Positive Tracks Team

Kofi Asare-Bediako is a Dartmouth College student majoring in Sociology and African & African American Studies. He is passionate about youth leadership, equity, and creating opportunities for underserved communities. At Dartmouth, Kofi serves as Alumni Relations Chair for the Afro-American Society, where he builds alumni-student networks and organizes career development events. He is also involved in the NAACP, the Black Legacy Month Committee,  and the Shabazz House community, helping lead programming that fosters connection and belonging on campus.

Beyond campus, Kofi has worked across public policy spaces. He has contributed to research and advocacy efforts through roles with Open Democracy and the Center for Reproductive Rights. Kofi is especially driven by experiences from his childhood, including helping in his great-grandmother’s small business in Ghana, which shaped his commitment to justice and economic equity.

In the future, Kofi hopes to become a civil rights attorney, using the law as a tool to challenge inequality and expand access to opportunity for marginalized communities.

More about Kofi as a Positive Tracks Coach

• About me: When I’m not coaching, you can find me performing with my a cappella group at Dartmouth, planning community events on campus, or catching up with friends over late-night conversations and Thai food. I love reading, watching TV shows, and cooking.
• Coaching style (AKA my vibe 😊): Imagine a space where you can show up fully as yourself and ask questions, be honest, laugh a little, and still be pushed to grow. That’s what I aim to create! My coaching style is all about encouragement and helping younger leaders see their own power. I believe in meeting people where they are and helping them take the next step forward.
• What gets me fired up: I’m super passionate about youth leadership, equity in opportunity, and building strong communities. I care deeply about helping young people realize that their voice matters, especially those from underserved communities who don’t always see themselves reflected in leadership spaces.
• A challenge I overcame: One challenge I’ve carried with me is watching my great-grandmother’s small bakery in Ghana close due to financial barriers. As a kid, I spent hours there helping stock shelves and greet customers, so losing it was deeply personal. It showed me how structural barriers can limit even the hardest-working people. Instead of discouraging me, it shaped my purpose and gave me a lifelong commitment to creating more equitable opportunities.
• A coaching moment that changed me: I’ve been lucky to have mentors who didn’t just give advice but they truly saw me. One mentor once told me, “You don’t have to shrink to fit the room. Grow until the room fits you.” That stuck with me. It changed how I show up in spaces and how I support others. As a coach, I want to create those same moments  where someone realizes they belong exactly as they are.
• Fun fact: I’m a huge Power Rangers fan, especially Power Rangers Samurai. I’ve watched it over a dozen times and still love it every time. My wallpaper is actually the Power Rangers Megaforce Blue Ranger!
• Favorite article: Check out one of my favorite articles about Black progress and how far we’ve come and how much work we have ahead (Brookings).
• Want to learn more? Curious about how Positive Tracks can help you? Let’s chat! Schedule a 30-minute call with me here.
• You can also connect with me on LinkedIn

Nibal brings over a decade of experience in development and community engagement. Before joining Positive Tracks in 2021, she led alumni engagement and giving at St. John’s Prep during its largest capital campaign. Passionate about youth empowerment, Nibal focuses on connecting supporters to Positive Tracks’ mission and believes deeply in the power of individuals and organizations to drive change.

A proud Roger Williams University alumna, she serves as President Emeritus of the Alumni Association and mentors first-generation college students and new grads. Nibal holds a M.Ed. in Organizational Management and enjoys traveling, gardening, and beach days with her husband, son, and their two dogs on the North Shore of Massachusetts.

Contact Nibal

Andrea was born and raised in San Salvador, El Salvador, but she is a proud Bostonian since 2018, where she moved to support youth-led changemaking. Andrea holds a Master’s Degree in Peace and Justice from the University of San Diego. She identifies herself as a peacebuilding professional who has been mentoring young social advocates for the last 3 years through her work at the Center for Peace and Commerce and Peace First. Andrea has also supported different organizations to understand their impact through monitoring and evaluation processes, including her experience in South Africa conducting an external evaluation at Lima Rural Development Foundation. When Andrea is not at work, you’ll find her listening to the Beatles, eating ice cream, trying a new pancake recipe, talking about haunted houses, singing, or dancing.

