40 Women for the Next 40 Years - Connecticut Women`s Education

Transcription

40 Women for the Next 40 Years - Connecticut Women`s Education
Connecticut Women’s Education
and Legal Fund’s
40 Women for the Next 40 Years
Celebrating CWEALF’s 40th Anniversary
and Future Women Leaders
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Pond House Café, West Hartford
Special thanks to our exclusive sponsor and partner!
Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund
Staff
Alice Pritchard
Catherine Bailey
Lucy Brakoniecki
Kelly Fitzgerald
Ellen Grusse
Krystal Harrison
Lisa Herrera
Amy Muslim
Ashley Nelson
Denise Poventud
Nilda Rivera
Executive Director
Legal & Public Policy Director
Research & Evaluation Director
Research & Evaluation Associate
Financial & Administrative Director
Development Coordinator
Legal Education & Outreach Manager
Research Consultant
Research Associate
Office Coordinator
Community Advocate
Interns/Volunteers
Stephanie Belsen
Jonilda Brahimi
Stacy Brusa
Tara Bucchi
Julie Buonanno
Dignora Castillo-Soto
Nina Candels
Pamela Chandra
Alyssa Comis
Kathleen Descy
Sarah Edelman
Kaitlyn Fyndekevez
Elisabeth Gilson
Veronica Gonzalez
Judi Ann Goodman
Kelley Huber
Julie Kronick
Sheree Levine
Donna Liebman
Laura McLellan
Carolina Mullen
Jillian Reynolds
Nicole Salomon-Bates
Nicole Seymour
Irene Shaver
Danielle Simoneau
Leslie Wilper
Tiffany Trowbridge-Bernard
Susan Zhou
Board of Directors
Adrienne Parkmond, President
Jennifer Devine, Vice President
Howard Rifkin, Treasurer
Kristiana Sullivan, Secretary
Kevin Barry
Jacqueline Cantoni
Cheryl Curtis
Linda Dahlmeyer
Michelle Duprey
Bonnie Edmondson
Dale Finn
Leslie Lyte
Tiana Ocasio-Nesmith
Bettye Jo Pakulis
Madeline Perez
Calvin Price
Marcus Rivera
Pierrette Comulada Silverman
Allia Wasstrom-Welz
Tonight’s Program
5:30pm
Cocktail Reception & Networking
6:15 p.m.
Remarks by:
Alice Pritchard, CWEALF Executive Director
Asker Saeed, Director of Diversity, Day Pitney LLP
Presentation of Honorees
6:30pm
Cocktail Reception & Networking Continued
7:30pm
End of Evening
The Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF) and Day Pitney LLP are
pleased to announce their honorees for their special project“40 Women for the Next 40 Years.”
This project is in celebration of CWEALFs’ 40th anniversary and is honoring the women who
will build opportunities for other women in Connecticut in the future. Nominees range in ages
from 16-40 and have demonstrated exemplary leadership, the potential to excel and a
commitment to their community. All nominees were scored by a selection committee featuring
accomplished leaders and partners of both CWEALF and Day Pitney LLP.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
WORKFORCE
Althea Bates
Age: 39
Position: WIA Youth Operations Specialist, Capital Workforce Partners
Current town: Hartford
Althea will help inspire the next generation of women by remaining dedicated to
her career in youth development and workforce development. She has played a
central role in the development and promotion of Capital Workforce Partners’
Career Competency System, a nationally recognized best practice in youth
workforce development. She serves as a role model for others entering the field
in her role as subject matter expert and trainer in topics ranging from best
practices in youth development to college preparation to case management
systems. As a member of the 2010 Leadership Greater Hartford Quest Program, she was key to
the establishment of Grace Academy, an all girls school for 6th-8th graders. Althea returns to the
school regularly serving as a guest speaker. Her personal commitment to youth development is
evident in her support of the Women’s Education and Leadership Fund at the University of
Hartford and her mentorship of five young women from Hartford who have gone on to graduate
from college and advance to professional careers. She is involved in the Union Baptist
Historically Black Tour, where she chaperones the girls on the tour while providing workshops
on college preparation and life skills development. Her understanding and recognition of career
competency to the life-long success of young people creates an impact throughout the
community.
