Introducing Our 2026 Alliance Impact Award Recipients

We’re proud to introduce this year’s Impact Awards recipients, whose leadership, dedication, and generosity are helping shape a stronger future for survivors across New York State.

2026 marked an important new chapter for The Alliance as we expanded statewide, strengthening our ability to support survivors and the organizations that serve them across New York State.

On November 17, we’ll bring together professionals and partners from across the sector for The Alliance Impact Awards 2026. Together, we’ll celebrate the individuals and organizations whose contributions have helped shape this pivotal year for The Alliance while strengthening our collective statewide response to sexual violence.

Learn more about our recipients below and get your tickets to celebrate them in New York City on November 17.

Meet the Award Recipients

Systemic Change Leader Award: Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz

Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz (she/her/ella) is being honored for her leadership in advocating for policies and resources that strengthen support for survivors of sexual violence. That leadership has been especially important as funding cuts threatened critical survivor services across New York, and Assemblywoman Cruz stood with advocates fighting to protect essential resources. As The Alliance grows into its role as a statewide coalition, her commitment to advancing policies that address the needs of survivors and the organizations that serve them reflects the importance of strong legislative partnerships in building a more effective and equitable response to sexual violence across New York.

“While I am incredibly honored to receive this award from The Alliance, I am even prouder to stand alongside them in our fight for survivors.  As a legislator and public servant, providing a voice to the voiceless is a responsibility that I take very seriously.  I want to thank The Alliance and all of the advocates, but most importantly, I want to thank the survivors for entrusting me with their experiences so that I am able to use them to shape and improve policy and law.”

About Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz

Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz (she/her/ella) represents New York State Assembly District 39 in Queens, one of the most diverse districts in the nation, and chairs the Assembly’s Committee on Committees. Born in Colombia, she came to Queens at age 9 and lived in the United States for more than 10 years as an undocumented American, raised by a single mother who worked multiple jobs to support their family.

An attorney with nearly 15 years of experience, she established the New York State Department of Labor’s first Anti-Human Trafficking initiative and developed protocols to endorse T and U Visas for victims of severe crimes and trafficking. Since taking office in 2019, she has passed almost 50 bills, including the Clean Slate Act. She helped lead efforts to pass the Child Victims Act and the Adult Survivors Act, conducting national outreach so survivors of sexual abuse could seek justice regardless of when the abuse occurred.

Community Impact Champion Award: Tammy Mehman

Tammy Mehman (she/her) is being honored for her extraordinary commitment to supporting survivors and preventing sexual violence, both through her professional work and her personal advocacy. Beyond the care and education she provides in her community, Tammy generously supported The Alliance by fundraising on our New York City Half Marathon Team this year. As The Alliance expands its work across New York State, fundraising efforts like Tammy’s help sustain our growth and strengthen our ability to advocate for the policy change needed to strengthen support for survivors. Through her work, advocacy, and personal commitment, Tammy has shown just how many ways one person can make a meaningful difference for survivors and help build a future free from sexual violence.

“Being chosen by the Alliance for this award is one of my greatest personal milestones and professional accomplishments, and it is difficult to put into words what an honor and privilege this recognition is. I have been involved in sexual assault prevention work since I began college more than a decade ago, so being recognized in this way feels like a true full-circle moment and motivates me to continue this work for another several decades, though I genuinely hope it won’t be needed by then.”

About Tammy

Tammy Mehman (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker and program coordinator at the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center. Here, she sees young adult patients who have experienced sexual assault/intimate partner violence, while also going out into the community to provide gender-based violence prevention education to students and faculty. When she’s not at the clinic, Tammy runs her own psychotherapy private practice, seeing individuals with a range of mental health concerns. She is also certified in trauma-informed yoga for survivors. As a South Asian, Muslim woman, Tammy strives to hold space for intergenerational trauma and wants to debunk the ways that some communities look at sex education and GBV by taking a culturally sensitive and trauma-informed approach. When Tammy isn’t providing support to communities through her work, she enjoys lifting weights at the gym, playing with her dog, or traveling to new countries around the world.

Creative Impact Award: Guyang Chen-Ware

Guyang Chen-Ware (she/her) is being recognized for her creative leadership in transforming The Alliance’s brand at a pivotal moment in our history. As The Alliance expanded into its role as a statewide coalition, Guyang helped shape an identity that reflects the breadth of our work and the collective strength of our community of survivor-serving professionals. Her thoughtful partnership gave us a stronger, more engaging way to communicate who we are, what we stand for, and the future we are working toward.

“When The Alliance Against Sexual Violence approached me to do their branding and messaging, I didn’t hesitate. As a lifelong New Yorker, being part of critical work that serves my community felt meaningful — and especially now, at a moment when the fight against sexual violence feels more urgent than ever. Being trusted to help The Alliance show up in a way that reflects the energy and passion of the people behind it has been a true privilege.”

About Guyang

Guyang Chen-Ware (she/her) is an independent design director and brand strategist with 15 years of experience helping mission-driven organizations show up with confidence and clarity. She partners with nonprofits, social impact organizations, and mission-driven brands to build identities that reflect their values, ambitions, and the voice that is uniquely theirs. She believes that good design doesn’t just communicate a mission — it makes people feel it. Guyang grew up in and lives in Brooklyn.

