MEET THE TEAM
Daniela Aranda Cross is a dedicated and experienced professional with a passion for creating positive change in the community. Having recently emigrated from Nicaragua, Daniela quickly embraced the welcoming spirit of Lowell, MA, finding a new home and family there. With a master's degree in Social Responsibility and expertise in Project Formulation, Daniela brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to the Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA). Driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact, Daniela seeks to contribute to the CBA's mission of building a safe and nurturing environment for children. By fostering a space where children can explore, develop their talents, and prepare for the future, Daniela believes that the CBA can cultivate the next generation of leaders and innovators. Daniela’s commitment to excellence, passion for community engagement, and ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds make them an invaluable asset to the CBA.
Interim Yes Program Manager
Hayley Barrett began as an intern in 2021 and was invited to the team in 2022. She has previous experience in Public Health where she worked for a workforce development program. She was a first-generation college student and pursued her education at Regis College, where she graduated with a degree in Public Health. She has six siblings and has two Boston Terriers that she loves.
Real Estate Project Manager
Hayley Barrett
Brendan Conley joined the CBA team in May of 2023. He grew up in the neighboring town of Chelmsford and is now a property owner and resident in Lowell. As a young adult, Brendan has pursued real estate and business, received a BA in business, worked for construction project management companies, and invested in Lowell properties before coming to CBA.
Brendan joined CBA with the intention of combining his desire to serve his community with his real estate and construction knowledge to continue creating a more vibrant Lowell. In his free time, Brendan likes reading, sports videography/photography, and spending time with friends and family.
Real Estate Project Manager
Daniela Aranda Cross
Brendan Conley
Ryan Faria
Chief Financial Officer
Ryan Faria joined the CBA Team in January 2025, after volunteering on the finance committee for the prior two years. As a first-generation college student, he received his BS in Accounting as well as an MBA. With over a decade of experience in finance and accounting leadership roles, he recently led the finance team for a rapidly growing startup that had a successful exit in 2021. Ryan has since been consulting with clients in software, healthcare, and event management industries. Ryan is also passionate about real estate, owning investment property here in Lowell. In his free time, Ryan is an avid sports fan, lifelong reader and learner and thoroughly enjoys spending time with his wife Kathryn and young son Jackson.
A longtime development and communications professional, Clare Gunther joined CBA in 2023 as Senior Director of Resource Development, to further strengthen fundraising and development, which sustains our many programs and allows us to quickly respond to needs as they arise.
She now serves in much the same capacity, but on a more limited basis, as part-time Development Advisor. A former journalist whose credits include The New York Times, Boston Globe Magazine, and numerous women’s and parenting magazines, Clare has more than 20 years’ experience in grant seeking, fundraising, and donor communications. She previously worked as Chief of Advancement and Communications at Lowell Community Health Center, where she oversaw a successful capital campaign to add dental and vision care and substantially increased annual and corporate giving.
Clare has strong ties to the Merrimack Valley region and a commitment to collaboration and equitable fundraising. She now works remotely from her home in New York’s Southern Tier.
Clare Gunther
Executive, Development Advisor
Tiana Lawrence, a Lowell native is diligent about Racial Equity, DEI, and leadership development, with 5+ years of experience in public speaking, implementing workshops, and programming in the nonprofit and higher education sectors. Tiana seeks to leverage community building and organizing to disrupt power dynamics, impact leadership, increase equitable decision-making processes and strengthen diverse stakeholder engagement. Tiana serves as the Director of Quality Management at Coalition for a Better Acre providing comprehensive program development and evaluation. Additionally, Tiana is an adjunct professor at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA and teaches Diversity, Social Justice and Ethics in the traditional undergraduate program and Community Organizing and Development in the Master of Education program. In her personal time, Tiana is a freelance public speaker and DEI practitioner having provided workshops and training as well as participation on several panels. She was a featured Keynote speaker at Northeastern University’s Empower U Conference. Tiana is also a published author. She holds a Master of Education in Community Engagement and a B.A. in Women and Gender Studies and English from Merrimack College.
Tiana Lawrence
Director of Quality Management
Alytah Noum joined CBA in December of 2023 as the Health Access Program Coordinator. She was born and raised in Lynn and then moved to Lowell during her junior year to complete her college education. She is a first-generation graduate from UMass Lowell with a bachelor’s degree in public health/Community Health Promotion and is currently pursuing her master’s degree with a concentration in Behavioral Health. Before working in CBA, Alytah worked in dialysis to help people with kidney failure. For her internship experience, she was hired immediately by the Lowell Community Health Center as a Community Health Worker to help provide transportation for those who needed it. Alytah can also speak basic Khmer which helps her form a strong connection with the Cambodian community in Lowell. Alytah loves CBA because she loves interacting with community members as well as putting a smile on their faces by simply being kind.
Alytah Noum
Health Access Program Coordinator
Most recently, Rivera served as President & CEO of MassDevelopment, the Commonwealth’s development and landbank agency. He previously served for seven years as Mayor of the City of Lawrence, MA. A United States Army veteran, Rivera earned his bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst and a master’s in business administration from Suffolk University. He and his family live in Lawrence.
“I am honored to join CBA and eager to work with its talented staff and collaborate with our community stakeholders to foster sustainable development and address key challenges facing our neighborhoods,” said Rivera. “Together we will strive to respond to community needs through collective action.” Read more
Dan Rivera
Shamir Rivera-Quintal isn’t a stranger to the streets of Lowell, moving between The Acre, Centralville, and Pawtucketville growing up. She has always had a love for Lowell and its community. Shamir’s mother used to volunteer for CBA, assisting with community organizing and door-knocking. Shamir even participated in some acre cleanups when she was younger.
She furthered her education in Maine at Bowdoin College, where she studied Sociology and African Studies. Her current role at CBA, as the director of operations, allows her to support the staff and utilize her experience with technology.
Shamir Rivera-Quintal
Director of Operations
Dolores Sierra
Engagement and Empowerment Program Manager
Dolores Sierra joined CBA in 2014 but has been helping out as a volunteer ever since she was a child. Before CBA, some of her other experiences include working with Middlesex Community College, McAuliffe Elementary School, Lowell Housing Authority, and AmeriCorps. She loves CBA because she is able to give back to her community. She loves being able to get creative and help plan the numerous events that CBA hosts. She has a bachelor's in psychology with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development. Outside of her work at CBA, Dolores attends church and helps the youth and homeless. In her free time, Dolores likes to express herself artistically, whether it be painting, drawing, or singing; she loves creating.
Chief Executive Officer
Jiawei Zhang is a recent first-generation graduate from UMass Lowell who has a degree in Public Health/Community Health Promotion. She started her journey at CBA as an intern in January 2023. Jiawei recently joined the CBA Health Access team, as an Health Access Program Coordinator.
Since 2015 as a Lowell resident, Jiawei has developed a stronger connection with her community and will continue to utilize her knowledge and prior experiences that she has gained to pursue her passion in promoting the importance of health and to help the Acre community to reduce health inequities to achieve the quality of life.
In her free time, Jiawei likes to go exploring in nature and take sunset photos and listen to good music.
