Julia Tortorello-Allen
President and Founder | she/her
Jamie Tortorello-Allen
First Vice President | she/her
My name is Jamie, and I live in Westchester County, NY, where I have worked as a Cantor and Jewish Educator for 20 years. I have a PhD in French Literature, a BA in Psychology and Human Development, a Certificate in Congregational Education, and have taught children from ages 2 to18, as well as college students in language and literature, and adult learners on parenting and religion. I am a long term member of our community’s Interfaith Clergy Council and serve on my town’s Prison Relations Advisory Committee, which brings community support to the women’s prisons housed in our town. I am also the mother to three young adults and a grandmother to two young children. In 2014, my 15 year old daughter was the victim of a violent sexual crime that left her deeply traumatized and me desperate to learn whatever I could that would help me parent her through that trauma. Resources specific to young survivors and their loved ones were scarce. In joining with her to found and lead Survivors to Superheroes, I have hoped to provide for others what I was seeking myself. When I am not working on Survivors, I love to spend time reading, writing, baking, learning new languages, and enjoying the many trails through the woods around my home. I’m also exploring new and creative spiritual practices, merging Jewish tradition, music, mindfulness, silence, and prayer. content@survivorstosuperheroes.org
Kate Schneider
Second Vice President | she/her
My name is Kate, and I’m an investigative data reporter working with the Investigative Journalism Foundation of Canada. I’m originally from Ontario, Canada but am currently based in London, United Kingdom. I recently graduated from the University of Oxford with a Master’s of Philosophy in Politics (Comparative Government). Previously, I completed a BA (Hons) in Political Science from the University of Toronto. After seeing my friend Julia, the President and Founder, go through her own experiences of sexual violence, I joined Survivors to Superheroes in 2019 to help other survivors in their healing journey. Outside of Survivors to Superheroes, you can find me practicing viola or obsessively following Canadian politics in the news.
Sandra Chilson
Treasurer | she/her
Hi, I’m Sandy! I’m a high school math and science teacher and a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, class of 2020, where I studied astrophysics and music performance. My drive for co-founding Survivors was primarily my own experience with sexual violence as a teenager. I wanted to be able to provide the resources and support to young survivors that I didn’t have when I needed it most. I want to give survivors a place to speak freely about their own experiences without fear of repercussions, and more importantly, give them a place to heal and feel powerful. Outside of Survivors, in my spare time, I like to play video games, hike, and drink coffee.
treasurer@survivorstosuperheroes.org
Hannah Judelson-Kelly
Secretary | she/her
My name is Hannah, I’m a 22 year old undergraduate student at McGill University where I study Political Science and English Literature. I joined Survivors to Superheroes because I want to help give a platform to survivors where they can find community, express themselves, share their voices, and have a safe space to heal. I know how powerful the creation of and participation in community can be, and I hope to provide this space to survivors and their loved ones where they feel safe and open to explore their own experiences, whatever that may mean to them. Outside of my work for Survivors to Superheroes, you’ll most often find me climbing Mont Royal or searching for the best bagels on Montréal.
Seth Gartner
Member-At-Large | he/him
I’m Seth, I attend college at SUNY Geneseo, graduating with a degree in Mathematics. After years of supporting my best friend, Julia, while she struggled to piece her life back together after surviving multiple sexual assaults, I decided to join her in starting Survivors to Superheroes. It has become a goal of mine to not only support her, but also support other people in similar situations. This wonderful organization has allowed me to do so. When I’m not working on Survivors to Superheroes, my main interest is learning and performing the bass!
Max Tortorello-Allen
Curriculum Writer | he/him
I’m Maxton, a Middle School teacher living outside of New York City, and the father of a survivor. As my family was seeking a path to healing, we discovered few helpful resources and wanted to do something about that. I joined Survivors to Superheroes to help bring resources and information to those who needed it when they needed it the most. As Curriculum Chair, my goal is to help survivors, their families, and those who love them, to begin and continue the healing process. When I am not working towards this goal I can usually be found playing with my granddaughters and enjoying nature.
