HR Services (True North Executive Solutions)
Since 2005, RAWNY has been building a stronger, safer Western New York by supporting people returning home after incarceration.
RAWNY’s Reentry One-Stop provides services and support to individuals returning home from jail, state prison, or federal detention.
We began in 2005 as the Safer Monroe Area Reentry Team (SMART), a grassroots network of volunteers advocating for better reentry policies. In 2021, SMART became the Reentry Association of Western NY (RAWNY), expanding our mission and reach.
Today, we serve as an umbrella organization connecting more than 50 local partners and advocating for reentry services as a permanent part of the justice system. Our work fills critical gaps in housing, healthcare, employment, and community support, reducing recidivism and building safer neighborhoods.
RAWNY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the community by supporting individuals who have experienced incarceration—and the agencies that serve them—to ensure everyone reentering society has access to the resources and support they need.
We envision a community ready to welcome people home—where returning citizens have access to work, healthcare, housing, and support. A community where families are stronger, public safety is enhanced, and every individual has a chance to thrive.
“The reality is that communities don’t decide who is released, but they do face the consequences of unsupported reentry.”
Yari Rivera is a dedicated human services professional with more than twelve years of experience supporting individuals impacted by incarceration, mental health challenges, and chemical dependency.
As RAWNY’s Executive Director, she leads reentry, housing, and supportive service programs in collaboration with law enforcement, community agencies, and funders. Fluent in Spanish and deeply connected to her community, Yari blends professional expertise with lived experience to ensure that individuals returning from incarceration have the resources, advocacy, and support they need to thrive.
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HR Services (True North Executive Solutions)
Employment Services (SRGMF)
Peer Specialist (Compeer)
Peer Specialist (Compeer)
Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager
Intake Specialist
Peer Specialist
Navigation Specialist
Navigation Specialist II
Senior Case Manager
Reentry Case Manager
UW Case Manager
Reentry Case Manager
Program Supervisor of Peer Services (Compeer)
Operations Manager
Program Director
Executive Director
Pamela AyersOver the course of her career, Pam has crafted a co-creative, human centered design approach to her work in grants and program development and strategy. Her methodology follows the philosophy that any program or project must start with the people for whom we’re designing and end with a tailor-made solution to attain their own identified aspirations. Pam draws from an innate empathic nature and 25 years working in human services to facilitate creative, diverse groups toward developing solutions.
Prior to partnering with Empreinte, Pam served as the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives & Project
Development at Coordinated Care Services, Inc (CCSI), where she partnered closely with customers and stakeholders to identify critical program and community needs and design projects and services individualized to meet these needs. Such projects included a community-wide COVID prevention initiative for the Monroe County homeless shelter system and a County-City partnership to disperse federal eviction prevention funds. Pam has provided leadership and customer relationship management for the organization’s Capacity Building team and served in a fractional COO role for several small, community-based organization partners, building on a passion Pam has for strengthening infrastructure so that small organizations can do their critical work on the stability of strong foundations.
Before CCSI, Pam worked for Hillside Family of Agencies for 20 years, in both clinical and administrative roles. Ultimately, she developed and led the Public Grants and Program Development function, comprised of a team responsible for the design and sustainability of programs across the multi-affiliate, $100M+ organization. This team won the company more than $50M in grants funding over the last seven years of Pam’s time with Hillside. In addition to public grants procurement, Pam also led multiple systems redesign and community collaborative projects over her time with the organization.
Pam is a social worker by nature, which drives her to give back to her community in and out of work. Pam serves as a proud board member for Compeer Rochester, hosts a Roc Food Not Bombs community food stand at her home, and is an active board member and volunteer for her two children’s sport and musical endeavors. She is a triathlete, a runner, a dog lover, and an aspiring Adirondack 46-er with her husband, Alex.
Pam earned her Master of Social Work from Syracuse University and her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Elmira College.
Cathy BuckertCathy retired from the United States Probation Officer, Rochester, NY, in December 2020 after 27 years of service. She was the Program Development Specialist overseeing reentry services, collaborative community partnerships, and evidence-based programming, and was previously the Drug and Alcohol Specialist. She developed and facilitated the Reentry Court Program for eight years. She is certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (NCTI) and provided oversight of the CBT program in addition to facilitating trainings throughout NY.
Tricia WilliamsTricia Williams is a Senior Advisor at Empreinte Consulting, where she brings a unique blend of technical expertise and emotional intelligence. With over two decades of experience in the human services field, Tricia has honed her skills in strategic planning, program, and service development, and fostering innovative and adaptive teams and leaders.
Throughout her career, Tricia has demonstrated a deep commitment to empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their missions and visions. Her approach to leadership centers on honoring and leveraging the expertise of each individual and organization, fostering a collaborative environment for sustainable strategic change.
Tricia’s background is complemented by a rich tapestry of professional experiences. She has served at various leadership levels, including as a Senior Consultant, Strategist, Administrator, and Director, which has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of operational challenges and the importance of quality and compliance oversight.
Prior to joining Empreinte, Tricia served as the Director of Community Services at RHIO, where she supported business development, grants management, and marketing and communications.
Driven by her passion for helping people connect in their life, career, and business, Tricia is committed to equipping individuals with the tools and knowledge to thrive in any circumstance. She sees her role at Empreinte as an opportunity to further refine her craft and continue her journey of learning and growth.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Tricia enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dogs, exploring new places, and advocating for causes close to her heart. She embodies the spirit of community engagement, making a positive impact wherever she goes.
Thomas Gant
Zachary Szpila
Carl Hatch-FeirCarl has worked in behavioral health for almost 50 years having served in a variety of roles at Rochester Mental Health Center, Catholic Family Center, Loyola Recovery Foundation and Delphi Rise. In the past three years he has wound down his paid employment but has done some part-time consulting work, primarily working in interim leadership roles at a variety of behavioral health programs. He has ramped up his volunteer work during that time serving on committees at City Roots, a community land trust, and as a trustee for Friends of Ganondagan. He has also continued to serve as a Peer Reviewer and Team Leader for the Council on Accreditation conducting site reviews around the country.
Sarah CushmanSarah Cushman, MPH, serves as the Reentry Success Manager for SUNY’s Office of Higher Education in Prison (OHEP), where she provides strategic leadership to a team of Regional Reentry Navigators supporting students as they transition from incarceration to higher education, employment, and community life. She is committed to building equitable systems that expand educational access and create meaningful pathways to long-term success for individuals impacted by incarceration, substance use, and housing instability.
Prior to joining SUNY, Sarah served as Associate Director of Reentry for the Cornell Prison Education Program (CPEP), leading comprehensive reentry initiatives and developing student-centered supports that fostered successful transitions from incarceration to college and community.
She previously served as Senior Manager of Hepatitis C and Community Prevention Services at Trillium Health, where she directed regional public health initiatives focused on prevention, health equity, and community engagement throughout the Finger Lakes region.
Sarah holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Her leadership is informed by a unique combination of public health expertise, direct service experience, and lived experience navigating incarceration. These perspectives fuel her commitment to advancing equitable policies and practices and to expanding opportunities through education, cross-sector collaboration, and systems-level change.
A respected leader and advocate, Sarah is passionate about creating fair-chance pathways that promote educational attainment, economic mobility, improved health outcomes, and lasting community impact. Above all, she is a proud wife, devoted mother, lifelong learner, and firm believer in the transformative power of education, dignity, and second chances.
clients served since 2023.
participants released in Monroe County this past year.
federal clients served or under supervision.
community partners nation-wide.
RAWNY makes reentry simple. We connect you to services and support so you can build stability and thrive.