About Us

"Every child deserves to know they are loved and safe in this community."

Abigail Lyons was born in Yonkers NY until 8 years old where she was raised in Patterson NY and now resides in Carmel NY. Abigail, along with her husband Andrae, have one child who is currently in the CCSD. Abigail works full time as a Junior Accountant. She is also a full-time dance mom, when she is not working you can hear her from the crowd cheering as loud as she can. Abigail started this organization to not only bring light to the injustice in our community, but to also provide a safe haven for those who need it. She has been very passionate and outspoken, fighting for change within the school district and the community. 

Mariella Ramirez was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador and came to this country when she was a year and a half old. She grew up along with her young family in Yonkers, NY until moving to Crompond, NY in 2011 and then further up to Carmel, NY in Fall of 2015. 

Mariella resides in Carmel with her 2 children, and her daughter is currently attending CHS. She’s a soccer mom as well as a full time dance mom and has a successful career serving as a Spanish Interpreter in our local Courts, Schools and Medical offices. 

She serves the community while feeling most of the needs targeting our youth and children. She expects that our commitment not only to our own children and families but also those of others can shed some light on the meaningful solutions and approaches we can all take to better not only our own communities but local communities as a whole. She feels it is our duty to choose to respond accordingly to the need for safety not only in schools but working together with law enforcement as well as our elected officials to address the needs of our children at risk, teachers, families, and community as a whole. 

Jim Wise has been a resident of Carmel for seventeen years, and has raised seven children in our community — four graduates of the Carmel Schools, and three in the schools today.  A graduate of NYU and the CUNY School of Law, Mr. Wise works in software engineering.

Mr. Wise has long been active in the community, especially the schools, and was heavily involved in the movement to push back on racism in response to the events of 2020.  More recently, as this district has continued to see parent after parent of Black, brown, and queer students speak up about what their children are facing in our schools; Mr. Wise won a seat on the Carmel Central School District Board of Education. Mr. Wise is committed to making Carmel schools safe for all of our children, and defending every child’s right to a public education.