Team at HANDS

Elliott is the interim executive director of Housing and Neighborhood Development Services, Inc. (HANDS), where he had served as Chair of the Board before stepping down to assume the staff position in January 2019. Elliott leads Communitas Consulting LLC., a NJ-based firm assisting organizations to achieve sustainable results in the areas of community revitalization, small-business development and education. Elliott has extensive experience working in all three sectors. In 2015-16 he served as the Community Engagement Officer for the Orange, NJ, Board of Education. From 2008 through 2014, Elliott was a vice president at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where he was a member of the Global Philanthropy team responsible for grantmaking and relationship management in the New York Tri-State region. During his tenure, he helped launch and develop Community School initiatives in Orange and in Paterson, NJ. He also championed the growth and expansion of Rising Tide Capital, a nationally recognized and award-winning training organization for low-income entrepreneurs in northern NJ. Elliott also helped New Jersey Community Capital develop an innovative and nationally influential foreclosure mitigation program.

Joining the HANDS’ staff in mid-2005, Robin continues to marvel at the impact and accomplishments of HANDS and its stature in the community development field. As the Administrative Manager, she is a generalist with responsibility for grant writing and management, personnel and oversight of office administration and public relations. Passionate about housing issues and their critical influence on the health of a family and a community, Robin has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity since 1994. She also volunteers at a community soup kitchen and homeless program. Interests include exploring new urban places and natural areas, experiencing historic architecture and hiking. Email: robin@handsinc.org

Alexandra Alfred is the Communications Manager at HANDS. Alex has 10 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector. Starting as an AmeriCorps volunteer with Jersey Cares, a nonprofit geared towards volunteerism, she was given the responsibility of coordinating all annual events for the organization. As the Annual Events Coordinator, she was tasked with working with hundreds of volunteers, corporations, schools, and nonprofits throughout Northern New Jersey, in order to bring volunteerism and overall change to the surrounding communities. Following her year of service, she was accepted into the Social Enterprise program at Columbia University School of Social Work, where she earned her Master's degree, and gained experience in nonprofit management and administration ranging from grant writing to program evaluation. Upon relocating to Florida, Alex worked in child welfare and early intervention, serving children and families throughout Palm Beach County. Ms. Alfred also served as an integral part of the marketing and development team at The Kannico Agency, in which she was responsible for website redesign, social media marketing, and development work. After moving back to New Jersey, Alex served as a development associate for New City Kids, taking on donor relations, fundraising, marketing, volunteer coordination, and grant writing.

A native of Orange, Rachel Bland, MPH is the Community Organizer at HANDS. She first worked at HANDS, Inc as a NeighborWorks AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer In Service to America) in 2009 where she worked on neighborhood revitalization and community development. She then completed her Masters in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She has a BS from Spelman College, a historically black college.

Rachel returned to Orange as a Community School Coordinator at Oakwood Avenue Community School in Orange in 2013. Most recently, she has been the Director of the Healthy Orange Coalition: Building a Culture of Health in Orange, NJ. Understanding that education is a pathway to health, the coalition has been working with partners and stakeholders on how they can remove obstacles and promote opportunities to learning. As HANDS’ Community Organizer, Rachel will continue her work with the Healthy Orange Coalition.

Rachel is very excited to be working at HANDS again, focusing on empowering residents of the Heart of Orange community and promoting opportunities to learn that will lead to longer and better quality lives. Email: rachel@handsinc.org

With over 25 years of experience in accounting, Nancy Molinerio has been a part of the HANDS team since 2010. Leading financial affairs for HANDS, Nancy has spearheaded initiatives related to auditing, financial reporting, and fiscal management. Outside of her finance role, as a native from Peru, she is passionate about supporting the growing Latino population in Orange.