Through community, play, and rigorous exploration, we leverage students' passion for sports and entertainment to inspire their STEM and social-emotional learning.
We envision a world in which students find learning so engaging that they want to do it all the time.
Nick Monzi currently serves as CEO and Co-Founder of Learn Fresh, an international education nonprofit dedicated to enhancing student’s STEM and social-emotional achievement through sports and entertainment. Since the organization's founding, he has worked with global corporations, leading school districts, and national and regional after-school providers to develop the Learn Fresh community program model. Since its launch in Cleveland during the fall of 2013, the experience has expanded to include initiatives with 30 professional sports teams and over one million students. He has also driven the invention of four new programs, which have been funded and supported by team and league partners in North America, South America, Africa, and Australia. The organization's work has been featured in Forbes, Education Week, The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and on ESPN and NBA.com.Nick earned a bachelor's degree in Entrepreneurship and Marketing Management from Syracuse University, and completed his master's degree at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he took an active role in growing the presence of education innovation on Harvard's campus. He also holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he was a finalist in the Global New Venture Challenge as a member of the London, UK cohort. Nick has presented at national conferences including SXSW EDU, ISTE, Beyond School Hours, and the NSLA National Conference.For questions about our mission and vision, contact Nick via email at nick@learnfresh.org.
Calvin Sibert is a “Game Changer.” His innate ability to impact change is evident in the way in which he approaches the classroom, his role as a father and his community involvement. He attended Western Michigan University and received his baccalaureate degree in education in 2002. Upon completing his degree, he initially had aspired to become a print and runway model. Nevertheless, he knew that he had been called by God to become a “role” model instead for students in the inner city of Detroit. After his first year of teaching, Calvin created a behavior/financial literacy program called “The Money System.” This educational platform promoted character education, academic excellence and financial preparedness for young people. During his 20 years in the field of education, he has coached basketball, soccer, and cross country. In addition, he founded a ballroom dancing league called “The Smooth League” which introduced young people to the intricacies of ballroom dancing along with its etiquette and protocols. Calvin possesses a passion for young people and education. He is the quintessential mentor, coach and encourager. His enthusiastic zeal for life and infectious optimism has and will continue to transform and revolutionize the lives of many. He is truly a man who practices what he preaches; and that’s how you change the game. His interests include ballroom dancing, trying new restaurants, listening to motivational speakers, and spending time with family. For questions about the Learn Fresh mission, contact Calvin via email at calvin@learnfresh.org.
Colleen was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has been surrounded by athletics from a young age. Her family is made up of dedicated sports fans, and she grew up playing every sport that came her way. By middle school, she settled on water polo, and this led her to being recruited to play at UC Berkeley. Berkeley is where she initially became interested in the link between sports and education, and she tied this into her studies and fieldwork with the Education Department. After graduating from UC Berkeley in 2005, she has remained in the field of education. Her first position was with AmeriCorps VISTA at a middle school in Berkeley, CA, where she served as the Academic Coordinator for the Youth Support Program. This began her career working with low-income communities in the Bay Area, where she remained for over 10 years. Her main focus and expertise was to bring STEM curriculums to a network of schools in over 9 school districts, and to remain connected to curriculum trends on the national level. Colleen now serves as the Chief Program Officer at Learn Fresh, and remains dedicated to providing all students a fun, engaging way to learn. She strongly believes in the ability of every child to succeed. Outside of her work life, Colleen can be found exploring everything in and around San Francisco. She is a big fan of the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, the Golden State Warriors, and all UC Berkeley sports. When she is not in the Bay Area, she is either in Kauai with her family or exploring hidden gems with her husband and children in Northern California.For inquiries about national and regional programs and partnerships, contact Colleen via email at colleen@learnfresh.org.
Jeff is a forward thinking individual who strongly believes in the positive impacts that a fundamental education can provide. At Learn Fresh, Jeff works with NBA and MLB teams, suppliers, and other external partners to schedule, coordinate, and execute a wide variety of events. Jeff is also responsible for the redesign and expansion of the company’s program management platform, the Learn Fresh Coaches Association, and the streamlining of the company's distribution systems. Outside of Learn Fresh, Jeff has received a bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Marketing Management from Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management. In his spare time, you can find him on the slopes, in the kitchen, or exploring new destinations. For questions about products and operations, contact Jeff via email at jeff@learnfresh.org.
Kaitlyn comes to Learn Fresh with nearly a decade of experience in nonprofit development. As an emerging leader in the sector, she strongly believes that every person has the power to create transformative impact in our world!Kaitlyn has dedicated her career to raising support for organizations in the healthcare and education spaces, holding staff and leadership positions at organizations including the American Diabetes Association, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the Rutgers University Foundation. While a student at Penn State University, Kaitlyn’s passion for philanthropy was developed by supporting pediatric cancer research and family support through the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON).As the Chief Development Officer for Learn Fresh, she is excited to work with our community of supporters to expand access to high-quality, student-focused education programs. Kaitlyn aims to work collaboratively with leadership and benefactors to scale the organization’s reach and changemaking ability.In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys spending time with her family and dog Winston! You will often find her at home pleading with him to “Stop barking!”For questions about corporate, institutional, or personal philanthropy, contact Kaitlyn via email at kaitlyn@learnfresh.org.
