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BluePrint Geneva, Inc. is a federally-recognized 501c3 public charity formed in 2016 to pursue new concepts to grow an interconnected and economically-empowered community. Our projects test, evaluate, and retool strategies with a focus on building equity, confidence, and civic capacity within traditionally under-represented and under-resourced groups.
BluePrint Geneva, Inc. is a federally-recognized 501c3 public charity formed in 2016 to pursue new concepts to grow an interconnected and economically-empowered community. Our projects test, evaluate, and retool strategies with a focus on building equity, confidence, and civic capacity within traditionally under-represented and under-resourced groups.
Our Founding Principle is, "we're all in this together, let's find a way to make it better."
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Shanelle France
Board President
Shanelle France
Board President
Shanelle is the Disability Services Director at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. She lived in Lesotho, Southern Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer before attending graduate school at The George Washington University in D.C. After 5 years of living in the hustle and bustle of our nation's capital, she happily boomeranged back to Geneva, NY. She is passionate about giving back to Geneva, as it gave her so much during the transformative years during her undergraduate studies. Aside from a passion for teaching, she is a certified Yoga instructor, loves to cook, ride her bike and play with her Great Dane puppy.
Teresa Velez
VP, Immediate Past President
Teresa Velez
VP, Immediate Past President
Teresa is a Manager at Generations Bank in Ontario County. Before moving to Geneva over 20 years ago, she lived in New York City and Puerto Rico and served as a Spanish language translator. She led the BluePrint board for three years, during a period of great growth in the environmental justice and food security sectors.
Gregory Silverman
Treasurer
Gregory Silverman
Treasurer
Greg is a lawyer who focuses his practice on business and employment disputes. Before law school, Greg was active in political campaigns and government in New Hampshire. He lives in Geneva with his wife and two children. In his free time, Greg enjoys swimming in Seneca Lake, coaching his kids’ sports teams, and composting with Growing Cycle!
Caitlyn Wirth
Member at Large
Caitlyn Wirth
Member at Large
Caitlin is a Member Service Specialist at Finger Lakes Federal Credit Union in Geneva. She grew up in Geneva and has had the opportunity to get to know the community through the local businesses. Caitlin likes to garden, dabble in baking and canning, and enjoys time with family. She also likes to spend time volunteering at various events in the community.
Thom Mascia
Secretary
Thom Mascia
Secretary
Camera-shy Thom joined the board in 2023 and immediately jumped into a leadership role as the Board Secretary.
Jackie Augustine
Executive Director
Jackie Augustine
Executive Director
Jackie started BluePrint after serving 16 years as a city councilor. A Geneva native, she is also a graduate of William Smith College and holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Rochester. She teaches at Keuka College, is the co-founder of the Seneca7 relay race, is the co-chair of the Geneva2030 Food Security Task Force, and serves on the Steering Committee of NYSERDA's Energy Equity Collaborative. A policy wonk at heart, she is committed to data-driven solutions and nimble, creative approaches to complex problems. She is the mom of three great kids who are perpetually helping on a "volun-told" basis.
Rev. Patrisha Blue
Director of Student Engagement
Rev. Patrisha Blue
Director of Student Engagement
A lifelong community activist rooted in Geneva, Patrisha served as Executive Director of Community Unified Today, Inc. providing housing, child care, and economic opportunity to the community. She is the long-standing director of the Martin Luther King Community Choir and active in Mt. Calvary COGIC. Patty founded the LEAP program in the Geneva City School District, providing guidance on educational achievement and goal-setting from high school through college. Patty also serves on the Martin Luther King scholarship committee which provides generous annual support to students of color.
Joi-Anne Reynolds
Member at Large
Joi-Anne Reynolds
Member at Large
Joi brings a culinary background as well as Master Gardening expertise to the BluePrint board. A retiree of Cornell University's Agricultural Experiment Station (now AgriTech), she enjoys working with neighbors in the public gardens and assisting with development of the community kitchen project.
