Erisa Galgoci

Co-Founder, Director and President

My name is Erisa Galgoci, and I am the Co-Founder, Director and President of NextGen Kindness. Professionally, I am the owner of E.B.E. Medsolutions LLC, a premier U.S. based medical billing company that partners with healthcare providers nationwide to streamline billing and maximize reimbursements. I was inspired to join the NextGen Kindness Board because of my daughter, Eliana, whose passion for helping the community is extraordinary. Her heart for service, kindness, and empowering youth has been the driving force behind my involvement. I have also been a member of the Junior League of Flint for a decade, serving previously on their board, experiences that strengthened my lifelong commitment to volunteering and community impact.

Through NextGen Kindness, I hope to engage young people in making service a normal, everyday part of life, inspiring kindness as a way of living and creating lasting change through compassion, connection, and consistent acts of giving back. I also hope to see NextGen Kindness grow beyond our local community, with chapters across the state and eventually nationwide, allowing youth everywhere to lead with kindness. In my free time, I enjoy crafting, trying new things, exploring adventures, spending time with family and friends—especially over brunch—and soaking up the summer sun by the water. A fun fact about me is that I am fluent in three languages: Albanian, Italian, and English. My message to the community and youth is that, though I began life in a very poor country and faced many challenges, perseverance, hard work, and giving back have created new opportunities and a brighter future. I hope my story encourages young people to believe in their potential and lead lives rooted in kindness, resilience, and service.

Andrea Mulligan

Vice President

My name is Andrea Mulligan, and I am the Vice President of NextGen Kindness.

Professionally, I am a full-time stay-at-home mom who also actively supports the family business, Mulligan Heating. I was inspired to join NextGen Kindness Foundation because giving back and helping others has always been a core value in my life. I have a deep love for my community and animals, and I believe kindness should be taught and lived every day. Being part of this organization allows me to lead by example for my children and show them the importance of compassion, service, and making a positive impact—no matter how big or small. I hope to empower youth to lead with kindness and confidence while learning the value of giving back, helping to build a stronger, more connected community where kindness is learned, shared, and passed on to the next generation. In my free time, I enjoy traveling with family and friends, spending quality time together, and creating meaningful memories. A fun fact about me is that I’ve always had five or more animals in my home—friends and family joke that I run a small zoo. My message to the community and youth is simple: kindness matters more than you may realize; small acts of compassion can create lasting change, so always lead with your heart and give back whenever you can.

Mrym Ahmed

Secretary

My name is Mrym Ahmed, and I serve as Secretary on the board. Professionally, I work as a Policy Analyst for the Council President, focusing on city-wide policies that shape and support our community. I was inspired to join this organization because of its strong mission and ambition to spread intentional kindness and reach vulnerable, often overlooked communities—especially children. Through this work, I hope to help create a community where youth feel genuinely inspired, supported, and proud of the good they do for themselves and for others. I want young people to know that their voices matter, that speaking up is powerful, and that kindness and consistency are always worth celebrating. In my free time, I volunteer at a local cat rescue, which is something I deeply enjoy. A fun fact about me is that my first name has no vowels. My message to youth is simple: keep showing up for yourself, always reach out when you need help, and never be afraid to ask—because if you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.

Tessa Stickel

Treasurer

My name is Tessa Stickel, and I serve as Treasurer on the NextGen Kindness Foundation Board.

Professionally, I am the Communications Coordinator and Marketing Manager for the City of Fenton, Michigan. My passion for community impact began as a Girl Scout Troop Leader for my daughters and their friends, where we focused on creating meaningful change, and NextGen Kindness Foundation takes that mission even further by empowering youth and teens to uplift their peers and neighbors in powerful ways. I hope to help create an organization that reaches everyone—from the most vulnerable who need support to those who may not yet realize the talents they have to offer—bringing people together to build a healthier, more connected community. In my free time, I love watching spooky TV shows, reading Stephen King novels, cheering on my daughters in their music, theatre, and dance performances, tending a sustainable food garden with my husband, and creating art whenever I can. A fun fact about me is that I won Western Michigan University Idol in 2003. My message to the community and to youth is simple: it doesn’t take much to make a big difference—your empathy, compassion, and drive can spark a revolution of love and acceptance, so share your talents and never be afraid to try something new.

Sara Gallegos

Board Member

My name is Sara Gallegos, and I am a Board Member of NextGen Kindness.

Professionally, I am the owner of Decorative Stitch and have been a prominent face in the Baby Lock family, as well as the host of PBS’s Fons & Porters Love of Quilting. My passion for sewing and teaching began at the age of four by my mother’s side and has grown into a career writing magazine articles and creating video content for Baby Lock and The Quilting Company. I was inspired to join the NextGen Kindness Foundation Board because I lead a creative community of makers who use needle and thread to provide comfort and support to others, and I wanted to empower the next generation to use their talents for the good of their communities. I hope to inspire youth to discover their creativity, build confidence in their skills, and see that learning a craft can open doors to personal growth and meaningful impact. In my free time, I enjoy traveling with my family, exploring new adventures, and coming up with fun and creative sewing projects. A fun fact about me is that creativity never turns off—I’m always generating ideas to add personality and flair to my sewing and artwork. My message to the community and youth is simple: never be afraid to create, try something new, or let your personality shine through your work; when you use your talents with passion and kindness, you not only grow your skills but inspire others to do the same.

Dr. Anar Desai Guru

Board Member

Hello, my name is Dr. Anar Desai Guru. I am a Board Member for NextGen Kindness.

I am the Dean of Health and Human Services at Mott Community College. I am a licensed Physical Therapist, with specialization in Women’s Health, experience in Sports Medicine, Neurological Rehabilitation, Pediatrics, and have taught at the University of Michigan Flint and Mott Community College. I love the mission to make volunteerism and giving the norm from childhood—that giving and helping others should be something that kids learn to do, so that then this carries into their lives as adults and eventually passes down to their own children. I think this Foundation can help create a generation of kind and compassionate young people. Working with this foundation will allow me to be just a small part of a variety of initiatives that will spread kindness and make our community a warmer, more welcoming place. I think this work will allow us to lead from the heart. In my free time I enjoy family time, travel, journaling and interior design. One Fun Fact About Me: This year, I have visited 12 different cities in the United States including NYC, Chicago, Austin, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and more… The best thing about visiting cities is seeing a different way of living and in many cases, evidence of a very different culture than what we are accustomed to in our local area.

Dr. Shawn Reiser

Board Member

Hello, my name is Dr. Shawn Reiser, and I am a board member of NextGen Kindness.

Professionally, I am a foot and ankle specialist (podiatric surgeon) with a focus on diabetic limb salvage, though I enjoy all aspects of podiatry. Giving back to the community has always been important to me—since my son was young, we have participated in volunteer activities to support those less fortunate, and I am passionate about continuing that work with a focus on children. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, am an avid soccer fan, and have been a lifelong marathon runner, embracing movement and exercise in all forms. A fun fact about me is that my husband and I share nearly the same name—he’s Sean, and I’m Shawn. My message to youth is simple: they are our future, so let’s choose kindness, show up for one another, and remember that even small actions can make a big difference.