Who We Are
Our Vision
Refugee claimants in our neighbourhoods are safe, thriving, and know that they belong.
Our Mission
The Romero House community welcomes refugee claimants with housing, immigration and settlement support.
Our Values
We live together as good neighbours, valuing care and mutuality.
We respect the dignity of all.
We trust one another.
We are present in joy and suffering.
We are inspired by the radical example of Oscar Romero.
Our History
Over the past 30 years, Romero House has grown beyond what was ever imagined. Dive into the story of Romero House with some of our founders and long time community members.
Romero House came to life in 1991 when a small group of people, including several refugee families, took over a refugee shelter threatened with closure. They had a unique idea: that newly arrived refugee families could live together with others seeking to be a community. They lived together in a spirit of trust, interacting as neighbours rather than clients and settlement workers. They had no plan, no sense of what their little experiment would become.
Meet Our Team
In addition to our wonderful staff, Romero House is held up by six young people in the Worker program, who commit one or two years of their lives to living and serving in community. This team, together with a dedicated group of volunteers, continue to support and build the ever-growing community of Romero House
Francesca Allodi-Ross
( She / Her )
Executive Director
Francesca has been part of the Romero community for more than 15 years. She started as Executive Director in 2022, bringing experience as a facilitator, frontline social service worker, and former lawyer. She loves dancing and singing and is grateful that this community celebrates both.
Mary Jo Leddy
( She / Her )
Founder
Renowned for her creative use of leftovers in making delicious meals, and her dedication to our neighborhood. She is a social activist, teacher, and writer, whose long term commitment to Romero House has formed the foundation of this community.
Jenn Stephenson
( She / Her )
Assistant Director
Our Assistant Director brings an extremely helpful enthusiasm for operational management and organization. She is our health and safety guru and knows far more about social media than anyone else on the team.
Ann Khatter
( She / Her )
Bookkeeper
Our wonderful bookkeeper, is a bright light in our office, bringing with her a very welcome love of organizing our cluttered spaces.
Robbie Arzumanov
( He / Him )
Settlement and
Logistics Coordinator
Robbie is from Georgia and provides support to former residents as well as our operations and admin team. He is an amazing guitar player and a great gym buddy! He is excited to continue to share his Georgian food recipes with the Romero community.
Robelin Severino
( He / Him )
Maintenance Manager
Our Buildings and Maintenance Manager Robelin brings amazing enthusiasm to Romero House while keeping our houses in great shape. He loves to make music, is a talented bachata dancer and a great cook!
Oren Jungreis
( He / Him )
Housing Access Coordinator
Oren comes from a background of community organizing and social work, and has a passion for community-based education. He cares deeply about ensuring that all people have access to sustainable housing. You can find him cooking new recipes, playing games with his friends, and exploring Toronto.
Marisol Larrea-Clark
( They / Them )
Worker
Marisol joins us from Parkhill, Ontario, bringing amazing spunk and energy to our team. Marisol is our community glue, organizing many fun outings and social events for our residents. They are a Community Programming Coordinator and on our Companion Team.
Sarah Buisman
( She / Her )
House Coordinator
She is from Guelph, ON, and she loves music and ensures we all get a healthy dose of yummy kale salads! Sarah served as a Worker from 2021 to 2023, and we are delighted to have her return as our House Coordinator.
Aryana Dukhcharan
(She/her)
Public Education and Local Partnerships Coordinator
From Scarborough, ON, Aryana joins us as the Public Education and Local Partnerships Coordinator. With a background in Child and Youth Studies and Sociology, she is planning to pursue a master’s in Policy. Aryana brings her passion for children and youth to Romero House, where her creativity shines through in everything she does—from beautifully designed artwork to meticulously color-coded calendars. She is also a Companion at Romero House. When she’s not immersed in community work, you’ll find her spending time with her beloved cat Milo.
Jalal Nazari
(He/him)
Community Host Program Coordinator
Born and raised in Afghanistan, He brings a rich background in Gender and Women’s Studies and a deep passion for advocating for marginalized communities, including refugees. As our Community Host Program Coordinator and Companion, he is excited to support and serve the refugee community at Romero House. Known for his love of Persian cuisine and calligraphy, Jalal is the perfect person to connect with if you share an interest in these areas. He’s a lover of poetry, philosophical discussions, and spirituality, as well as an excellent cook and an active sports enthusiast.
Yasmin Calderon Obregon
(She/Her)
Volunteer Coordinator
Yasmin is our vibrant Volunteer Coordinator, who began her journey at Romero House as a placement student. Her love for this community led her to apply as a worker, and she is now also joining us as a Companion. Originally from Peru, Yasmin thrives on being around people and brings an infectious joy to our team. Always smiling, she is passionate about dancing and helping others, offering Spanish introductory lessons to community members. Yasmin’s warm spirit and dedication make her a cherished part of the Romero House family.
Karen Sierra
( She / Her )
Housing Hub Manager
Hailing from the vibrant country of Colombia,
Karen brings a unique blend of engineering and project skills and a heart full of passion to our team. She is our excel wizard!
Since landing in Canada, she’s been a dedicated volunteer. When she’s not busy helping people, she transforms into an adventure enthusiast. Whether she’s traveling to new places, dancing, or seeking new experiences, she’s always on the move. And let’s not forget her love for music and food—gathering with family and friends is her ultimate joy!
So Yun Kim
(She/her)
Community Program Coordinator
Born in Korea, So Yun studied Anthropology and conducted research on refugee activism, bringing valuable insights to her role as Community Program Coordinator and a Companion. An adventurous nomad, she has lived in many countries, embracing new cultures along the way. She introduces our community to the joy of celebrating Korean holidays, sharing delicious food and meaningful customs. So Yun is passionate about capturing life’s simple, beautiful moments through photography and expressing her creativity through art. In her free time, she enjoys practicing Korean Kendo and bird-watching, with hopes of witnessing Canada’s bird migrations.
Mercy Kiplagat
(She/her)
Communications and Development Coordinator
Mercy joins us from Kenya, bringing a wealth of experience in communications and development. She is passionate about community empowerment, particularly for women and girls, and believes that education, mentorship, and economic opportunities are the keys to meaningful transformation.As a Companion, she connects with the Romero House community with warmth and dedication.Outside of her professional endeavors, Mercy is an avid reader and a nature lover who enjoys gardening specifically, watering plants and walks at the park.
Meet Our Board of Directors
If you are interested in serving as a board member, click here to express interest.
Michael McMorrow
President
Anil
Varughese
Vice President
Sara
Guerrero
Treasurer
Tom
Abel
Secretary
Amensisa Neway
Member
Shahid Akhtar
Member
Mercedes Arias
Member
Maureen Brosnahan
Member
Joan Leishman
Member