Contact Good Shepherd Volunteers
Meet the Staff
Peter Altman : Executive Director
Peter Altman graduated from Regis High School in New York and Pomona College in Claremont, California before receiving a Masters degree in Systematic Theology from St. John’s University. Peter worked as a community organizer in Brooklyn and the Bronx before serving as a lay pastoral associate at St. Peter Claver Church in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. From there Peter joined he faculty of Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School where he taught history and religion. Peter worked with colleagues from other Lasallian institutions to develop a social justice immersion program for educators designed to promote the conversion to solidarity with persons experiencing poverty and homelessness.
Peter sees his position as GSV as the culmination of a career dedicated to social justice and education. “It is gratifying and humbling to join the staff of an organization that does such important work. GSV is a tremendous program that empowers people on many levels. The full-time volunteers empower the women, adolescents, and children they serve, while they, in turn, are transformed and converted by their association with the poor. “
Contact Peter
(718) 943-7489
peter@gsvolunteers.org
Jon Alvarez : Program Coordinator
Jon came on board as Program Coordinator with GSV in the fall of 2006. Jon spent his first year out of college with Amate House, a volunteer program in Chicago, where he worked in a Latino neighborhood on immigration and education issues, and lived with 5 fellow volunteers in community. From there he continued his work as a community organizer, this time in Brooklyn, New York, with a housing group called Neighbors Helping Neighbors. He helped tenants in low-income neighborhoods organize to improve housing conditions, advocate for policy and law changes, and develop leadership skills. Jon went to the University of Notre Dame and majored in anthropology. He was born in Massachusetts and grew up in the Netherlands.
With GSV, Jon sees a connection between his professional experience in community organizing and also his personal experience as a volunteer. “One of my former co-workers said that community organizing is just a fancy word for education. And that’s what I think volunteer service is about too – learning more about the world around us, about small but powerful opportunities for social change, and about bringing our own personal hopes to fruition. That is what I experienced as a volunteer and that is what I see happening at GSV.”
Contact Jon
(718) 943-7490
jon@gsvolunteers.org
Amanda Javaly :
Marketing and Recruitment Coordinator
Amanda Javaly grew up in Cortlandt Manor, New York, and with GSV has fulfilled a lifetime dream of living in New York City.
Amanda went to school at Villanova University outside Philadelphia, where she majored in management & finance in the School of Business. At Villanova, Amanda took advantage of many of the service opportunities through Campus Ministry, such as: service break trips, tutoring youth in inner-city Philadelphia, and organizing a Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week on campus. She decided to look for a career where she could combine her business skills and passion for service.
After graduating from Villanova in 2010, Amanda joined the Good Shepherd Volunteers, placed at HandCrafting Justice, as the wholesale assistant. As a GSV, she embraced the joys and challenges of the year with the support of her community. After her year as a GSV, she was thrilled to join the staff as the marketing & recruitment coordinator.
“During my year as a GSV, I grew in so many ways, and it truly set my heart on fire. I am so excited to invite others to the same opportunity and to become a part of the Good Shepherd mission."
Contact Amanda
(718) 943-7488
amanda@gsvolunteers.org