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Administrators

Edward Manchess – Executive Director

Ed Manchess has been working in the human services field for more than two decades. He has worked as an administrator and manager in a range of treatment settings including methadone maintenance, residential treatment, therapeutic communities and harm reduction. He participated in the development of an AIDS residence and housing development for clients leaving inpatient treatment settings and led an effort to develop a thrift shop that employed clients coming out of a therapeutic community. Ed has been the executive director of PHP since 2007, and before that served as the agency’s deputy director and director of program operations. He has been an advisor to community-based organizations through the years and is a strong advocate for human rights and fair treatment for all.

Marianela Guillen – Director of Accounting Operations

Marianela Guillen, a loving mother and dedicated wife, is responsible for PHP’s fiscal operations. She has worked as an accountant in the not-for-profit field for more than a decade and holds a degree in Accounting and Business Administration from O & M Dominican University in the Dominican Republic. Marienela says, “It is my pleasure to work at PHP as a member of its very professional management team and board of directors.”

Our Staff

Delisa Harris – Outreach Worker

Delisa Harris or "Dee-Dee" as we have come to know her at PHP. Delisa was recently promoted to PHPs Full Time Outreach Worker from Peer Educator. She has spent the last tens years of her life in the Harm Reduction Field, which she is very passionate about. When she's not working her hobbies include movies, dancing, music and spending time with her family.

Toni Smith – Part Time Outreach Worker

Toni started out as an Outreach Worker in 1999 for CitiWide Harm Reduction. Then began working in Community Follow Up for Case Management and has now joined PHPs successful Syringe Exchange Program and enjoys it. She states "I love what I do for other and how much of an impact on make on them constantly providing and promoting Harm Reduction."

Andre Guedes – Outreach/HIV Counseling & Testing Specialist

Andre Guedes provides case management services to HIV-positive clients to ensure they remain adherent with their medical treatment. He helps clients obtain benefits and assists them with housing, substance use education and safe injection practices. Andre also provides pre- and post- test HIV counseling and makes referrals for medical treatment. He conducts outreach work at public venues throughout all five boroughs, including health fairs, to increase community awareness of harm reduction practices, give safe sex demonstrations, and distribute culturally appropriate educational brochures and safe sex equipment.

AMU PTAH – COORDINATOR OF PREVENTION SERVICES

Amu Ptah has worked with not-for-profit organizations committed to proressive social change, empowerment and advancing community health for over 15 years. In 2003 Amu launched an independent consulting firm providing program and organizational development support and guidance to organizations in the New York City metro area including the Third Wave Foundation, World Wide Workshop Foundation, Restuarant Opportunity Centers United, the Drum Major Policy Institute, the Research Center for Leadership in Action at New York University, the Ms. Foundation for Women and the Opportunity Agenda to name a few.  As a Coordinator of Prevention Services, Amu brings a dynamic entrepreneurial spirit, solid grounding in harm reduction programming, services and policy, consistent success with building and managing coalitions, cultivating strategic alliances and fund development. 

Mike Duncan – Medical Director

Mike is PHP's Medical Director.  He specializes in working with drug users and overdose prevention issues.  Mike is currently working on his MPH.

Kyle Vereyken – Case Manager

Kyle is a recent graduate of University of Santa Cruz.  She specializes in working with drug users, sex workers and women made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.

Daisy Velez-Harris – Director of Human Resources & Office Management

Daisy Velez-Harris has worked with human services organizations in New York City for many years, including welfare-to-work and homeless & special needs employment programs. In her work at PHP she has honed her administrative and human resources skills and she thrives in helping others. Daisy says that through her work at PHP, “I have been introduced to some of the most interesting individuals and learned some of the most unexpected life lessons. My commitment and loyalty to the agency are never ending.”

Jeanetta Bushey – Mental Health Services/Social Worker

Jeannetta Bushey is the social worker/psychotherapist at PHP. She has worked as a clinician and administrator in the HIV/AIDS communities for over twenty-five years. Jeannetta is a co-founder of Bailey House, Inc., New York City’s first and oldest supportive housing program. She has also worked at Callen–Lorde Community Health Center, Housing Works, Ryan Center and Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services. As a consultant, she has provided trainings mandated by the AIDS Institute to providers in the AIDS and harm reduction communities and has facilitated groups for both staff and clients. Jeannetta has a strong commitment to the communities impacted by HIV/AIDS, especially as it pertains to mental and physical health, housing and harm reduction needs.

Michele Sosa – Data Coordinator & Latina Transgender Support Supervisor

Michelle Sosa is a woman of transgender experience who was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. She became involved in the field of HIV prevention in the summer of 1999 after seeing most of her friends lost to the pandemic. Michelle began her career at PHP as a peer educator doing outreach to transgender sex workers in Manhattan’s meat packing district. In addition to facilitating PHP’s Transgender Support Group she manages the agency’s data entry and collection program. Michelle says that “through my work to empower the Hispanic community in the fight against HIV/AIDS, I want to make the realities and needs of the transgender community more visible. Only by sending a message of inclusion and integration of the transgender community can we succeed in our prevention efforts.”

Randee Phillips – Acupuncturist

Randee Sue Phillips is a licensed Acupuncturist.  Randee Sue has been working at Positive Health Project since 1997.

Moshay Moses – Transgender Client Advocate

Rev. Moshay Moses is a woman of transgender experience who serves as an Advocate/Case Manager at PHP specializing in promoting health awareness among Transgender people with an emphasis on direct assistance to sex workers. An ordained minister, Rev. Moses facilitates support groups at PHP and at Midtown Community Court and Metropolitan Community Church. She is a human rights advocate for people of transgender experience, bringing attention to the whole person, body, mind and spirit. “I will continue to educate and advocate until equality is gained by a united community,” Rev. Moses explains.

Roger Adamson-Gill – Safety Counts Outreach Worker

Roger Adamson-Gill has worked with gay men and men who have sex with men (MSMs) for more than a decade. As an outreach worker, he endeavors to learn as much as he can about the community’s needs and to educate himself about HIV so he can keep clients healthy and informed. Roger says, “I pride myself on being the face and voice for MSMs of color and I am grateful to PHP for giving me the opportunity to address the community’s issues and concerns.”

Calvin Cleveland – Coordinator of Harm Reduction Services

After having spent three years in the military, I decided to throw myself into the Social Service field and have been working in Social Services for over a decade now. The population has been to those highest at risk for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.  I am currently attending NYU for my M.S.W. Understanding the value of practicing what we teach, while trying to avoid burn out (Harm Reduction) I try to go to the gym twice a week, spend quality time with family and friends. Love movies and relaxing when I can. This is only possible through good people like yourself and my higher power - Christ

Yvette Gonzales – CRCS Case Manager

Yvette Gonzales is a woman of transgender experience who has been working in the harm reduction field for almost a decade. She has her Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling certificate and is PHP’s Comprehensive Risk Counseling and Services case manager. She works with HIV-positive clients in one-on-one sessions to help them change their risky behaviors and use drugs safely. Yvette says. “I like to work with my clients in a nonjudgmental, safe, confidential, and fun way and I treat them with the dignity all people deserve no matter who they are. PHP has given me the opportunity to do just that and the chance to grow and be a better person.”

Eddie Dillard – Part Time Outreach Worker IDUHA

Eddie Dillard began working for PHP doing night outreach with crystal meth users, going to bars, clubs and sex parties and giving safe sex demonstrations.  He is a facilitator for the Pillow Talk support group for MSMs of color. Eddlie says that now, “I have been promoted to a daytime outreach worker and I love every minute of it!”

 

PHP peer educator presenting at the Safe Injection Site conference