Monroe County in 2011, Rick became Baden Street’s Finance Director. In 2019, he stepped down from that position in order to spend more time traveling, but remains at Baden on a part-time basis assisting the current Finance Director as needed. Rick came to Baden Street in the first place because he wanted to give back to the community and to help Baden Street navigate a very difficult period in the aftermath of severe funding cuts the Agency faced in the wake of the Great Recession.
Ms. Wendy Fitzhugh
Human Resources & Payroll SpecialistWendy Fitzhugh is a Rochester native who has worked at Baden Street Settlement of Rochester since August of 2007. She attended Virginia State University and majored in Accounting. Wendy is currently the Human Resource and Payroll Specialist with Baden Street. Wendy has worked in the field of accounting for over 25 plus years and has spent the last 8 years branching out into the area of Human Resources. Wendy came to Baden Street when she returned to Rochester after living in theDC/Maryland area for 8 years and enjoys being part of the Baden Street family. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her lovely daughters.
Ms. Monica Hanks
Director of Special Initiatives & Events/Donor Relationship CoordinatorMonica L. Hanks was born in Rochester to Maxsene B. Hanks and the late Donald Hanks. She was raised on the Breedlove farm by her maternal grandparents, the late L.C. & Dorothy Breedlove, located in the Finger Lakes area in a small rural town called Dundee. She attended and graduated from Dundee Central High School and then SUNY Buffalo. She obtained her Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership from Medaille College in 2017. She has spent her career working in the social services field, with a focus on “at risk” youth between the ages of 16 – 24 years old. She was able to provide this support through her tenure with agencies such as Threshold, Center for Youth, Iroquois Job Corps Center and Villa of Hope. She is currently the Director of Special Initiatives & Events/Donor Relationship Coordinator. In her free time, Monica enjoys reading, traveling, cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Email:mhanks@badenstreet.org
Mr. Lee Harris
IT Director & Digital Arts Program DirectorLee Harris is from Rochester, NY and has worked with Baden Street Settlement since 2008. Lee attended East High School and is currently the IT Director at Baden Street Settlement. Lee has worked in the Rochester Community since 1987 as a private business owner utilizing his technical skills working with churches and small businesses as IT Support, computer technician and technical consultant. Lee came to Baden Street Settlement as a reference from fellow small business owner and Xerox IT Manager Roy Williams and has proudly been with Baden Street ever since. In Lee’s free time he loves to bowl and just be your average super nerd.
Email:lharris@badenstreet.org
Ms. Mary Jackson
Financial Clerk and Transportation CoordinatorMary A. Jackson was born in Fort Myers, Florida, and at the age of 12 years old her family moved to Rochester, New York. She attended Franklin High School. Prior to being employed at Baden Street Settlement she worked several years as a teacher’s aide and switchboard operator for the RCSD as well as nurse’s aide for Rochester General Hospital. She has worked with Baden Street Settlement for over 24 years starting as the receptionist/switchboard operator for the administration office and transportation coordinator. In 2009, she was promoted and is currently a member of the finance team as the clerk in the finance department. Throughout her 24 years at the agency she has served as the administrative support related to equipment (fax, postage, copier), responsible for ordering agency supplies and continues to serve as the transportation coordinator. In her free time, Mary enjoys reading and traveling.
Email:mjackson@badenstreet.org
Mr. Teddy Thomas
Maintenance OperationsTheodore “Teddy” Thomas is a Rochester native by way of Georgia and has worked at Baden Street Settlement since 2008 but utilized the programming and resources of the organization since he was a child. Teddy attended Martin Luther King High school in Atlanta, GA and visited Rochester every summer and for vacations to see family during which time he was active in various activities offered at Baden Street Settlement. His family moved to Rochester after he graduated from high school and he could finally call Rochester his home. During his tenure as the Maintenance Supervisor, he has been able to utilize his vast skill set to keep the agency going. Teddy started his career as a contract worker at Baden prior to moving into a position within the agency. Teddy’s love for Baden Street began as a child, and this position allows him to work at the agency he grew up in. In his free time, Teddy loves fishing, traveling and supporting the Buffalo Bills.
Email:tthomas@badenstreet.org
Program Directors
Ms. Kimberly Barnes-Ellis
Program DirectorKimberly Barnes-Ellis is from Rochester, New York and has worked with Baden Street Settlement for 17 years. She attended West Irondequoit High School in the Urban Suburban Program and Graduated from Central State University in Ohio with a degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. Kimberly Barnes-Ellis is currently the director of Baden Street Child Development Center. She spent several years as the program director at South Avenue Daycare Located at the Rochester Psychiatric Center and has experience as a supervisor in dietary at Highland Hospital for over 20 years and has worked for Highland Hospital for over 30 years. She came to Baden Street Settlement because of her love and passion for working with children and loves being part of the team. In her free time Kimberly loves shopping, cooking and spending time with her family.
