Our Mentors

I grew up in Brooklyn, NY before moving upstate with my family as a youth. Childhood was filled with a myriad of adverse experiences, including poverty, food insecurity, parental incarceration and more. At the age of 17, I was sentenced to seven years in NYS prison, where I ultimately learned the value in positive mentor relationships and transformed my life for the better. Currently, I work with children and families from cradle through career, in my role as the Assistant Director at the Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood, Inc.

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I became a mentor to provide critical assistance to people from all walks of life, and strengthen this role in Columbia County. During the most trying times in someone's life, sometimes all they need is a friend and someone they can relate to. While I know transformation is hardly a linear journey, I want to be the person who my mentees called when they are ready to open the door to change. I take great pride in bringing my life experiences to the table and being the positive adult role model that I know I would have benefitted from in my formative years.

I’m originally from Brooklyn, NY, but my parents moved our family to Upstate New York in the 1980s for a better quality of life. I had a fun childhood, but I also faced family challenges and obstacles that I had to overcome. Those experiences helped shape who I am today. I’m the owner of Enviro Clean, a Capital Region mold remediation and janitorial services company.

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As a young person, I got into trouble and eventually ended up on juvenile probation. I was fortunate to have some amazing judges, probation officers, and other adults who saw potential in me, held me accountable, and gave me opportunities to turn my life around.

Years later, the staff at U-CAN gave me the opportunity to do the same for other young people. I became a mentor because I understood many of the challenges they were facing and wanted them to know that their mistakes and circumstances don’t have to determine their future.

Mentoring has been life-changing and incredibly rewarding. Building relationships with young people who may not have many adults they trust has meant a lot to me. Through U-CAN, I’ve been able to listen, guide, encourage, and share my own experiences.

My work with U-CAN eventually led to me receiving a Jefferson Award for public service, which was an incredible honor. But the greatest reward has always been watching young people recognize their potential, make better decisions, and begin to believe in themselves.​

I grew up in a small town in Haiti where community meant everyone looked out for one another. Everyone was like a parent. If I was doing something I wasn’t supposed to be doing, my mom somehow knew about it before I even got home. Growing up with that sense of community helped shape my belief that we all have a responsibility to look out for and help one another.

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I became a U-CAN mentor because I believe everyone needs a little guidance sometimes. Young adults will not always have all the answers, and when they feel lost, having someone willing to listen can make a difference. I want to be that person for someone who may feel like they have no one to talk to, someone who will listen without judgment, share lessons from my own experiences, and help them find their way forward. 

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Today, I am a U.S. Army veteran and the founder of Dani Security, a cybersecurity and IT company in Rochester NY. I also help underprivileged children in Haiti attend school through my foundation, ODED Haiti.

I am the owner and broker of Clancy Real Estate and have worked in the Capital Region real estate community for nearly 30 years. I mentor with U-CAN because I believe everyone deserves someone in their corner—someone willing to listen, offer honest guidance and help them see a path forward. Mentoring has been a meaningful and humbling experience for me, reminding me that trust, consistency and simply showing up can make a real difference in someone’s life.

I grew up in Arbor Hill, a part of Albany that felt like a village within the city, where families looked out for one another. It was an amazing experience to grow up surrounded by the love and support of family, friends, and neighbors. Those experiences shaped my understanding of community and the importance of being there for others.

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I wanted to join U-CAN because I wanted to give back. I wanted to be able to help someone along the way and make a difference in someone’s life. I believe one of the most important parts of living is helping others. When you step outside of your normal environment and reach someone who needs your support, encouragement, or guidance, you have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference. To me, that is a blessing’s way of stretching love beyond ourselves and extending it to others.

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Mentoring has been a blessing to me because it has allowed me to exercise the tools in life that make us better when we help others: patience, consistency, endurance, and the ability to truly meet people where they are. It has taught me that mentoring isn’t about changing someone or expecting them to be where you are. It’s about being present, understanding where they are in their journey, and having the patience and consistency to walk alongside them.

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I have worked for the New York State Department of Health/Health Research, Inc. for 33 years. I currently work in the Office of Health Emergency Preparedness.