Our Team
What is our goal in the long run?
Access Education - Guatemala Children's Fund is committed to creating schools in Coatepeque, Quetzaltenago, and surrounding villages, where existing educational facilities often fall short.
Our goal is to expand school infrastructure, ensuring that every child, regardless of age, receives a complete education. It takes time, energy, and support to establish a robust education system in these Guatemalan communities.
We are grateful for the numerous volunteers, donors, and organizations who have helped make our dream a reality. Although there is still work to be done, we have come a long way and owe our progress to the dedication of everyone involved. Together, we are shaping a brighter future through education.
The Leadership Team
Founder & Co-President
Adrienne Rosen
Adrienne is President and CEO of First International Courier Systems, which she founded in 1984. Adrienne holds a Doctorate in Philosophy of Education from the University of South Africa and an M.A. in Philosophy of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.
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In 1984 she became the first woman to go around the world alone on a motorcycle. As well she drove from Buenos Aires to Toronto in 26 days to raise funds for the December 6th fund, which advances money to women to start a new life after leaving abusive relationships.
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These two trips put her “up close” and “in front” of poverty and hopelessness and influenced her commitment to ending the cycle. In 2006 Adrienne set out to find the biological parents of her adopted daughter.
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This journey through Guatemala ended at the community of La Union, near Coatepeque, Guatemala. She found the family and an entire village of 4000 people, largely illiterate, lacking the necessary funds to send their children to school. It is here the story of Access Education begins.
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Adrienne lives with her partner Myra and their children in Toronto.
Co-President
Claire Merbaum
Claire Merbaum has extensive and diverse experience in the fields of education. Claire has
established a number of student intervention programs in Toronto, delivered dozens of
workshops for teachers and parents, and been on Senior Administrative Teams at private and
International schools.
Claire is currently a Board Certified Cognitive Specialist and Educational Consultant. She
holds a Masters of Arts degree in School and Child-Clinical Psychology and is a PhD candidate from OISE/University of Toronto.
Claire’s involvement in Access Education began due to her commitment to helping children
reach their potential, and to being a native Spanish speaker. After several visits to Guatemala with Access, Claire was inspired to move with her family to the beautiful lakeside town of Panajachel. After having lived in Guatemala for two years and witnessing firsthand the change that education has brought to communities, Claire is more committed than ever to Access Education. Claire was the honouree at the 2021 Access Education Gala for her leadership as a
founding Board Member to current Co-President.
Co-Founder and Board of Directors
Myra White
Myra is a co-founder of First International Courier Systems and has worked in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer with the corporation for the past 25 years.
She has been the coordinator of “giving” at the company and has been instrumental in the commitment to sponsor young women through bridging courses at York University.
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Myra has been active in the volunteer sector specifically related to issues of concern to women and children. In the past she has volunteered with the Reena Foundation and the North York Women’s Shelter.
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Myra along with Adrienne are the parents of two amazing daughters.
Board of Directors
Jennifer Baichwal
Jennifer Baichwal has been directing and producing documentaries for 25 years. Among other films, installations, and lens-based projects, she has made 10 feature documentaries which have played all over the world and won multiple awards nationally and internationally.
Baichwal sits on the Boards of Swim Drink Fish Canada and Access Education Guatemala Children’s Fund. She was a director of the Board of the Toronto International Film Festival from 2016-2022.
Board of Directors
Elizabeth Sawicki
Liz Sawicki a professional Urban Planner who has worked in the private sector as a Land Developer and Development Strategist in the Greater Toronto Area for over three decades.
Liz has held senior roles in corporations and led multidisciplinary teams and multi levels of government implementing ambitious and complicated land development projects throughout her career. Currently Liz has a private practice that consults to public and private agencies that focus on social housing, and Legacy City Building. She has worked with Toronto Community Housing with the redevelopment of Alexandra Park in Kensington Market, Downsview Park Redevelopment, and Waterfront Toronto eastern waterfront and the Port lands.
Liz has been part of the Board of Access Education since 2012. She is a passionate advocate for the communities that are served by Access Education in Guatemala. She is a strong believer in the potential each child has and that no one based on their circumstances should be prevented from receiving an
education.
A leader by example she is an ambassador for the voiceless. Liz was the honoree of the 2022 Access Gala to recognize for her commitment and contributions to Access order in 2022 for her commitment and contributions.
Liz was educated at the University of Waterloo with a degree in Urban and Regional Planning. She lives in Toronto with her husband and has two adult daughters. She enjoys world travel, cycling, domestic engineering and spending time with family and friends.
