The Founders
Wendy Van Amson, RDN, MPH, CDN – co-founder/director:
Wendy is a consulting registered dietitian/nutritionist in private practice for over 25 years. She has degrees from NYU, and Columbia Univ. She has three children who have collectively attended 6 independent schools in Manhattan. She has had diversity leadership roles in all schools. She is currently a board member of Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), Diversity Awareness Initiative for Students (DAIS), Bank St College of Education and a former trustee of The Nightingale-Bamford School.
Esther Moses Hatch – co-founder
Esther, a retired actor/theater teacher, with twenty years of experience in professional theater. She attended Bennington College and NYU. She had 2 children who attended 4 independent schools in Manhattan and boarding schools. She held diversity leadership roles in all schools. Esther worked as a consulting diversity educator with The Peoples Institute for Survival and was quite passionate in her pursuit of anti-bias work. A compassionate, empathetic woman, she was well-respected by all that knew her. Esther passed in August, 2015.
Wendy and Esther have been actively involved in education focused diversity programs since 2002. Through our collective independent school affiliations, we have worked closely with families, educators, diversity directors and administrators. Our shared experiences have given us a deeper understanding of existing institutional approaches and social norms. This has solidified the need for an interschool network to serve as an ongoing means of communication and support.
Wendy and Esther have been actively involved in education focused diversity programs since 2002. Through our collective independent school affiliations, we have worked closely with families, educators, diversity directors and administrators. Our shared experiences have given us a deeper understanding of existing institutional approaches and social norms. This has solidified the need for an interschool network to serve as an ongoing means of communication and support.
