About the Storefront

As the Executive Director of The Children’s Storefront, Lindsey leads a first-of-its-kind, free program that empowers parents to build their children’s brains in the first 1,000 days of life through the power of interactive play.

Lindsey, a proud resident of Harlem for the past 15 years, is a versatile nonprofit leader driven by a passion for strengthening organizations that support young people and their families, and improving the systems that shape their lives.

Prior to joining The Storefront, Lindsey held leadership roles at the National Guild for Community Arts Education, Greenwich House, and Girl Scouts of Greater New York, where she helped design and launch Troop 6000—a first-of-its-kind Girl Scout troop serving young people living in the New York City shelter system.

Sofie’s role combines design to enhance program effectiveness, collaboration with coaches, and sustaining partnerships. With a background in early childhood education and psychology, she transitioned from teaching to parent coaching. Her dedication to family and community support, informed by her experiences as a mother and educator, drives her work at the Storefront, where she supports diverse families and values the family-centered approach.

As the Interim Director of Development, Sasha oversees The Children’s Storefront’s fundraising initiatives and serves as an advisor to the Executive Director on development strategy. A Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and a native of East Harlem, she has extensive experience leading development teams, partnering with philanthropists, and managing fundraising campaigns and special events across the city’s nonprofit sector.

Sasha’s career spans organizations including Robin Hood, Girl Scouts of Greater New York, Transportation Alternatives, The Doe Fund, and the Village Voice. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Criticism from Hunter College.

Daphne Martinez is the Operations Manager at The Children’s Storefront, where she plays an essential role in daily operations and strategic efficiency. She oversees administrative functions and resource management to support the organization’s mission. Daphne enjoys collaborating with a fantastic, dedicated team and contributing to community-focused projects that align with her professional values and aspirations.

One of Marylin’s favorite things in life is learning about the world through a child’s eyes. Her roots as an early childhood educator have led her to The Children’s Storefront. Marylin’s in-classroom experiences and knowledge of child development help her connect with Harlem families to support their child-rearing journey. She loves supporting the community because offering a safe place to play creates positive learning experiences for both caregivers and children.

Christine has worked in early childhood education for over 10 years. Her passion for working with children started at age 17; later, she realized that she also wanted to work with parents and caregivers of children in early childhood. Little did Christine know that the opportunity to work with parents, children, and the community at large would arise here at The Children’s Storefront, in a role combining all of her passions.

Maribel, a program coach at the Children’s Storefront, guides the development of children aged 3 months to 4 years, ensuring a strong foundation for future growth. With a background in early childhood education, psychology, and human services, and 4 years of nonprofit experience, she is passionate about supporting families and communities and loves witnessing the growth and happiness of the children and their families.

Alex has worked with children in various roles for over 15 years, from sports camps, to family programming, to interactive theater for children on the autism spectrum. These experiences have shown him the importance of supportive, engaged adults in a child’s life. He loves that he gets to take the pressure off caregivers by teaching them how simple and fun it can be to support the growing brains of children.

Maria joined The Children’s Storefront as Outreach Liaison in April 2025. She is passionate about helping people and connecting them to the vital resources they need to thrive. Whether supporting a family, a child, or an individual, she believes that everyone deserves access to care and support. Her work is rooted in community, compassion, and the belief that small connections can spark meaningful change.

Hilary Woodard joins the Storefront as a part-time Development Associate, focusing on fundraising, donor research, acknowledgments, and data management. With experience in non-profit fundraising and development , she is passionate about the impact of early education and is committed to supporting Harlem’s families, believing in the importance of strong community connections for healthy development.