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, has three locations in Westchester County and offers services throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley. 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 grown ten-fold since 2004 and the Neighbors Link model is being strategically scaled 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. Recently, she was recognized by Crain’s New York as one of the 2021 Notables in Nonprofits and Philanthropy 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 Lourdes Aguilar, Staff Attorney (awaiting admission) Janeth Amoretti, Parent-Child Program Facilitator Karin Anderson Ponzer, Esq., Director, Neighbors Link Community Law Practice Alyssa Besio, Grants Manager Constanza Bentancor, Senior ParalegalMeredith Bloch, Senior Staff Attorney Christine Garcia Rubin, Educational Technology Specialist Mayha Ghouri, Staff Attorney Beverliz Gillert, Program ManagerLuisa Granda-Rodriguez, Director, Operations and Community Development Katie Graves-Abe, Communications and Social Media Manager Deborah Hubbe, Government Reporting Specialist Alison Leisawitz, Volunteer Coordinator Maria Isabel Lopez, Parent Education Program Manager Isaac Marquez, Hiring Site Manager Rosa Martin, Program Manager Kelly Martinez, Community Outreach Team Manager and Hudson Valley Immigrant Community Navigator Elizabeth Mastropolo, Esq., Managing Attorney, Neighbors Link Community Law Practice Leslie Molina, ONA DOJ Accredited RepresentativeLaura Newman, Chief Strategy and Development Officer Martha Palomino, Volunteer Manager Mercy Quezada, Parent Home Educator Ana Restrepo, Operations Manager Barbara Ribeiro, ESL Manager Ramiro Rincon, Adult Education Director Stephanie Rosado, Family Center Director Sandra Sacaza, Paralegal Stephanie Sanchez, Administrative AssistantKathy Thorsberg, Controller Elizabeth Tonne-Daims, Crimmigration Senior Staff Attorney Sabrina Tuquinagui, Paralegal Ana Vinansaca, Childcare Program Coordinator Adrienne Vogel, Development Director Margarita Zambrano, Parent-Child Program Facilitator and Client Support Services Cesar Zepeda, Development AssociateRoberto Zumba, Worker Center Coordinator
Staff Bios To learn more about our Legal team, click here.To learn more about our Family Center team, click here.To learn more about our Development, Volunteer and Communications team, click here.To learn more about our Administration and Finance team, click here.
SELECTED RECENT AWARDS
The Dr. Harold Keltz Distinguished Public Health Service Award from the Westchester County Department of Health (2021)
Crain's New York Business recognized Carola Otero Bracco as one of it’s 2021 Notables in Nonprofits and Philanthropy
New York Senate District 40 Woman of Distinction for 2019 by Senator Peter Harckham awarded to Carola Otero Bracco, Executive Director of Neighbors Link
New York Immigration Coalition Member of the Year (2018)
Pace Community Law School Immigration Law Society’s Immigrant Advocate Award awarded to Carola Otero Bracco, Executive Director of Neighbors Link (2018)
Child Care Council of Westchester – Champion for Children Award (2018)
New York Community Trust Nonprofit Excellence Award (2016)
Financial Information
Federal EIN: 13-4088125 Please click here to view our financial information.