Community Impact Team Award: Francis Bialy, Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier, Lindsey Crusan-Muse, and Marisa Przepiora

This award recognizes four rape crisis center Executive Directors whose collective leadership helped pave the way for The Alliance’s expansion into a statewide coalition. Through their advocacy, partnership, and belief in the importance of a stronger, more unified statewide voice, they helped shape a new chapter for sexual violence prevention and response in New York. Their contributions are especially meaningful because they have championed this collective effort while continuing to lead the essential work of supporting survivors in their own communities.

“It has been a privilege to work alongside rape crisis programs across New York to build a stronger, more unified voice for the communities we serve. We accept this recognition with deep appreciation for the people doing this essential work every day and for what we can accomplish together on behalf of survivors.”

About Francis, Kellyann, Lindsey, and Marisa

Francis Bialy (he/him) has served as Executive Director of A New Hope Center, a comprehensive crime victim service program in Tioga County, New York, since 2014. He joined the organization in 1999 as Assistant Director and was mentored by founding Director Rose Garrity to succeed her upon her retirement. Earlier, Fran served with Niagara County Catholic Charities, where he became an instructor with its domestic violence offender program in 1997.

At A New Hope Center, Fran coordinates the ITP Community Change Project: Domestic Violence Classes for Men, one of the founding programs that informed the NOMAS Model for DV Offender Programs. He currently serves on the faculty of the NOMAS Model training institute. Through recreational sports coaching and Boy Scout leadership alongside his wife, Lisa, Fran has brought pro-feminist and anti-oppression work to hundreds of youth.

Fran has served with regional and statewide coalitions and task forces, including NYSCADV and NYSCASA.

Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier (she/her) has served as Executive Director of Fearless! Hudson Valley, Inc. since 2010. Prior to joining Fearless!, she was Project Coordinator for the Universal Response to Domestic Violence in Dutchess County, overseeing the County’s response to domestic violence. She began her career as a Senior Victim Specialist with the Warren County District Attorney’s Office.

Kellyann is committed to social justice and advancing equitable, violence-free relationships. She is an instructor at the Orange County Police Academy and serves as an expert witness on domestic violence throughout New York State. Her work has earned honors, including the FBI’s 2016 Director’s Community Leadership Award, recognition from the Dutchess County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Tribute to Women of Achievement, and the 2019 Advocate for Justice Award from Legal Services of the Hudson Valley.

Kellyann serves on the NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence Board and the NYS Citizens Review Panel for Child Protective Services.

Lindsey Crusan-Muse (she/her) is the Director of Crime Victim Services at St. Peter’s Health Partners in New York’s Capital Region, where she has worked for more than 19 years. In her role, she plans and directs the division’s executive and programmatic operations, encompassing 10 local and statewide programs that provide forensic medical care, comprehensive victim assistance, prevention education, and professional training. Lindsey is humbled to work alongside colleagues whose knowledge, compassion, and daily efforts make these services possible.

Her commitment to the field extends to supporting victim services professionals and strengthening collaboration across New York State through leadership, mentorship, and advocacy. She is past co-president of the NYS Office of Victim Services Advisory Council, co-chair of the Capital Region Domestic Violence Regional Coalition, and founder and facilitator of the NYS Victim Assistance Program Support Hour. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Communications from Hamilton College.

Marisa Przepiora (she/her) is the Executive Director of Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes, serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and child abuse throughout Ontario, Seneca, and Yates Counties. Her career in victim services spans 25 years, beginning with Safe Horizon in New York City, followed by Willow Domestic Violence Center in Rochester, and nearly two decades with Safe Harbors. Marisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Stony Brook University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from SUNY Brockport. Throughout her career, Marisa has been dedicated to strengthening services to the community and building stronger systems of support for individuals and families affected by interpersonal violence. Her passion lies in helping survivors move from crisis toward healing, while ensuring those who dedicate their lives to this work are valued, supported, and cared for, too.

Advocacy Impact Award: Pythia Public Affairs

Pythia Public Affairs is being honored for its leadership in raising awareness of the challenges facing survivors and the organizations that serve them. Through its communications expertise and advocacy, Pythia has helped amplify the voices of advocates and bring greater attention to the impact of funding cuts on critical survivor services across New York. By generously making its expertise accessible to The Alliance, Pythia has demonstrated a commitment to our mission that goes beyond its professional work. As The Alliance expands into its role as a statewide coalition, Pythia’s partnership has helped strengthen our ability to advocate for the resources and support that survivor-serving organizations need.

About Pythia Public Affairs

Pythia is a strategic communications and public affairs firm founded by Alexis Grenell and Evan Thies, who bring decades of experience shaping public agendas and advancing causes for public and private sector clients. Its team of political strategists, creatives, and former government aides helps clients improve elections, uphold human rights, change cityscapes, and elect leaders. Pythia offers a range of public affairs and media services, including strategic planning, media relations, stakeholder engagement, digital communications, and paid media. Their work includes successfully advocating for the passage of New York’s Child Victims Act and Adult Survivors Act, landmark legislation that opened a special one-year look-back window to allow individuals who were 18 years or older when they were sexually assaulted to file a civil lawsuit against the person who harmed them and/or the negligent institution. This was a critical step to empower survivors, many of whom require years to come to terms with the trauma of sexual assault and feel ready to seek justice.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

The Impact Awards are made possible thanks to the generosity of our event sponsors. We are especially grateful to our Presenting Sponsor, Vela by Element 74, and our Impact Sponsors, Pythia Public Affairs, Thomas Legal Counselors at Law, LLC, and Wang Hecker LLP.