Executive Director

Kay Klo is the Executive Director of the Midtown Utica Community Center. Kay and her family moved to Utica, NY as refugees in 2004 due to the civil war in Myanmar. After receiving a B.A. in anthropology from Mount Holyoke College, Kay spent one year in Thailand as a Fulbright Scholar, where she taught English and learned Thai.

As Executive Director, Klo works closely with the board of directors and oversees MUCC's finances, maintenance of the MUCC headquarters in Midtown Utica, the many volunteers dedicated to the community center, and MUCC programming. In addition, she heads fundraising endeavors.

She is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Information Design and Technology at the SUNY Polytechnic Institute. In 2022, she was named a “Woman of Distinction” by the New York State Assembly. She is dedicated to community engagement and social equity in all forms of her work. She loves Thai food and enjoys napping.

Assistant Director

Renee Wah is the Assistant Director at the Midtown Utica Community Center. Her educational background includes an AAS in Accounting from Mohawk Valley Community College and a BS and MSW in Social Work from Keuka College. Renee has previously worked at local non-profits before joining MUCC.

Renee’s role at MUCC includes providing high level administrative support and assistance to the director and other staff members. She assists the director in strategic planning and helps supervise in daily operations. In her free time, Renee enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and watching k-dramas.

Director of Programs

Sarah Morehouse is the Director of Programs at the Midtown Utica Community Center. As Director of Programs, Sarah oversees the operation of programs at MUCC including the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, budget, grant compliance, and youth protection. Sarah is originally from Utica, New York but has spent years working overseas in international development and humanitarian response.

Sarah received a Bachelor's in Behavioral Psychology and International Relations from Salve Regina University and a Master's in International Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University. Sarah speaks Thai, loves to run, and knows everything and anything about hiking in the Adirondacks.

Program Manager

Nurallah Alawsaj is the Program Manager of the Midtown Utica Community Center. Nurallah helps in overseeing, supervising events and programs happening at MUCC. She is a part of the Media Committee where she generally covers and shares updated news on programs, workshops, etc. Through her previous experiences and internships in social media management.

She manages all social media platforms, newsletters at the center to provide help to the community members by sharing and providing resources that are needed.

Nurallah is bilingual and fluent in Arabic and English. In her free time she enjoys reading, attending creative events, workshops, and listening to podcasts. She hopes to be able to help and work closely with youth by being a mentor and provide resources that are needed to help them succeed.

Grants Manager

April Soe is the Grants Manager at Midtown Utica Community Center. April has been living in Utica since 2001 when her family resettled from Thailand for better opportunities. April has her B.S. in Human Biology from University at Albany. She then decided to pursue a MSc. in Management, Policy Analysis, and Entrepreneurship in Health and Life Sciences from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

As a Grant Manager, her work involves developing grant proposals, researching grant opportunities, and strategizing program deliverables. In addition to grant writing, she also assist with developing new ideas for our programs.

When she is not working at MUCC, she enjoys her time fantasizing about her next travel destination. She has been to 18 countries and counting! Her other hobbies includes cooking, learning about new cultures, and eating new foods.

Administrative Data Specialist

Shukri is the Administrative Data Specialist at the Midtown Utica Community Center. Shukri and her family came to the United States as refugees from Kenya for a better life. Shukri received her Associates Degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences from Monroe Community College. She is now pursuing her Bachelor's in Healthcare Administration. Shukri was the site coordinator for the New York State Mentoring Program at MUCC.

Shukri assists with data processing and recordkeeping to contribute to an efficient office operation. She also helps coordinate with MUCCsters to help ensure that they have the best experience. When she can, Shukri attends social events representing MUCC, ensuring that MUCC is making an impact wherever she goes!

Shukri Is fluent in MaiMai and can read and write in Arabic. In her free time Shukri enjoys creating new recipes and painting.

IT Consultant

Moreno Dizdarevic is the IT Consultant at Midtown Utica Community Center. Moreno’s family originally comes from Bosnia & Herzegovina and he grew up between Croatia and the Utica area. Moreno has a B.S. in Computer Science and Sociology from SUNY Poly and is fluent in Bosnian/Serbo-Croatian.

As an IT Consultant, he worked with the MUCC team to create the organization’s website and continues to manage it as well as handles various other IT-related issues when needed.

When he is not working with MUCC, Moreno runs a web design company called Una Web Solutions, mentors refugee youth, tutors beginner programmers, and binge-watches Netflix shows like the The Witcher.