Dejanae “Deja” Berry currently serves as Chief of Staff for Learn Fresh, focusing on the support and collaboration of the executive team and staff members. Deja’s background of software development and project management led her to the opportunity to work with Learn Fresh in the development and implementation of the NBA Math Hoops digital applications. Her passion is embodied in project management and process improvement, specifically around efficiency and effectiveness of the team’s day-to-day operations. Empowering her fellow team members to work in a way that is most comfortable for them while also ensuring that they are in a position to do their best jobs for the students and the community is what keeps her going every day and why she is innately tied to Learn Fresh.Deja has a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Management with a minor in Mathematics, as well as a Master of Science degree in Engineering Technology Management with a concentration in Project Management, both obtained from Oklahoma State University. She also carries a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and Project Management Institute Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) certification. In her spare time, you can find her shopping for sneakers, playing with her two dogs, watching basketball, and crafting.
Rebecca was born and raised in San Francisco, California where she earned her degree from San Francisco State University. After college, Rebecca spent over a decade working as a Program Coordinator and Program Manager of non-profit programs in San Francisco public schools, where her focus was around STEM and Art & Health learning. She has partnered with many organizations within the Bay Area to bring new enriching experiences that motivate students to see their potential and encourage family time. NBA Math Hoops is one of the programs Rebecca worked closely with at her sites to support social-emotional learning and spark student interest in mathematics and athletics. She was honored to be selected as a Learn Fresh All-Star Educator and participate on the Learn Fresh Educator Advisory Board, where she supported and helped grow the NBA Math Hoops program in the Bay Area. As Chief Program Office, Rebecca continues her commitment of working in the education field to bring Learn Fresh programs to youth and educators nationwide. From a young age, Rebecca has always had a passion for education and sports, and Learn Fresh is the perfect blend of both. You can always find Rebecca sharing her love of food, travel, the Golden State Warriors, and all things Disney!
Denzel received his undergraduate degree at King’s College in Criminal Justice before attending Saint Peter’s University to earn his masters in Education. He spent decades working with afterschool programs and coaching sports, including 10 years teaching ELA in Jersey City, New Jersey, and Math in Camden, New Jersey. During that time, Denzel also served as a teacher leader, Athletic Director, and Dean of Students. Denzel believes sports and mentorship can be a powerful avenue to help students gain success within education and in life. Outside of work, you can find Denzel enjoying his love of family, food, travel, and sports.
Megan joins the Learn Fresh team as the Director of Program Evaluation, where she aims to assess academic and social-emotional growth for the NBA Math Hoops program. From the Boston area, Megan is an avid sports lover and athlete and recognized the value of sport, community, and education from a young age. Through her time as an athlete at Trinity College, Megan had opportunities to work with her peers and the Hartford community encouraging academic achievement through involvement in sport among young students. These experiences confirmed the importance of effective education resources and policy, leading Megan to continue her studies at the Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Megan earned her Master’s in Public Affairs in 2017 and her Ph.D. in Public Policy in 2022. Her research focused primarily on questions of equity and performance in K-12 and higher education; she continues to use this research agenda to inform research designs and program evaluation with Learn Fresh. In her spare time, Megan enjoys running marathons, cycling, and whipping up treats in the kitchen. She also loves to watch basketball and hockey, cheering on the Indiana Hoosiers and the Boston Bruins.
Lia Peralta Looram is the Director of Marketing. She comes to Learn Fresh with more than a decade of experience in different nonprofit sectors including the arts, healthcare, and DEI. She spent most of her career as the Senior Manager of Content and Communications at the Save The Music Foundation, where she created a viral hashtag campaign that garnered more than 200 million video views on TikTok, was shortlisted for a Shorty Award, and featured in Forbes as a case study for how nonprofits can use social media to increase brand awareness. She is a graduate of Penn State where she delivered a keynote speech at the College of Communications' Social Media Summit. Based in Bergenfield, NJ, she enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and going to concerts. Fun fact: she considers herself to be a pizza connoisseur!