More About Andrea as a Positive Tracks Coach:

About me:
When I’m not coaching, you can find me eating ice cream, watching trash TV (90 Day Fiancé for the win!), listening to The Beatles or some Latino beats, and planning my next travel adventure.

Coaching style (AKA my vibe):
Imagine a space where you can be yourself, ask questions, laugh, and learn. That’s what I aim to create! I don’t have all the answers (and I don’t expect you to either), but I believe we can figure things out together. My style is all about encouragement, curiosity, collaboration, and fun. 

My coaching philosophy is:

I’ll ask thoughtful questions, incentivize us to share our screens so we can research together, challenge you to grow, and let collaboration and vulnerability lead the way.

What gets me fired up:
I believe deeply in the power of grassroots efforts, more than large-scale initiatives, because they’re closer to the people and the solutions. Too often, we default to fundraising as the only way to help, but many causes need so much more: volunteers, signatures, awareness, supplies. I get fired up about helping others think creatively about how to support what matters.

A challenge I overcame:
Getting into grad school in a new country was tough. I had great grades but not a ton of traditional leadership experience (like what you’ll gain through our Challenges program!). What helped me stand out was learning how to tell my story in a way that felt powerful and relevant. That experience taught me that our lived stories matter, sometimes more than we realize.

A coaching moment that changed me:
My grad advisor, Professor Sharp, was serious in class but warm and funny during office hours. He was clear that I needed to grow and gain new skills, but he never made me feel small. Instead, he challenged me to grow in ways that felt supportive, not scary.  He was always ready to brainstorm next steps with me. That mix of real talk and real support shaped how I coach today. I want captains to feel seen, challenged to grow, encouraged, and never alone in figuring things out.

Fun fact:
I can’t spell in English, and it’s all the vowels’ fault! English vowel names sound just like different Spanish vowels. For example, the letter “E” in English sounds like “I” in Spanish, so when someone is spelling out loud, I need a moment to decode which letter they actually mean.

Want to learn more?
Curious how Positive Tracks can support you? Let’s talk!

Articles, publications, and more:
Want to dive deeper into what I’m passionate about? Check out my work:

• Growing up in Danger: Andrea Calderon. The Trans-border podcast 
• Be a Sponge, Not a Tourist: 5 Lessons I Learned from Traveling the World

Let’s connect on LinkedIn!

Emily Gardner is proud to have grown up in rural Vermont. She received a B.F.A in Acting from the University of Connecticut and is a graduate of The Second City – Los Angeles. After living, working, and eventually burning out as an actress (and waitress) in LA, Emily returned home to New England in 2011. She excitedly joined Positive Tracks in 2016 and now loves incorporating passion, comedy and humility into her daily communications and operations work. Emily loves hard shell tacos, cats that purr, yard sales, and disposable contact lenses. She lives in the Upper Valley of Vermont with her polar-opposite husband, two fabulous daughters, three deranged cats, one cat-sized dog, and a perpetual mountain of laundry.

Byron Glaser is designer and illustrator of creativity-inspiring products and film, including the award-winning line of Zolo® toys and Curious Bonz™ and Higashi Glaser Design. He works in a variety of mediums including paint, collage, sculpture, film, and digital art. Byron, a native of Southern California, graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena with Honors. He lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and also serves on the Empowerhouse Board in Fredericksburg, VA.

Liz has been with Positive Tracks since 2012. She was Positive Tracks’ Program Director helping to create methodology and tools for Positive Tracks Challenges program before moving into a new role focused on innovation and sustainability. Liz leads programmatic tech development with a focus on making sure Positive Tracks’ programming is accessible, relevant and up to date for the young people we serve. Liz enjoys Sweating for Good for causes she’s passionate about, playing tennis and traveling to experience live music and exploring the outdoors. She has two sons and lives with her husband, Alex, and dog Myra.