Rhiannon Melvin
Website Manager | she/her
My name is Rhiannon and I am a graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Global Business and Digital Arts program and run my own business serving clients as a digital media artist. Survivors to Superheroes was brought to my attention by Kate Schneider in 2020, and I knew instantly that I wanted to be involved in the project somehow, allowing the voices of survivors to be heard and shared. Outside of my work for the organization, you can find me streaming almost daily on Twitch under the name omgitsrhirhi, playing games and creating a lovely community online!
Anna Schwartz
Editor | she/her
Hi! I’m Anna, and I’m studying English at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities.
I joined Survivors to Superheroes in order to help create a space for survivors to speak without fear of being spoken over. As an editor, my goal is to help survivors tell their stories on their own terms and in their own words. I hope that our authors can find freedom and empowerment through writing, as I so often have.
In my spare time, you’ll find me baking (and eating) bread, watching bad movies, and singing as loudly as I can without incurring the wrath of my roommates.
Laura Browne
Staff Writer | she/her
Hi, I’m Laura! I’m a 24 year old artist, performer, and educator from Westchester, New York. I joined Survivors to Superheroes because I believe we need to get rid of the stigma surrounding talking about sexual violence. I want survivors to feel supported and heard. With my articles, I hope to open the door to honest conversations about sexual violence in the world around us. Beyond my work with Survivors to Superheroes, I love to bake, draw, and write comedy!
Julia Kopala
Staff Writer | she/her
My name is Julia, and I am currently working in Boston as a special education teacher. I joined Survivors to Superheroes because I am a survivor myself who did not have any support or resources to understand the gravity of the situation I was in. I want my writing to empower and validate the diversity of experiences and identities that survivors hold, amplifying the idea that healing is possible. Outside of the organization, I find joy in hiking, reading, and mentoring students!
Sam Andrews
Team Member | she/her
I’m Sam, and I have been with Survivors since the founding of the Education Team. When I heard about Survivors to Superheroes, I knew I had to be involved, because I myself went through sexual abuse. I want to make sure that teens and young adults who are in an abusive situation have resources to be able to handle it. I also want to provide information for adults who are working with young people who are experiencing abuse and sexual violence. When I am not working on Survivors to Superheroes, I am also working to become a filmmaker, and am an advocate for LGBTQ youth.
Zihui Ni
Researcher | she/her
My name is Zihui, and I am a graduate from Franklin & Marshall College with double majors in psychology and mathematics. I became involved in Survivors to Superheroes because I want to create a safe space for survivors to voice, heal and grow. One of my goals in Survivors is to design educational programs on sexual violence prevention and raise awareness about sexual assault. Outside of Survivors, I’m working as a Clinical Research Assistant and I enjoy reading, trying out new restaurants, and staying in nature.
Kathryn Mullins
Editorial Staff | she/her
My name is Katy and I am currently studying law at the University of Toronto. After experiencing a random sexual assault that turned my life upside down at age 15, I have learned a great deal about what it means to be not only a victim, but a survivor. Though I avoided the subject for a number of years, I eventually came to realize how much power and potential I had to help others who have been in the same place I was. I joined Survivors to Superheroes in 2020 with this goal in mind, blending my passion for writing with my passion for offering advocacy and support to other survivors as a member of the Literary Journal team. Outside of this role, I love to hike and am a loving owner to my rabbit Luna.
Hilary Mancia
Editorial Staff | she/her
Hi! I’m Hilary, I’m 21 years old and currently working on my Master’s degree in Psychology in Toronto, Ontario.
As a survivor of sexual abuse as a child, I found myself in a position through my academic pursuits and life experiences to contribute to Survivors to Superheroes efforts in supporting and educating survivors and their loved ones. Conducting and contributing to existing research and relevant literature can provide representation for survivors and affirmation in their experiences and feelings.
Apart from volunteering with Survivors, I work full time at a greenhouse surrounded by lovely flowers day in and out. I am also a researcher at the University Health Network in Toronto conducting eating disorder research. When I’m not busy working away you can find me binge watching tv or reading!