Executive Director, Gwen Parker Ames
Gwen Parker Ames is a servant leader, published author, playwright and Chaplain committed to uplifting the less fortunate. Her passionate work has targeted youth and the homeless in their quest for self-sufficiency. Her leadership in program development has garnered critical acclaim from the National Character Education Partnership, National Coalition for the Homeless, The National Organization of Women, Phi Delta Kappa, Girl Scouts of the USA and the New Jersey Association of Schools and Administrators.
Her passion for the support and advocacy to ensure the educational, well-being and mental health challenges of children re-building their lives after Hurricanes Katrina Sandy, Maria and Harvey has resulted in the Beloved Community Mission project. The project has provided service learning and missionary opportunities for high school, college and church groups to help re-build lives after these natural disasters.
Gwen Parker Ames is Dean of Student Success at Nyack College and Adjunct Professor in Family and Child Studies at Montclair State University. She is also a licensed staff minister at St. Paul Baptist Church and the Executive Director of Montclair Emergency Services for Hope. Dr. Ames holds a doctorate in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and has completed post graduate studies at Princeton Theological Seminary, New York Theological Seminary and the Spiritual Care Association.
President, Rev. Canon Wade Renn
Rev. Canon Wade Renn has touched many lives in his ministry of 50 years as a domestic and foreign missionary of the Episcopal Church. In his several tours in Zambia he served as both a chaplain—at a maximum security prison as well—and a science teacher. Upon his return to the United States, he was soon called to become rector of Grace Church, Nutley, a congregation he served for 23 years. In 1983, during his tenure at Grace Church, Rev. Renn was named Canterbury Scholar of the Diocese and later, Outstanding Priest of the Year. After his “first retirement” Rev. Renn continued his service as an interim priest. It was in this service at St. Luke's in Montclair that he became aware of the urgent needs of the homeless, founded MESH in 2005 and served as first president of its board. As an extension of MESH, he initiated and continues the program to make showers available to the homeless at the Montclair Citadel of the Salvation Army.
Secretary, Christine Grasso
Christine Grasso’s spiritual home of many years has been The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, where she enjoys being a weekly MESH Café volunteer. She teaches a pre-K program in her community and works as a regional recruiter for Penn State University. Christine has embraced volunteerism since a young age and currently serves as a court appointed Juvenile Conference Committee member, has been an active Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) serving foster children in Essex County, as well as a National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC of NJ) volunteer raising awareness of ovarian cancer through education and support.
Paticia Dreher, Vice President
Patricia Dreher recently retired from her management position at the Connie Dwyer Breast Center at St. Michael’s Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey. She proudly calls St. John’s Episcopal Church in Montclair her spiritual home where she has served as both Junior and Senior Warden, Youth Group Leader, Outreach Chair and MESH Cafe Coordinator. She was recently awarded “The Saint John’s Cross” for her decades of service.
Patricia has spent her entire professional life in healthcare. She is a compassionate advocate for those less fortunate and thrives to encourage and educate the public about the seriousness and sadness of those folks who are making the streets their home.
Treasurer, Nancy Taiani