More about Liz as a Coach:

• About me: When I’m not coaching, I love spending time with family, going to concerts, playing on my tennis team, hiking with my pup and spending as much time as possible outside. 
• Coaching style (AKA my vibe): As a Coach at Positive Tracks, I like to show up as both a champion and a learner. I believe young people can do whatever they set their minds to and I like to think I’m their biggest cheerleader. I approach every interaction with curiosity and want to help keep things realistic and doable – especially when life gets busy! My goal is to make sure everyone feels welcomed, valued, and supported and knows I have their back no matter what.
• What gets me fired up: I’m so lucky to work at Positive Tracks because I actually LOVE Sweating For Good. I once walked 50 miles in one day to raise money for Positive Tracks (yes, we’re a nonprofit!). I’ve walked, run, hiked, swam, played tennis, pickleball, HIIT workouts and more for causes ranging from cancer research to gun regulation to food insecurity to racial justice. 
• A coaching moment that changed me (and continues to): It happens all the time, but it never gets old — seeing the pride and joy on a Positive Tracks Captain’s face at their event. Watching them step into their leadership and own the moment is the best feeling. Knowing I may have played even a small part in helping make that moment possible is something I’ll never take for granted.
• Fun fact: I have seen Pearl Jam 41 times and have slept outside many music venues to make sure I get to be in the front row!
• Want to learn more? Curious about how Positive Tracks can help you? Let’s chat! Schedule a 30-minute call with me.
• You can also connect with me on LinkedIn 

Nini Meyer is Founder & CEO at Positive Tracks where she supports younger generations in building healthy futures through sport activism. Rooted in hands-on leadership training, team building, inclusion and connection, Positive Tracks helps young adults build and lead athletic events to champion the causes they care about most. Nini grew up in Lyme, NH, and returned to New Hampshire in her mid-twenties to raise two sons and many dogs. Nini enjoys endurance sports and the outdoors. She has served as a Board Trustee of Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth; The Hopkins Center for The Arts at Dartmouth; of the Jane B. Cook Charitable Trusts, The Lyme Foundation; Hypertherm HOPE Foundation, and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.

Sully is a purpose-driven professional and certified extrovert with experience spanning higher education, public health, and public service before joining Positive Tracks. Sully is proud to put his experience to work supporting young folks as they take their next steps to positively impact their communities. He prides himself on his extroverted nature which uses to build bridges of connection between people and the resources and possibilities to meet their goals (hopefully, they learn something they didn’t even know was possible!).  

A Southern-Vermont native, Sully believes that to live in New England, you have to learn how to play in the snow or else you’ll go insane living here! His favorite winter pastimes include: XC skiing, sledding, and snowsculpturing (especially with friends!).

More about Sully as a Positive Tracks Coach: 

• About me: When I’m not coaching, you can find me getting active with my friends or family (depending on the season) XC and back country skiing, hiking, playing ultimate frisbee, rock climbing, salsa dancing, settling in with a cozy read, or picking up a new hobby of the week! Anyone know how to play the ukulele?
• Coaching style (AKA my vibe ): I aim to create a collaborative space where we can explore your ideas and work together to define actionable next steps. I look to act like a guide and soundboard to get your plans off the ground. If at the end of the coaching process we’ve both learned something new, you’ve gained confidence, and learned that making change can be fun, I know I’ll have done my job!
  
• What gets me fired up: I’m wicked passionate about fostering connection and community across all people!
  
