Meet our Team
We’re an awesome crew who understand what you’re going through – we’re here to help minus the judgement.
Kreindy Brand
Founder & Director
Kreindy Brand is the heart and soul behind Project NextGen. From a young age, Kreindy has possessed an innate ability to connect beyond the surface, she has always been someone people naturally open up to and are drawn to. Her warmth and openness often lead people to confide in her their most personal experiences. She listens without judgment, tuning into what’s really going on beneath the typical ‘I’m fine’. Her sensitivity allows her to recognize when someone is struggling or facing a crisis; and her deep belief in every individual’s potential continues to shape everything she does.
Her professional journey began as an educator, where she learned the power of human connection, and how it can change lives. Kreindy was assigned the most challenging class in the school, but rather than reacting to their negative behavior she aimed to understand it. She treated each student with empathy and care, which ultimately helped them thrive and succeed. What could have been a difficult year instead became one of her most rewarding experiences of her life.
Arielle Jacobowitz
Assistant Director
With over a decade of experience mentoring, teaching, and guiding teens through personal and academic challenges, Arielle Jacobwitz brings a unique mix of empathy, enthusiasm and organizational skills to her role at Project NextGen. She has previously taught at Yeshiva Derech Ha Torah, Ohr Shlomo Boys High School, and Bnot Chaya Academy (BCA), working closely with students facing struggles such as eating disorders, alcohol use, and substance abuse.
Drawing on her background as a high school teacher and guidance counselor, as well as her leadership roles in numerous camps and teen programs, Arielle has earned a reputation for creating safe, supportive environments where young people feel heard, valued, and motivated to grow.
Blima Weinbaum
LCSW, CASAC-T, SiFi
Clinical Supervisor
Blima Weinbaum is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, CASAC-T (Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor), and certified Seminar in Field Instruction (SiFi) educator with a deep commitment to supporting clinicians, interns, and clients through a multifaceted, systems-informed approach.
A graduate of the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Blima brings extensive experience in addiction, mental health, and family systems to her work. She currently serves as an adjunct professor of social work and is a dedicated clinical supervisor and field instructor, guiding both emerging and practicing therapists with insight, compassion, and professionalism.
In addition to her academic and supervisory roles, Blima presents in schools through CCSA (Communities Confronting Substance Use and Addiction). She also facilitates a support group for young adults impacted by addiction, offering a safe space for healing and growth.
As a supervisor at Project NextGen, Blima meets weekly with the team to provide guidance, address challenges, and ensure that every teen and young adult in the Project NextGen program is receiving the support they need to thrive.
Professor Aaron Silverman
LMSW, SIFI
Clinical Supervisor
Professor Aaron Silverman is a compassionate and skilled psychotherapist dedicated to helping supervisors create change in their clients’ lives. Trained in multiple evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Experiencing, and Motivational Interviewing, Aaron aims to support therapists and mentors with the unique needs, goals, and pace of their client through technique and personal presence.
Aaron brings warm, relatable and non-judgmental thinking, to create a safe space where supervisors can explore and find their unique approach to therapeutic practice. By uncovering motivations, blind spots and emotional tendencies, Aaron assists in the therapists’ development of themselves and their clinical tools for efficacy and lasting well-being.
As a supervisor at Project NextGen, Aaron supervises mentors individually, meeting them weekly to provide guidance, address challenges, and ensure that every teen and young adult in the Project NextGen program is receiving the support they need to thrive.