Andréa Stella M.P.H., Executive Director

Andréa Stella has spent the past five years working in New York City’s harm reduction community.  She started The Space at Tompkins after working for
the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center as a syringe exchange outreach worker during her senior year at Fordham University.  While Andréa worked at the LESHRC, she built relationships with individuals from the transient homeless community, and together they identified gaps in the social service offerings for this specific group.  She attributes all successes within the organization to the incredible group of people who have tirelessly dedicated their time to create and strengthen, the services available to this community.

Lisa Barczak, Program Director
Lisa has squatted in many cities from the east to west coast, from Baltimore to L.A. and even throughout the islands of Hawaii. She knows first hand what it’s like to be pushed aside and overlooked by our society. After overcoming a serious addiction, she is now fighting for others to get the help they so desperately need and deserve. Always having been interested in the aspects of counseling and social work, Lisa is now in the process of enrolling in college to pursue a career in the field.

James Thacher, Development and Communication
James is a graphic and web designer who helps organizations develop and strengthen their voice in the community. He has been intimately involved with The Space since its inception and has spent much of the last six years in and around Tompkins Square Park. By developing new and creative ways to spread the word about the organization, he hopes to amplify the effect its services have on the neighborhood. He also maintains The Space website and blog.

Francesca Kennedy, Animal Program Manager
Francesca Kennedy is a native New Yorker and long time member of the East Village community. She has a background in animal rescue and care. As a former member of the homeless community herself, she brings a unique perspective to The Space at Tompkins. Francesca began working with The Space in April, and she is putting her love for animals to good use by starting a pet program that will focus on connecting pet owners with free services throughout the city.

Kathryn Villaverde, Director Community Relations
Kathryn is currently finishing up a BS in Applied Psychology at New York University with a minor in Studio Art. She has been driven to work with and help those dealing with homelessness, stigma and addiction since a child when she spent many afternoons befriending the residents at the rehab center for homeless woman that her mother worked at. Through an internship at a Lower East Side AIDS nursing home, she has become more aware of the NYC’s marginalized communities and the importance of using harm reduction to improve lives.

Nik Krempasky, CNP, Harm Reduction Consultant