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Rebecca Bass

Rebecca Bass

Family Support Specialist/Grant Writing and Management Specialist

Becca Bass serves as both a Family Support Specialist and Grant Writing and Management Specialist for Say Yes Buffalo. In her role as a Family Support Specialist, she works directly with students and families referred by the Erie County Department of Social Services and Buffalo Public Schools Student Support Teams to coordinate comprehensive supports and service linkages designed to strengthen families. In her role as the Grant Writing and Management Specialist, she works with each program department—including Preventive and School-Based Services, Boys and Men of Color, Extended Learning Time, Community Schools, Early Childhood, Postsecondary Success, Apprenticeship, Career Readiness and Internships, and Scholarship—to research funding opportunities and to write grant proposals and reports.

Becca started at Say Yes in 2013 as the Special Assistant to the President and later as the National Project Manager for CEO Initiatives at the national office of Say Yes to Education. In these roles, she supported the codification of the organizational theory of action, coordinated planning task forces in pilot communities, created collateral, reports, and presentations for the national leadership team, and served as liaison to the National Board of Directors and Advisory Committee.

Prior to joining Say Yes Buffalo, Becca served as the Research Coordinator and Senior Project Administrator at the Morton Deutsch International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution (MD-ICCCR) at Teachers College, Columbia University. In this role, she managed the research agenda of the Center, co-authored research publications, coordinated an international research workgroup, and worked with the Center’s education team to design and deliver courses focused on systems thinking, leadership in complex systems, and conflict resolution as part of their Advanced Certificate in Cooperation and Conflict Resolution.

Becca has also worked in community research and advocacy at Partnership for the Public Good, as a Family Services Associate at Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, as a pedagogical consultant for the Teaching and Learning Initiative at Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges, and served as a Quaker Voluntary Service Fellow. Each step of Becca’s career path has been animated by a passion for social justice and an interest in applying systems thinking and interdisciplinary perspectives to pressing social issues. Becca is particularly passionate about educational equity, collective impact, and coordinating and aligning services for youth and families.

Becca holds a Master of Social Work from the University at Buffalo, a Master of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Psychology and Educational Studies from Haverford College.

Contact Becca at [email protected] or at 716-954-0015.

Leadership Team

Betsy Behrend is the Senior Director for Operations and Communications.

Dan Cross-Viola is the Director of Extended Learning and Quality Improvement.

Laura DeLuca is the Chief Financial Officer.

David Rust is the Chief Executive Officer and founding Executive Director.

Collin Gehl is the Director of Human Resources.

Christopher J. Lee is Data Director serving in a joint position with Say Yes Buffalo and Buffalo Public Schools.

Amanda Paul is Senior Director of School-Based Services. She can be reached at [email protected] and at 716-468-0043.

Tanya Staples is the Senior Director of Community Schools.

Our Team

Christine Waikiki is South/West Zone Leader.

Ariel Peters is Community Schools Specialist.

Jamien Eutsey is Interim Youth Sports Management Supervisor.

Nicole Brooks is Senior Accountant.

Contact Us

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