Staff-

Brendan Kearney (he/him)
Deputy Director of Advocacy
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As the Deputy Director of Advocacy, Brendan manages outreach and communications for WalkMassachusetts. He is a founding member of the City of Boston’s Vision Zero Task Force, and represents WalkMassachusetts on the Massachusetts Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board (MABPAB) which serves in an advisory role on advancing bicycle and pedestrian transportation for MassDOT and other State Agencies. He writes our monthly crash review posts, is the lead author on the annual fatal pedestrian crash report released in the 1st quarter each year, and can often be found testifying at public hearings on projects and policies that impact pedestrians across Massachusetts.

In 2020, Brendan launched our 15-week “Keep Walking” storytelling project and our November “Beat the Bay State” virtual challenge. Before WalkMassachusetts, Mr. Kearney managed customer service for an online race registration company and was a service manager at a business to business service provider.  He is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross.

Althea Wong-Achorn (she/her)
Deputy Director of Operations
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Althea Wong-Achorn is the Deputy Director of Operations for WalkMassachusetts. Her work focuses on developing and implementing fundraising strategies that raise the crucial funds needed to support WalkMassachusetts’ mission. She leads efforts to cultivate both individual and corporate donors, designs campaign strategy and messaging for the annual appeal and fundraising events, and oversees the Board Development Committee. Althea is further responsible for identifying grant opportunities, overseeing their submission and management, and stewarding foundation relationships. Prior to joining WalkMassachusetts, Althea worked for the USS Constitution Museum, Boston Children’s Museum, and the Colby College Museum of Art. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colby College.

Iolando Spinola (he/him)
Senior Program Manager
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Iolando Spinola joined WalkMassachusetts full-time in 2022 as Senior Program Manager. By engaging community groups, municipalities, and other partnering groups, Iolando promotes equitable mobility and improves pedestrian environments. His responsibilities include coordinating WalkMassachusetts’ technical assistance and community-based programs. Through these programs, Iolando assists stakeholders in becoming local champions for walkability. Among his current projects are the WalkMassachusetts Network, Connecting Children and Families to Parks in East Boston, and a community-engaged research program with Boston Medical Center. Previously, Iolando worked on services learning at Bentley University and community engagement at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. He earned a Master’s of Education in Community Engagement from Merrimack College in 2018. He graduated from Bridgewater State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, Geography, and Political Science in 2012.

Ava Dimond (she/her)
Program Coordinator
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Ava Dimond joined WalkMassachusetts as a Program Coordinator in 2022. Her work centers on supporting all members of the WalkMassachusetts staff through office management/administration, development activities, communication strategies, and event planning. Ava assists in keeping the office running smoothly to ensure WalkMassachusetts is in the best position to advocate for pedestrian safety, and equitable, walkable communities. She hails from Miami, Florida, and is passionate about making our cities more resilient, sustainable, and vibrant. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Environmental Studies from Tufts University in 2022, where she gained experience in student organizing and coalition building.