Meet Our Team

For nearly three decades, Maya Nussbaum has grown Girls Write Now into one of the nation’s leading institutions creating change at the intersection of gender, race, age, and poverty. In addition to being the first writing and mentoring organization of its kind, Girls Write Now continually ranks among the top programs nationwide for driving social-emotional growth for writers. Under Maya’s stewardship, the nationally award-winning nonprofit has mentored the next generation of writers and leaders to impact businesses across industries, shape culture, and bridge worlds. Maya has been distinguished three times by the White House, including by the President’s Committee on the Arts & Humanities and as a White House Champion of Change.

Christine Obiamalu (she/her) is a creative strategist, singer-songwriter, and yoga instructor based in Brooklyn, NY. Born in California and raised in Nigeria, Christine earned her B.M. in Music Business from NYU, where she developed a passion for community-centered arts and youth empowerment. She has worked across digital communications, content strategy, and wellness education, supporting artists, nonprofits, and mission-driven brands. Her work is grounded in the belief that storytelling—whether through music, mentorship, or mindfulness—can transform lives. With experience in performance, creative program design, and digital engagement, she’s passionate about building spaces where underrepresented voices are seen, supported, and celebrated. At Girls Write Now, Christine is excited to bring her love of narrative, community care, and joyful collaboration to the work.

Emily has experience in both family philanthropy and nonprofit development supporting holistic, community-based work with youth and whole families that advances equity and social justice across Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. Emily has a Liberal Arts degree and an MS in Public and Urban Policy Analysis, both from The New School. Emily has lived in New York City since 2007. She is a compulsive bookworm, is always planning her next travel adventure, and has recently taken up surfing.

Ayana Danae Perkins is a Community Coordinator in the Curriculum & Events Department at Girls Write Now. She began at the organization as a Fellow before moving into a key role where she manages the planning and production of Community Studios—monthly, genre- and topic-based workshops curated by members of the GWN community. Ayana also produces the organization’s College Chat events and works within the Curriculum & Events team to support curriculum development and integration into the Learning Management System.

Emily Rigby (she/her) comes to Girls Write Now with a love of writing, meaningful experience developing curriculum for nonprofit organizations, and a long-held belief that there is no limit to the ways that people can express their thoughts and ideas. There is nothing that sparks her interest more than a complicated, messy protagonist whose story challenges and questions the status quo – and long-form,YouTube video essays. She holds a BA in Creative Writing and Psychology from Ithaca College and an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School and is excited to share her passion for stories in all forms as a member of the Girls Write Now team.

Lisbett Rodriguez (she/her) is a Dominican-American lifelong learner bringing her love of stories, community and service-oriented work. She was previously a Girls Write Now mentee and graduated from Brooklyn College with a Bachelor of Arts in English. As an undergraduate student, she contributed to producing two publications of the Brooklyn College literary magazine, The Junction which provided her with the tools to support in producing the annual Girls Write Now anthology for three years and counting. In August 2022, she became a Salesforce Certified Administrator after developing a strong interest for systems and databases. She’s passionate about work that centers and uplifts women and gender-expansive folx and has previously worked with two women’s organizations, Legal Momentum and the Brooklyn College Women’s Center. In her free time, she enjoys watching feel-good shows, spending time with friends and playing video games.

Erica Silberman fell in love with Girls Write Now when she group-taught a playwriting workshop for them in 2005. Through the years, she has stayed involved with the organization as a mentor, a teacher in various outreach programs, and a member of both the Program Advisory Committee and the Host Committee. Erica has an extensive and wide-ranging background in the theatre as an actress, playwright, director, teacher, acting coach, and producer, as well as experience in the design world. She formerly served as co-president of the Women in the Arts and Media Coalition and on the board of the League of Professional Theatre Women. Erica is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and the Dramatic Question Theatre, where she runs a monthly literary and music salon.