Alyssa Bonheur, Community Resiliency Specialist, LSW
Alyssa Bonheur, LSW is a Community Resiliency Specialist at the Sanar Institute. Alyssa was born and raised in New Jersey, currently living on the shore where she regularly enjoys the beach! She attended Ramapo College of New Jersey for her undergraduate, studying social work with a public policy minor. From there, she pursued her MSW from New York University, graduating in May 2019. Alyssa is committed to working within communities to empower and strengthen the voice of its members as a collective. At Sanar, Alyssa’s role includes providing direct healing services to survivors of complex trauma, as well as conducting outreach efforts in Newark, a community very dear to her heart.
Dominique Bordenabe, Case Advocate, LSW
Kate Keisel, Chief Executive Officer
Ms. Keisel leads a diverse team in both the provision of direct trauma-informed services for survivors and the expansion of capacity strengthen efforts. She works at the local, national and global level to ensure individuals, organizations, and communities have the necessary tools to build empowered lives in the aftermath trauma.
Ms. Keisel has over a decade of experience working in the anti-trafficking field in direct services within the United States, Latin America, and West Africa. Prior to founding Sanar, she served as the Director of Polaris New Jersey working to expand comprehensive services for survivors of all forms of human trafficking. Ms. Keisel has also worked in Central Mexico supporting individuals impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and exploitation.
Ms. Keisel holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies with a focus on human rights in Latin America and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work with a focus on complex trauma. She holds post-graduate training certificates in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga and has participated in training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, and Sensory-Based Modalities.
Ms. Keisel’s work is informed by her own lived experience with complex trauma recovery, clinical training, and years of working with hundreds of individuals on their own healing journey. She believes that every survivor should have the opportunity to heal in their own way, at their own pace, and have access to the resources that foster resiliency, inspire hope, and allow each person to build a life of their choosing.
Sarah Lott, MPA | Deputy Director
Sarah Lott has served as the Deputy Director of the Sanar Institute since March 2019. In her current role, she oversees the day to day functions of the Wellness Center in Newark, NJ including staff management, community outreach, workshop and training facilitation, partnership cultivation and coalition building. With more than a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, Sarah is deeply committed to social justice and equity. Sarah holds a Master of Public Administration – Nonprofit Management from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Ramapo College of New Jersey.
Nahja Martin, Thrive Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator
Nahja Martin is the Thrive Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator at the Sanar Institute. In this role, she provides in-depth training on trauma-informed services and organizational wellness to partners located both nationally and around the globe. Nahja is passionate about working with those who identify with having lived experience with complex trauma, and believes every individual deserves trauma-informed services so they can show up as their most authentic selves. Her professional experience includes 5 years working for the National Human Trafficking Hotline as a frontline Advocate working directly with survivors in crisis, a supervisor, and finally as the Training and Quality Assurance Manager, where she developed comprehensive tools to respond to instances of human trafficking and exploitation.
Nahja earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh, where she first began working with vulnerable populations, including refugees and at-risk youth. When she’s not spending her days training, she can be found outside with her two dogs, Emmy and Lola, traveling, practicing Spanish, or hosting large dinner parties with friends.
Jessica Mora, Chief Resiliency Clinician and Immigrant Rights Specialist, LCSW
Jessica Mora, LCSW, is the Chief Resiliency Clinician and Immigrant Rights Specialist. Jessica joined the Sanar Institute team in 2018. She commits her efforts to elevate the voices of individuals who have experienced gender-based violence with a well-rounded holistic trauma-informed care at the therapeutic and community level. In addition, she applies the intersectionality theory and impact of systemic oppression in her therapy by implementing an anti-racist and anti-oppressive approach.
Jessica graduated from New Jersey City University (NJCU) in 2010. She pursued a Master’s in
Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work in 2012. Jessica’s trainings and
certifications include TF-CBT, play and expressive art therapy, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and Trauma Conscious Yoga Method (TCYM).
Jessica started her career as a social worker in New York serving children in the foster care system with a history of complex trauma. In 2013, she transitioned to Hudson S.P.E.A.K.S. Against Sexual Violence, formerly known as the Hudson County Rape Crisis Center, where she dedicated four years to providing case management, counseling, and advocacy services to individuals who experienced various forms of gender-based violence. In addition, Jessica was a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).
Mildred Olivo-Soto, Bilingual Resiliency Specialist, LSW
Mildred Olivo-Soto is a Bilingual Resiliency Specialist at Sanar Institute. She is eager to offer direct services to individuals who have experienced interpersonal trauma and supports the idea that healing is a unique journey for each individual. After receiving her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice with Rutgers University, she had the opportunity to provide educational
resources and emotional support to families within Essex County. Through home visitation services, she identified the importance of advocating for women and children in the Spanish speaking community who may face different vulnerabilities. Mildred completed her MSW with
Rutgers University and was able to offer advocacy and case management support to women impacted by domestic violence. Mildred continues to be passionate about highlighting individuals’ strengths to further empower communities.
Jenna Pannepacker Osorio, Chief Operating Officer
Ms. Pannepacker Osorio has served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Sanar Institute since 2015 and has a robust background in building functional and sustainable managerial practice in complex institutions. In her current role she oversees Sanar‘s training institute with a specific focus on organizational and company wellness. In addition, she works to build high level management solutions at an operational level to ensure streamlined support for survivor services and the Sanar staff. She also works with survivors of interpersonal violence through high level case advocacy with a specific focus on survivors of interpersonal violence from Central and South America.
Ms. Pannepacker Osorio acts as the lead training coordinator for regional, national and global training engagements to address vicarious trauma, workplace wellness, and the integration of trauma-specific support in direct service agencies. She has managed and facilitated multi-year training projects with the New Jersey Department of Children and Families Division on Women, Rutgers and Stockton University, civil society organizations, and for-profit entities.
Prior to founding Sanar, Ms. Pannepacker Osorio served as the School Director with Education First, a world leader in international education based out of Miami Beach, Florida. During her time at Education First, she directed all operations of the Miami Beach school and helped thousands of international students fully integrate language learning and cultural immersion. Moreover, Ms. Pannepacker Osorio has worked in Argentina and Peru developing partnerships and coordinating volunteer programs for marginalized communities to help vulnerable children and families thrive. Ms. Pannepacker Osorio holds a BA from Rutgers University in French Cultural Studies and speaks Spanish and French fluently.