Lesniak Institute Kean

Executive Director

Felipe Peralta, serves as the Executive Director of the Lesniak Institute for American Leadership, where his mission is to build capacity for advocacy among grassroots organizations, communities, students, and nonprofits. With a deep-rooted connection to the Elizabeth community, Felipe brings a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by the very individuals and organizations he now helps by building their capacity to advocate.

Born in Peru but raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Felipe is a proud alumni of Elizabeth High School, where he first developed a passion for community engagement and social justice. Fueling his desire to make a lasting impact, Felipe pursued a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration at Kean University, followed by a Master's degree in the same field.

Drawing upon his academic achievements and a genuine commitment to public service, Felipe honed his skills and expertise through invaluable experiences, including his recent role at the Office of Government Affairs and Community Partnerships at Kean University. This position provided him with invaluable insight into the intricate workings of government, community collaboration, and the importance of effective advocacy in driving positive change.

Now, as the Executive Director of the Lesniak Institute, Felipe through his leadership seeks to create a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and strategic partnerships that drive systemic change. He is committed to equipping individuals and organizations with the necessary tools, resources, and support to effectively advocate for his causes and navigate the complex landscape of public policy and social impact.With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by underrepresented groups, Felipe is dedicated to fostering inclusive spaces, amplifying diverse voices, and building bridges between stakeholders.

PR & Social Media Specialist

Claudia Abrantes has worked closely with nonprofit organizations throughout her college career; she thrives in an environment where she can help others, raise awareness, and express her creativity.  Working with The Lesniak Institute has encouraged her love for design, promoting change, and working with others who share the same passions. 

Her passion for change started at a young age when she began to notice the gender inequity in society.  The language used and characteristics assigned towards her were not the same towards boys her age.  It is what drove her to attend an all girls high school, Mother Seton Regional, in Clark, NJ.  As it was all girls, there would be no disparity in treatment unless by her own merit.  There she developed her voice, her public speaking skills, and her drive to make a difference.

Claudia then moved onto Kean University where she pursued her bachelors degree in Communication. There she specialized in Public Relations and studied a minor in American Sign Language. Within her minor she learned about a multitude of legal, legislative, and personal resources for the Deaf community from Deaf advocates. She was inspired once again to lessen the disparity between people who were minimized by our society. She began helping others on campus through her position as an Academic Specialist, giving them the extra support and practice they need to succeed. 

Claudia remains outspoken for mental health in every aspect of life as well as gender discrimination within the workforce and healthcare. Her love for cultivating a healthy, sustainable environment for all drives her to continue her personal advocacy journey.  She is dedicated to promoting The Lesniak Institute’s mission for advocacy through her excitement, passion, and creativity. 

Administrative and Media Specialist

Kevin has been involved in entrepreneurship and graphic design for seven years, working for a wide array of small businesses.

During his time in the graphic design world; although his clients were happy, something was missing. He knew that the media industry was changing, and his days selling business cards were soon to be a thing of the past. He bought many online courses for filming and video editing; at that moment, he fell in love with the idea of narrating stories, and the visual language movies can express. He believes many untold stories can be the missing puzzle to change someone's life. He always wanted to change the world through words but didn't know how he could create such an impact, let alone change the world.

Kevin discovered the Lesniak Institute for American Leadership and was inspired by its line of work and mission. He admired their passion for social justice and mental health advocacy and decided to volunteer for them when they needed a helping hand. In 2021 he collaborated with the Lesniak Institute to film their annual event Operation Santa.

In the Spring of 2022, He began to work with the Lesniak Institute, where he found a home to use his narrative skills and filming techniques to show the world the art of advocacy and create an impact in the community through their work.

Kevin hopes through his experience with working with the Lesniak Institute he can display the hard work of advocacy and share the wonderful stories of people creating an impact in their communities and legislation .