Executive Director

Adriana Ojeda-Joslyn is the Lead Organizer and Executive Director of the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center. In this role, she oversees strategic and operational responsibilities of the organization and the execution of its mission. Adriana believes that building a base of empowered residents to create and sustain resident-driven leadership is essential to achieving equity and supporting social justice. She has 20+ years of experience working with many different populations in Worcester and surrounding towns. She has provided support in the areas of immigration, housing, and shelter and most recently served as an educator and advocate for sexual and reproductive health.

As a mother of 3 children with special needs, Adriana has first-hand knowledge of the challenges and resources that are unique to Worcester and its residents. As someone who grew up in the Pleasant Street neighborhood, she has seen many changes and has had many impactful experiences, both good and bad. These experiences are what have ultimately driven her to community work and advocacy. Adriana is working to bring awareness to the many assets that the Pleasant Street neighborhood offers and that are often overlooked. Adriana recognizes the value of a neighborhood that has cultural foods and markets, safe play areas, and community centers. Through her lived experiences and knowledge of networks and resources, she will work to educate and empower the residents of this community to use their voices and leverage their collective power to bring positive and healing change to the neighborhood.

Board President

Max Stern is the board president of the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center, has been on the board for the past 4 years now. He has also been a teacher in the Worcester Public Schools for the past 10 years. He is a history teacher at University Park Campus School. Max is passionate about teaching history in culturally responsive ways; bringing the arts, music, and hip-hop into his classroom. He hopes to figure out ways to bring hip-hop and the arts into the work of the center, and hopefully connect with other nonprofits and artists in the city doing similar work. In his spare time Max enjoys exercising, playing basketball, and rooting for his New York Sports Teams.

Board Memb

rJibrael Younis is an Operations Manager for the MassHire Central Career Center, a partnership of the Massachusetts Department of Career Services and the City of Worcester. Jibrael was born in Worcester, MA to a mother of Irish-American descent with a long family lineage of Worcester residents and to a father of first generation Americans originating from the Ein El Hlilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. Jibrael finished his Masters of Social Work at Boston College with a macro focus on Global Studies and Policy Development and Management, while also working as a Resource Developer for small non-profit organizations. He graduated from Endicott College in 2012 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. Jibrael was connected to the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center (PSNNC) through relatives and family friends who are associated with the organization. Jibrael believes that the PSNNC’s mission aligns with Jibrael’s values, and he believes that they play a pivotal role in the health and wellness of a vital and core part of the greater Worcester community. He hopes to offer his skills, experience, knowledge and resources to the PSNNC Board of Directors to support the mission and vision of the PSNNC.