Founder & Executive Director

Anika Lopes Anika Lopes, milliner, culture bearer, and founder of the Ancestral Bridges Foundation, weaves her artistry with a profound dedication to her ancestors by revealing and honoring the obscured roots of Amherst's Black and Afro-Indigenous history. Her millinery journey began in New York City, where she took over a hat factory and earned international acclaim. In 2019, she returned to Amherst and began bridging people and cultures through the universal language of millinery. Inspired by her grandfather's efforts in commemorating Civil War memorials, she championed their permanent display, recognizing the pivotal contributions of Black and Indigenous soldiers, and curated the Ancestral Bridges Historical Photographs and Artifacts Exhibit in a landmark collaboration with Amherst College. Anika is a generational resident of Amherst with a lineage that predates the town's establishment. 

Board Member

Kamal Ali is Emeritus Professor in the Department of Ethnic and Gender Studies at Westfield State University and its former Associate Dean of Minority Affairs. He is a founding member and Trustee of the Islamic Society of Western Mass, and served as founding Imam of Masjid As-Salaam at the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department for 22 years. He is a former member and president of the Dunbar Community Center Board of Directors. Having led two university classes for study at universities in Accra and Cape Coast, Ghana, a third group is planned for January, 2025. He maintains working relationships with Islamic scholars in Ghana and Saudi Arabia as well as The Schomburg Center for Black Culture in Harlem, NY.

Board Member

Sucharitha ‘Suki’ Cintron is a founding board member of Ancestral Bridges. A native of India, she has first-hand experience working with low-income people experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, health issues, and displacement. Suki is a 25 year veteran and recognized Educational Administration Professional (K-12).  She  currently  serves as The Chief People Officer of Brooke Charter Schools.  Suki’s passion, scholarship, writing and teaching have focused on closing the achievement gap through building efficient Schools, the administration and sustainability of such schools and school systems. Suki is a polyglot and speaks multiple languages fluently and believes in the core principle of “Leaving things and people better than you find them.”em description

Board Member

William T. Harris oversees the strategic direction of the nonprofit educationally focused science museum, Space Center Houston. With approximately 400 employees and contractors, Space Center Houston is the No. 1 international attraction in the greater Houston area, generating $73 million in annual economic impact, 925 jobs and $36 million in personal income for the area. Houston’s first and only Smithsonian Affiliate, it is the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center and dubbed “The Big Draw” in the area by USA Today. Prior leadership roles include multiple positions at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts in Boston; and Boston University School of Medicine. He served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Paraguay and is fluent in Spanish. He serves on the board of directors of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and Co-Chairs the Development Committees for the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC).

Board Member

Anastasia Ordonez is a social justice advocate and nonprofit communications executive with 20 years of experience working on high profile progressive media and issue-based campaigns in the United States and internationally. She lives with her family in Amherst, Massachusetts, where she served on her local school board, the Amherst School Committee and Amherst Regional School Committee for almost four years, chairing the Amherst School Committee for two of those years. Anastasia has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Board Member

Michael Pill, Esq., a partner at the Northampton law firm Green, Miles, Lipton & Fitz-Gibbon, LLP, brings a unique perspective shaped by his heritage as the grandson of Jewish immigrants who sought refuge from discrimination and pogroms in eastern Europe. Recognizing the paradox within the American Republic’s proclamation of equality and its history rooted in African slavery and Native American genocide, Michael is committed to the pursuit of justice. Specializing in civil litigation, he adeptly handles cases related to land use, title disputes, attorney and surveyor malpractice, real estate conveyancing, and contract disputes. With a wealth of experience, he has represented a diverse clientele, including municipalities, developers, citizens, utility and renewable energy companies, and commercial landowners.

Board Member

Talib Sadiq, a dedicated education professional, serves as the principal at the Amherst Regional High School, brings years of experience from his prior roles as a Guidance Counselor and Dean of Students at the middle school level. A proud native of Amherst, Sadiq pursued his education locally, obtaining his Associates Degree from Holyoke Community College and both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UMass Amherst. Sadiq’s commitment to youth extends beyond administrative duties; he was actively involved in coaching the Amherst football team, demonstrating his passion for student engagement both inside and outside the classroom. His leadership has been widely praised for its open-mindedness, approachability, and effective communication, earning him the support of students, families, and staff.

