Leadership

Board of Directors

Virginia Sapiro, Chair
Gina is Professor of Political Science at Boston University, recently completing 8 years as Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. She came to Boston after 31 years as a professor at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where she also served as Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning and Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. She has always loved music, and attended the High School of Music of Art in NYC. She works in her New Hampshire gardens whenever she can.

Scott Woolweaver, Treasurer
Scott is principal violist of the Ann Arbor (MI) Symphony, assistant principal violist of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, and a member of the Chameleon Arts Ensemble of Boston. He is Artist Affiliate in Viola and Chamber Music at Tufts University and a faculty member of the All Newton Music School in West Newton (MA), where he directs the Con Brio Series. He has been an Artist Associate at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Instructor of Viola at Eastern Michigan University School of Music and Dance (Ypsilanit, MI), and Guest Artist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge (MA). He is a regular guest of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society and Director of the Adult Chamber Music Institute at Kneisel Hall in Blue Hill, Maine. Scott is a longtime walker and fundraiser for the Boston AIDS Action Annual Walk Run.

Steven Levine, Clerk
As a Boston-area executive, entrepreneur, attorney and investor with 30+ years experience developing energy management and renewable energy projects and technologies, Steve applies the business skills of governance, strategic analysis; legal and risk management, technology and finance to social change and environmental sustainability nonprofit board positions. Immediately impressed and moved upon first learning about SMB on National Public Radio, Steve is excited to support SMB in expanding its reach and impact.

Rachel De Dora is the Director of Marketing for PwC's Northeast region focused on bringing management consulting solutions that solve workforce, transformation, and cybersecurity strategy issues to local business leaders. She earned her M.S. in Business Management from the City University of New York in 2015 and her B.S., magna cum laude, from Syracuse University/SUNY ESF in 2008. Following a 7-year stint in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, she currently resides in the West End with her 12-year-old toy poodle, Tootsie Rose. Rachel she grew up in New York and was heavily involved in music, theater, and dance and is thankful to be involved in an organization where she can combine her passion for helping others with the performing arts. Her history of grassroots volunteerism includes advocating for animal rights and women's rights. Rachel is a former President of Alpha Chi Omega's San Francisco alumni chapter where she led philanthropic efforts to benefit domestic violence survivors in the Bay Area and served on the CHEER for Life Foundation Board from 2018-2020.

Julie Leven, Founder and Artistic Director, Shelter Music Boston founded Shelter Music Boston in 2010 to create a social service organization able to provide an immediate positive impact with classical music performances in environments of great need. Julie was named a Boston Neighborhood Fellow in April 2014, 2013 Social Innovation Forum Classical Music Innovator and is a 2012 graduate of the BU School of Management Institute for Nonprofit Management and Leadership. She is a member of the Handel + Haydn Society Orchestra and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. When not playing concerts or dreaming up new projects for SMB, she is passionate about organic farming and an avid Argentine tango dancer.

Elena Letona, Ph.D. was born in El Salvador. She attended Oberlin College-Conservatory where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in piano performance and music history, and the University of Massachusetts Boston where she earned a Ph.D. in public policy. Elena has 30 years of experience working and serving the nonprofit sector as volunteer, organizer, activist, teacher, director, and consultant. Between 1999 and 2008, Elena directed Centro Presente, an immigrant rights organization in the Greater Boston area. During her tenure, she led a change process that transformed Centro Presente into a member driven organization. In 2005, Elena’s work was recognized when she was selected to be part of the Barr Foundation’s inaugural class of Fellows. Currently, Elena directs Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts, a membership organization of working-class, low-income, people of color and immigrants dedicated to building power to achieve racial, economic and environmental justice.