Rachel is an innovative thinker who believes in the power of relationships. A graduate of Stetson University in DeLand, Florida (go Hats!), she ventured into the marketing realm and found a deep need to make a difference. As a Teach for America Corps Member, she taught in Charlotte, NC, for four years, heavily fundraising and advocating for all of her students. During this time, Rachel developed a keen understanding of the educational landscape and the importance of equitable opportunities for all students.After moving to Chicago in 2022, Rachel worked for the Lefkofsky Family Foundation as Program Director of the VING Project, a nationwide initiative that empowers students to become philanthropists. Her leadership and passion for philanthropy were instrumental in shaping the project's vision and driving its mission forward. Rachel is now excited to embark on her role as a Major Gift Officer for Learn Fresh, bringing her experience in education, development, and philanthropy into this position. Her commitment to making a difference continues to drive her work as she strives to create lasting positive change in communities.In her free time, Rachel enjoys spending time with her dog, JB, needlepointing, and making restaurant reservations for her friend group at hot spots throughout the Chicago area.
Melanie Moore is a Bay Area native and earned a Bachelor of Arts at the University of California Davis in Cinema & Digital Media. While completing her studies, she discovered another great passion outside of media—impacting the lives of young children in her community. Melanie has worked with youth from a variety of age groups and now uses her love of media, communications, and writing to raise the awareness of our programs to donors and foundations alike. In her spare time, Melanie still takes in plenty of films & TV, music, and culture, and occasionally paints and draws. She loves discovering new “hidden gems” around the Bay, whether it’s a good hiking trail or the best new brunch place.
Lilian Alten serves as the Marketing and Public Relations Associate at Learn Fresh, where she focuses on cultivating strategic partnerships and creative communication strategies to bolster the organization’s visibility and impact. A Washington DC native, Lilian earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from Miami University of Ohio’s Farmer School of Business, majoring in Marketing with a minor in Urban and Regional Analysis. Throughout her collegiate career Lilian held various positions, from account manager at a start-up marketing agency to working as a social media intern for a DC-based hospitality group, where she refined her skills in strategy development and data-driven storytelling.Growing up an avid soccer player, Lilian found her passion for sports stemmed not only in the love of the game itself but for the community it creates. This lies at the core of her work, leveraging marketing as a means to forge connections and foster community for a greater purpose.Outside of work, Lilian enjoys anything outdoors, testing her skills in the kitchen or opting to skip the cleanup for dining out with friends. She enjoys arts and music in every form; museums, concerts of all genres, and the occasional dabble in painting.
Justin is an ambitious and resourceful individual committed to inspiring change by providing students with educational tools that encourage critical thinking and community leadership. Born and raised in Upstate New York, Justin earned his Political Science and Economics degrees at Syracuse University. As a Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs student and Manager at the Carrier Dome, he learned the power of community engagement and education while coordinating and running various university and community events. After joining the Learn Fresh team in 2019, Justin helped expand and organize events for the NBA Math Hoops and New York Mets Math Hits programs. Justin now serves as Learn Fresh’s New Programs Specialist, leveraging his passion for learning by working with the Learn Fresh team to design, create, and implement a suite of new educational games and programs that foster impactful academic and social-emotional student experiences in and out of the classroom. Outside of work, you can find Justin backpacking his way through state and national parks, out on the slopes, or paddling around one of the many New York Finger Lakes. For questions about any of our new programs, contact Justin via email at justin@learnfresh.org.
Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Brie engrossed herself in the community as a teen. While coaching youth sports and serving as a camp counselor, she was able to combine her love for children, sports, and fitness. Her unyielding passion for health and wellness led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, with a concentration in Health and Physical Education. She was determined to advocate for the importance of physical, mental, and social health.Upon graduating from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, Brie spent five years with Norfolk Public Schools teaching at the Southside STEM Academy at Campostella. Serving dually as teacher and PTA/Student Activities President, she was instrumental in pioneering several after-school activities for student engagement including sports teams, enrichment clubs, leadership activities, and NBA Math Hoops. She now leads high energy fitness classes helping adults and kids feel their best and achieve their goals. Her genuine enthusiasm for growth and achievement motivates Brie to be the leader she is today, both in the classroom and in the gym! As a fitness fanatic, you can catch her practicing what she preaches outdoors -- running, biking, or DANCING! She loves all things sports, shoes, and shopping, and she considers that a sport!
Prior to joining Learn Fresh, Steven spent over a decade of experience in Education and Youth Development, working in various positions including PE teacher, paraprofessional, and most recently as an Out-of-School Time Program Coordinator for San Francisco Public Schools. These positions allowed Steven to combine his passion for youth development and sports. While working in Out-of-School Time Programming, Steven instantly developed an affinity for the NBA Math Hoops Program! Students in his program were drawn to Math Hoops' ability to support both math and social-emotional learning while allowing them to more familiar with sports and the real-world applications of math. Steven is from San Francisco, a HUGE sports fan (Golden State Warriors, SF Giants, and SF 49ers), and he loves finding new places to eat!
