Alice Lombardo Maher, M.D., Founder
Emotional Imprint™ is the vision of Alice Lombardo Maher, MD, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in New York City. Dr. Maher believes that the same dynamics that underlie psychoanalytic theory and methodology are at work within the greater society, but popular culture tends to dismiss them or use them as weapons to marginalize, trivialize, or ridicule the humanity of others. She believes that the ability to understand the emotional experience of the other and communicate across divides is a complex and difficult process, one that involves a language yet to be discovered. Dr. Maher founded Emotional Imprint™, and its non-profit sponsor organization Changing Our Consciousness, to develop the tools to confront that problem in a unique and effective way.
Bernice Arricale, M.S., NYC Department of Education, Educational Advisor
Bernice Arricale is a special education teacher and literacy specialist whose work with primary-age children and their teachers keeps redefining notions of what it means to be a “special needs” learner. Says Alice Maher, “Bernice has been my ‘muse’ for the past half century, and everything I’ve ever done has been filtered through the mirror of her discerning eyes. I know what I look like in large part because of the way she’s reflected me back to myself. This project wouldn’t exist if not for her.”
Melissa R. Brand, Psy.D., Curriculum Designer
Melissa R. Brand, Psy.D. has worked in education for eighteen years. She began her career working with children with autism in the public schools. Later, she pursued her doctorate in school psychology with the goal of having a greater, systems-level impact on children. Dr. Brand has developed and implemented interactive prevention, social skills, and advisory curricula for schools across the country. Through her work in prevention, she has trained hundreds of faculty members to teach children to effectively articulate their emotions, improve communication, develop self-esteem, cooperate, problem-solve, engage in dialogue, stay healthy, avoid alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, self-advocate, prepare for college, and lead with the goal of improving their selves, their schools, and their society. Currently, Dr. Brand is a licensed psychologist and consultant in private practice in Philadelphia. She holds a doctorate in school psychology from The Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University, a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Writing from Bard College, and Post-Baccalaureate in Special Education from Kean University. She is New Jersey Certified in School Psychology, Special Education and Elementary Education.
Sasha Diamond-Lenow
Sasha serves as Director of Social Work at StreetSquash Harlem and Newark. She earned her MSW at Columbia University and is a licensed New York State Social Worker. She received her BS at Skidmore College in Social Work and Spanish. Sasha was a varsity athlete, earning All-League academic and athletic honors. Sasha has worked at various youth development organizations in New York City including the Urban Dove, BuildOn, HarlemRBI, and Girls for Gender Equity. Sasha joined StreetSquash in 2010 and served as Academic Director until assuming her current role in 2013.
John Foy
John Foy is a retired business executive. He brings decades of experience and broad expertise to our strategic planning efforts.