Our Stories.

Co-Chair

Chris is a part of the manufacturing team at Amgen Inc. and has been working there for the past 10 years. They had started working with Haus of Codec as a volunteer—initially planning and providing interviewing and resume-building services with the youth in the program. Where their professional life revolves around Drug Manufacturing, Chris has always had a passion for helping others to be their best selves. They always wanted to do more to help the LGBTQIA+ Community and have found the answer to that calling with the Haus of Codec. Chris has also been a volunteer at the Crisis Text Line for the past year, helping guide persons in crisis through a really difficult time with empathy and active listening. Chris has been a true Rhode Islander for their whole life Born in Providence, raised in Coventry and still residing in Rhode Island. For fun, Chris enjoys playing in their LGBTQIA+ Inclusive dodgeball league as well as playing softball on the weekends. Chris is a season ticket member and part of La Banda for Rhode Island’s own Rhode Island Football Club. They also enjoy spending time with their partner, two kids and two mediocrely behaved dogs.

Co-Chair

Cody Sellers (he/him) is the owner of a small food service business, a former high school hockey coach, a devoted father of two wonderful tyrants, a lover of Providence, and an ardent ally to the communities that surround him. He is beyond excited and proud to serve with such a community-forward organization. Cody's other passions include music, film, video games, supporting local art, and finding the next best old-fashioned in a Providence bar. Cody works to make the world a more equitable place by truly listening to the voices of those he serves. He can be found, usually with his family in tow, around Providence helping many groups with the mission to create equitable change for a better tomorrow.

Scribe

Danielle joined the Haus of Codec Board of Directors as scribe in 2025, bringing over 20 years of nonprofit experience to the role. Currently a digital analyst at AAA Northeast, Danielle leverages her position on the DEI Giving Committee to amplify the needs of LGBTQ+ and other marginalized community organizations. She also continues to work with non-profit organizations through freelance endeavors focusing on using data for equity.  Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of leading and collaborating with various partner organizations, from launching a family literacy program to using data to expand a free community Wi-Fi initiative in Olneyville. Danielle also served as a member of the SDP Fellowship at the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. Outside of her professional endeavors, she finds joy in spending time with her community of friends and enjoys a lively game of drag bingo.

Treasurer, Finance & Audit Committee Chair

Rodrigo DaSilva has joined Haus of Codec's Board of Directors as the organization's treasurer. Currently managing Washington Trust's East Providence location, Rodrigo brings over nine years of banking experience and a strong commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community. With a passion for helping the community in which he lives and serves, Rodrigo is heavily involved with and committed to various organizations. He is eager to contribute to Haus of Codec's governance by managing day-to-day finances and providing counsel to the board on investment decisions and project developments, thereby enhancing the organization's financial strategies and community impact.

Governance Chair

Jenn Steinfeld is a passionate advocate for racial, gender, and economic equity. Jenn works at the intersection of policy and action, primarily through coalition building, strategic planning, and group facilitation. Jenn currently serves as the Managing Director of the Excessive Wealth Disorder Institute, a national nonprofit that seeks to interrupt the cycle of wealth hoarding, wealth extraction, and government influence that keep us from shared prosperity and well-being. After a 20-year career in policy advocacy around LGBTQ, HIV, and gender issues, they made a pivot into helping cities use a racial justice lens to build more inclusive economies and more robust civic engagement. Jenn was a founder of Marriage Equality Rhode Island and helped steward the organization for more than a decade through the successful passage of equal marriage legislation in 2013. They hold a Master’s Degree in Mindfulness Studies from Lesley University; a BA in Human Biology, Brain, and Behavior from Brown University; and a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. They are a lifelong student of Kingian nonviolence and an avid knitter, yogi, and certified master gardeners.

Development Chair

Emelia M. Orellana is an artistic explorer, educator and youth advocate. With experience working in youth mental health services and college age support through institutional programming. Emelia has developed a large array of skills in organizational design, marketing and leadership. Through their work with Haus of Codec she hopes to support youth within her home community of Providence, RI and amplify the needs and voice of queer youth and artists.

