Staff and Advisors

Robert Macy, Ph.D.
Executive Director

Robert MacyRobert Macy is a pioneer in the field of Traumatic Incident Stress Interventions, public health-mental health psychosocial intervention and research and violence prevention initiatives for children, youth, their families and their communities exposed to traumatic events including large-scale disasters, terrorist events, and political, community, armed conflict violence and trans-generational impoverishment. During the last 19 years Macy has designed, and implements and evaluates traumatic stress reduction programs, and psychosocial assessment and intervention projects in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Robert Macy is a Research Fellow in Psychology in the Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology Program at McLean’s Hospital. Robert was formerly the Co-Founder and Director of the Intentional Center for Disaster Resilience, the Co-Director of a National Center for Child Traumatic Stress Network-Category III site in Boston, and a Co-Chair of the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress Network-Terrorism and Disaster Branch. Macy continues to consult to the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress Network-Terrorism and Disaster Branch and serves as Core Faculty for the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress Network-Psychological First Aid Learning Community.

Dicki Johnson Macy, Ph.D., M.Ed., LMHC, BC-DMT
Director

Dicki Johnson MacyDicki J. Macy is the cofounder of the Boston Children’s Foundation, and the Founder and Director of Rainbowdance, an evidence-based early intervention program of the Boston Children’s Foundation. Dicki remains a tireless and dedicated pioneer in the field of trauma focused stabilization and resiliency programs for young children and their communities exposed to traumatic events including large-scale disasters, terrorist events, and political, community, armed conflict violence and transgenerational impoverishment. During the last 25 years, Dicki designed, and now implements and evaluates early intervention traumatic stress reduction and resiliency building programs in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Ashlyn O’Dowd, R-DMT, MA
Assistant Director

Ashlyn O’Dowd, a graduate of Lesley University, completed her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Dance/Movement Therapy in 2021. Throughout her time with BCF, she has led Rainbowdance groups in the Boston area, and supported the transition to virtual interventions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She works with a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach to implement various artistic and body-based activities that empower children to explore their identity through unique ways of expression and deepen their connections to family and peers. Her experience in training rising professionals in anti-bias and anti-racist practice has led her to research ways to transform dance/movement therapy into a tool for childhood anti-bias education. Ashlyn is a certified Isadora Duncan Children’s Pedagogy Teacher, and a member of the Guardians of Isadora dance troupe.

Bella Mazza, LMHC, R-DMT
Assistant Director

Bella Mazza completed her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Dance/Movement Therapy in 2020. Bella is excited to be rejoining BCF after completing her final internship with the team in 2020. Prior to returning to BCF, she was working in stabilization and crisis support with children and families of the Boston area in intensive family intervention services. Bella is committed to utilizing the body and movement as a means to connect individuals and provide trauma focused work that can be accessible to all. Bella is a certified Isadora Duncan Children’s Pedagogy Teacher, and a member of the Guardians of Isadora dance troupe.

Supprting youth's natural energy towards healing and social empathy