• A challenge I overcame: A challenge I overcame was earning the confidence to actually communicate in a Spanish speaking country. Those who know me know that I like to talk…a lot… When I arrived in-country, even after studying Spanish, when I discovered my luggage was lost, I couldn’t think of one word in Spanish! Starting out on my adventure like that, made me timid and nervous to speak. However, after seeing my friends try and meeting Spanish-speaking friends trying to learn English, I got more comfortable and made LOTS of mistakes! I might not have complete mastery of the language now, but I learned that sometimes you have to be shameless in your lack of knowledge and just give it your best shot even when you know it’s not exactly right. When all else failed, I could always ask for help and 90% of the time, we were able to figure it out together. Those times where I truly struggled to find the right words ended up being the most impactful learning experiences!
• A coaching moment that changed me: A coaching moment that was a total game changer for me was while studying at Saint Michael’s College. Studying Business Administration, I was ready to hop in a corporate machine and start the grind. A Spanish professor my senior year pulled me aside and asked me about my next steps. In the conversation, knowing what she did about me, recommended that I look into extended service opportunities. In that moment she opened my eyes to possibilities that I didn’t know existed, which I think is what a great coach does. Ultimately, that conversation set me down the path to pursuing a social impact career and my finding my way to Positive Tracks! 
• Fun fact: I love giving a well prepared presentation! Getting up there and interacting with my audience is the best! Most of my friends have told me this is not normal, but I love the opportunity to share something new that could help someone, even if it’s just to one person in the crowd. 🙂
• Want to learn more? Curious about how partnering with Positive Tracks can help you? Let’s chat! Schedule a 30-minute call with me here: Sully’s Calendar
• A favorite presentation: I think that respectful and curious communication is incredibly important now more than ever, even (especially) with folks that we don’t agree with. This presentation by Andrea Haller, as a Mercy Emerging Leadership Fellow in 2023-2024, outlines a useful framework for having conversations that can be difficult. I hope you find it insightful! Youtube link here.

I’m from Hartford, VT, right across the river from Positive Tracks’ headquarters! I studied Political Science and Philosophy at Trinity College (CT), where I was a member of the track team and involved in youth-led activism through groups like Students Against Mass Incarceration and Active Minds.

Having grown up in a sports-driven household and participated in athletics from elementary school through college, I’ve experienced firsthand the powerful community that sports can foster. I’m passionate about harnessing the power of activity to inspire youth-led change, and I’m excited to bring my creativity, energy, and commitment to Positive Tracks!

When I’m not working, you can usually find me *attempting* to learn multiple hobbies at once (currently skiing and crocheting), enjoying good music, reading mystery novels, getting outside, or spending quality time with family and friends.

Juan is an Electrical Engineering major at Dartmouth College. A QuestBridge Match Scholar, he brings academic excellence, technical curiosity, and a deep commitment to expanding access to opportunity.

His experience includes private equity work at Union Park Capital, teaching Spanish at Dartmouth, and customer-facing leadership at Lou’s Restaurant & Bakery. Juan also mentors first-generation students through Latino U College Access and serves as President of ALPFA, where he has grown membership and strengthened partnerships across campus. His strengths include analytical problem solving, mentorship, programming, and strategic leadership.

More about Juan as a Positive Tracks Coach: 

About me:
When I’m not coaching, you can find me weight lifting, doing an intense Peloton workout, running outside when the weather is nice, or spending time with friends.

Coaching style (AKA my vibe):
Imagine a space where you feel empowered to take the lead while knowing you have structured, intentional support behind you. That’s what I aim to create. My coaching style is collaborative, structured, and empowering. I focus on helping captains think strategically, work through challenges confidently, and build something they are proud of.

What gets me fired up:
I’m passionate about first-generation student support, expanding access to opportunity, youth leadership development, and the power of physical activity to build confidence and resilience.

A challenge I’ve overcome:
Juan moved from Colombia to the United States and had to learn a new language while adjusting to life away from much of his extended family. Navigating a new culture and education system taught him adaptability, resilience, and the importance of community and support systems.

A coaching moment that changed me:
In second grade, Juan’s teacher stayed after school to help him learn how to read and write in English. That belief and extra investment changed the trajectory of his education. It is the same intentional support and belief he strives to provide captains today.

Fun fact:
Juan learned how to solve a Rubik’s cube at age 10 and loves solving puzzles. He also enjoys building computers.

Want to learn more? Curious about how Positive Tracks can help you? Let’s chat!
Schedule a 30-minute call with Juan here.

Feel free to also connect with me on LinkedIn

Ben studied film and environmental studies at Dartmouth College. At college, as well as shortly after, he worked at MTV’s On-Air Promotions Department in New York City. In 1992, his attention turned to environmental work with The Nature Conservancy (1992- 1997), a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies from Yale University (1997-1999) and conservation-oriented forestland investment with The Lyme Timber Company, Lyme, NH (2000-2006). In 2007, Ben returned full time to film with the creation of SILBERFARB-FILMS.

