our team

program director

jess alder is all about fresh ideas, real impact, and building community. as director of start strong at the boston public health commission, jess leads with curiosity and purpose—bringing people together to take on complex issues and turn research into real change for young people.

under jess’s leadership, start strong has become a national model for youth-centered violence prevention. their work has been published in journals like the journal of interpersonal violence, american journal of sexuality education, and the journal of family violence, and featured in the new york times magazine, cbs, and cnn.

jess speaks at conferences across the u.s. and abroad, including naccho, apha, and atsa, and currently serves on the massachusetts commission on violence prevention services funding. they also work closely with the mayor’s office to shape the city’s violence prevention strategy.

originally from denver, jess lives in boston with their two cats, and spends free time playing rec sports, traveling, and scuba diving whenever possible.

senior program manager

janae lewis (she/her) is the host of our real love real talk podcast. she brings a powerful mix of heart, skill, and lived experience to everything she does—whether she’s leading workshops, mentoring youth leaders, or sparking honest conversations on the mic.

with a b.a. in gender studies from mount holyoke college and certifications in reproductive justice and family planning, janae’s work is rooted in equity, community, and care. before joining start strong as a staff member, she worked at boston medical center as a family planner and supported public health efforts across the city.

her connection to start strong goes way back—janae began as a peer leader in the program during her teen years, and has since grown into a leadership role focused on violence prevention and relationship education.

a proud boston native, janae is passionate about building spaces where young people feel seen, supported, and empowered to create change.

senior program manager

hiba hashim (she/her) brings energy, creativity, and heart to start strong. with a background in public health and a passion for storytelling, hiba knows how to make messages land—whether it's a social campaign seen by millions or turning tough data into something real and relatable.

she’s a proud graduate of simmons university (mph) and uw-madison (b.s.), and has over five years of experience working across local and national public health projects. at the core of it all, hiba’s here to bridge gaps, amplify voices, and make sure communities—especially those too often overlooked—feel seen, heard, and valued.

outside of work, hiba’s all about building clean, connected, and healthy communities where everyone has the chance to thrive.

youth support

sophia (she/her) is the kind of individual you won’t forget once you meet her. she is full of joy, excitement, compassion, and support. a graduate from bristol community college, she strives to use the knowledge from her sociology major and lived experience to push for societal change and equity, to raise awareness of the pressing matters that affect many of our local communities.

from a young age, sophia knew she was destined to work alongside youth. she got her humble beginnings as an after-school support staff at 14 years old, and has adored youth work ever since. once she learned of start strong, she was determined to be part of the team. she was first introduced as a teen who partnered with start strong through the massachusetts coalition for occupational safety and health (massCOSH) back in 2016. since then, she has been utilizing the information she learned as a teen to spread awareness about violence, and how to support others who have or are currently experiencing it.

when sophia is not standing up for human rights, she can be found studying for school, helping members of her community in various ways, mapping out approximately how much longer she has to go before she’s satisfied with the amount of degrees earned, spending time with loved ones, or dreaming of being on a warm sunny beach, especially during the winter months.