Our Team
Paul Epstein
Interim Executive Director
Karen Burg
Director of Operations
Garry Frazier
Program Manager
Ale Sivila
Operations and Engagement Coordinator
Pablo Munoz
Music Coordinator
Gerry Camille
Event and Program Specialist
Paul Epstein
pepstein@brooklineteencenter.org
Interim Executive Director
College: Wesleyan University
Hometown: Brookline, Massachusetts
Embarrassing anecdote:
A few years back a very special senior at BHS got quite a thrill. He was the manager of the basketball team for four straight years. At the team’s last home game, the coach gave him a uniform and he got to start a varsity game. BTC staff had printed up 700 posters with this student’s face on them and spread the word for the whole school to come. The stands were packed. In the pregame layup line, the special senior was being cheered wildly every time he touched the ball. I camped out under the hoop and was getting photos of him in his BHS uniform. A basketball bounced over my way. When I went to gently kick it back to the players, my foot slipped on the floor mat, and in front of 1,000 BHS students, I fell really hard on my butt. Most embarrassing moment of my life! (By the way, when the game started, our special senior went 0-11 and bricked every shot he took!)
How do you create a safe place for teens:
By showing each and every teen that walks through our doors, by our words and actions, that BTC staff care deeply about them and are ready, willing, and able to do everything in our power to set them up for success and happiness.
What is your dream for teens:
My hope is that every teen navigates through their adolescence safely and finds that elusive balance between work and fun, comfort and risk-taking, joy and struggle. I hope BTC helps its members try out new things and interact with different people. Use our facility as your “third space” alongside school and home. We’ll have your back. We’ll help you find your way. And we’ll have a ton of fun while doing it.
Not so humble brag:
I still hold the high jump record for Wesleyan Track and Field.
Top 5:
Book: There Are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz
Song: Mellow Mood by Bob Marley
Movie: Moonlight
Travel: Grand Canyon (hiked Rim to Rim a few years back with some friends and former students — amazing adventure)
Food: Chicken Parm at Carlo’s in Allston
Karen Burg
Director of Operations & Administration
College: Bentley University, B.S. and Lesley University, M.A.
Hometown: Foxboro, Massachusetts
About:
Karen joined BTC in July of 2022 in order to contribute her project management, financial, and operational expertise to the BTC team. Karen comes to us with leadership experience from State Street Bank, Wellington, and Brown Brothers Harriman and Co. She also has an entrepreneurial background having run her own business for 10 years and most recently working for a biotech start-up as the VP, Operations. Karen is a results-driven, compassionate leader with expertise in process improvement, project management, and eliminating risk. She is thrilled to now be engaged in the nonprofit sector and to support the Brookline teen community.
In Karen’s free time she enjoys reading, dining out, and exercising. She resides in Foxboro with her husband, two children, and loving dog.
How do you create a safe place for teens:
I help structure an environment in which they feel comfortable and secure to become their best selves in order to feel special and thrive every day.
What is your dream for teens:
For all teens to find their passion, their “why” and the ability to see a clear path to making their dreams come true.
Top 5:
Book: Beneath the Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan
Song: What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong and Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down
Movie: A Star is Born
Travel: Cape Cod (My happy place)
Food: Dark Chocolate (French fries are a close 2nd)
Garry Frazier
gfrazier@brooklineteencenter.org
Program Manager
College: University of Phoenix
Hometown: Dorchester, Massachusetts
About:
Garry Frazier has over a decade of community service work experience. Garry has apportioned much of his time and career into building character and integrity globally amongst a wide range of youth. Extending helping hands at both professional and amateur levels.
Garry’s repertoire includes the facilitation and implementation of various social & educational programs. In universities, high schools, non-profits and after-school programs. As a current life educator and advocate for community growth, Garry looks forward to contributing to the expansion of any program, that benefits those in need.
How do you create a safe place for teens:
I create an atmosphere of enjoyment, freedom and respect.
What is your dream for teens:
My dream is that every teen can be a functional member of society during their growth into adulthood, and get to a point in their lives we’re they can pay their experiences forward. Through my philosophy P.E.P. in your Step “Preparedness equals Progress in every step you may take.”
