Elizabeth Kolodny serves as the Director of Programs and Operations for Operation Respect. In this role, she manages the daily operations of the organization: writing and administering contracts; preparing the annual budget and reviewing monthly financial reports; producing the annual report; overseeing the annual audit; managing board communications and meetings; planning fundraising events; organizing professional development workshops for educators; managing the production and dissemination of program materials; arranging presentations and assembly programs; maintaining the organization’s website; and writing grant proposals and reports. Elizabeth’s dedication and broad skills have been a great asset to Operation Respect since its inception.
She previously served as a teaching assistant for Arts in Action, an after-school program that provided music, drama, dance and visual art opportunities for elementary school students in Washington, DC. At the same time, she served as a site coordinator for the After School Kids Program, at Georgetown University, which matches college students and community members as mentors for youth on probation throughout Washington, D.C.
Elizabeth then went on to earn a certificate in filmmaking at New York University (NYU) and served as a teaching assistant for film editing classes at the NYU School of Continuing Education. During her time at the university, Elizabeth co-founded, Looking Ahead, a mentoring program for court-involved youth, based at the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, and served as co-director for four years. In this capacity, she partnered with the Center for Alternatives to Sentencing and Employment Services to recruit program participants and worked with students at NYU to recruit mentors, develop a core curriculum, and facilitate weekly meetings with participants to provide them with positive role models and valuable skill-building opportunities.
Elizabeth brings her commitment to creating safe, compassionate, and respectful environments for children and youth to her work at Operation Respect.