Ivette Melendez MSW, Director of Outreach

In 1990, Ivette was released from Riker’s Island prison after serving time for drug-related charges and that same year was diagnose HIV positive. Soon thereafter she wanted to make a change in her life. A few years later in 1994, she was introduced to Exponents. Graduated from the ARRIVE Training Program (cycle 30) at Exponents in 1994.  After graduating for ARRIVE she volunteer her services while attending Bronx Community College. In 1996 she accepted a full time position at Exponents.

Grace Petersen

My name is Grace I am a 51 year old mother of 9 children, I have been in situations you had to be there to believe it, but life goes on.  This is to say that no matter what life throws at your way, you can overcome it and there is hope.  I was addicted to drug for 20 years, I had my children taken away from me I’ve been homeless, shot, raped all due to my drug use one day I made a decision to change the way my life was going.  The first step was a Rehabilitation Center.  Then I did out patient, Exponents has given me a new way of life, I took the ARRIVE training and that was the beginning of my Exponents connection, I enrolled in the Healthy Relationship program, that gave me the knowledge to rebuild my relationship with my family and myself.  I learned how to take control of my HIV illness and how to protect others and myself.  I also enrolled in Recovering Annex it was six month of education on harm reduction, meditation, and other ways to stay on my path of recovery.  I am currently enrolled in the Women’s Supportive Services Program, this allows women of all background and need to come together and discuss our issues as women, the groups have really helped me an other deal with challenges, on of which was my living situation, my peers helped me to se that I was living in unhealthy, unsafe conditions and supported in moving to my new apartment.  I am truly grateful to Exponents for all that the agency provides, I would highly recommend exponents to people who are trying to find themselves  and a better way to live to learn and to keep an open mind that dreams do come true, exponents also has helped people who have incarcerated get a fresh start at entering society.  I am so glad to be a part of all exponents has to offer.  Exponents are leaders in transforming lives.

Denise Drayton, Director of Training & Education

Denise Drayton grew up in a lower-middle-class neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from high school, she started college at New York University and gave birth to a daughter at the age of 20. Denise was also involved in an emotionally and psychologically abusive relationship at the time; the stress of her new responsibilities as a single mother was compounded by the damaging effects of her relationship, and her grades suffered. She made a conscious decision to drop out of NYU after only a year rather than fail out. She made ends meet by bouncing around between various city and other government jobs.  Based on the solid performance and dedication she exhibited in the many responsibilities she held at Exponents, Denise was offered the position of Coordinator of the Educational Services Center, where she excelled and eventually became the Director of Education and Training, a senior position she holds today. Denise also sits on the national board of the AIDS Medicine and Miracles Organization, is an accredited ASAC (Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor) trainer, and is studying to get her CASAC certification in the spring of 2004.  Denise credits her spirituality, Exponents, and lessons learned from her life experiences for making her the person she is today — a person who loves living each and every day…from the time she wakes up to the time she goes to sleep.

Dana Diamond, Director of Case Mgmt./ Treatment Adhereance

Raised in an upper-middle-class Manhattan family, Dana Diamond was an extremely shy girl who suffered from low self-esteem. She began experimenting with marijuana at the age of 15. After graduating from high school, she enrolled at SkidmoreCollege. Like many college students, she drank alcohol and continued to smoke pot. Her lack of self-confidence troubled her to the point where she fell behind in her studies. At the end of her freshman year, she decided to leave Skidmore and move back to Manhattan. She got an apartment, enrolled at Parsons School of Design, and attempted to find a new direction in her life.  Dana recently earned her CASAC (Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor) credentials and eventually wants to go back to college to get her bachelor's degree in Health Education. In the meantime, she takes one step at a time, keeping healthy with a regimen of positive thinking and an exercise program that includes Pilates and meditation.  As for her family, she currently has a good relationship with her two oldest daughters, who are now teenagers. They share their time between Dana and her ex-husband. She also keeps in touch with the daughter she put up for adoption. All of the girls are doing well, are in school, and are on a track for success.

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