Momentum is a community of organizers who are committed to transforming the world through the power of social movements. While our staff drives our day-to-day operations and direction, we are composed of leaders from around the world who bring their craft and expertise to our programs as trainers, practitioners, facilitators, researchers, and artists.
Our Staff
Adiel Pollydore
Advanced Training Director
As Advanced Training Director, Adiel is responsible for driving our advanced training program and supporting the build out of the Leadership Development Pipeline through coaching. She leads the Momentum 201 training and Black Momentum.
Adiel is From Albany, NY via Georgetown, Guyana and is currently based in Oakland CA on Ohlone land. She enjoys drinking bubble tea, being by the water, and talking pedagogy.
Pronouns: She/Her
Brenda Valladares-Belleza
Operations Coordinator
As the Operations Coordinator, Brenda oversees Momentum’s financial accounts and supports our broader operation needs.
Brenda is a formerly undocumented immigrant from Peru and recently moved from Paterson NJ to Washington Heights. She loves to travel and explore different parts of the world, watch documentaries, video chat with loved ones, study law, and cook big meals.
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Nataly Castaño Vélez (Naty: Nah-tea)
People Operations & Finance Director
As the People Operations & Finance Director, Naty’s work focuses on making sure Momentum’s systems support the everyday creative work of staff, leaders and the community of practice.
A first generation Colombian, Naty lives in Tongva land (Long Beach, CA). Her happy places are the ocean, dancing salsa, eating Colombian empanadas, and having video calls with her dog Niche and loved ones.
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Makia
Director of Movement Support
As the Director of Movement Support, Makia is dedicated to expanding community capacity through organizing, coaching, and virtual programming. They foster learning and collaboration to make Momentum a home for diverse movements.
As a proud queer, non-binary, fat community organizer, Makia defends the rights and dignity of Black people from marginalized communities, valuing vulnerability to forge deep connections and community solidarity. Outside the office, Makia is moving the plot forward; whether planning adventures, penning a rally chant, or weighing in on the latest rap beef, they infuse the culture and authenticity into everything she does.
Pronouns: They/She
Amanda Saich
Executive Director
As Momentum’s Executive Director, Saich guides the team’s institutional health, leadership team, and strategic direction of the organization driven by their value to build real power for our people.
They immigrated to Wampanoag land as a little toddler and now live in Lenape land (aka Brooklyn). When they’re not organizing or wrapped in the world of Momentum, you can catch them jamming out to live music, reading sci-fi in a local park, or cooking their mom’s Sichuanese recipes.
Pronouns: They/She
Delaine Andrea Powerful
Director of People and Culture
As Momentum’s Director of People and Culture, Delaine guides the shape of our organizational structure, builds a healthy anti-oppressive organizational culture, and supports staff in their well-being.
Delaine is a chronically ill, disabled Black queer Jamaican with a deep commitment to abolition. They have held roles running operations at National Bail Out and served as the co-chair and organizing chair for BYP100-NYC. They have served on the Steering Committee for Defund CPD, was a field organizer for Brandon Johnson’s Chicago Mayoral Campaign and for the Chicago's Treatment Not Trauma Campaign, where they organized for a non-police crisis response for mental health emergencies and to reopen shut down public mental health centers. They currently are a member of STOP (Southside Together Organizing for Power) in Chicago, IL.
Pronouns: They/Themme
Nina Eichner
Program Manager
As Program Manager, Nina oversees the execution of our in-person and online programming. She loves ensuring that the details of each project run smoothly so that participants can get the most out of Momentum spaces.
Outside of her work with Momentum, Nina loves making art, roller skating and organizing in her hometown of Somerville, MA.
Pronouns: She/Her
nisa ihsan dang
Resource Mobilization Director
As the Resource Mobilization Director, nisa manages Momentum’s overall fundraising strategy by securing support from small-dollar donors and cultivating relationships with major donors and foundations. They work to ensure that the Momentum team and community are supported and well-resourced as we work towards attaining our short and long term goals.
nisa is a queer, Black Amerasian, non-binary organizer with more than a decade of experience in grassroots organizing. They have worked on electoral campaigns; supported Southern campaigns and organizations in building deep, intentional, relational digital fundraising strategies; and were a founding member of the ActBlue Union, which launched in 2020 amidst the global pandemic. They are excited to bring their organizing perspective to fundraising work. Outside of work, nisa enjoys fiber crafting, baking sourdough (talk about experimentation!), and gaming and reading with their partner. They reside on unneeded Arapaho land.
Pronouns: they/them