board

ryk groetchen, executive director

Ryk Groetchen, educator, musician, and advocate, founded imeetswe in July 2025. he has worked as an early childhood music teaching artist for over 20 years, through stints with East Bay Music Together and his former nonprofit East Bay Community Music Project, and has over 50 years of experience as a music student, performer, teacher, community builder, and neurodiverse person (ASD, ADHD, dyspraxia, aphantasia). He collaborated with practice leaders at Berkeley Zen Center to provide a mindfulness practice experience for parents and young children, and has curated a diverse variety of community events, rituals, seasonal gatherings, and rites of passage. His many experiences building community through music-making have informed his vision of the need for neurodiversity-affirming spaces as a bedrock of community. belonging, and growth through many phases of life.

alice lancefield reid, board president

Alice Lancefield Reid, Board President of imeetswe, is an artist, parent, and an early childhood music educator. Alice leads music at several local preschools and elementary schools, as well as with East Bay Music Together and private lessons. She identifies as neurodivergent and has many ND family members. Her experiences of living outside of the neurotypical norms have given her deep insight, empathy, and a passion for justice. Alice joined imeetswe because she was curious and hopeful about how empathy and justice could create a gentler world for everyone. It gives her continued hope to be part of envisioning and reinventing neurodivergent affirming social creative spaces via imeetswe. This mission of the heart has room for everyone.

brighton earley, secretary

Dr. Brighton Earley, licensed psychologist and parent, joined the imeetswe Board of Directors in 2025. At her private practice in Oakland, she specializes in play therapy with children. She also provides neurodiversity-affirming assessment services to help children and adults understand their brains from a clinical perspective. She identifies as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), a trait which she feels enhances her ability to work with children and provide attuned care. Outside of her practice, Brighton is a mom to a toddler and enjoys attending imeetwe’s Sunday morning classes. She was inspired to join the imeetswe Board to support the mission of creating and advocating for safe and fun spaces for all types of brains. 

mark copithorne, treasurer

Mark Copithorne, treasurer, joined imeetswe in 2025 with a history of nonprofit board service. He has an M.A. in Transpersonal Counseling from JFK University and has worked in the field of mental health for more than two decades. He lives in Berkeley with his wife and daughter.

molly brennan, board member

Molly Brennan is excited to serve on the imeetswe board because she believes that everyone should have a safe and supportive space to thrive. She comes to the board with a wealth of experience in the nonprofit world from environmental organizations, to youth programs, to international development. The thing all of these organizations have in common is a commitment to strengthening community connection to create a better future for everyone. Molly also has a Master’s of Nonprofit Administration and is happy to contribute her skills and expertise to growing imeetswe. Molly shifted from pursuing an academic career with a focus on teaching sustainable leadership through empathy and compassion to applying these principles in her own company.  Molly lives in Oakland, CA with her partner, her son, and two very chatty cats. When she is not dancing around the house and singing with her son she can be found in her garden full of native plants and veggies.

saba deyhim, board member

Saba Deyhim is a community-focused leader who is passionate about translating her professional experience in consulting into meaningful impact in the nonprofit and public sectors. She is deeply committed to advancing work that strengthens community, expands opportunity, and centers care and equity. She brings years of experience mentoring and coaching youth through Friends for Youth and the Community Education Partnership; and several years serving on the City of Berkeley’s Human Welfare and Community Action Committee, supporting programs that serve local families and communities. Raised alongside a close-knit posse of cousins, Saba carries forward a strong belief in collective care and belonging. She is now focused on raising a curious and compassionate toddler–one grounded in empathy and prepared to sing and dance in a world shaped by color, change, and diverse ways of being.

allan kapoor, board member

Allan Kapoor joined the imeetswe Board of Directors in 2025 because he believes in the healing power of music, art, and play. He is drawn to imeetswe’s mission of creating neurodiversity-affirming spaces, grounded in his conviction that neurodiversity is an asset to both individuals and communities when given the proper support. Allan is a passionate musician — he has produced electronic music (under the name Mango Cult) and has more recently returned to his childhood love of playing drums. He holds a Master’s in City Planning from UC Berkeley with a focus on climate-resilient communities, and his career has centered on helping communities adapt to climate change. He currently works for PG&E on wildfire risk mitigation. Allan lives in Berkeley with his wife and daughter.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​