Meet our Co-Founders
Liz
Murray
Co-Founder
There’s a whole lot to learn about Liz Murray but let’s simply start with this: she knows why stable relationships matter to at-risk kids because she was one herself. Her life was transformed for the better by mentors who refused to look the other way. Her conviction that these kind of relationships can change other kids’ lives, as they did her own, underpins everything we do at The Arthur Project.
Liz is an inspirational speaker who is notable for having been accepted by Harvard University despite being homeless in her high school years. She was born in the Bronx, New York to poor and drug-addicted parents, both of whom would later contract HIV. She became homeless just after turning 15, when her mother died of AIDS in 1996 and her father moved to a homeless shelter.
Despite her late high school start and lack of a stable home, Murray began attending an alternative high school, graduating in two years. She was awarded a New York Times scholarship for needy students and was accepted into Harvard University. A made-for-TV film about Murray’s life, Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story, was released in 2003. Liz’s bestselling memoir Breaking Night was published in 2010. Liz credits two key mentors in her youth as the needed support and foundation in transforming her life.
Jeff
Muti
Co-Founder & Board President
Jeff describes himself as the “boring business guy” and Liz, “the soul” of The Arthur Project. Jeff has a keen understanding that for a not-for-profit organization to be successful, it needs to be run like a business and he has a wealth of expertise to help make that happen.
Jeff is Founder, CEO and CFO of Sigma Worldwide, an engineering-services company and manufacturer of accessory products for various industries. He brings significant business expertise to The Arthur Project, having served in senior management and financial leadership roles. Jeff has been actively involved in charitable activities and served on the Board of Storefront Academy, a tuition-free, private school in Harlem and the South Bronx educating underserved children.
His primary role with the Storefront Academy was to assist in fundraising efforts. Jeff attended Duke University for undergraduate studies and received his MBA from Harvard Business School. He and his wife, Antoinette, have two wonderful children: Isabella and Connor.
Jessica
Greenawalt
Co-Founder & Executive Director
In July 2017, Dr. Jessica Greenawalt was hired as our Program Director and has been instrumental in working with Liz and Jeff in bringing The Arthur Project from an idea to reality. Jessica is a licensed Social Worker and holds a doctorate in Social Work and Sociology from Boston University. She has worked in community-based organizations in public schools for over a decade, overseeing graduate students and providing direct services herself. Jessica also has dedicated experience teaching and advising social work students.
The only thing that Jessica cares about more than working with students of all ages is her daughter, Francesca. When Jessica is not overseeing the program, attending meetings, analyzing data or teaching anti-oppressive clinical skills to social work students, Jessica and her daughter love to spend time dancing, singing, baking and enjoying their neighborhood in the Bronx.
Meet our Staff
Anastasia
Allen
Family Advocate
In September 2019, Ms. Anastasia Allen was hired as the Arthur Project Family Advocate. She works assiduously to provide resources and support to connect the whole family approach to youth development. Anastasia has over 16 years of experience working in the social and emotional development of youth and earned her Master of Social Work degree from Hunter College.
Anastasia is passionate about positively impacting the social and emotional development of youth and believes in a comprehensive approach, which prioritizes family involvement and empowerment.
In her personal time, Anastasia explores and develops her knowledge and skills in holistic healing, personal training and community outreach efforts that focus on disenfranchised groups.
Caroline
Fairchild
Director of Development
Caroline Fairchild brings years of experience and passion for the mission together in her role of Development Director for the Arthur Project. Caroline began her journey in the development and communications field almost 15 years ago. She has served on the Senior Leadership team for several nonprofit organizations and has successfully led several growing development offices. She is passionate about finding creative and strategic ways to invite people to invest in causes they care about.
Many moons ago, Caroline “stumbled” into a career in the nonprofit sector after joining the board of a nonprofit arts organization in Cincinnati, Ohio. Fifteen years later, she couldn’t imagine herself doing anything else.
Caroline has three sons that keep her busy and wonderful husband that has been an amazing partner on the journey.
Teana
Martin-Tanner
Site Coordinator
Teana Martin-Tanner is a licensed Social Worker, from the Bronx, NY, who joined The Arthur Project as the first Site Coordinator in September 2018. Teana graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Family Studies with minors in Psychology and Addiction Studies. Teana wanted an advanced degree that would allow her the opportunity to unite her previous work experiences and education, so she pursued a Master of Social Work degree at Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Teana has worked within the shelter system, the psychiatric emergency department and family support services providing direct individual and group services to clients.
Teana is very passionate about working with Social Work interns as well as the students and families who are a part of The Arthur Project but when she isn’t working, Teana enjoys traveling, cooking and spending time with her family and friends.
Diana
Melendez
Site Coordinator
Diana joined The Arthur Project at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. She was excited to join TAP as On-Site Coordinator. Diana is currently a doctoral student at the Social Welfare program at the Graduate Center (CUNY). Her research areas of interest are focused around integrating liberation based theory into social work education and practice. Diana has earned her MSW from NYU’s Silver School of Social Work and has since worked providing clinical direct services to youth and families through in-home therapy, school-based services, family therapy and hospital-based psychiatric and crisis services. During this time she also completed post-graduate training in family therapy at the Institute for Family Services and has worked as a trainer and organizer with the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond. Diana currently teaches as an adjunct lecturer at NYC schools of social work and is a fellow with the Social Change Agents Institute with a focus on community-based work in South Africa and Kenya.
