Karma Kreizenbeck, Executive Director
Karma brings more than 15 years of public health and philanthropic leadership experience. Most recently, she was the administrator of the Global Health Initiative at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center managing international projects in public health and early detection, developing global institutional relationships, and serving as an Executive Committee representative for the Washington Global Health Alliance. Previously, she worked at the Soros Foundation in New York, where she assisted in the development of foundations in Russia and Haiti; planned and managed a public health outreach program; developed and planned an international fellowships grant program; and assisted in developing the funding strategy for the program on communities and crime. Karma earned a BA from Bard College, and completed masters’ credits at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Maureen Emerson Feit, PhD, Development Director
Maureen’s professional experience combines fund development, donor relations, and strategic communications with a long-standing commitment to social change and social justice. For many years, she worked with the Vietnamese refugee community in the Seattle area and their family members who remain in Vietnam, earning a PhD in cultural anthropology from the University of Michigan. Over the past decade, Maureen has helped numerous local, innovative community-based organizations to expand their base of support, grow, and thrive.

Kendra Han, LICSW, Programs Director
After earning her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley and her masters degree at Columbia University, Kendra began her social work career at the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center in the Bronx. In a variety of program and management positions, Kendra focused on early childhood services. She provided direct clinical services to families with young children and oversaw the delivery of social services in the Early Head Start and Head Start programs.

Heidi K. Schillinger, MSW, ReachOut Director
Heidi has a decade of experience working with diverse, low-income communities, including five years with New Futures and five years overseas. These experiences have helped shape her passion for providing and sharing culturally competent practices. Heidi brings experience in community development and adult education, and has a BA from Saint Olaf College and Masters of Social Work from the University of Washington. She is currently in charge of directing ReachOut, a social enterprise of New Futures, that works in the broader community and promotes systemic change through organizational professional development trainings focused on cultural competency and community involvement.

Susana Schuarzberg, MPA, Finance Director
Susana’s more than 25 years of management and financial experience includes international companies, consultant groups and mid-sized service organizations. Prior to relocating to Seattle from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Susana served as Chief Financial Officer for a prestigious educational institution (K-12 plus 4 year college). She earned her CPA and business degree at Buenos Aires University and holds a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University (New York).

Laura Silverstein, MSW, Associate Director
Laura has been at New Futures since 1998. She earned her undergraduate degree in English and art from Wesleyan University in Connecticut, and received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Washington in 1997. Prior to New Futures she worked as a Program Planner with the Department of Public Health, supporting school-based health centers. She has also worked as an educator at Planned Parenthood, and as social worker at Westside Place School, an alternative school for children ages 8-18. She came to New Futures because of her desire to work in an organization with culturally respectful programs. As Associate Director Laura leads and facilitates New Futures Self Evaluation Team (SET), evaluation process, and strategic initiatives.

To read bios of New Futures Board of Directors, visit our Board page.