ANA BLAGOJEVIC, Migrant Coordinator & Advocate
598-8924 cell – ablagojevic@manomaine.org email
Ana is originally from Orono, Maine and graduated from Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York in 2010 with a B.A. in Photography. From 2007-2010, she served as the Director at the Red Hook ESL Center of the Bard Trustee-Leader Scholar Program. At Red Hook, she led a structural reorganization to increase center efficiency and enrich student and teacher participation along with planning a bilingual conference on Hispanic Immigrant Workers in New York State. Ana is no stranger to Washington County and in the summer of 2009, she worked as a teaching assistant for day and evening programs with Maine Migrant Education at the Blueberry Harvest School. Ana’s work with Mano en Mano began in Summer of 2010 with coordination and teaching of summer and academic year school services for migrant youth ages 14-21. Since September 2011, the program has expanded to also include children ages 3-13 and Ana now coordinates and advocates for students in the western region of Washington county. She is fluent in Spanish and her creative work has appeared in numerous galleries and magazines.

MANDI CORNETT, Migrant Education Administrative Assistant
acornett@manomaine.org email
Mandi began working with Mano en Mano in November 2011 after relocating to Downeast Maine from Phoenix, Arizona. Her recent experience includes management of a social services program that provides care to foster children and families. Mandi has also worked with the Migrant Education Program in Indiana, as well as tutoring for Sylvan Learning Centers and her university.

Mandi currently works with data and compliance in our efforts with the Maine Migrant Education Program. She is fluent in Spanish after a study-abroad program in Guadalajara, Mexico. Mandi received her Bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University with a major in Spanish and a minor in Chemistry. She currently lives in Machiasport, and in her spare time teaches Zumba Fitness classes.

EDITH FLORES, Outreach Worker
598-8923 cell - eflores@manomaine.org email
Edith was one of the founding members of Mano en Mano and in July 2009 became our first outreach worker.  Her family immigrated to the US from Mexico when she was a child and followed the migrant farmworker stream before settling in Milbridge. Edith graduated from Narraguagus High School in Harrington and received her CNA certificate and worked as a nurse assistant in a local elder care facility before starting work with Mano en Mano. She also works for the Maine Migrant Health Program as a medical assistant and outreach worker for Washington County.

BETHANY WOODS, Program Manager
598-8926 cell – bwoods@manomaine.org email
Bethany grew up in Locust Grove, Virginia and graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2009 with a degree in International Relations.  Fluent in Italian and Spanish, Bethany studied in Viterbo, Italy for a year before college and continued studying and worked in Europe for a semester and summer during college. She learned Spanish and studied Quichua while spending two summers in Ecuador in the indigenous community of Peguche teaching English to adults and children.  In conjuction with the Mercury Project led by Professor Kris Lane, Bethany also conducted research on the social effects and history of mercury use in small mining communities in Ecuador, which focused her interest on Latin America, education, and health.

Bethany moved to Downeast Maine to begin working with Mano en Mano in September 2009 as an AmeriCorps member and served a two-year term before joining the staff full-time in the Fall of 2011. She has been responsible for updating the volunteer program, coordinating our scholarship efforts, mentoring students, social media, and running our Community Needs Assessment Project last Fall. Bethany also has outreach and client services responsibilities, plans our community events and workshops, and coordinates new programming.

JAY SKRILETZ, Migrant Coordinator & Advocate
598-8927 cell – jskriletz@manomaine.org email
Jay grew up in Los Angeles, California and first immigrated to Washington County in 1975. He earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Theatre Arts at the University of Maine (’84, ’03) and found his way into education and community service by growing theaters in Machias (The Friends and Neighbors Theatre, 1980-84), Eastport (Stage East 1990-95), and Calais (The New Calais Theartre, 2006-present). Along the way, he has cobbled together a living by digging clams, raking berries, tipping, carpentry, and salmon farming. In recent years, Jay has coordinated Service Learning and prevention programs, advised the Teen Advocacy Group and directed the Drama Club at Calais High School. He remains convinced theatre training is an essential tool for success.

At Mano en Mano, Jay coordinates the Maine Migrant Education Program in eastern Washington County. He arranges tutoring services for qualified high school students and also provides them career exploration assistance. In the elementary schools, the MEP provides younger migrant students individual educational assistance as needed as well as providing support to elementary afterschool programs. Jay and his family are growing a salt-water farm in Perry, producing honey, clams, forest products, and vegetables in season.

IAN F. YAFFE, Executive Director
619-2822 cell
Ian graduated from Bowdoin College in 2009 with a degree in Latin American Studies and Education. During that time, he spent a semester at the University of Havana studying Cuban history and philosophy. At Bowdoin, he founded Food Forward, a student organization that recycles food and educates the community about fighting hunger and its causes. He was also Executive Chef of Taste for Change, a non-profit restaurant that is part of Food Forward and that offers advanced volunteer opportunities in the culinary arts, educational events, and financial support for its partners.

For his work with Food Forward and other community organizations, Ian was awarded Campus Compact’s National Student Humanitarian Award and Bowdoin’s senior award for leadership and character: the Captain Andrew Haldane Cup. He was also selected to speak at Bowdoin’s 2009 commencement ceremony.

Outside of Mano en Mano, Ian is a firefighter and currently serves as Call Firefighter with the City of Ellsworth Fire Department.  He is also a Petty Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and was the Honor Graduate of Direct Entry Petty Officer Training (DEPOT) Class 03-11.  During his tenure here, Ian has been selected to participate in the Maine Leadership Forum on Sustainable Food Systems and the 2011 Maine Nonprofit Leadership Institute.