The Neighbors Link mission is to strengthen the whole community through the healthy integration of immigrants. Our mission is achieved by filling a service gap for new immigrant families, offering education and empowerment programs, involving longer-term residents in volunteer opportunities and creating substantive partnerships with other local organizations. Our strategies to educate, empower and employ families include a Worker Center, English as a Second Language (ESL) education, legal services and advocacy, workforce development, parent education, early childhood programs and academic support for school-age children of immigrants.
Neighbors Link is headquartered in Mount Kisco and operates throughout Westchester County. For more information on locations or programs, please call us at 914-666-3410.
Carola Otero Bracco, Executive Director
Carola Otero Bracco, Executive Director of Neighbors Link, has a strong personal connection to the Neighbors Link mission of strengthening the whole community through the healthy integration of immigrants. As a first generation American born of immigrant parents from Bolivia, Carola understands the challenges that accompany the immigrant experience in America and is dedicated to inspiring healthy integration in the community. Carola is bilingual and bicultural and is driven by her passion for empowering immigrant families and advocating for personal growth through education and economic development.
During Carola's tenure, Neighbors Link has become a leader in designing, implementing and directing community-based, bilingual educational and cultural awareness training programs. Furthermore, with her guidance and leadership, the organization has quadrupled in size in 10 years and is strategically scaling the Neighbors Link model in communities that are ready to embrace our mission.
Before becoming Executive Director of Neighbors Link in April of 2004, Carola spent 12 years of her career gaining experience in financial management with General Electric Corporation, Ford Motor Company and Time Warner. She holds an MBA from Duke University and currently serves on the boards of the National Council for Workforce Education, Nonprofit Westchester, and the New York Immigration Coalition. She previously served on the board of Northern Westchester Hospital.
Carola is recognized as an expert on immigration issues in the New York Metropolitan area. She has received numerous awards and recognitions. Most recently, she received the Champion for Children Award from the Child Care Council of Westchester and was selected as the New York Senate District 40 Woman of Distinction for 2019 by Senator Peter Harckham.
Providing leadership and vision for Neighbors Link is something Carola sees as her life’s work and she often says it is a privilege to be in her position as executive director.
Staff Carola Otero Bracco, Executive Director Melba Adames, Instructional Aide Karin Anderson Ponzer, Esq., Director, Neighbors Link Community Law Practice Alyssa Besio, Development Associate Constanza Bentancor, Paralegal Administrator Meredith Bloch, Staff Attorney Mayha Ghouri, Staff Attorney Luisa Granda-Rodriguez, Director, Operations and Community Development Debbie Hubbe, Government Reporting Specialist Maria Isabel Lopez, ONA Immigrant Community Navigator Eva Kelly, Director of Development and Communications Isaac Marquez, Hiring Site Manager Rosa Martin, Program Coordinator Beverliz Martinez, Program Manager Kelly Martinez, Client Support Services Elizabeth Mastropolo, Esq., Managing Attorney, Neighbors Link Community Law Practice Leslie Molina, Paralegal Administrator Rodolfo Moran, Ossining Site Manager Martha Palomino, Volunteer Coordinator Mercy Quezada, Parent Home Educator Ana Restrepo, Office Coordinator Ramiro Rincon, ONA Program Director Rebecca Sussman, Director of Parent Education, ONA Immigrant Community NavigatorKathy Thorsberg, Controller Ana Vinansaca, Childcare Program Coordinator Margarita Zambrano, Parent-Child Program FacilitatorRoberto Zumba, Worker Center and Outreach Coordinator Katie Graves-Abe, Communications, Social Media and Website Consultant
Financial Information
Federal EIN: 13-4088125 Please click here to view our financial information.
