Board of Directors & Staff

Britt Densmore has been an active member of the New York City preservation scene for 30+ years. For the past six years, he has been Vice President of Development at the Municipal Art Society of New York, a 130-year-old nonprofit working at the intersection of planning, policy, and preservation across New York City. A Massachusetts native, Britt fell in love with historic preservation after buying and restoring an 1863 brick bow-front townhouse in Boston’s South End Landmark District, the largest intact Victorian row house district in the country. Britt lived in Harlem for 14 years.

Leslie Jill Hanson is a founding member of Save Harlem Now! She is an architect and founder of Jill Hanson Studio in New York City. Jill has 25 years of experience, including a school for 650 students in rural Tanzania, interior design team leader for the New American Embassy in Mexico City, and award-winning boutique commercial projects in New York City. Prior to starting her practice, Jill worked at Richard Gluckman, Keenen/Riley, and Tod Williams Billie Tsien. A past resident of Harlem, Jill now lives with her family in a landmarked townhouse that she renovated in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx.

Joseph Landon is a New York City native. He was a member of the world-renowned Boys Choir of Harlem, and has been affiliated with Harlem institutions for the past 16 years, including Bill’s Place Speakeasy and the Harlem Boys and Girls Club. Joseph worked in the tourism and hospitality industries for more than 20 years. In 2021, he founded Jojo’s Ventures, a tourism company offering historical walking tours in the five boroughs, showcasing New York City’s cultural heritage, diverse neighborhoods, and vibrant history. Joseph resides in the University Heights section of the Bronx.

Henrietta Lyle is a community activist. She is a co-founder of the Supportive Advocates of Lenox Terrace, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Central Harlem Senior Citizen’s Center. Henrietta served as Chair of Manhattan Community Board 10, and the Harlem Hospital Community Advisory Board. Professionally, she was with NYC Small Business Services, NYC Commission for the United Nations, United States Mission to the United Nations, and H. Carl McCall during his tenure as both NYC Comptroller and NYS Senator. Henrietta is a graduate of Fordham University. She has lived in Harlem’s Lenox Terrace for 50+ years.

Rachel Lisa Nickie has been a Harlemite for 10+ years, where she has been restoring her now- landmarked brownstone. She became involved in preservation during the designation of the Central Harlem 130th- 132nd Streets Historic District. Rachel began her career working at international banks and Fortune 500 companies in the West Indies and Canada. She moved to New York to work for the United Nations. Rachel received a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, and holds a joint-school program MBA from NYU Stern School of Business, London School of Economics and Political Science, and HEC Paris.

Mark Satlof, a fourth-generation New Yorker, has a deep connection to New York City. His family has lived in upper Manhattan for over a century. Although raised in Connecticut, Mark returned to New York to pursue his college education and soak in the vibrant energy and rich history of the city. A resident of West 138th Street/Strivers Row since 1999, he is a licensed NYC Sightseeing Guide specializing in jazz age Harlem, and is an advocate for preserving Harlem’s architectural gems and historic sites. With 30+ years in entertainment PR, Mark brings unique expertise to Save Harlem Now!

Georgia Siampalioti has worked in philanthropy for 20+ years, in New York, São Paulo, and Athens. She held leadership positions with American Ballet Theatre, Central Park Conservancy, New York City Ballet, Whitney Museum of American Art, Guggenheim Museum, American Symphony Orchestra, and Foundation for Hellenic Culture. Currently, she is at Women in Need, leading the organization’s fundraising and volunteer services. After graduating from the University of Athens with a BA in Archaeology and Art History, she pursued graduate studies at Columbia University’s Arts Administration Program. Georgia lives with her family in Manhattan.

Dr. Keith Taylor is an adjunct assistant professor of Criminal justice and African Studies at John Jay College. A native New Yorker and fifth generation Harlem resident, he was a NYC public safety professional, retiring as an Assistant Commissioner. Dr. Taylor is the president of the Dorrance Brooks Property Owners and Residents Association. He is a member of the Board of Advisors for the NYC Historic Districts Council, and the Preservation Committee of the City Club of New York. Dr. Taylor is the current chair of Manhattan Community Board 10’s Landmarks Committee. He is a graduate of City College of New York and Columbia University

Roberta Washington has been Principal of Roberta Washington Architects P.C. since 1983. She holds architecture degrees from Howard University and Columbia University. From 1991-1998, Roberta was chairperson of Manhattan Community Board 10’s Housing and Land Use Committes. She also served as a NYC Landmarks Preservation Commissioner from 2007-2015. Roberta is a past president of the Center for Architecture Foundation, and the National Organization of Minority Architects. She also currently serves on the board of the Society of Architectural Historians.