Committee members, who include both board members as well as other members of the community, are selected for their expertise, integrity, dedication, judgment and understanding of community issues.

* Current Trustee; ** Past Trustee

Executive Committee

  • Peg O'Shea, Chair
  • Nicholas Fortson, Vice Chair
  • Sandy Hale, Treasurer
  • Carol Williams, Secretary
  • Catherine Marrion*
  • Maryam Elahi, Ex Officio

Governance Committee

  • Lee-Ann Gomes*, Chair
  • Nick Fortson*
  • Sandy Hale*
  • Peg O'Shea*
  • Leah Schad*
  • Maryam Elahi, Ex Officio

Audit Committee

  • Leah Hartman*, Chair
  • Jason Cote
  • Denise Lindell
  • Michael Rauh*
  • Barbara Sahagan*

Development Committee

  • Carol Williams*, Chair
  • Paul Leeming
  • Catherine Marrion*
  • Peg O'Shea*
  • Michael Rauh*
  • Morgan Tuck*

Finance Committee

  • Sandy Hale*, Chair
  • Joe DeLong*
  • Edwin Higgins**
  • Susan K. Jones

Investment Committee

  • Barbara Sahagan*, Chair
  • Harry Ferguson**
  • Nick Fortson*
  • Leah Hartman*
  • Sassy Larrañeta*
  • John Pritchard**

Environmental Grants Committee

  • Frida Berrigan
  • Ayana Melvan
  • Cheryl Poirier
  • John Sargent

Norwich Youth Grants Committee

  • Nicholas Fortson*, Chair
  • Angelo Callis
  • Abby Dolliver
  • Echo Johnson

Southeastern General Grants Committee

  • Melaijah Armstrong
  • Tracy Espy
  • Shineika Fareus
  • Jeannie Milstein
  • Falecia Porter
  • Tracee Reiser
  • Zakkyya Williams

Willimantic Basic Needs Grants Committee

  • Carol Williams*, Chair
  • Catina Caban-Owen
  • Pedro Lima

Center for Housing Equity & Opportunity in Eastern CT (CHEO) Steering Committee

LaMar Coleman
Eastern CT State University

Amy Dooling
Connecticut College

Maryam Elahi
CFECT

Tracy Espy
Mitchell College

Ron Flores
Connecticut College

Sean Ghio
Partnership for Strong Communities

Shiela Hayes
NAACP Norwich Branch & PARJE

Melissa Kaplan-Macey
The Housing Collective

Amanda Kennedy, Ex Officio
SCCOG

Beth Sabilia
Center for Housing Equity & Opportunity in ECT

Dina Sears-Graves
United Way of SECT

Christie Stewart
The Housing Collective

Nonprofit Advocacy Council of Eastern CT (NAC) Steering Committee

Michelle Doucette Cunningham
CT Network for Children and Youth

Leigh Duffy
CLiCK

Maryam Elahi
CFECT

Tracy Espy
Mitchell College

Ron Flores
Connecticut College

Angela Fournier
Windham Human Services

Lee-Ann Gomes
CFECT Trustee

Jennifer Granger
United Community & Family Services

Shiela Hayes
NAACP Norwich Branch & PARJE

Josh Kelly
TVCCA

Emma King
Access Community Action Agency

Kathleen Krider
Access Community Action Agency

Avery Lenhart
Windham Region No Freeze Project

Diane Manning
United Services

Kate Milde
Norwich Human Services

Anne Miller
TEEG

Jeanne Milstein
New London Human Services

Lisa Otto
Child & Family Agency SECT

Adrenna Paolillo
LEARN Regional Education Service Center

Beth Sabilia
Center for Housing Equity and Opportunity in ECT

Julie Savin
Eastern CT Housing Opportunities

Dina Sears-Graves
United Way of SECT

Mary Seidner
Lymes' Youth Service Bureau

Kathleen Stauffer
The Arc Eastern CT

Katherine Verano
Safe Futures

Cathy Zall
New London Homeless Hospitality Center

Jennifer Zubek
Riverfront Children's Center

Women & Girls Fund Grants Committee

  • Catina Caban-Owen, PhD
  • Nancy Cowser
  • Sandy Hale
  • Susan Kietzman
  • Grace Martino
  • Laura Moorehead
  • Sarette Williams, JD