Biography of Heidi Hynes
Heidi Hynes grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. She moved to the Bronx to attend Fordham University where she graduated with a BA in Philosophy in Spring 1990. During her time at Fordham, she participated in the Bronx community as an assistant at an after-school program and as a monorail driver at the Bronx Zoo. After graduation, Heidi worked in a number of service-related jobs. In 1992, she became an associate of the Friars of the Atonement and volunteered for a year in Jamaica, Wisconsin In Jamaica, she worked at a preschool, distributed food, tutored, assisted at a clinic and did other activities related to the Friars Parish. Following her time in Jamaica she returned to NYC as a full-time volunteer with the Catholic Worker on the Lower East Side. She lived with formerly homeless men and women, ran a soup line, assisted with the distribution of the newspaper and was active in peace and justice campaigns. In 1995 she began work as a community organizer for the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition. For three and a half years she organized tenants, homeowners, and parks groups in the Fordham Bedford community. She also worked as staff for the Safe Streets Committee. It was at the NWBCCC that she met the Board of the Mary Mitchell Center. In October 1998 she took the position of Executive Director at the Mary Mitchell Center. During her time at the Center, she has received further education through Columbia University’s School for Non-Profit Management, receiving a certificate in Youth Program Management and Leadership Development. She received mentoring from Pius XII through a Partnership in After School Education Mentoring Program. Heidi was recognized by Community Board 6 for her positive contributions to the Crotona community receiving citations from the City Council and State Assembly. Heidi has left behind her husband and daughter.