Board Member

Mila Getmansky Sherman is a Finance Professor at the Isenberg School of Management, UMass Amherst, specializing in empirical asset pricing, hedge funds, investment trading strategies, financial institutions, systemic risk, and system dynamics. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Minor in Economics from MIT, along with a Ph.D. in Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management. As an active member of the Center for International Securities and Derivatives Markets (CISDM) at UMass Amherst, her work has been published in prestigious journals. Professor Getmansky Sherman has extensive experience in conference organizing committees and serves as an associate editor of the Journal of Alternative Investments. With a background in quantitative research at Deutsche Asset Management, she teaches courses in corporate finance, financial modeling, and alternative investments at both MBA and undergraduate levels. Professor Getmansky Sherman has received numerous awards, grants, and accolades, contributing significantly to the field.

Board Member

Gabriel Ting is a 26 year veteran of the Amherst Police Department and is currently the Acting Chief of Police.  He is a native of Amherst and had attended the University of Massachusetts for his undergraduate degree in Sociology.  He holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Western New England University.  During his 26-year tenure, Chief Ting had been promoted through the ranks beginning as a Patrol Officer, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain, to his current position while participating in numerous assignments and units within. Chief Ting is proud and privileged to be a member of Ancestral Bridges.  He resides with his wife Chelsea and two teenage children. 

Board Member

Shirley Jackson Whitaker, a distinguished Nephrologist and community advocate based in Amherst. Born as the seventh child in Waycross, Georgia, Dr. Whitaker’s academic prowess led her to Clark Atlanta University, where she graduated with honors in Biology, and subsequently, Yale University School of Medicine for her medical degree. Passionate about community health, she became a pivotal figure in the underserved Auburn community of Atlanta. Driven by her early love for art, she apprenticed under renowned artist Leonard Baskin and embraced her artistic pursuits alongside her medical career. Breaking barriers as the first African-American female in the Yale Glee Club and her medical school graduation class, Dr. Whitaker continued to champion causes close to her heart. In 1993, she initiated “In Celebration of Black Women” to empower African-American women in Western Massachusetts through artistic expression and entrepreneurship. Concerned about violence against women, she penned the “Declaration Against Violence to Women” and established impactful programs like AIMS to address academic disparities. Notably, Dr. Whitaker’s profound dedication is showcased in the groundbreaking “Ashes to Ashes” funeral service, commemorating the victims of lynching, and its subsequent film. 

Advisor & Tour Lead

Debora Bridges has deep family connections to Massachusetts' military history, and is dedicated to preserving and honoring the Black and Afro-Indigenous contributions to the Amherst community. As an elder and generational resident of Amherst, with ancestry that predates the town's establishment, she works to ensure that the stories and people of the past are recognized and celebrated. Her passion for this history led her to serve as the curator and guide for the Civil War Tablets Exhibit in Amherst. This project honors 317 soldiers from Amherst who served in the Union forces during the Civil War, including members of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment and the 5th Cavalry, such as Christopher Thompson, to whom Bridges is a direct descendant.

Advisor

Judge James G. Collins (Ret.) served for 20 years as a Juvenile Court Judge, sitting in Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire and Worcester counties.  He presided over some of the most complex and difficult cases before the court and was respected for his impartial, thoughtful and informed demeanor.  During his tenure, Judge Collins served two terms as President of the Massachusetts Judges Conference, the association of trial and appellate judges. He successfully advanced the cause of justice by negotiating initiatives with the Massachusetts Legislature, the Governor and with private entities, all in support of an independent judiciary able to serve and protect the rights of the people. During the 14 years he served as Massachusetts State Representative (1973-1986), he was House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, a Member of the Special Commission on Unequal Educational Opportunity and a Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Advisor

Stan Rosenberg is an accomplished politician with a distinguished career in public service. Serving as the President of the Massachusetts Senate from January 2015 to December 2017, Rosenberg has been a prominent figure in the state’s political landscape. His journey began in 1986 when he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing Amherst and Pelham. During his legislative career, he held various key positions, including Chair of Senate Ways and Means Committee and Assistant Majority Leader. Notably, he played a pivotal role in the battle for same-sex marriage in Massachusetts and was the Senate’s first openly LGBT President Pro Tempore. Beyond his political endeavors, Rosenberg co-founded the Massachusetts Legislature’s Foster Kid Caucus, dedicated to addressing foster and adopted children’s issues. Stan is a dedicated advocate for positive change and social impact.