Meet City Gate's staff
Dr. Lynn Bergfalk, Executive Director
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Kristin Wiener, Associate Director
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Paget Keller Rhee, Program Director
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Mercedes (Yamileth) Centeno Sanchez, Preschool DirectorA native of Managua, Nicaragua, Yamileth has nearly twenty years of experience working with children, including a variety of roles at CentroNia, a DC Bilingual Public Charter School, and as a Spanish Immersion teacher in DC Public Schools. She has a master's degree in Health Education from University of Deusto, Spain, and a bachelor's degree in Education from Catholic University of Nicaragua, and is a certified/licensed trainer in Early Childhood Education Administration. She and her husband have two daughters. |
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Tiauna Miller, After-school Coordinator
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Minister Michelle Richardson-Patterson, SE Site Director
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Sarah Hynes, Preschool Instructor
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Lynn has been involved in community work and urban ministry for many years. He came to Washington in 1987, serving as the Senior Minister of Calvary Baptist Church, a historic downtown church with extensive community programs, until founding City Gate in October 2000. Under his leadership as President and Executive Director, City Gate quickly developed a multi-faceted program of education and community-building at a variety of sites throughout the city. Lynn also is the pastor of 
Kristin has a diverse background, including double degrees in biochemistry and accounting from Iowa State University. She moved with her husband to the Washington DC area in 2000, and specializing in costuming and couture evening gowns. Volunteer work with at-risk youth in southeast DC led her to City Gate, where as our Program — and later — Associate Director, she has played a key role in the growth of our programs from two locations in 2006 to eight schools and community centers into 2011. Kristin is driven by her passion for not only advocating for those in need, but also teaching others to become effective advocates. 
Paget brings a background of both business and community work to City Gate. She has worked with City Gate in a variety of capacities since our beginning in 2000, before taking the position of Program Director in January 2011. Paget's passion for children is rooted in her experiences growing up in the Amish Country of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where her family opened their hearts and home to over 50 foster children. She has a double major in Recreation Management and Youth Development with a minor in Biblical Studies. She and her husband Rob have three children.
Barry has a varied professional background, and served as Office Manager of Metropolitan/Delta Adult Literacy Council prior to coming to City Gate. Having been affiliated with many church organizations and non-profit programs benefiting the community, He brings his experience, perspective and passion to City Gate's commitment to urban ministry. Barry is a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, Washington, D.C., and an active musician who enjoys singing with both the Shiloh Senior Choir and an independent choir called Psalm 150.
Alicia has over fifteen years of experience in family advocacy in family advocacy and early childhood development, working previously at the YWCA and Metropolitan/Delta Adult Literacy Council before coming to City Gate in 2007. She started her own family advocacy program in 1997 to address critical needs of the families involved in her adult literacy classes. Alicia currently serves as City Gate's 
Tiauna Miller started at City Gate as a Literacy*AmeriCorps volunteer in 2009. Since then, she has been coordinating our science programs at Marie Reed, Drew and Randle Highlands Elementary schools. She currently is the lead teacher at Randle Highlands and will be pursuing a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Special Education at George Washington University in January 2012.
Min. Michelle Richardson-Patterson is a native of Washington , DC. She has 10 children and 12 grandchildren and many godchildren. She is also an associate minister of Paramount Baptist Church and the minister of the PBC Drug and Alcohol Ministry. She has worked with urban and suburban children, youth and families for over 15 years. She is also the President and CEO of “Team J-Rock #8 Non-Violence Scholarship Foundation” in memory of her deceased son James. She holds several degrees: a Bachelors degree in Religious Education from Washington Saturday College, Howard University Campus (honors), and a Bachelor degree in Business Administration/Management from Sojourner Douglass College (honors). Min. Richardson-Patterson also graduated in May 2010 from Wesley Theological Seminary and completed her Masters of Divinity Degree with a concentration in Urban Ministry. Like Isaiah responding to the call, Min. Richardson-Patterson’s motto is “I’ll go; Here I am, Send me!” (Adapted from Isaiah 6:8)
Sarah comes to City Gate with a mixed background in Spanish interpreting, social work, and teaching experience. She moved to DC in 2010, after working in Charleston, SC doing written translation and Spanish interpreting for a private doctor’s office, and MUSC Hospital. She has also worked helping Hispanic migrant workers find affordable housing, tutoring Spanish, and teaching ESL in Paraguay . She is currently working as the Assistant Director for the Caterpillar Preschool, and as the lead instructor for City Gate’s Science Program in Anne Beers Elementary. Her Bachelor’s Degree is in Spanish, with a concentration in Romance Languages and Literature. She will receive her Master’s Degree in Secondary Education for ESL and Spanish. She is the oldest of four siblings and her parents live in Salisbury, MD.