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, Outreach Coordinator
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, Parent Education Manager
Kathy Thorsberg, Controller
Ana Vinansaca, Childcare Program Coordinator
Margarita Zambrano, Parent-Child Program Facilitator
Roberto Zumba, Worker Center and Outreach Coordinator
Katie Graves-Abe, Communications, Social Media and Website Consultant

Awards and Recognitions

Financial Information

Federal EIN: 13-4088125
Please click here to view our financial information.