Overview.

The primary goals of the program are to help our students reach their full academic potential, build life skills, and create a path to success. Students attend every afternoon for three hours of academic enrichment. Each student receives individualized assistance in reading and math skills, and learns how to manage their time effectively.

DGA supports the learning our students are doing in their classrooms. We also help them focus on post-secondary educational and career goals, providing preparation for the SAT and support throughout the college admissions process.

TENNIS, ATHLETICS, AND HEALTH.

In addition to being an excellent form of exercise, tennis is a sport that demands patience, determination, and the ability to improve through continual practice, traits which not only contribute to better tennis players but to better people.

  • Year-round tennis opportunities
  • Healthy snacks and lunch served every day
  • 1 mile / 5K race in August
  • 7-8 week summer tennis program
  • Hands-on cooking and nutritional lessons for both students and parents

Excelling on the court and in the classroom requires many of the same skills. The focus and drive DGA students acquire on the tennis court makes them better, stronger students. By stressing the importance of health and nutrition, we build focused and dedicated scholar athletes.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Staff

We have two full time employees, Mayra Torres (Executive Director) and Lynn Radford (Academic Director). We have three part-time employees, Joe Higgins Supervisor of Student Development, Pat Snow, College and Career Counselor, and Olmer Granados, Administrative Assistant. In addition, we have the support of over 50 active, year-round volunteer tutors and tennis pros comprised of National Honor Society students from local high schools, former teachers, WCSU students, and local residents.

Mayra Torres

Executive Director

Mayra Torres has a B.A. from the City University of New York, Hunter College and an M.S. in Nonprofit Management from Milano, The New School for Policy, Management and Environment. With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, including roles at CUNY/Hunter College and the Boy Scouts of America, Mayra brings expertise in operations, strategic planning, fundraising & development, and forming strategic partnerships. She oversees the day-to-day operations and navigates all grants and funding opportunities. She joined DGA as its Executive Director on December 1, 2023.

Lynn Radford

Academics Director

Pat Snow

College and Career Counselor

Pat Snow earned her undergraduate degree from the Watson School of Engineering at Binghamton University, and her MBA from the University of Connecticut. She has a College Access Counselor Certificate from Rice University.
After a career in business software development with IBM and Paloma Partners, a Greenwich-based hedge fund, she worked in numerous volunteer roles in Ridgefield while raising her two children. She began at DGA as a volunteer college mentor in 2019. pat@danburygrassrootsacademy.org

Joe Higgins

Supervisor of Student Affairs

Joe Higgins attended Eastern Michigan University earning degrees in Business Management and Education with a K through 12 teaching certificate. He spent over 35 years selling office products including 25 years with Pitney Bowes Inc the last 15 years as the Vice President of Sales. He is a father of 3 and grandfather of 6. He has coached a variety of youth sports since he was 16. He has been involved with DGA since for 15 years. For the last 6 years, as the Director of Student Activities.

Olmer Granados

Olmer Granados is a product of Danbury Grassroots Academy. Having entered the program in the 3rd grade Olmer graduated from Danbury High School in 2023. Olmer was hired upon graduation working part-time and assists with all the administrative tasks, troubleshooting and helping the students with reading, math and tennis.

Board

Page Bowler
President

Carl Bailey
Vice President

Logan Snow
Treasurer

Takao Inouye
Secretary

Lauren Bailey
Executive Director Emeritus

Lynn Radford
Academics Director

Joseph Higgins
Supervisor of Student Affairs

Pat Snow
College and Career Counselor

Board Members
Karen Hanley
Ron Herman
Takao Inouye
Robert Lapple
Dan Manhistedt
Mariano Moran
Blas Moros
Humberto Navarro
Dr. David Pazer
Dana Perez
Steve Polozzi