Meet The Board
Meet the team. Learn about our core values, our story and how we balance work, life and everything in between.
Mel Mancheno
Founder + Director + Instructor
Mel Mancheno is in their first year at Middlesex College’s Honors Program, studying psychology with a focus on gender studies and mental health. Born in Florida but raised in New Jersey, Mel has zigzagged between the two states, finally settling back in the Garden State at 18. A published poet, their work dives deep into themes of gender identity and colonialism, using verse to explore complex intersections of personal and cultural history. When they’re not writing, Mel is kicking off a research project on the experiences of queer individuals within faith communities, blending their academic passions with activism.
Mel’s efforts & vision at the Carmen Foundation centers on creating inclusive healthcare systems, advocating for LGBTQ+ Mental Health, organizing collaborations for initiatives aimed at improving LGBTQ+ well-being, and working to open avenues for accessible care for queer individuals.
David Diaz De La Rocha
Founder + Director + Instructor
Mel Mancheno is in their first year at Middlesex College’s Honors Program, studying psychology with a focus on gender studies and mental health. Born in Florida but raised in New Jersey, Mel has zigzagged between the two states, finally settling back in the Garden State at 18. A published poet, their work dives deep into themes of gender identity and colonialism, using verse to explore complex intersections of personal and cultural history. When they’re not writing, Mel is kicking off a research project on the experiences of queer individuals within faith communities, blending their academic passions with activism.
Mel’s efforts & vision at the Carmen Foundation centers on creating inclusive healthcare systems, advocating for LGBTQ+ Mental Health, organizing collaborations for initiatives aimed at improving LGBTQ+ well-being, and working to open avenues for accessible care for queer individuals.
Milo Cerdeira
Founder + Director + Instructor
Mel Mancheno is in their first year at Middlesex College’s Honors Program, studying psychology with a focus on gender studies and mental health. Born in Florida but raised in New Jersey, Mel has zigzagged between the two states, finally settling back in the Garden State at 18. A published poet, their work dives deep into themes of gender identity and colonialism, using verse to explore complex intersections of personal and cultural history. When they’re not writing, Mel is kicking off a research project on the experiences of queer individuals within faith communities, blending their academic passions with activism.
Mel’s efforts & vision at the Carmen Foundation centers on creating inclusive healthcare systems, advocating for LGBTQ+ Mental Health, organizing collaborations for initiatives aimed at improving LGBTQ+ well-being, and working to open avenues for accessible care for queer individuals.