Meryl Phipps – Executive Director
Meryl Phipps has lived in Ithaca since 2005. She has a BA from Sarah Lawrence College and a JD from Cornell Law School. Prior to joining the Village, she was a staff attorney at Citizens Concerned for Children and represented young people in the court system. She and her husband Bailey are the parents of eleven amazing kids.
You can reach her at meryl@villageatithaca.org.
Kat Hauger – Administrative Coordinator
Kat came to the Village at Ithaca from Alternatives FCU where she had been Senior Accountant. Previously, she had worked as the Administrative Coordinator for the IURA, owned her own Real Estate Appraisal company and currently has her own part time hypnosis/energy work business. Kat has a B.S. in psychology, philosophy and religion, and a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Peace Studies. She is also a L.M.T., and a Consulting Hypnotist (NGH). Kat is the Administrative Coordinator for the Village, blending bookkeeping with office management and administrative support.
You can reach her at contact@villageatithaca.org.
Jess Brock – Development Coordinator
Jess (she/her) graduated from Ithaca College with my BFA in acting and a minor in dance. Jess’ goal at the Village is to support and uplift global majority voices in order to create an effective and sustainable lifestyle for all who enter our doors. We welcome you! Jess co-founded and supports Black Artists United (BAU) at Ithaca College which creates experiences for ambitious Black artists to feel heard, healed and welcomed when facing racism in the entertainment industry.
You can reach her at jess@villageatithaca.org.
Sarah Wolff – Program Educator
Sarah Wolff is an Ithaca native, attending Ithaca schools for much of her life. She graduated undergrad at Sarah Lawrence College and proceeded to get a Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary and a Master of Art in Literature from SUNY Cortland where she defended her thesis “The Life and Times of Austin Reed”, a pedagogical text which exhorts its audience from whiteness to witness. Before working for us, she was a teaching artist with Teachers and Writers Collaborative where she taught poetry writing while publishing anthologies of student writing in mostly special education classrooms. Now, she teaches Academic English and English Literature at TC3 and works as a Program Educator for the Village at Ithaca.
In her free time, Sarah likes to collect fabric, sew and quilt, garden, read, bake, and spend time with her 5-month-old puppy and rather tall son whose name means star in Douala.
You can reach her at sarah@villageatithaca.org.
Grace Azaula – Director of Special Initiatives
Grace Azaula (she/her) graduated from Ithaca College with a B.S. in Communication Management and Design and a minor in Education Studies. During her time at IC, Grace led several service projects in collaboration with the Village at Ithaca and the IC Park Scholar program, most recently producing the film Restoring Joy. After finding her own joy at The Village throughout college, Grace could think of no better place to work than The Village at Ithaca! Through her position as Director of Special Initiatives, Grace hopes to continue advocating for a more equitable, anti-racist education system through creative student-centered projects.
You can reach her at: Grace@villageatithaca.org
G-Quan Booker – Program Assistant
While in high school, G-Quan co-founded the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) Dance Group, as a way to bring together diverse peers in the common love for Hip Hop dance.Now as an adult and teacher, G-Quan has seen that many youth idolize the various art forms of Hip Hop, but don’t have a connection to the people or culture that it comes from. “G” (as he’s called by his students) has a way of sharing the history and vibrant culture of Hip Hop in a way that uplifts youth development and weaves community, so kids feel they belong to something, and parents see their young people shine.
You can reach him at: g-quan@villageatithaca.org
Grace Widercrantz- Transportation Navigator
I grew up here in Ithaca NY where I graduated from Ithaca High School in 2018. I lived in California for a year as part of my time in the military then I moved to Binghamton NY in 2022 to continue my education at (SUNY) Binghamton University. I finished my undergrad in Human Development and went on to graduate this past spring with a Master’s of Science in Human Rights. I finished up my degree in NYC where I participated in the SUNY New Paltz Global Engagement Program and worked as a policy intern at New York County Defender Services. I am excited to be back in Ithaca and involved with the Village’s work!
You can reach her at: gracew@villageatithaca.org
Lusca Robinson- Social Care Navigator
Lusca (she/her) graduated from Cornell University with a B.S in Computer Science and a minor in Music. Lusca seeks to create equitable and inclusive spaces for those from underrepresented backgrounds and help bolster their voices. She has an immense love for music and DJs around Upstate New York
You can reach her at: lusca@villageatithaca.org
Amorah Meigs- Transportation/Program Assistant
Amorah Meigs works as the Transportation Assistant and Program Assistant at The Village at Ithaca. She is known for her reliability, care, and strong organizational skills. Amorah keeps the Resource Room welcoming and assists participants with childcare, groceries, appointments, and other essential needs. She also contributes to The Village’s seasonal cooking class, bringing enthusiasm and teamwork to the program. Outside of work, she trains with the BGS Dance Team and is working towards becoming the team’s assistant coach. Amorah is pursuing her GED and plans to continue her education at Tompkins Cortland Community. In her personal life, she enjoys time with her son, rock climbing, crocheting, dancing, and being outdoors. Her warm and community-focused spirit makes her an invaluable part of The Village at Ithaca.
She can be reached at: amorah@villageatithaca.org
Bethanie Keem-Calhoun – Case Manager
Bethanie (she/her) holds her Master in Music Education from SUNY Buffalo, and is a classically-trained French hornist who plays multiple musical instruments. She was a music teacher for 12 years before changing careers. Bethanie is passionate about making sure everyone receives the education, health care, and support they need to succeed in life. Bethanie and her husband are animal lovers, and adopted 2 dogs from rescue.
You can reach her at bethanie@villageatithaca.org
Village at Ithaca 