OUR TEAM

Rhonda Binda, Esq.

J.D. Kim, Esq.

J.D., President of the Board, is an attorney with a true passion for the diverse Communities in New York City, having represented many of its community based organizations. His work on initiatives that serve the city include assembling health care and various other coalitions.

Email: jd@nycstartingup.org

Frederick A. Lewis II

Frederick A. Lewis II, VP of the Board, has extensive government experience with highlights such as serving as the Deputy Public Advocate for NYC and Special Assistant to the Manhattan Borough President. He has also served as the CEO of several community based organizations and is an Ordained Minister. He has held a life-long passion for youth that includes founding the Freddy Lewis Basketball School and working with “at risk” individuals through multiple youth programs and activities.

Email: falewis6249@gmail.com

Dareum Park, Board member & Youth Pipeline Program Coordinator

Dareum Park is an experienced education consultant and advocate of mental health and alternatives to incarceration who is driven by a passion for creating equal and just opportunities for all. She believes that problems like mental health illness, substance abuse disorders and homelessness are more appropriately addressed outside of the criminal justice system altogether.

Email me: dpark@nycstartingup.org

Eddie Ahn, Board Member & Startup Relations

Eddie works closely with businesses and community leaders, utilizing his organizational and relational skills to connect them with assistance they might need and helping them to amplify their voices.

In addition to his work with NYC Starting Up, Eddie is pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing at Emory University and is a General Body Member of 180 Degree Consulting.

Email: eddie.ahn@nycstartingup.org

In addition to her work for NYC Starting Up, May is currently studying Business Administration and Environmental Sciences at Emory University and is involved in Emory Entrepreneurship & Venture Management and Emory Business Ethics. She is passionate about corporate sustainability, marketing and social entrepreneurship, and is a writer for Emory’s IQ Magazine, a digital magazine centered around entrepreneurial news. Her previous projects inclue working on sustainable algae biofuels and plastic waste reduction and she is currently working on projects centered around aiding food deserts and granting accessibility to nutrition education.

Eunho Wang, Programs Coordinator

As the Programs Coordinator for NYC Starting Up, Eunho believes that local communities and organizations can have a significant impact on the lives of individuals.

Her work for small businesses includes developing an Asian-American M/WBE Pilot Program and she has also helped build the Korean Help initiatives along with a Health Services Provider Directory pursuant to its public health initiative.

She holds a BA in Political Science from Baruch College and enjoys cooking, podcasts and spending time with her dog.

Email: ewang@nycstartingup.org

Yerin Esther Park, Communications Team

Raised in Queens, Esther Park graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School and is currently studying Marketing Management at Baruch College. Youth Pipeline allows her to not only gain more insight and experience as a future entrepreneur, but it also allows her to help other students gain skills that she would have liked to have learned at their age. Since early high school she has volunteered at summer camps, after school programs and special projects teaching young kids. Working with students has always been something she enjoys and Youth Pipeline allows her to continue to do so.