Michael McWilliams is a social entrepreneur with experience across the NGO, public policy, and corporate sectors. Through his ongoing work in nonprofit development and impact assessment, he has most recently served as executive director for a fledgling arts-based social enterprise. Earlier on, he had repatriated to the US from Sweden upon finishing work with a UN-affiliated NGO focused on the planetary water crisis. This followed executive roles in the American public policy and nonprofit sectors after entrepreneurial and corporate careers in finance, manufacturing, and technology. Michael enjoys all forms of the performing arts, with a special affinity for classical, jazz and folk music. He admits to a marginal tenor in choral singing and occasionally attempts to play the great highland bagpipes.

Christina Simpson, Esq. started her firm, The Law Office of Christina Simpson, Esq. in September of 2017. Her firm primarily focuses on transactional business law and business branding matters, for example, business entity formation, contract review, drafting and negotiating and brand protection through trademark and copyright registration. Christina’s primary focus is on small business owners, entrepreneurs and start-ups, especially those who would not otherwise have access to reasonable and affordable legal services. Additionally, Christina is the Incoming Executive Director for the National Conference of Women's Bar Associations, a co-chair of the Women of Color Committee of the Women’s Bar Association, serves on the Lawyers for Affordable Justice Panel, and is an active member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and Boston Bar Association. Christina is a 2015 graduate of Brooklyn Law School. Originally from Boston, MA, Ms. Simpson grew up in the Mission Hill section of Roxbury. She attended Boston Latin School for high school, graduating in 2008 and going on to Boston College where she graduated in 2012 with a degree in English and African Studies. Christina is admitted to the bars of Massachusetts, New York, the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York.

Allen Spivack first learned about SMB when serving as director of two residential treatment programs at the Dimock Health Center in Roxbury. While Allen has retired from Dimock, SMB continues to perform monthly concerts there. Allen has had a varied career as a professional fundraiser, building contractor and clinical social worker (working in both public and private settings). He has served on a variety of boards and has a long history of involvement in volunteer and nonprofit organizations. Allen now spends his time as a sculptor in metal and wood.

Board Member Openings

Shelter Music Boston is seeking qualified Board Members to round out our Board of Directors. Candidates are professionals with diverse backgrounds (law, finance, development, marketing, entrepreneurship, technology). Candidates should have a passion for meaningful, high-quality art, music, and community service. An interest in the transformational power of classical music is a plus, but not a requirement. Board Members have the opportunity to be a part of our work to create social change. For more information, please contact erin@sheltermusicboston.org.

Administrative Staff

Julie Leven, Founder and Artistic Director, founded Shelter Music Boston in 2010 to create a social service organization able to provide an immediate positive impact with classical music performances in environments of great need. Julie was named a Boston Neighborhood Fellow in April 2014, is a 2012 graduate of the BU School of Management Institute for Nonprofit Management and Leadership, a member of the Handel + Haydn Society Orchestra and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. When not playing concerts or dreaming up new projects for SMB, she is passionate about organic farming and an avid Argentine tango dancer.

Carrie Eldridge-Dickson, Managing Director, provides SMB with 10 years of experience supporting people who are homeless via her previous work in fundraising and volunteer management at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. Carrie has a master’s degree in public administration from Suffolk University and is grateful for the opportunity to serve such a dynamic nonprofit. While the Beatles are her favorite composers, Carrie enjoys classical music and is delighted to be a part of providing access to transformational music to those who otherwise go without.

Erin Merceruio Nelson, Director of Development and Operations, joined the Shelter Music Boston team as Director of Development and Operations in October 2014. She previously served as the Senior Program Administrator for the Free for All Concert Fund, and as Development Assistant at Hebrew SeniorLife. As a classical singer, Erin performs actively throughout New England on both the operatic and concert stage. She is grateful for the opportunity to share her love and passion for classical music with Boston area homeless citizens.

Amanda Roth, Administrative Assistant, joined the Shelter Music Boston team in April 2019. In addition to her work with SMB, she serves as a Teaching Artist with the Josiah Quincy Orchestra Program and actively performs as a violinist and violist throughout the greater Boston area. Amanda is passionate about the healing power of music and is currently in the process of becoming a Certified Music Practitioner. She is thrilled to be working with an organization that both shares her passion and is creating social change in the Boston community.