Jessie Able
Co-Executive Director jable@pirirochester.org

Whether as a tutor, mentor, lactation consultant, social worker, mediator or facilitator, in schools, prison, courts, homes or community centers, Jessie has spent the last 25 years learning from and supporting diverse groups of people she lived and worked with and in communities from rural Alabama to South Central Los Angeles. Learning people’s stories and experiencing other ways of living led to a truer understanding and respect for the belief that we are the experts of our own experience and deserve to be heard, especially in decisions that impact us most.

After moving to Rochester in 2017, Jessie found PiRI and Community Building Circles and how it aligned with this belief, a process that was all about equity of voice. With Jessie’s experience as a Mediator and Social Worker, becoming a facilitator of restorative responses to conflict was a natural fit. It is a process that leads with respect and also challenges in a human and connecting way to care for ourselves and each other.  Jessie truly believes restorative practices belongs in all the spaces and can be utilized by all people. 

Jessie earned her BA in History with a Minor in African American Studies from Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin and her master’s degree in social work from Adelphi University in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jessie lives in Rochester and has two amazing children who attend the RCSD school, School of the Arts. She also has 3 cats and 3 chickens.  She loves to dance, listen to music, make healing skin products, cook, be with her kids, her friends and imagine doing artistic things one day.  Jessie is honored to be in this position and lean into phenomenal people that keep a restorative vision alive. 

Clianda Florence
Co-Executive Director cflorence@pirirochester.org

Clianda Florence is a mother of three children Brianda, Ian, and Malachi, and a recent self-published author. She has served within the field of education since 2004. She is the founder of Strength 2 Say where she offers classes, book studies, professional development opportunities, and tutoring services. She is also the Founder of Let’s Get L.I.T. (Liberating Individuals Through Literary Texts) where she aids children and parents with building their home libraries and teaching cursive.

Clianda believes literacy is our Greatest Social Justice Issue of our time. Her literacy initiative has been recognized by New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney, awarding her $25,000 to help impact literacy in Rochester. Within six months she has been able to secure $104,999 in grants to further impact literacy. She is also the host of Let’s Get L.I.T. podcast on WDKX, the first Black radio station in Rochester.

Clianda has created curriculum with the Rochester Museum & Science Center in collaboration with Take It Down on anti-racist programming for participants grades 3^rd – College. She also offers classes to empower women to see their God-given beauty and the strength to walk in their boldness.

She holds a bachelor’s degree of Psychology from Bennett College for Women, Master of Education grades 1^st – 6^th from Nazareth,  an advanced Master’s degree of Education Administration from SUNY Brockport, and is currently accepted to the University of Rochester to obtain her doctorate in Teaching & Curriculum with a focus on literacy. 

She is a member of Central Church of Christ, the NAACP, serves as a board member of Feminist Choosing Life NY (FCLNY), F.I.G.H.T., and The Reentry & Community Development Center. She believes that literacy opens doors to wonder and a deeper level of communication.

Samantha Bonanno
Program and Office Manager sbonanno@pirirochester.org

Sam’s professional background lives at the intersection of education and advocacy. A teacher by trade, she’s always loved to educate kids and adults, particularly around tough topics that make us human. As a doula, she has attended over two hundred births, advocating for birthing people and families of all backgrounds. She has taught elementary aged children in rural, suburban, and urban settings. Sam loves teaching childbirth, sex ed, mindfulness, and social/emotional content, and holds a certification in diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Sam is a Rochester native who lives in Webster with her wife, three children, three dogs, and five goats. She loves being with her family and pets, playing board games, cooking, reading books, and crafting. She doesn’t love driving her children all over christendom, but she does it. Sam considers herself the world’s okayest mom, a recovering people pleaser, a terrible but enthusiastic dancer, and a student of life. Brave and Kind is her battle cry. Love is her religion.

Rohan Parikh
Operations Manager rparikh@pirirochester.org

Rohan joined Partners in Restorative Initiatives in the summer of 2020 and is excited to help PiRI build capacity at a time where Restorative Practices are needed the most.  Rohan has a background in nonprofit development and operations and experience in education and community engagement.

Rohan was a member of The Harley School community for the past three years, where he served as Director of Development for Horizons at Harley, a summer and out-of-school-time academic and enrichment program for K-12 students from the city of Rochester.

Before moving to Rochester, Rohan worked at Parks & Trails New York in Albany, helping drive advocacy to close the gaps in the Erie Canalway Trail by coordinating Cycle the Erie Canal, a fully-supported, eight-day 400-mile bike tour from Buffalo to Albany. He has also served as a field organizer and community liaison in progressive politics.

Rohan grew up in the Hudson Valley and is excited about food, film, photography, and cycling. He lives in Rochester’s Corn Hill neighborhood with his partner and two cats she adopted in Brazil.