Kimberly A. Burton
Age: 26
Position: Community Services Coordinator, John J. Driscoll United Labor
Agency
Current town: Scotland
Kimberly will help inspire the next generation of women through her passion
for advocating and responding to those in crisis. As a Community Services
Coordinator, she assists individuals to understand and overcome social,
addictive, economic and/or emotional problems that pose a barrier to
employment and sustainable living. She coordinates and provides individual assessments,
information, referrals, instruction, vocational and general counseling services, as well as,
overseeing and managing safety net services. She is on the front-lines of helping those most in
need professionally and personally. In her spare time she works on a variety of projects, serves
her community as an Emergency Medical Technician and Water Rescue trainee and sits on the
Advisory Council for FoodShare.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Elizabeth Contini
Age: 28
Position: Senior Biomedical Engineer, Covidien Surgical
Solutions
Current town: North Haven
Elizabeth will help inspire the next generation of women by
being a leader and advocate for women in STEM (science,
technology, engineering and math) fields. At Covidien, she
plays a pivotal role in providing expert technical support for
medical device product development. Her role ranges from
technological ideation to prototype testing to supporting mature products in the field through
demonstration and education. She has actively participated in numerous outreach activities
designed to educate young women about her role and experiences as a female working in a large
corporate environment. She also currently serves as a member of the steering committee for
Covidien’s Women’s Leadership Alliance. Her rapid growth within Covidien and impact on
young women gives her a unique combination of scholarliness, skill, and an ability to
communicate and motivate.
Alissa K. DeJonge
Age: 37
Position: Vice President of Research, Connecticut Economic Resource
Center, Inc.
Current town: Cromwell
Alissa will help inspire the next generation of women as a role model in
a non-traditional field. In her professional career, she oversees the
company’s business and economic research services. She brings a
unique vision to provide unbiased and objective research in line with the
company’s mission to foster business and economic growth in
Connecticut. She was only one of a few dozen accepted into the
Leadership Development Roundtable- a six month course for emerging
nonprofit leaders. Conducting quality work and upholding commitments are very important to
her. She serves on the Board of Trustees at her alma mater, Mercy High School, on the Boston
College Reunion Engagement Committee, spearheaded an annual food drive for the Amazing
Grace Food Pantry, and is a Past President of the Hartford Area Business Economists. She
maintains a commitment to the education of women – particularly in STEM (science,
technology, engineering and math) fields.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Katherine Logsdon
Age: 22
Position: Community Service Coordinator, John J. Driscoll United
Labor Agency
Current town: Bristol
Katherine will help inspire the next generation of women through her
ability to organize communities around a singular effort. Most
recently, she’s been running the John J. Driscoll United Labor
Agency’s Labor of Love Backpack Program to provide weekend
meals to elementary school children who receive free and reduced
lunch during the week. She has been instrumental in organizing
events in the community to fundraise in support of this program as
well. She is the face of the agency at public events and annually assists over 600 clients with
basic computer training to help them be better poised to find employment. She is a leader who is
willing to promote a cause to those around her.
Danielle Simone
Age: 26
Position: National Director of Operations, Career TEAM, LLC
Current town: Southington
Danielle will help inspire the next generation of women by utilizing her
intelligence, aptitude and exceptional people skills to deliver positive
outcomes. In her current role, she oversees a network of services and
support functions designed to create self-sufficiency for over 5,000
annual welfare to work recipients, assist 50,000 students to obtain gainful
employment in partnership with schools and universities and coach
10,000 workforce staff from community based agencies to improve their skill sets. She has set
herself apart through her leadership initiatives including managing a complex technology-based
career coaching agreement between Regional Workforce Development Boards and Career
TEAM. Danielle is seen as a role model not only by her fellow associates, but by her customers
and hiring authorities.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Regina Sura
Age: 25
Position: Financial Consultant for the National Accounts Financial
Planning & Analysis Team, UnitedHealthcare
Current town: Southington
Regina will help inspire the next generation of women by proactively championing opportunities in the best interest of the
individuals she serves and interacts with. She was pre-selected to
serve on the Community Action Council where she is Chairperson
for the annual UnitedHealthcare Take Your Daughters and Sons to
Work event and Chairperson for the annual Hartford Giving
Campaign. Most recently, she was also selected to serve on the
Greater Hartford Arts Council Workplace Campaign committee. Under her leadership, she has
raised funds and awareness for multiple important causes in the Hartford community. In
addition to her compassion and passion for serving the Hartford community, she balances a very
successful career where she has demonstrated innovation, commitment and continued success.
