Meet our team – Romero House

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Sana’a Jaber

( She / Her )
Housing Access Coordinator

Sana’a Jaber is a proud Arab refugee, mother, writer, and enthusiastic cook who believes that the best stories are told through both words and food. With decades of experience in film, TV, and volunteering, she’s passionate about blending creativity with humanitarian work. What makes her journey even more special is that she was once a resident at Romero House, the very place that welcomed her to Canada—a true full-circle moment. When she’s not crafting stories or cooking up something delicious,Sana’a is advocating for others and helping to build a more inclusive community for everyone.

Volunteer House Coordinators

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.

Carmen Bezner Kerr

( She / Her )
House Coordinator

Carmen previously worked at Romero House in 2021 and has been grateful to be part of the wider community ever since. She is the House Coordinator for Edna Lane house where she lives and can be found experimenting with funky new recipes, playing loud music and spending time with her lovely neighbours.