Dr. Brandy Brooks joined Higher Ground in January 2022. She has always been passionate about addressing social determinants of health and reducing longstanding disparities in health and health care. Prior to joining Higher Ground, Brandy served as Assistant Director for Bunker Hill Community College’s Adult Education program, which provides educational and support services to adult English Language Learners and individuals completing their High School Equivalency Assessments (HiSET).

As Deputy Director of Higher Ground, Brandy provides oversight and management of Higher Ground’s initiatives, partnerships, finance, and operations and direct support of the Executive Director and special project support as part of a leadership transition plan that will result in Dr. Brooks’ becoming Higher Ground’s Executive Director in 2023. Brandy also is an adjunct professor teaching History and Political Sciences courses at Bunker Hill Community College. As a resident of Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood within Higher Ground’s target area, Brandy is intentional about volunteering and community engagement. As Director of Operations for the Roxbury Unity Parade, she ensures that Roxbury, the Black heartbeat and geographical center of Boston, is celebrated. Serving as the Director of Operations for DeeDee’s Cry, Brandy supports efforts to provide suicide prevention services and programming for communities of color within Boston.

Brandy graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she earned a Doctorate of Education in Leadership in Schooling with a specialization in Higher Education. She has also earned an M.S. in Law and Policy from Northeastern University, an M.A. in Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy from Tufts University, and a B.S. in Development Sociology from Cornell University.

David Gerth has a unique background in marketing, advertising, events, and human resources. He spent 4 years working in marketing and advertising for the local alternative rock radio station, Radio 92.9. He collaborated with advertisers and musicians to create Ad campaigns that offered fans exclusive firsthand experiences with their favorite artists. Following that, David became the operations and events manager for Paragon Group, where he assisted in producing the Boston Flower & Garden Show, The National Golf Expo and NECANN. This position greatly resonated with David as he experienced the power of live events. David is passionate about bringing the community together and creating inclusive environments. David now works for Insperity where he works as an advisor for start-ups and small businesses who need modern day HR support and guidance.

On a personal note, David is a saxophone player and an electronic music producer. Music has always been the backdrop of David’s greatest connections and friendships. He believes music drives community and cohesion. David has a niece and nephew of 5 and 7 years old. David also loves to garden and golf. David lives in Medford with his partner.

David graduated from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a degree in Management.

Julia Harris is a finance professional in the insurance industry with a passion for education and music. She studied piano performance and music theory in her youth and as an adult has taught beginner piano lessons to children. Julia's technical background in financial analysis and risk management will bring a unique perspective to the steering committee. Julia passed a series of rigorous exams to become an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society.

She holds a Master of Applied Statistics degree from The Ohio State University and a BS in Mathematics from Brigham Young University. Julia currently resides in Columbus, OH. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, running, and spending time with her family and dog.

Susan is a versatile and creative professional with a rich background in various industries. With a successful career in sales, she has honed her communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. Susan is also a talented painter who brings a unique and intuitive perspective to her work, allowing her to see what's possible and think outside of the box.

Susan's vision, combined with her diverse experience and skillset, make her a valuable asset to the steering committee for the music school in Boston. She is a creative problem-solver who approaches challenges with an open mind, and she is committed to fostering a culture of learning and exploration through music education.

As a member of the steering committee, Susan is excited to share her expertise and collaborate with fellow creative professionals to further the mission of the music school. Her dedication to excellence, passion for the arts, and ability to think outside of the box make her an ideal candidate for this role.

Francis Miranda is an advertising veteran of 20 years working and leading ad agencies in Barcelona, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, New York and Boston. After an exciting life in advertising went into training and inspirational speaking and became an international speaker with gigs in over 10 countries, 81 US cities and 31 states. He is currently the CEO of Tagline 360, a New York and Boston based ad agency specializing in small and medium businesses as well as Skills Simplified, a corporate training company. Currently he sits on the board of Gawad Kalinga USA, a non-profit dedicated to helping eradicate poverty in the Philippines. Francis is passionate about traveling and loves taking care of his 3 adorable yet annoying cats.

Allen Spivack has a diverse work history including fundraising, building construction, social work and now as a full-time sculptor. He has served on a number of boards of directors, most recently for Shelter Music Boston, an organization dedicated to offering classical music played by professional musicians in social service programs throughout Greater Boston. As a social worker, Allen worked with the City of Boston managing programs that provided services to those unstably housed and people with HIV/AIDS. He also worked for the MA Department of Public Health as well as in community-based mental health, substance use and domestic abuse programs. Allen lives in Jamaica Plain and pursues his artistic endeavors at OMOS Studios (the Other Man Of Steel). He loves music, especially jazz, and plays the tenor saxophone.

Sharon Timmel joined NEFA in October 2015 as Development Manager and was promoted to Development Director in September 2018. In her role, Sharon leads the creation and execution of NEFA’s development goals and strategies, including NEFA’s work with government, foundation, corporate, and individual donors. Prior to joining NEFA, Sharon served as development and communications manager for ZUMIX, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth and building community through music and the arts, where she managed the organization’s institutional giving and communications. She previously held positions at More than Words and BreakThru Radio, where she built and executed communications strategies. She formerly served on the board of directors of Calling All Crows, an organization that partners musicians with fans to create change through hands-on service and activism, specifically focused on women's rights. Sharon holds a BA in Communication from Villanova University, and an MS in Arts Administration from Boston University. Originally from Newtown, CT, she currently resides in Melrose, MA, with her family.