About Us
Lazos Al Futuro was founded in 2015 when sisters Yarlennys Villaman and Katiuska Fernandez traveled from the US back to their native town Luperon, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Meeting with the local youth, Villaman and Fernandez realized there were no organized programs for the youth to network, learn, and grow. Villaman and Fernandez decided to provide the support for the youth by creating Lazos Al Futuro, or in English, Ties to the Future.
Lazos Al Futuro is supporting the youth financially with scholarships for the entire academic year, providing counseling and mentorship, holding empowering retreats, running summer camps, and much more. Additionally, our offices allow volunteers to help deliver these services in a safe space for our youth. With your help, we can continue to improve the lives of these youth even more. We strongly believe that change begins with us.
Our Team
U.S. Staff
Glennys Acosta, Executive Director
Glennys Acosta has dedicated more than 18 years to the nonprofit sector, passionately advocating for and supporting her community. Throughout her career, she has served in multiple roles — as a community organizer, domestic violence specialist, advocate, philanthropist, social worker, and public servant. Glennys has also shared her voice and leadership by serving on numerous boards and hosting her own television program with Cambridge CCTC.
Driven by her commitment to education and empowerment, Glennys co-founded her family’s international organization, Lazos al Futuro, based in the Dominican Republic. The organization works to improve graduation rates among disadvantaged high school students and expand their access to higher education. Today, Lazos al Futuro proudly supports 32 students, 13 of whom are currently attending college — a testament to the program’s lasting impact.
Currently, she serves as a Family Manager at Christopher Haven, helping children with cancer. She is also the CEO of Lazos Al Futuro, through which she travels from Massachusetts to Dominican Republic to manage the Dominican team and oversee the foundation’s work.
Katiuska Fernandez, Co-Founder & Director of Strategic Initiatives
Kati Fernandez is the Chief Content Officer at TOGETHXR, where she leads content strategy across original IP, studio projects, branded entertainment, and multiplatform storytelling. An award-winning Afro-Latina executive, she brings a powerful mix of creative vision and cultural fluency to content that sits at the intersection of sport, identity, and impact.
Previously Head of Development at ESPN, Kati helped shape flagship properties like 30 for 30, ESPN Films, and Originals, with past roles at NFL Network and Hulu. Recognized by Sports Business Journal, Cynopsis, and NextGen Collective, Kati is a leading voice in reimagining the future of storytelling in media.
Yarlennys Villaman, Co-Founder & Program Director
Yarlennys Villaman is a senior executive leader with over a decade of experience in community organizing, public policy, outreach, and campaign development. She has deep expertise in government, public service, and language access.
She previously served as Director of Outreach at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and as Senior Director of Community Affairs in the Governor’s Office, where she advanced equity, inclusion, and accessibility through initiatives such as Executive Order 615. She also served on the State Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board.
She currently serves as Director of Capital and Community Relations at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and is a proud mother of two.
Jessica Clergeau, Finance Director
Jessica Clergeau serves as the Financial Director for the organization, where she oversees financial operations, budgeting, and responsible stewardship of resources to help advance the organization’s mission. With over 10 years of experience in the banking industry and current role as a Bank Manager, Jessica brings strong financial expertise and a practical understanding of managing budgets, financial planning, and accountability.
Jessica helps ensure Lazos Al Futuro's resources are managed carefully so it can continue its mission of supporting students in the Dominican Republic. She is committed to maintaining transparency, sustainability, and strong financial practices that allow the organization to grow its impact.Dominican Republic Volunteer Staff
Delia Altagracia Díaz, Operations Director
I am a clinical psychologist, nurse, and writer with over 30 years of experience in the healthcare field. Throughout my professional career, I served as a nurse at the José María Cabral y Báez Hospital, where I gained extensive experience in comprehensive patient care and in the operations of the hospital system.
Additionally, I possess over twenty years of experience working with children and adolescents in the community, fostering their physical, mental, and spiritual development through guidance, counseling, and educational programs.
Currently, I serve as the Director of Operations at the organization Lazos al Futuro in the Dominican Republic, where I collaborate in the planning, coordination, and execution of programs and activities aimed at supporting the education of underprivileged children and youth.
Gabriel Pichardo - Financial Director
I have worked closely with the community and the Ministry of Education, participating in initiatives aimed at social and educational development. Additionally, I have served as an IT Technician, Digitizer, and Archivist for the National Police, thereby strengthening my skills in organization, information management, and administrative processes.
I have also performed volunteer work with the Dominican Adventist Church, contributing to the well-being and support of vulnerable communities.
Currently, I hold the position of Financial Director at Lazos al Futuro—a non-profit organization—where I oversee financial operations. I am responsible for budget preparation and control, fund management, donation tracking, and expense administration, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently to support educational programs aimed at students in the Dominican Republic.
Milenia De La Rosa, Regional Director
A psychologist, family and child/adolescent therapist, and educator, she possesses a solid educational background and extensive experience in providing comprehensive support to children, adolescents, and families. She is distinguished by her humanistic, ethical, and scientific approach—one oriented toward emotional well-being and the holistic development of individuals.