James Anderson
Director of Environmental Justice Programs
James Anderson
Director of Environmental Justice Programs
James is a 2023 graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. His work with BluePrint is focused on Environmental Justice, including air quality monitoring, partnering with Climate Solutions Accelerator for eco-friendly homes, as well BluePrint's gleaning and gardening efforts. James majored in environmental studies and the gender, sexuality, and intersectional justice program. He is interested in creating sustainable localized systems that uplift and support communities.
Maeve Reilly
Director of Food Justice Programs
Maeve Reilly
Director of Food Justice Programs
Maeve manages the community kitchen and Just Harvest food-buying program, and assists with planning BluePrint's events and partnering with community organizations. During the summer, Maeve helps lead the Summer Youth Environmental Justice Corps.
Former Directors and Interns
With special thanks to Mike Bersani, BluePrint's longest serving Board Member. We have him to thank for our updated bylaws, our expertly-crafted contract documents, and so much support via his time, talent, and treasure!
Emma Falkenstein
Assistant Director of Development
Emma Falkenstein
Assistant Director of Development
A 2021 graduate of Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Emma studied Anthropology and International Relations. She became involved with BluePrint while studying local community development and city politics. She received a Master's degree in urban planning from the London School of Economics. Emma was involved in program administration, community outreach, and board development. In her free time, Emma enjoys hiking, cooking, and running with friends.
AmeriCorps
2022-2023
AmeriCorps
2022-2023
Katerina Yacoub, Seneca Blakely-Armitage, Maeve Reilly, Juniper Asaro-Niederlitz (not pictured)
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“My two summers as a BluePrint Geneva intern have taught me so much about how to garden and build community. I am so grateful to have spent time learning how to develop solutions that address the complexity of local social justice and suitability issues.” - Katerina Yacoub WS 2023, Environmental Studies
William Koepp
Director of Economic Security Programs
William Koepp
Director of Economic Security Programs
William is a 2023 Hobart and William Smith Colleges graduate. He majored in Political Science with a double minor in Philosophy and Writing & Rhetoric. William focused on economic security and reducing barriers to employment and career readiness in Geneva. He also worked to design a job training and career readiness program for individuals entering or re-entering the workforce as well as supporting the Community Kitchen operations and volunteer recruitment. William is interested in supporting the development of collaborative and grassroots opportunities for community development.
Kathryn Slining-Haynes
Treasurer and Member at Large
Kathryn Slining-Haynes
Treasurer and Member at Large
Upon returning from living in France and Montréal, Kathryn spent 10 years with a worker-owned wholesale natural foods collective. After earning a master’s degree in social work she was a LCSW until retirement. She volunteers with the Center for Dispute Settlement and the Alternatives to Violence Project. She has served on the board of several national and international non-profits as well as working as a bookkeeper for several agencies. In her free time, Kathryn enjoys playing her button accordion, camping with her husband, gardening, and fiber arts.
Faith Hicks
Director of Food Justice Programs
Faith Hicks
Director of Food Justice Programs
Faith has her B.A. in English and is on her way to achieve a Master of Arts in Teaching at Johns Hopkins University. She was the BluePrint Geneva '21-'22 Americorps VISTA. Her work in Geneva was focused on food security, program operations, and volunteer recruitment and retention. Faith is from Los Angeles, California and loves writing poetry and cooking vegan meals in her free time.
Basil Snyder
Economic Justice AmeriCorps VISTA 2024-2025
Basil Snyder
Economic Justice AmeriCorps VISTA 2024-2025
Basil oversaw the BluePrint Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and brought career and food assistance resources to the Geneva High School College and Career Readiness Center. They also co-lead the Summer Youth Environmental Justice Corps and shared their knowledge of birds with the youth interns!
BluePrint Geneva, Inc. is committed to providing equal opportunities to all and prohibits program discrimination or harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all program elements including employment and hiring.
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