Board of Directors
Jennifer Turner
Jennifer Turner was educated at Simon Fraser University (Fine Arts) and the University of British Columbia School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. After graduating from UBC Jennifer moved to Toronto and has been a practicing Architect for over 25 years. Jennifer Turner Architect was founded in the early 1990’s. During this time she has built valuable relationships with clients, engineers, suppliers
and contractors through residential and small-scale commercial projects throughout Ontario, Vancouver Island, New York City, Pound Ridge New York and as far afield as Russia. The studio believes that this collaboration is essential to the making of a successful building and landscape and has led to multiple
projects with many of her clients. Jennifer Turner Architect specializes in innovative design solutions to residential homes and landscapes which respond to the uniqueness of the individual client and opportunities of the specific site. Her work combines clarity of concept with inspiring beauty, spatial
richness, attention to detail, a sense of craft, and the use of honest materials that celebrate the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi – the idea that materials become more beautiful as they age. As well as her architectural practice Jennifer has taught as an adjunct assistant Professor at U of T and Toronto Metropolitan University and has been a guest critic at numerous other institutions.
Jennifer’s achievements have been recognized by the Architectural Institute of America (Academic Excellence) and the Hamilton Urban Design and Architecture Award. The work of Jennifer Turner Architect has been published in Archello, India Art n Design, World Landscape Architecture, Globe & Mail, Toronto Life and the Hamilton Spectator.
Jennifer lives in Toronto with her partner, Martin Davidson and their son Rowan and enjoys spending her free time reading, traveling and working in her ever-evolving garden.
Board of Directors
Amy Platt
Dr. Amy Platt is delighted to be the Head of School at the Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School. Amy and her husband are also proud parents of a Paul Penna DJDS graduate and current Grade 4 student. Principal Amy earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and history at McGill University.
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She obtained her MA and PhD at the Institute of Child Study at University of Toronto. Amy is passionate about excellent instruction and working with teachers to be the talented professionals they are destined to be. Amy also sees her job as creating a community where faculty, students, and families feel a deep sense of belonging that lasts long after their days as professionals, students, parents, and grandparents ends.
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When Amy is not at work she can be found on long-distance bike rides, pondering the larger issues facing education.
Board of Directors
Kim Beckman
Kim is senior partner with Davies Howe Partners and has experience in the financing, planning, development, conveyancing and operation of commercial and residential projects. She acts for clients in the private and not-for-profit sectors, both individually in joint venture undertakings.
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Kim’s life is filled with the activities of a busy household made up of her life partner, George Popper, an architect and developer, their four children and Chewy, the family’s beloved Wheaton Terrier.
Kim enjoys cooking, traveling, skiing, running, tennis, reading and, most of all, relaxing at the cottage.
The Advisory Board
Advisory Board Member
Rev. Dr. James Huth
Jim works as a Spiritual Care Provider in the Veterans Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical ethics and spirituality from University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto.
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He is chair of the Professional Ethics Committee for the Ontario Central Region of the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care. Jim does volunteer work with persons living with spinal cord injuries at Toronto Rehab.
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His involvement with Access Education stems from his interest to support and promote the importance of education and the well-being of children seeking a brighter future.
Advisory Board Member
Danielle Adler
Called to the Bar in 2002, Danielle is a non-practicing lawyer with extensive professional experience in the not-for profit sector.
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She spent several years at the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation National Office responsible for health promotion and grants where she cultivated a vast network in the medical and fundraising communities. In addition, she was instrumental in positioning the organization at a federal level by representing the organization at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s cancer control strategy meetings. In her time at Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada she led the organization’s communications and development strategies.
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Today, her primary job is to provide leadership in the growth and development of her two children, currently in Grades 4 and 6.
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A fitness instructor and tireless volunteer, Ms. Keystone-Adler is currently serving as Co-President of the Board for Paul Penna DJDS.
Advisory Board Member
Racheal Embury
After completing high school and some college courses, Racheal worked in a variety of jobs in different industries, repeatedly facing barriers to advancement based on the lack of university education.
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In 2008, as the economic situation worsened into recession, Racheal left her position in Commercial Real Estate and decided to instead focus her time and efforts on her two young children to ensure that they would have access to the support and guidance they needed to succeed.
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One month as a stay-at-home mom turned into 12 years. Now the mother of two teenage daughters and wife of a busy trial lawyer, Racheal continues to devote most of her time to ensuring that her daughters obtain the educational advantages that she missed out on despite the barriers and challenges they face.
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When she is not immersed in High School Algebra or Physics, Racheal enjoys painting and all aspects of creative design. Racheal is a strong proponent of education, and the right of all children not only to have access to education but the family and community support necessary to make that access meaningful.