Currently, she serves as a Guidance and Psychology Specialist within Educational District 10-04 in Luperón, Puerto Plata, where she leads and implements interventions aimed at strengthening the school environment, supporting learning processes, and promoting mental health within the educational community.
She holds specialized training in child and adolescent psychotherapy, as well as a diploma in psychometrics, enabling her to conduct psychological evaluations with technical rigor and design intervention plans tailored to individual needs.
Her professional practice is grounded in empathy, active listening, and respect for human dignity; she guides processes of personal transformation with both sensitivity and commitment.
In the social sphere, she volunteers with the Lazos al Futuro Foundation, where she actively participates in initiatives focused on leadership training and the holistic development of youth, thereby reaffirming her vocation for service.
Additionally, she is a writer—the author of the book Las huellas de Agua Luna (The Footprints of Agua Luna)—and the creator of the reflective space Palabras que Curan y Restauran (Words That Heal and Restore), through which she integrates psychology, faith, and emotional healing to positively impact diverse audiences.
Her work is guided by the purpose of fostering emotional intelligence, strengthening self-esteem, and contributing to the development of a meaningful sense of purpose in life, thereby generating well-being at the individual, familial, and societal levels.
Carolin Vásquez, Youth Coordinator
An early childhood educator and event decorator with experience in planning and styling various activities. I currently serve as a full-time teacher in the public sector, contributing to the holistic development of children during their foundational educational stages.
Additionally, I am a member of the educational division at the Lazos al Futuro Foundation in the Dominican Republic, where I assist in coordinating programs and activities designed to support the education of underprivileged children and youth, thereby fostering opportunities for their academic and personal growth.
Dr. Angel Pichardo, Doctor of Dentistry
A healthcare professional with over 5 years of experience as a general dentist at the Hospital de Diagnóstico Los Guandules, providing comprehensive, high-quality care to patients of all ages.
Throughout my career, I have actively worked with children and adolescents in the community, participating in programs focused on their physical, mental, and spiritual development; this experience has enabled me to cultivate a humanistic and preventive approach to the practice of dentistry.
Currently, I serve as a member of the Lazos al Futuro Foundation, where I work to promote the holistic health of students, with a particular emphasis on oral health education and prevention.
Committed to community well-being, health education, and the continuous improvement of my professional skills.Board
Andrew Cornell - Chairman
Attorney Andrew P. Cornell has practiced law in Massachusetts since 1994, concentrating in all aspects of family law. Andrew is an Adjunct Professor at New England Law, teaching courses on family law and trial practice.
Geneve Allison
Dr. Geneve M. Allison MD is a physician, educator and researcher specializing in Infectious Diseases in Boston, MA. She is a proud supporter of two students of Lazos al Futuro to achieve their college dreams!
Melissa McWhinney
Melissa McWhinney is an attorney with expertise in housing, homelessness, and civil rights. In her free time, she volunteers with the ACLU, gardens, cooks, and reads books. 
Monica Young
Monica is a clinical social worker who primarily works with adolescents and young adults and families. While working at the teen health centers at Cambridge Health Alliance she had the privilege to serve many immigrant families which helped her develop a sense of the challenges faced by young people in Latin America and the Caribbean. She spends a couple months a year in DR with her partner who is a Santo Domingo native, and is passionate about improving and increasing the opportunities for young people there through Lazos Al Futuro. Mónica has also been a journalist, marketing manager and fundraiser and is a trained cook. She loves hiking, traveling and spending time with her family.
David Valdez
Headcoach for the Pacific Rim Charter Public School Baseball team. Former professional baseball player, and international player education assistant for the Detroit Tigers where he taught English to non-English speaking players and was liaison between Spanish-speaking players and coaching staff. David was the hitting coach for the MLB Draft and player development coach for the Milwaukee Brewers A affiliate.
Vladimir Mazarin
Vladimir Mazarin is a Support Engineer who discovered his passion for technology in high school. A devoted husband and father of three, he is known for his goofy sense of humor and love for island cuisine. Whether he's troubleshooting tech issues or enjoying family time, Vladimir approaches life with enthusiasm.
Paige Swanson
Paige Swanson brings a wide range of nonprofit experience, including work in fundraising and resource development, capacity building, and direct service work. She currently works in fundraising and development at De Novo Center for Justice and Healing. Outside of work, she has volunteered teaching classes to prepare prospective citizens for their naturalization interviews. Paige has also dedicated the past few years to learning Spanish, and has achieved an advanced level of speaking.
Paige was drawn to Lazos al Futuro's work because of their impactful programming in the Cibao region of the Dominican Republic, where her partner and his family are from. She believes strongly that young people in the Dominican Republic, and around the world, deserve to be supported as they identify and pursue their goals. She is honored to sit on the board of Lazos al Futuro and have the opportunity to contribute to its important work."