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Mark Clizbe, Director of RISE, has more than 30 years of experience as a classroom teacher, more than 20 of them here in Dutchess County. Since 2021, he also worked as a tutor-advocate for the Migrant Education Program, a federally-funded, state-supervised program based at the State University of New Paltz.

Evelyn has been at the heart of the immigrant community in Northeast Dutchess County since 2008, looking for ways to help the people who need it most. Famous for her ability to solve almost any problem, Evelyn began by making Grace Immigrant Outreach, a program of Grace Church a crucial resources for the people in our community. As the immigrant community here grew, she expanded her efforts beyond English as a New Language courses to food distribution case work, outreach and advocacy, and academic mentoring.

Evelyn retired in 2024, leaving behind a lasting legacy of service to Northeast Dutchess County.