Vyonni de Mel directs the program. Ms. de Mel is a native of Sri Lanka and has extensive experience in children's education and program management both in the United States and internationally. She holds a General Certificate of Education from Princess of Wales College, Colombo, Sri Lanka, and an M.A. degree in Children's Ministries from Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Bilingual in English and Sinhalese, Ms. de Mel brings to her work an acute appreciation of the challenges newcomers face, as well as the strengths that a diverse American society can offer. Ms. de Mel assisted as a consultant in setting up "Graceworks," an afterschool program in Medford. She was also the recipient of the City of Cambridge's "Peace and Justice Award" in 2000, and presented on "Welcoming Children to Empty Church Halls: Developing Multi-Cultural After School Programs" at the 2001 Ed-Fest at Episcopal Divinity School.
Lead teacher Katrina Vilensky was born in Russia and moved to the U.S. when she was in high school. She graduated from UMass—Boston with a degree in psychology and spent three years working at CCRC, a referral center for parents seeking child care and afterschool programming, before coming to Afterworks.
All staff members receive ongoing training in early childhood education through the 21stCentury Community Learning Center Partnership. This is an Agenda for Children program offered through the City of Cambridge. Its goals include improving communication between schools and afterschool programs, and professional development in math, science, and literacy.
Staff members are always available to discuss parental concerns about children's social and academic progress, and to help serve as a liaison between school and home.