Board Member at Large

Shaneka Ashman, MSW, LCSW, (she, her) is a veteran, licensed social worker, military officer, mindfulness teacher and wellness educator dedicated to fostering personal growth, leadership development, and holistic wellbeing. A veteran with a deep commitment to service, Shaneka brings a unique blend of resilience, advocacy, and trauma-informed care to her work. As She is the founder of Awakening Minds Coaching and Consulting LLC, Shaneka specializes in mindfulness-based approaches that promote emotional resilience, stress management, and mental wellness. dedicated to fostering mindful wellness, personal growth, and leadership development. Passionate about social justice, her focus is she is committed to creating safe spaces where amplifying Black, Indigenous, and people of color voices can thrive. Her mission is to uplift overlooked voices and challenge systemic barriers, visible and invisible, that hinder progress, ensuring that all individuals and communities have the support needed to reach their full potential.

Board Member at Large

Brendon is a Research Project Manager at the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, where he assists the Research Partnership for Professional Learning (RPPL). Prior to joining Annenberg, Brendon worked as a research assistant for Dr. Stephen Raudenbush, at the Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab, and at the World Bank's Development Impact Evaluation (DIME) group primarily focusing on program evaluation for education-related projects. In addition to his research experience, Brendon is a 2018 Teach For America corps member, where he worked as an 8th-grade English teacher and community organizer in Houston, TX. Specifically, Brendon supported community organizing initiatives that advocated for improved school services for immigrant students and families and created an educator resource guide that school staff could use to better support this subpopulation. As a first-generation college graduate, Brendon knows the powerful role that education has in shaping an individual's personal and professional trajectory and has committed himself to creating more equitable and efficient education systems so all students have the possibility to reach their fullest potential.

Brendon holds a B.A. in Business Administration, a B.A. in Public Health from the University of Washington, and a Master in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.

Board Member at Large

Mary-Lyn Csonka (she/her/hers) has spent the last 12 years as the creator and owner of the Rhode Island Kids Consignment Sale. She grew up in Stratford, CT, the big sister to two younger brothers. Mary-Lyn graduated from URI with a bachelor of science degree in Human Development and Family Services. After graduation, Mary-Lyn moved to Pennsylvania, but eventually returned to Rhode Island and started her family. She is the mother to her two Trans children: Bennett, 15, and Eliza, 19.

She’s thrilled to join the Board of Directors at Haus of Codec now. After learning about Haus of Codec and its mission, she knew she needed to be a part of this amazing and much-needed resource, serving an under-serviced and vulnerable population. Previously she has volunteered with ACOS, BBBS, and Girl Scouts and looks forward to continuing to make in impact in the community.

Board Member at Large

As a Member-at-Large, Ruth DiGiovanni (She/Her/Hers) brings over 20 years of experience in marketing and public relations to the Haus of Codec Board of Directors. Ruth is presently the co-founder of RemiPBX, a cloud business telephone service provider serving small and medium-sized businesses in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and beyond. An award-winning marketing professional, Ruth worked with some of the top technology public relations firms in the United States. Ruth is a dedicated advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and the rights for all people to have equal opportunities to succeed.

Board Member at Large

Van Powell (He/Him/His) is an Entrepreneur and Consultant who relocated to Providence in 2020 with his husband from Massachusetts. Growing up in Northern New Mexico and attending Northern Arizona University, he holds a Bachelors degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management and an MBA in Marketing. While living in Arizona, Van was actively involved in the LGBTQIA+ arts and music community and served as a Board Member and Marketing Director with Desert Overture and Desert Overture Wind Symphony (Phoenix’s Premier LGBTQIA+Ally Wind Symphony). He also volunteered and assisted with fundraisers for community organizations like Aunt Ritas Foundation, TIHAN, Southern Arizona Aids Foundation and One N Ten. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors for Rhode Island Leather Enthusiasts as Event Chair and a co-host for the Boston Gay Professionals Meetup. When not spending time with his five adult kids and five grandchildren or traveling with friends, Van is passionate about working with the LGBTQIA+ community and its organizations. He joins the board after experiencing many events (including the Art Markets) with Haus of Codec and seeing the vital need they serve in the Rhode Island community and beyond. Known for his organizational skills and diverse business backgrounds, Van considers it an honor to be involved with the Board for Haus of Codec.

Board Member at Large