Migna Taveras

Migna Taveras joined Schools That Can as the NYC Executive Director in July 2023, bringing over 20 years of expertise in designing impactful programs across public, private, and government sectors to create lasting opportunities for historically underinvested communities. Since joining, Migna has doubled Schools That Can’s NYC footprint and launched a robust internship program, with plans underway to continue expanding operations. A graduate of Barnard College with a degree in political science and sociology, Migna also holds a master’s in management and finance from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to building pathways to success for all students.

Her previous accomplishments include: Serving as a staff assistant to Congressman Robert Brady of Pennsylvania, then working as a lobbyist at Van Scoyoc Associates under the tutelage of the late Anita Estell. While there she was privileged to represent many organizations including but not limited to: National Organization for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), University of Miami, City of Detroit, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Spelman College, Bennett College.

After serving in the New York City Public schools as a community associate for two years leading classes on defining your story and developing your future trajectory, she went on to serve as a policy advisor to the City Council Committee on General Welfare, the committee that conducts oversight over all the agencies designed to serve NYC’s most in need. Subsequently, she worked as a policy advisor at NYCHA, where she helped raise over $35 million for safety and security initiatives.

At Somos Community Care, she further refined her desire to impact global policy change and community health. She led and trained a team of 50 community health workers to implement a patient centered model of care coordination covering the social determinants of health throughout the city of New York.