Bob Kaplan, Founding Director
Rabbi Bob Kaplan is currently the founding Director of The Center for Shared Society, a division of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY), the central coordinating and resource body for 62 major Jewish organizations in the metropolitan New York area. Mr. Kaplan is involved in a variety of issues including conflict resolution, coalition building, interracial/inter-religious relationships, combating hate crimes, and community building. He has served on the Board of Habitat for Humanity-NY and Health Plus and currently serves on the Boards of the Lutheran Medical Center and the Lutheran Family Health Care Centers as well as the Board of the Center of Ethnic and Community Media at the City University of New York. Amongst the leadership initiatives he has founded are: YouthBridge-NY, the We Are All Brooklyn, and Queens, We Are the Bronx, Community Connections, and Haitian Leaders Fellowships.
Karen Lander Lafferty, Executive Director, LMSW
Karen received her Bachelor’s of Psychology from Binghamton University in 2007 and her Master’s of Social Work from Wurtzweiller School of Social Work in 2009. Prior to joining JCRC-NY, Karen worked in an adult day program with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities offering them a comprehensive range of services to help them achieve the fullest quality of life. Karen joined JCRC-NY as a social work intern in 2008. She served as a community organizer for several NORCs (Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities), helping to launch numerous programs that continue to help older adults access community resources and lead a better quality of life. In 2011, Karen joined YouthBridge-NY as its Program Director, and she has been here ever since. She finds working with teens empowering and rewarding. Her mission is to make the world a better place and, through the efforts and dedication of its young leaders, she is fulfilling her dream at YouthBridge-NY. Karen was awarded the 36 Under 36 Award by the Jewish Week in 2017. Karen currently lives in Connecticut. She loves to cook and play video games.
Tiffany Moreno, Program Director, MSW
Tiffany received her Bachelor’s of Social Work from Rutgers University - Newark in 2018 and her Master’s of Social Work from New York University - Silver School of Social Work in 2019. Tiffany joined YouthBridge-NY in 2019. During her undergraduate experience at Rutgers, Tiffany quickly became an active member of the Newark community. She has extended her efforts to increase intergroup dialogues across campus around diversity and inclusion, and how to continue having these relevant conversations. Once she gained exposure to the field of social work, her advocacy work towards human rights and holding a safe and empowering space for all communities took off. Upon her senior year, her passions have led her to facilitate a workshop at the Northeast LGBT Conference at Binghamton University in 2018 on Representation in the Media: Comics & Graphic Novels. In the 2018-2019 academic year, Tiffany interned at StreetSquash, an after-school, youth-enrichment program where students from grades 6-12 were helped in closing the achievement gap through playing squash and on-site academic and socioemotional support, ultimately supporting access to higher education. Her life mission is to continue giving youth and young adults the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills in all spaces to create a more just society. Tiffany’s hobbies include reading, cooking, playing ukulele, traveling, and making travel videos.
Will Roberts, Director of Alumni Relations
A former graduate of the YouthBridge-NY Class of 2015, William is currently the Director of Alumni Relations for the program. Prior to gaining this role, William received his Bachelor’s in Psychology from SUNY Buffalo State, where he gained the opportunity to travel and hold guided meditation sessions at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore for other students studying abroad in Fall of 2019. During the global pandemic, William led virtual guided mindfulness meditation sessions, researching the effects a consistent mental health practice has on students during Covid-19. This work granted him the Philip Santa Maria Student Leadership in Equity and Campus Diversity award in 2021. He then worked as a Certified Medicaid Enrollment Counselor for the nonprofit Care For The Homeless, assisting over 1,000 New York sheltered residents with health insurance. His hobbies are reiki healing, nurturing horses, music production, farming and skateboarding.
L. Kim Robinson, Program Director, YouthBridge Brooklyn
For 5 years, Kim worked with the New York City Council, under the leadership of former Councilmember Alicka Ampry-Samuel as Constituent Service Liaison and Community Engagement Director for Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse. Prior to that, Kim worked as Program Director for Strive-East Harlem Employment, and also served as the Services/Grant Associate for Out of School Youth program (OSY). At Opportunities for A Better Tomorrow (YAIP) Young Adult Internship Program, Kim managed a $5 million-dollar youth development initiative in Brooklyn and Queens, increasing a single site portfolio from 90 to 120 participants as a result of outstanding performance and overall portfolio from 90 to 300.
Kim also has experience working at Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council (RBSCC) in Career Services. For 12 years, Kim worked with Consortium for Worker Education (CWE) under the leadership of Glenda Williams and Joseph McDermott. Kim started as an Intake Specialist, and eventually worked her way up to Manager. She managed the World Trade Center Disaster Unit/Twin Tower Jobs Link after 9/11.
Kim serves on Community Board 8 (CB8)’s Economic Development Committee, Land Use Committee, and Neighborhood Advisory Board. She is a member of the AACEO (African American Clergy & Elected Officials), is PTA President for Orchard Collegiate Academy, and serves as the Community Liaison for Calvary Community Church.
Kim received her BA in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Public Administration & Criminal Justice.
She loves sports (baseball, basketball, and football), planning and decorating for events, and traveling with family.
