Who We Are

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Who We Are

Love Hopes Anchor

Leadership

Yesenia Aguirre - President
Yesenia Aguirre, daughter of loving parents from Puerto Rico and Ecuador, was always creating, imagining, and grew up with great expectations of the future.

Yesenia Aguirre’s love for educational growth has been
demonstrated in her strong desire to increase her knowledge in academia through receiving a Bachelor of Science in Outdoor Education and Health from SUNY at Cortland State; Master of Science in Healthcare Administration and Public Policy from Stony Brook University; Master of Arts in Childhood Education from Adelphi University; and an Advanced Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the College of St. Rose.

Her leadership skills were demonstrated throughout her college career achieving her goals as a collegiate graduate amid facing various adversities.
Yesenia Aguirre attained an Educational Career as a Teacher for primary grades throughout NYC and Long Island for 17 years. Her leadership skills continued to thrive as a Teacher, Colleague, and Mentor to parents of students during her Educational Career.

Simultaneously, Yesenia Aguirre discovered and explored her Christ Centered lifestyle in January of 2000. Her love for learning and teaching the word of God was exemplified as the Children’s Ministry Director and Women’s Ministry Director at her local church. In the span of her 21-year Christian journey and using her encompassing leadership skills, she became the Founder and President of Love Hopes Anchor, Inc. A 501©3 not for profit organization in 2015.

The vision of Love Hopes Anchor, Inc, as divinely inspired, was to demonstrate the love and hope of Jesus Christ through philanthropic efforts globally. Yesenia’s desire to meet the needs of those that have been disenfranchised, is expressed in one of several initiatives called TrimTalk, which serves the practical and educational needs of men in transitional housing within NYC and Long Island, established in 2018. Love Hopes Anchor, Inc. has served nearly 700 men with free haircuts, free men’s suits and dress clothing, hygiene kits, and educational workshops. Love Hopes Anchor, TrimTalk initiative had donated over 6,000 items of men’s clothing and nearly 700 hygiene kits to the men in transitional housing in NYC and Long Island.

Yesenia Aguirre along with her distinguished Board Members, Board Advisors, and over 20 volunteers have participated in the planning and execution in the reconstruction of a home after Post-Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in addition to leading a Faith based summer camp for 40 students. Love Hopes Anchor, Inc has donated over 15,000 pounds in shipping essential basic and medical supplies to Puerto Rico and Ecuador post a natural disaster and connecting with the local church and community to create a sustaining partnership.

Her vision includes establishing a brick and mortar and mobile school for children in primary grades in Ecuador called “The Anchor of Hope Institute”. In addition, Yesenia’s dream also includes serving orphaned and fatherless children’s medical needs via the “Hope Mobile Medical Clinic”. Yesenia desires to create a space and place that will Educate, Empower, and Engage all whom she encounters to live and pursue a life fulfilled with purpose, destiny, complete their God given assignment in their communities across the Earth.
Melvin Turner - Vice President
My name is Melvin Turner and I have been serving in the capacity of Vice President of Board of Directors for Love Hopes Anchors for the past two years.

I currently work in the capacity of Director of Facilities for
Spring Leasing and Management where we service
affordable housing residents throughout the five
boroughs of New York City. My roles requires me to
oversee the various components of property
management including but not limited to
finance/budgetting, maintenance, staffing along with
the growth and development of the organization.
Having over 25 years of experience in property
management ranging from affordable housing, cooperative,
condominiums and commercial spaces allows my to provide
excellent service to our end users.

During these 25+ years of experience I have been able to achieve the following accreditations:
      - ARM (Accredited Residential Manager) awarded through Institute of Real Estate Management
      - Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
      - Licensed Home Improvement Contractor
      - Owner/Operator Restaurant (Brooklyn Soul Fish House)
      - Owner Real Estate Development Company (TT Development Group)
      - Certification as Certified Housing Asset Manager (CHAM)
      - Certified 7A administer with Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)

I am very passionate about serving and assisting people in meeting and reaching their goals and objectives. As a member of Christian Cultural Center for over 21 years I have adopted this approach to serving as a means to applying the gifts, talents and abilities given to me by God. I enjoy volunteering at various social/community based organizations and assisting with fund raising initiatives to support the growth and development of our underprovided groups and depressed areas of our city, state and abroad.

I am the proud father of three sons and a member of a wonderful church family that continues to provide me with inspiration to continue in serving God’s people. I am a huge fan of the game of golf, enjoy reading and I am always available to develop new relationships that support the kingdom and the working of the people.
Fiona Approo-Johnson - Secretary
Fiona was born in Georgetown, Guyana, and for the past 32 years, she and her family made NYC, NY their home. Over the years, she resided in Greenpoint, Williamsburg,
Bushwick, Bedford Stuyvesant, Woodside, and Rockaway
Park neighborhoods within the boroughs of NYC.

At the age of 18, Fiona started her career in the financial
aid field, working closely with students, parents, Banks,
Federal, State, and local governments, with a deep
commitment to community and service while
understanding and meeting the needs of consumers.
She became a strong advocate for higher education
while serving on National, Regional, and State professional
associations and conducts workshops for GED candidates,
college students and high school seniors, and financial aid
professionals alike.

Over the years, Fiona has also been actively engaged in theatre arts and has successfully co-directed several plays while incorporating kids from different inner-city communities. Subsequently, Fiona has transferred and applied the acumen she learned from the theatre and higher education fields to the many humanitarian efforts she has engaged in. Over the years, her work in humanitarian efforts includes Bottomless Closet, Habitat for Humanity and Veterans Build, Ellie’s hats for Children with Cancer, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Christian Cultural Center Food Pantry, Interfaith Nutrition Network, NJ Pandemic Relief, A Million Thanks Veteran Support, Church of Holy Trinity Thanksgiving Program and Our Lady of Loretto Sponsor A Family Program. Fiona is an effective communicator and dedicated to meeting the needs of all those she serves.
Anthony Kearse - Public Relations Director
Anthony Kearse worked as an Outsourcing Manager for large corporations for 20 years.
In 2020 he obtained his real estate license and insurance license and
is currently self employed as a real estate agent and
insurance agent. Anthony has been married for 25 years
and has 5 children and 4 grandchildren.

Anthony is involved with two outreach ministries in his
church. He is a facilitator for the Connect Group ministry
where him and his wife host small group meetings on
biblical principles for marriage to other married couples.
He also is member of The International Christian Brotherhood
which is a Christian fraternal organization dedicated to
training men.

Anthony serves on the board of Love, Hopes Anchor.
He is most actively involved with their Trim Talk Initiative
that seeks to educate and strengthen men in homeless shelters through workshops that prepare them for business success and life skills in addition to providing food, clothing and grooming materials.
Bichevia Patterson-Nicolas - Treasurer
Bichevia serves as treasurer for Love Hopes Anchor. Bichevia is a native of New York and has been involved with Love Hopes Anchor since 2019. She received her
BA in Healthcare Administration from St. Joseph’s College.
Her background in finance along with other positions held
in the field of health allowed her to witness first hand the
many disadvantages that many face in underserved
populations thus increasing her enthusiasm to work in
the realm of non-profit for underserved boys and men.

Her passion is in helping others understand that they can
be an active member of society no matter what struggles
in life they have faced.