Advisory Board Member
Rosetta Raso
Rosetta has many years of experience in the corporate world. She is the founder of Seroyal, a successful natural pharmaceutical company, both in Canada and the U.S. Along with the day-to-day operations of the company, she implemented a highly acclaimed continuing education program.
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Rosetta searched the holistic medical field internationally and put together a team of renowned practitioners to teach and mentor multi-disciplinary healthcare practitioners throughout Canada and the United States.
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Rosetta has served on many Boards of Governors, including the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, Ontario; the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences in Scottsdale, Arizona; and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario.
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Today, Rosetta is still committed as ever to what is close to her heart – helping people enrich their lives through education, health awareness and self-development.
Advisory Board Member
Dr. Ellen Greenblatt
Ellen is the mother of 2 wonderful children, Zachary Daniel and Zoe May.
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Ellen Greenblatt completed her medical school (McGill University) and Ob/Gyn Residency (University of Western Ontario) in Canada before moving on to complete a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of California, San Francisco.
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Dr. Greenblatt is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (Ob/Gyn) as well as a Fellow of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) with ABOG subspecialty certification in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.
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Dr Greenblatt is the Head of the Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Medical Director of Centre for Fertility and Reproductive Care at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario. She is actively involved in medical education at all. Dr. Greenblatt is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto.
Ellen Greenblatt believes that individuals are entitled to have control of their own reproductive needs and all aspects of their lives. She believes that education is the key to empowerment and that there as no such thing as a ‘stupid question’.
Advisory Board Member
Rabbi Elyse Goldstein
Rabbi Goldstein was the Director and founding Rabbi of Kolel: The Adult Centre for Liberal Jewish Learning, the first liberal adult education centre in Canada and only one of a few in North America, from 1991 until 2012.
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She recently retired to start a new Reform congregation in downtown Toronto. From 1986 to 1991, she served as Rabbi of Temple Beth David in Canton, Massachusetts. Her first position after ordination was assistant Rabbi at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. She was graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Brandeis University in 1978. She took a year off during that university period to pursue full time Jewish textual study at Machon Pardes in Jerusalem, a traditional yeshiva.
In 1981 she earned her Masters Degree from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and was ordained there in 1983. While in Rabbinical School, Rabbi Goldstein served at Temple Beth Or of the Deaf, where she became proficient in sign language and specialized in serving the Jewish deaf, an area in which she remains deeply committed. She is highly sought after as a public speaker and consultant on adult education.
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She is one of seven women featured in the Canadian National Film Board documentary, “Half the Kingdom.” Her articles have appeared in both scholarly and popular journals. She is the author of ReVisions: Seeing Torah through a Feminist Lens, and Seek Her Out; and editor of The Women’s Torah Commentary, and The Women’s Haftarah Commentary. She is the 2005 recipient of the most prestigious award in Jewish education, the internationally recognized Covenant Award for Exceptional Jewish Educators.
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In 2004 she received the UJA Federation’s Rabbinic Achievement Award, in 2001 ORT Canada chose her as their Woman of the Year, and in 1996 the YWCA Toronto honored her with The Woman of Distinction Award.
Advisory Board Member
Justice Marvin Kurz
Martin is a civil, family and human rights lawyer. He has appeared as counsel in all levels of courts and tribunals throughout Canada including the Federal, Ontario and New Brunswick Courts of Appeal, the British Columbia Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Canada.
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He has also acted as counsel in two Federal Commissions of Inquiry. He has sat as a Small Claims Court Judge since 1999 and as a Dispute Resolution Officer in the Peel Superior Court of Justice since 2011.
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Marvin is senior national legal counsel for the B’nai Brith League for Human Rights. He is Chair of the Peel Law Association Family Law Committee and Mediation Arbitration Peel.
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He is also a founding member of the boards of directors of the Paul Penna Jewish Day School and Access Education.
Advisory Board Member
Janet Nish-Lapidus
Janet brings over 30 years of educational experience to the Board, including five years as principal of the Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School, eight years as Principal of the London Community Hebrew Day School in London, Ontario, and six years as Head Teacher at the Dalhousie University School in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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Her vision as an educator is to create an educational environment that fulfills each child’s unique social, emotional, and academic needs. To achieve these goals, Janet has taken an active role in improving teaching practices by developing and conducting workshops, programs, and curriculum improvement initiatives.
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Janet demonstrates a strong commitment to equity and diversity issues, with particular expertise in cultural diversity in the school setting. Through her involvement with Access Education – Guatemalan Children’s Fund, Janet continues to drive her vision of education for all children.