Her efforts earned her two promotions within a three year period. Regina has also been a role
model and mentor to high school and college females encouraging them to pursue success in
their chosen field through her participation with Capital Workforce Partners, Hartford’s High
School Inc. and Hartford’s Insurance and Financial Services Cluster. She is remarkable at
building relationships, networking and spreading her passion for community service.
GOVERNMENT
Carmen Chaparro
Age: 37
Position: Project Coordinator, Hartford Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Initiative, City of Hartford Department of Health and Human
Services
Current town: Windsor
Carmen will help inspire the next generation of women as someone
who challenges the community to change its norms and behaviors
to positively impact lives and the future of youth. Carmen is at the
head of the 5-year initiative to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy in
Hartford, which requires her to juggle a core partners’ team and
many community and educational partners, as well as guide the
work of a Youth Leadership Team. Carmen truly appreciates the
relationship between teen birth and constricted life chances for girls
and women. She will continue to be a force in the city – her love for her work is palpable. This
includes her volunteer work in Hartford’s art community, as a member of the JFK School PTO in
Windsor and as a facilitator of the Parent Leadership Training Institute.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Mae Flexer
Age: 34
Position: State Representative, CT General Assembly
Current town: Danielson
Mae will help inspire the next generation of women as the legislative
face of domestic violence, where she continues to push forward new
measures aimed at helping victims of domestic violence. She has been
instrumental in leading and facilitating the passage of a series of
measures which have strengthened the state’s systemic response to
victims of domestic violence over the past 5 years. With her guidance and leadership,
Connecticut continues to offer some of the most progressive laws in the nation to keep victims
safe and hold offenders accountable. Additionally, Rep. Flexer co-chaired a legislative task
force on Law Enforcement’s Response to Incidents of Family Violence in 2011, which yielded
Connecticut’s Model Policy for all law enforcement to meet as a minimum standard when
responding to the scene of a family violence incident. The work of this body continues today.
Rep. Flexer serves on the boards of Access Agency as well as the Quinebaugh Valley
Community College Foundation. She lectures at St. James Church and is a member of the Ekonk
Grange. Because of her early entrance into the political arena, Rep. Flexer has had the capacity
to learn more and foster change to include better conditions for women in the state of
Connecticut and spread her wings.
Meg Green
Age: 24
Position: Policy Fellow, Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy
Current town: Manchester
Meg will help inspire the next generation of women by bringing
women’s voices to the forefront of public policy. In her current
position, she has taken the lead working with the Governor’s Gender
Wage Gap Taskforce and was the primary author of the group’s
findings and recommendations. In working with the taskforce and in
writing the report, Meg showed her ability to lead and collaborate with
others. She is now taking initiative by coordinating the “Roundtable Series on Issues affecting
Connecticut Women,” which is co-hosted by Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman and Teresa
Younger, Executive Director of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women.
Previously, Meg completed extensive research projects at The University of Texas on
court decisions expanding educational rights for women and minorities and the role of nonprofit
advocacy in Supreme Court decisions regarding contraception. After graduation, she served in
the AmeriCorps program, Public Allies, where she helped strengthen Connecticut’s nonprofit
community and coordinated a successful youth film festival in Hartford. She volunteers today on
the Public Allies Connecticut Alumni Board, working to recruit Connecticut institutions of
higher learning to join the AmeriCorps Education Award Matching Program and to keep alumni
engaged with their communities. Meg doesn’t just lead others, she motivates them.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Cara Passaro
Age: 31
Position: Policy Analyst, CT General
Assembly
Current town: Hartford
Cara will help inspire the next generation of
women through her ability to use information
to not only propose a solution, but also identify
opportunities for compromise. As a policy
analyst, she does her homework, keeps an open
mind, listens to all sides of an issue, and talks
to the experts as well as those most directly impacted by a policy change. Through her public
policy work, Cara has demonstrated her commitment to improve women’s safety, economic
security and healthcare access. Cara was the lead staffer for the Speaker’s Domestic Violence
Task Force, the catalyst for the most sweeping changes in Connecticut’s domestic violence laws
since the 1980’s. Cara has also worked on initiatives to improve women’s access to health care.
