Leadership

At The Trip Foundation, we are guided by a dedicated and accomplished team of individuals who bring a wealth of experience from diverse professional backgrounds. We are a team of professionals who have excelled in various fields, including technology, education, the chemical industry, journalism, and finance. Together, they form a dynamic ensemble, steering The Trip Foundation towards innovative solutions and sustainable impact.

Lidj Ernest Lewis Founder & CEO

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After more than a decade as an educator, Lidj founded The Trip Foundation on the notion that children in underserved, high-need school districts don’t often travel beyond the confines of their community, if not the city in which they live. But just like anyone else, they long to get out of town–to experience something new and have some fun in the process.

Having traveled to Africa, Asia, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, and Europe, Lidj wanted economically disadvantaged students to be able to do the same: to learn about the world around them, to engage people from different cultures, and to realize the breadth of career and entrepreneurial opportunities that abound here in the U.S. and abroad. He believes in equity in all its forms, whether in class or flying first class.

Aside from his educational experience, Lidj has served as a producer at CNBC, an editor at Bloomberg Television, and as Vice President of Media Relations at Medialink Worldwide, now Definition 6. Lidj holds a B.A. in Communications from the City College of New York; an M.B.A. in Marketing Management from Pace University; and an M.A. in Secondary Inclusive Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Jazminda Salcedo, Board Chair | Senior Account Executive, Google

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Jazminda is a seasoned ad sales professional with almost 20 years of TV, Digital, and Social media experience. Throughout her career, she has been fortunate enough to collaborate with some of the most influential brands in the world by helping them achieve their business goals through strategic media partnerships.

Growing up in the diverse borough of Queens, New York, her passion for exploring new places and cultures is fundamental to who she is. This curiosity has led her to embark on countless journeys across the globe, immersing herself in the richness of different traditions, languages, and perspectives. Her experiences have broadened her horizons, helped shape her perspective, and fostered personal and professional relationships.

She believes every child should have the opportunity to explore different countries and cultures, as it is essential for personal growth and cultivating a global mindset. As a graduate of a New York City public school, she has witnessed how travel can break down barriers, challenge preconceptions, and inspire a lifelong love of learning.

Rachel Shelton, Secretary | Higher Ed. Consultant

Rachel has worked in higher education for nearly 20 years, with roles spanning admissions, recruitment, career services, and marketing. She has also worked as a K-12 classroom teacher, where she especially loved seeing students’ eyes light up when they figured out the clue to solving that story problem. She firmly believes that recess and gym are critical parts of the school day and that summer reading goals are important for grown-ups, too.
 
Prior to transitioning into education, Rachel worked as a human resources consultant, a professional genealogist, and as a broadcast journalist for multiple news organizations, including ABC News, CNBC, CNN, and MSNBC.
 
Rachel volunteers as a judge for Texas History Day, works with multiple herding and sporting dog rescues, and represented Boston University as an alumni admissions volunteer at college fairs in New York and Connecticut. Since 2024 she has served on the Scholarship Committee for Harvard Federal Credit Union.
 
Rachel has an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; an MA in International Relations and International Communication from Boston University, where she received a Presidential Fellowship; and a BA in English from Loyola Marymount, where she was elected to Alpha Sigma Nu.
 
A proud #milkid, Rachel is the daughter of an Air Force flight nurse and a Naval combat photographer turned intelligence officer. She is grateful to her parents for realizing she was instantly and easily portable: She first flew on an airplane at the tender age of three months (OAK -> ATL), involving her first (and only) helicopter ride, and at eight months was the youngest sailor aboard the historic aircraft carrier USS Ranger. (Thanks to motion sickness, she now avoids water-based travel.) She has visited 43 states and not nearly enough countries.

Corrissa Sanford-Faber, Treasurer

Corrissa is a results-driven healthcare professional with expertise in operations, quality improvement, program development, and outcomes evaluation. She has led initiatives that achieved top-tier performance in health outcomes, behavioral health, and clinical pharmacy programs. Her strong blend of customer service and business insight has helped deliver impactful, member-focused care.

Beyond her professional work, Corrissa is deeply engaged in community service. She serves as the NY State Treasurer for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and is a founding board member of B.E.S.T. Brooklyn, Inc., supporting educational and social advancement in Brooklyn.

She holds a BS in Finance from Virginia Tech and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of Arizona Global Campus.

Reuben Gardner, Director

Reuben has been a math educator for nearly a decade serving primarily high-need areas of New York City and starting his teaching career as a NYC Teaching fellow.  His educational philosophy is that all students can learn if given enough time, resources, and support.  Currently, he is a middle school math teacher and team leader at a Bronx public charter school.            

Prior to teaching, Reuben worked in the financial services industry in such areas as business analysis and risk management.  He worked at various financial institutions including Barclays, as an Assistant Vice-President, UBS as an Associate Director, and the American Stock Exchange, as a manager.  Reuben received a B.A. in economics and an MBA at Lehigh University. Additionally, he has an M.S. in education from St. John’s University and an M.S. in business analytics at Baruch College.

Sosina Makonnen, Director

Sosina Makonnen is a research scientist with over 20 years of experience in immunology and oncology research, spanning both academia and the pharmaceutical industry. She currently serves as a Senior Scientist at Regeneron, studying anti-cancer compounds and collaborating with internal and external teams on advancing the practice. 