Email:kbellis@badenstreet.org
Ms. Yvonne Clinkscales
Program Director
Ms. Pamela Quick
Program DirectorMs. Pamela Quick was born in Rochester, New York via The Bronx, New York and is currently enrolled at Empire State College majoring in Community and Human Services. The core of her previous educational experience is in Criminal Justice received from Keuka College. She considers herself an advocate for children’s well-being socially, emotionally, physically, educationally as it relates to the effects of poverty on children. Ms. Quick was appointed Director of the Activities Department in 2019. She was previously the Assistant Director of the Activities Department for 10 years, and worked with community partnerships programs as well. She worked with After School programs, 21st Century Recess Community programs, Youth on the Move (Teen Program) and Summer Enrichment programs with the Rochester City School District. Ms. Quick loves kids, working out, reading, animals, and nature; she likes cooking, sports, music, and movies.
Email:pquick@badenstreet.org
Ms. Carol Robinson
Program DirectorCarol Robinson is from Rockingham NC. She has lived in Rochester, NY since she was 16 years old. She started working for Baden Street in 1995 as a Toddler Teacher. Since then she has had several positions in the Early Childhood Department. Carol has had great experience working with the families in the Northeast section of the city. She attended Monroe High School and shortly thereafter decided that she wanted to work in the Human Service field, so she went on to earn her Associates Degree in Human Services at Monroe Community College. There Carol decided that she wanted to work in a community is where she would be most impactful. Carol is currently the Pre-K Director and works in the daycare center as the Assistant Director and Educational Coordinator. She is currently enrolled at Empire State College working on a BA in Early Childhood. Her hobbies are reading, hanging out with her 3 grandchildren and traveling whenever work permits.
Ms. Dolores Rodriguez
Program DirectorDolores Rodriguez was born in Chicago, Illinois and has been employed at Baden Street Settlement for 30+ years serving the community in which she was raised. She went to Franklin High School and then attended Monroe Community College. Upon joining the Baden Street family, Dolores realized that Baden Street had a positive impact on the community and she wanted to be a part of that. Dolores began as a clerical worker then as a bilingual caseworker, eventually reaching senior caseworker status. Over the years, Dolores conducted client interviews, completed intake and eligibility forms, provided language translation services, transportation assistance, emergency food, housing, in addition to referrals and strong advocacy to social services, SSI/SSD, medical, mental health, and chemical dependency services. Dolores is currently the Director of the Emergency and Family Assistance Department, and is grateful to Ms. Annie E. Miller and Gladys Holloman, the extraordinary ladies who taught her the meaning of giving back. In her free time, Dolores likes to sing, solve puzzles (Sodoku), and go for walks.
Ms. Jennifer Quick
PROGRAM DIRECTOREmail:jquick@badenstreet.org
Ms. Leanne Perez-Dunham
INTERIM PROGRAM DIRECTORLeanne Perez-Dunham is currently the Interim Program Director of Baden Street Settlement’s Counseling Center as of July 2021. She has worked in the Substance Abuse field for 14 years and came to Baden Street as a CD counselor in June 2012. Leanne was promoted to the Supervision of the English track in 2020. She has her Bachelor’s Degree in Substance Abuse Counseling from SUNY Brockport which she graduated in 2007 and a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from St. John Fisher College in 2012. Leanne is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Master Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Counselor. In her free time, Leanne enjoys spending time with her family and reading a good book.
Email:lbritt@badenstreet.org
Ms. Gaynelle Wethers
Community Engagement DirectorGaynelle D. Wethers has had an expansive and celebrated career as an executive administrator, educator diversity/inclusion expert and community volunteer. Her accomplishments include strategist and campaign manager for local races including Rochester’s mayor, Rochester City School District Board of Education races, as well as Rochester City Council races. She was awarded the Very Re. John F. Murphy President’s Award at St. John Fisher College. Nominated and a finalist twice for the Rochester Women’s Council, Athena Award. A tree is planted by the Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr Commission in appreciation and recognition for community work with the commission.
Wethers retired from Nazareth College in May 2013, after serving more than 20 years as its founding director of Multicultural Affairs. She is presently serving as Director of the EPK and UPK at Baden at Charles Street as well as its Fundraising and Development Chairperson.
Gaynelle’s current volunteerism in the greater Rochester includes her service as President of the Interfaith Alliance of Rochester, past president of Baden Street Settlement, past president and secretary of the Jordan Health Center Corporate Board, past president and past- vice president of programs at the Association of American University Women Greater Rochester Area (NY) and past president at the Rochester Women’s Network.
Her past positions include Pastoral Associate of Immaculate Conception Church, Principal of St. Monica School, teacher in Rush-Henrietta School District and for the Roman Catholic Diocese. Wethers has received formal Mediation Training and Training in HIV Infection and Aids. She is also a field reader for the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Wethers, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana received her BS degree from Xavier University, New Orleans, Louisiana, and her MS degree in Elementary Education from Nazareth College. She holds a New York State Certification in Public Administration from the University of Rochester and attended St. Bernard’s Institute.
Email:gwethers@badenstreet.org
Board of Directors
Officers
Tyrese Bryant
President
Katie Norman
Treasurer
Kimberly Giblin
Secretary
Scott Adair
Assistant Treasurer
Directors
Jon Alhart
Albert Burke
Taylor Caruthers
Jeff Clark
Robert Gavin
Laryssa Johnson
Trent Marshall
Bill May
Dr. Arlette Miller-Smith
Robin Stein
Thomas Stewart
Rhashard Watkins