Our Team

Black‑and‑white portrait of Seema Reza, Mission Belonging’s board chair, co‑founder, and CEO. She is seated against a plain backdrop, wearing a tailored suit over a lace‑trimmed top with layered jewelry. Her expression is calm and composed, and a forearm tattoo is visible, contributing to the image’s refined, monochromatic aesthetic.

Seema Reza

CEO / Poetry Facilitator


Contact Seema

Black-and-white portrait of Ashy Palliparambil, a person with curly hair, glasses, and a patterned shirt, facing the camera with a gentle smile. The background is softly blurred, featuring abstract artwork and decorative elements including a flower and a circular object.

Ashy Palliparambil

Director of Programs


Contact Ashy

Black-and-white headshot of Ben Weakley smiling in front of a brick wall. The image is closely cropped to highlight his facial features and expression, with textured bricks providing contrast in the background.

Ben Weakley

Director of Development / Poetry Facilitator


Contact Ben

Black-and-white portrait of Rob Haney holding a Sony digital camera, looking slightly to the side. Rob has a closely shaved haircut and wears a hooded garment with a striped inner lining. The solid black background emphasizes Rob's facial features and the camera’s details.

Rob Haney

Marketing & Communications Manager


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Black-and-white portrait of Haley Bannister smiling outdoors. She has long hair, multiple facial piercings including a septum ring, nose stud, and two piercings below the lower lip, and wears a light-colored shirt. The background is softly blurred with foliage and a flower visible.

Haley Bannister

Program & Outreach Coordinator


Contact Haley

Black-and-white photo of Alexis Laryea indoors, wearing glasses and a light-colored top. She has long, thick, twisted hair and sits in a relaxed pose, with a partially open closet and shelves visible in the background.

Alexis Laryea

MTOS Program Manager


Contact Alexis

Black-and-white portrait of Valerie Acosta, smiling with long, wavy hair and a button-up shirt. She faces the camera against a plain dark background, which highlights her facial features and the texture of her hair and clothing.

Valerie Acosta

Art Facilitator


Contact Valerie

Joe Merritt

Joe Merritt

Art Facilitator


Contact Joe

Black-and-white portrait of Amelia Bane, shown from the shoulders up, facing the camera with a gentle smile. She has long, dark hair and wears a dark top against a plain, light background. The image is evenly lit and emphasizes her facial expression and features.

Amelia Bane

Writing Facilitator


Contact Amelia

Black-and-white portrait of Laura Van Prooyen wearing a dark V-neck top, circular pendant necklace, and decorative earrings. She has shoulder-length wavy hair and faces the camera with a gentle smile. The plain dark background emphasizes her expression and the soft lighting.

Laura Van Prooyen

Poetry Facilitator


Contact Laura

Black-and-white portrait of Kevin Basl wearing a plaid shirt, glasses, and a baseball cap. He looks slightly to the side with a calm expression. The background features trees and foliage, suggesting an outdoor setting with natural light.

Kevin Basl

Poetry Facilitator


Contact Kevin

Black-and-white portrait of Wytold standing in front of a brick wall, holding an electric upright bass vertically. He wears a button-up shirt with a vest and has medium-length hair and facial hair. The instrument’s headstock displays the letters “NS” and “CR,” indicating the NS Design brand.

Wytold

Music Facilitator


Contact Wytold