SILBERFARB-FILMS is an award-winning production company that develops promotional and creative videos for television, internet and independent clients. It is a “full-line” production company that works with clients in all aspects of creative production from concept to final deliverable. See more at: www.bsilberfarb.com.

Heather grew up on a farm in upstate New York (the real “upstate” – north of Albany). She learned many of her core values and life lessons in this setting, most notably her ability to think she can repair just about anything and how to identify a variety of flora and fauna. Most recently she worked in higher education managing a program of 34 club sports, 200+ student leaders and 1,600 student participants. She is thrilled to be a part of Positive Tracks whose mission aligns perfectly with her personal mantra of “do more good”. Heather is a fan of almost anything made with chocolate, loves being outdoors and could survive on a deserted island with an endless supply of Cheerios and milk. Heather, her partner Chrissy, and their son enjoy exploring all the Upper Valley has to offer and are grateful to call it home.

Contact Heather

Haleef Sotunbo is a Computer Engineering major with a minor in Data Science at Boston University. He is passionate about building technology that brings people together and encouraging others to stay active and engaged in their communities.

On campus, Haleef is an active member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and serves on the board of Umoja, where he helps foster community and leadership among students. He is also heavily involved in athletics as a member of the squash team and the club basketball team, combining his love for competition with teamwork and discipline. After serving as a captain, Haleef returned as a Fellow, a decision he calls one of the best he has made this school year, because of the meaningful impact and connections the role allows him to build.

As a Boston native, he is especially motivated to strengthen engagement within the Boston community and expand the reach of Positive Tracks.

More About Haleef as a Positive Tracks Coach: 

• About me: When I’m not coaching, you can find me playing basketball and squash with friends, and finding new meals to cook. 
• Coaching style (AKA my vibe ): Imagine a space where you can be yourself and expand on your wonderful ideas and make those ideas come to life. That’s what I aim to create! My coaching style is all about encouragement, having fun and knowing you’re making a difference.
• What gets me fired up: I’m super passionate about seeing other people enjoy getting active, communities coming together and people having smiles on their faces. 
• A challenge I overcame: As an engineering student, many of my courses are project-based, which comes with real pressure. Last semester, my team was tasked with building a data tracking system capable of filtering large datasets. I worked on the user interface while others handled the backend. A few days before our presentation, the entire system stopped working, errors were appearing throughout the code, and nothing connected properly. It was frustrating, and panic started to set in. Instead of scrambling, we made the decision to pause, regroup, and methodically review the code together. By breaking the problem down and checking each component step-by-step, we identified integration issues between the frontend and backend and fixed them in time. That experience taught me that composure under pressure is just as important as technical skill. When challenges arise, stepping back to think clearly and work collaboratively is often the fastest path to a solution.

• A coaching moment that changed me: During my senior year of high school, my squash team traveled to Philadelphia for a major tournament we had been preparing for all season. After our first match, we weren’t locked in — we were treating it more like a trip with friends than the opportunity we had worked so hard for. Our coach noticed immediately. That afternoon at the hotel, he sat down with each of us one-on-one. Instead of yelling or giving a big speech, he asked simple but powerful questions: How much do you really want this? Why did you put in all those hours? Those conversations forced me to reflect. It wasn’t about pressure — it was about ownership and pride in the work we had already done. The next day, our mindset completely shifted. We competed with intention and focus because we were internally motivated, not just externally pushed. That moment changed how I see leadership. I learned that impact doesn’t always come from big speeches — it comes from personal connection and accountability. As a captain, I want to create that same space for my team: moments where individuals feel seen, challenged, and reminded of their own potential.
• Fun fact: I can play 5 instruments and have been playing music since I was 4.
• Want to learn more? Curious about how Positive Tracks can help you? Let’s chat! Schedule a 30-minute call with me here.
• Connect with me on LinkedIn