Top 5:
Book: n/a
Song: Diehard by Kendrick Lamar
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Travel: 25 + Countries (loved them all)
Food: Auntieʼs Mac & Cheese
Alejandra (Ale) Sivila
asivila@brooklineteencenter.org
Operations & Engagement Coordinator
College: Wentworth, Boston Architectural College, and Lesley University
Hometown: Brookline, Massachusetts
About:
Ale joined the BTC in May of 2022 with a vision to give back to her community. Ale was born in Bolivia and moved to Brookline just in time for preschool. She is a Devo and BHS alum and has worked in various Brookline schools such as Pierce and former Devotion School. Ale has worked with a wide age range of children from daycare to 5th graders. She has always loved working with youth, and she started her engagement with children through an enrichment class in which she taught architecture to children. Through this, her passion for education and after-school enrichment began to flourish.
In her spare time, Ale loves being outside and exploring with her dog, Darwin, family, and friends. She also loves traveling and trying new adventures, whether it’s hiking through the rainforest, surfing down sand-doons, or exploring the salt flats, adventure is an all-time favorite thing for Ale to do. She also paints, draws, and designs clothes to let her creativity out in her spare time. Ale also loves to spend time in the kitchen cooking traditional Bolivian food and trying out new recipes too. Lastly, in her spare time, Ale loves to collect sneakers.
How do you create a safe place for teens:
I create a space for teens by welcoming them in with a warm smile and lending an open mind, ear, and shoulder to lean on when they need it.
What is your dream for teens:
My dream for teens is for them to live and grow up in a world in which their opinions and ideas are heard and valued.
Top 5:
Book: Widow Basquiat by Jennifer Clement
Song: I Can by Nas
Movie: Coach Carter
Travel: Puerto Rico
Food: Pasta
Pablo Munoz
pmunoz@brooklineteencenter.org
Music Coordinator
College: Berklee College of Music
Hometown: Bucaramanga, Colombia
About:
Pablo joined the BTC team in late May 2022 with the intention of making the BTC a space where teens can not only learn how to write, perform, record and produce music, but also a place for them to openly explore their creative instincts, find their voice and their way of making art and music. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in May 2021 where he studied Contemporary Writing and Production as well as Contemporary Conducting.
He has worked with youth since 2018 when he started as a music teacher in his home country of Colombia. In his spare time, he likes to read, watch movies, go to concerts, play basketball, as well as play board games and video games.
How do you create a safe place for teens:
By using music and arts as a medium for self expression and finding your own voice.
What is your dream for teens:
That they can feel empowered to shape the world, because it is theirs too.
Top 5:
Book: Love in the Times of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Márquez
Song: Spread Your Wings by Queen
Movie: Amélie
Travel: The Pacific NorthWest
Food: Colombian Ajiaco
Gerry Camille
gcamille@brooklineteencenter.org
Event and Program Specialist
College: Bunker Hill Community College
Hometown: Brookline, Massachusetts
About:
Gerry is no stranger to the Brookline Teen Center, he grew up in Brookline, interned at BTC and then was offered his first job in programming. Over the years, BTC has become a second family to Gerry. He has many deep relationships with the teens who frequent daily and has made a commitment to seeing them succeed. He currently serves in an operations role due to his vast knowledge of the center.
Gerry is also very passionate about his family, sports, and coaching youth towards meeting their sport goals.
How do you create a safe place for teens:
Setting a standard; Youth are welcome and encouraged to enjoy their present but are also motivated to pursue the “fairytale” future they envision themselves in.
What is your dream for teens:
My dream is for teens to realize, the key to their future relies on their passions and their willingness to explore what’s unfamiliar.
Top 5:
Book: An Untamed State by Roxane Gay
Song: We Gon Make It by Cordae
Movie: Rush Hour
Travel: Colombia
Food: Beef Stew from Hamilton’s Restaurant
Get in touch
40 Aspinwall Ave
Brookline, MA, 02446
(617)-396-8349
Administrative Hours
Monday – Friday
9AM – 5PM
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