Lauren Henry currently serves as the Program Training & Support Senior Coordinator for Learn Fresh, focusing on support to our educators and providing training presentations to ensure Learn Fresh works well for everyone. Lauren's background in teaching and coaching allowed her to move into this position and be able to be confident in providing training to educators in a way that she would have liked it while she was in the classroom. Her passion of working with kids will only help her working with Learn Fresh because there is an excitement for learning through play. Lauren has a Bachelor of Applied Health Science and an Associates in Physical Therapy Assistant from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. In her spare time, Lauren loves to coach and train kids for the sport of basketball and support her boyfriend still playing basketball. She also loves to spend time with their families and the beach is her favorite vacation.
Angeline Kamara, also known as Coach Angie, is a proud Afro Latina who was born and raised in Silver Spring, MD. She is always looking for new ways to impact her community and be that representation for all young ladies and women. Her experience working in sports started in college at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, MD. She graduated with a Health and Fitness Management degree at WAU. As she finished her collegiate basketball career, she then was offered a position to be part of the coaching staff for the Women's basketball team, "Lady Shock." Fast forward, once she graduated, she then entered a marketing bootcamp for the Washington Wizards and the famous Washington, DC restaurant, "Ben’s Chili Bowl," to create a 360 campaign deal, and her team won an award for first place. She has always worked in education or sports. In 2021, she started working with the 76ers summer camps and Nets youth camps all summer. She loved it, but wanted to have an established job in the G League/NBA, so she applied for the Assistant Community Coach position for the 2022-2023 G League NBA Champions, the Delaware Blue Coats. She got the job and was working with the Blue Coats for two seasons where she developed relationships and got a contract working with one of their community sponsors, AmeriHealth Caritas as a Healthy Hoops Coach. She is still doing that today, traveling all over the country promoting healthy lifestyles to different communities, and coaching the youth in basketball. She has gained so much working with the Blue Coats and recently became a Co-Founder of a youth development league called CYBL based in Delaware, catering to boys and girls ages 5-13. Basketball has helped her build confidence, become a better leader, fight through adversity and connect with others, and led her to travel all over the world. She comes from a family of immigrants from Honduras, and as an Afro-Latina, it is very important to her that culture authentically connects with the community and uses basketball as a tool to teach and learn.
Based in Oklahoma City, Hunter graduated with a Bachelor’s in English Writing and later went on to obtain a MBA from Oklahoma Christian University. After graduating, Hunter found herself working part-time as an Associate Editor for the Oklahoma Hall of Fame's Gaylord-Pickens Museum while also beginning a career as a college softball coach. After four years in the collegiate setting, she discovered her passion lies with helping children grow their confidence in the academic and sports setting, which lead her to Learn Fresh. She is currently serving as a Regional Outreach Coordinator. In her spare time, you will find her coaching her travel ball team, giving softball lessons, or at a bookstore!
Jonathan is from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Virginia is where he spent the first portion of his career. He now lives in the Houston area of Texas and has lived there for almost five years. He grew up as an athlete and has always been surrounded by all sports, but mainly basketball and football. He played college football at Old Dominion University where he also received his Bachelor's degree in sports management. It was during this time he also started his work with non-profits. Jonathan serves as a Regional Outreach Coordinator here at Learn Fresh. Before Learn Fresh, he previously served in various positions across multiple organizations including program and non-profit work. With 10 plus years of professional experience with non-profit organizations, sports, and outreach sectors, he brings a wealth of knowledge from his previous roles. He has demonstrated a strong track record of growing and implementing programs and is looking forward to contributing to the growth of Learn Fresh. Outside of work, you can find Jonathan playing, watching, or coaching sports, traveling, and finding delicious food to try!
Stephen Cruse is from Belleville, IL about twenty minutes east of St. Louis. He received his Bachelors of Science degree in Sport Management from Eastern Illinois University, and then went on to attain his Master’s of Science degree in Sport Business from Temple University. Stephen has always had a passion for working with the youth from an overall developmental standpoint through sports.Throughout his educational career, he has held a position at the Mattoon Family YMCA as theYouth Sport and Adult Leagues Coordinator, where he focused on youth and adult league play, and contributed to launching one of the first eSports programs in the city of Mattoon.Stephen then moved to Philadelphia, and held a Graduate Assistantship role with Soccer Shots where he rotated to all departments but focused on the onboarding and evaluation of youth coaches as well as facilitating agreements with educators and park districts throughout the City of Philly. He later got a glimpse of working in collaboration with professional sport organizations when he worked as an Assistant Division Coordinator at ESF for the Jr 76ers Academy.In his most previous role, he was a Community Engagement Associate for the Indiana Pacers. He helped host and facilitate numerous community program events and contributed to the implementation of a new three point wellness initiative focusing on physical, mental, and financial development for kids in need.He now works for Learn Fresh as a Regional Outreach Coordinator. In his free time you may catch him going for a run, trying out a new sport, cutting hair, or hanging out with friends and family!