Sosina possesses strong analytical and problem-solving skills, along with exceptional organizational abilities and keen attention to detail.

She regularly serves as a judge at the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF) and works with students in high school mentorship programs, where she encourages, inspires, and trains future scientists. She believes that valuable life lessons also come from opportunities to learn from diverse cultures, fostering curiosity, understanding, and connection—instilling values and skills that empower individuals to be a positive force for change and well-rounded global citizens.

Sosina holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry.

                                                                     Advisors

Stacey Cahn Executive Producer, Time in a Bottle Video Productions

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Stacey Cahn spent over 20 years in the trenches of broadcast news, first as an anchor on the NBC Radio Networks, then as producer at the CNBC and Fox News Channels when both were first launched before segueing into the corporate video world with “Fortune 500” clients. In 2009, Stacey founded “Time in a Bottle Video Productions” to help others to tell their stories. She pivoted to life story documentary work after finding herself in the middle of a story. She and her husband were trapped in their high-rise apartment as the Twin Towers crumbled on the morning of September 11, 2001. They watched in horror as people jumped out of windows. "What we went through is nothing compared to what we saw.” Stacey sees life through a different lens and brings this perspective and understanding to every project.Capturing and preserving stories has become a mission. She is committed to making a difference while making a living. Stacey and her family now live in Tampa, Florida, and can't believe there are bananas growing in the backyard of the home she and her husband share with three rescue cats.

Stacey has been honored several times for her work but considers winning a track and field relay at Cornell University her “most astounding achievement.” She only takes her work seriously, making her easy to work with on gut-punching projects. She is thrilled to be working with Lidj Lewis, a fellow CNBC alum. "I've always admired Lidj for his creativity and commitment to making this world a better place. "

Susana Duarte Founding Partner & COO, Take On Communications

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Improving lives through thoughtful and effective communication has always been a guiding principle in Susana’s career. From education, to leading a NYC-based social networking startup as Chief Operating Officer, to developing corporate and brand communication strategies for global healthcare companies and startups, Susana’s expertise lies in recognizing opportunities, anticipating roadblocks, and devising a way through.

Danielle Espiritu Chief of Learning Success at WeThrive

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Danielle Espiritu is the Chief of Learning Success at WeThrive, a nonprofit working toward economic justice by creating pathways for underestimated youth to own their future. She also serves as an Advisor for Narrative 4, an organization creating connections through the power of art, education, and action. She comes with experience teaching civic engagement in Brooklyn schools, working with youth as a teaching artist, and serving as a volunteer, project, and event manager for grassroots organizations in NYC.

With a career trajectory that started out in the fashion industry, after 10 years, Danielle closed that chapter in her life and took a leap into the unknown. She took the time to travel and try different things. Whether it was her time studying yoga in the foothills of the Himalayas, spending weeks traveling by boat in the Philippines, hiking in Ecuador or roaming the streets of Bogota, she revels and carries every community, every connection, every story, every teacher, and every lesson with her. It was a pivotal time in her life that shifted her path and perceptions completely.
Danielle draws from her experiences, locally and abroad, to center youth and community in work and in life. She believes that young people, if given access to necessary resources, tools, and opportunities to explore and connect with the world around them, will unleash their brilliance and create positive change in their communities.

Gregory Nelson, CEO EW Polymer Group

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Greg has over 40 years of experience in the chemical and rubber industry. He is currently the CEO of EW Polymer Group, a global rubber company supplying rubber products and sustainable rubber solutions to the rubber market. He was the co-founder and CEO of East West Copolymer, one of two leading merchant synthetic rubber manufacturers in the US, for 3 years.

Greg was also CEO, President and Director of Lion Copolymer, a leading global chemical producer of EPDM and SBR rubber, for 5 years. Prior to joining Lion Copolymer, Greg spent 4 years at Nalco, a global leader in water technology. He served as President of Nalco EMEA and Group President of Nalco’s Equipment and Services Business. Before joining Nalco, Greg was Global Vice President for Purchasing and Supply Chain for Sun Chemical; and before joining Sun Chemical, he was Global Vice President for Purchasing for Dow Chemical.

Greg began his career at Exxon Chemical where he held various management and leadership positions of increasing responsibility for nearly 20 years before leaving to join Union Carbide, which was later acquired by Dow Chemical.

Greg has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University. He also served as President for the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (IISRP) for the 2015-2016 term.

Helena Nelson, CFO EW Polymer Group

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Helena has 25 years of experience within operations, purchasing and competence development; and she has extensive experience in development of new ventures and models, for large corporations and in start-up settings.

She is co-founder of EW Polymer Group, a global trading company; North South Investments, an investment firm; and Enjoin Partners, a niche consultancy company. She was Consultant and Global Knowledge Manager and Expert with McKinsey & Company, based in both the US and European offices.

Helena served as Business Development Manager at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Sweden, and she was CEO and co-founder of Yourniverse, a Swedish start-up company focused on competence development.

Helena has a Master in Economics and International Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden, and is a graduate of Columbia Business School in New York.

Alexander Petti Founding Partner & CEO, Take On Communications

Alexander’s passion is storytelling with a purpose: to improve lives. Starting his career as a journalist, he has more than 20 years experience developing and executing strategic communications programs for global pharmaceutical companies and startups. Alexander combines his experience at global agencies with a reporter’s know-how of sharing knowledge, to help shape the future of healthcare.