Darius Shirzadi, Executive Director
Darius Shirzadi is a Co-Founder of Project GOAL. Darius is also the former director of Latino and Cape Verdean Community Affairs with the New England Revolution professional soccer team in Foxboro, Massachusetts. A former professional, college soccer player, coach, and general manager, Darius is fluent in Spanish, some Creole, and some Portugese. He has coached soccer in the middle schools and high schools of Providence and Pawtucket and is well-known by Rhode Island's minority communities, as well as by businesses and the media. Darius is responsible for overall management and administration of GOAL's business affairs. He interacts with GOAL's directors of education and soccer, setting strategy on how to best serve GOAL participants. He also assists in coaching "GOALies" during soccer activites. Darius has been involved with GOAL since its inception in 2002 and is one of its co-founders.
Javier Centeno, Director of Soccer
Javier Centeno is a Co-Founder of Project GOAL. Javier is also a Youth Supervisor with the Blackstone Valley Community Action Program and former professional soccer player. He was recently named RI Boys Youth Soccer Coach of the Year. Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and Creole, he is a member of the Central Falls Athletic Hall of Fame and is the assistant men's soccer coach at Providence College. A native of Colombia, Javier grew up in Central Falls and knows firsthand the difficulties and challenges GOAL participants face in going through the public school system.
Robin Yates, Director of Education
Director of ESL (English as a Second Language) for the Central Falls School Department, Robin has a 30-year career as an academic working at the junior high school level and with Brown University. He is responsible for assessing the educational needs of GOAL participants, focusing on their specific weaknesses and problem areas, then developing individual educational objectives and overseeing the progress each participant is making in meeting his academic objectives. Robin has been involved with GOAL since 2002.
GOAL BOARD MEMBERS:
Olga Noguera
Olga Noguera is a Co-Founder of Project GOAL. Olga is also a former chair of the Providence school board and founding member of Progreso Latino, Olga is assistant director of the Rhode Island Department of Human Services working with the Latino community. She also is on the boards of several other non-profit organizations serving the Latino community, including CHISPA and the International Institute. Olga is key to establishing and managing GOAL's relationships with RI's school departments.
Peter A. Whealton
Peter A. Whealton is a Co-Founder of Project GOAL and a Chairman of the Board. Peter is also Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of CORE Business Technologies in East Providence, RI. He was formerly President and COO of a publicly held firm. Peter also serves on the boards of other organizations. Peter consults with and offers guidance to GOAL staff members and is instrumental in promoting Project GOAL in the academic and business communities. |