While working at the legislature, Cara has been pursuing both a Master of Public Health and a
law degree. She has an intellectual curiosity, work ethic and drive that sets her apart from her
peers.
Sarah Bourne Perillo
Age: 33
Position: Budget Analyst, CT General Assembly and CoFounder, Runitlikamom.com
Current town: Simsbury
Sarah will help inspire the next generation of women by
motivating women, particularly mothers, to make health a
priority and find the balance that every woman needs. The
mission of Runitlikamom.com is to encourage mothers to be
their personal best by taking care of their bodies and their minds
and leading a well-balanced life. In her professional life, Sarah
is responsible for budgeting state education funds as well as
coordinating funding for the Office of Higher Education. She
also serves as a motivator throughout her community by serving
as the President of the University of Connecticut’s Chapter of Pi
Alpha Alpha and as the parent leader for her daughter’s
classroom. She is an objective voice in the political arena, and the strong voice of a mother of
three young girls, and the funny, smart, and empowering voice of a woman who believes in
finding balance in this hectic world through health, family, work and fun.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
LAW
Danielle Briand
Age: 35
Position: Founder, Esperanza Center for Law and Advocacy
Current town: Easton
Danielle will help inspire the next generation of women through
her dedication to providing equal access to the justice system.
After graduating from the Quinnipiac University School of Law,
Danielle co-founded a “low bono” law firm. The concept of the
law firm recognized the need in Connecticut for new models of
legal representation that would provide high quality legal services
to individuals and their families of modest means. The initiative
was sufficiently innovative and interesting that the CT Law
Tribune devoted a feature story to the firm in May 2013, and the Connecticut Bar Association
and other groups are currently exploring implementation of “modest means” or “low bono”
models of delivery of legal services on a broad scale, to try to improve access to justice in the
state. Recently, Danielle opened her own small practice law firm whose mission is to provide
legal representation to low-income immigrants in Connecticut, while advocating for greater
protections for immigrants under the law. Danielle not only cares about social problems, but
leads innovative efforts to try to address them.
Britt-Marie Cole-Johnson
Age: 31
Position: Associate, Robinson+Cole LLP
Current town: Farmington
Britt-Marie will help inspire the next generation of women through
her personal commitment to social justice issues affecting women,
minorities, and children. As a member of the Board of Directors of
YWCA Hartford Region, she has chaired its Nominating and
Governance Committee. In that role, she was instrumental in the
rewrite of the board’s bylaws, which supported YWCA’s transition
to a new governance model. As further testament to the confidence the YWCA’s board and
CEO have in Britt-Marie, she was asked to serve on the Executive Committee and as the board
co-chair of the 19th annual In the Company of Women Luncheon, and she has fulfilled those
responsibilities impeccably. As a labor and employment attorney at Robinson+Cole, she was
recognized a Rising Star in Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the area of Employment & Labor in
2013. In 2012, she was recognized for her commitment to pro bono service and presented with a
Volunteer of the Year Award from the Pro Bono Partnership. She has also served as the head of
Robinson+Cole’s Associates Council and on the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s
Scholarship Committee. Britt-Marie believes that giving her time and energy to support social
justice issues is a duty and an honor, and she is committed to serving as a community steward.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Meghan Freed
Age: 38
Position: Founding Member, Freed Marcroft, LLC
Current town: Hartford
Meghan will help inspire the next generation of
women as an advocate for the LGBT community, a
supporter of the arts and a Downtown Hartford
business owner and homeowner. After almost ten
years in big law and big corporate environments,
Meghan came to believe that individual members of the community could benefit from the best
of her traditional, business law practice experience, which led her to opening Freed Marcroft,
LLC with her partner, Kristen Marcroft. The firm’s motto is “work hard and be nice to people.”
The firm has been recognized for its estate planning, matrimonial, immigration and small
business legal practice within the LGBT community. Meghan’s name appears in the CT
Supreme Court’s groundbreaking decision on marriage equality, Kerrigan vs. Commissioner of
Public Health, for which she co-authored an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Human Rights
Campaign. She is a founding executive board member of the Connecticut Bar Association’s
LGBT Section and currently serves as its Vice Chair. Meghan is one of the first Connecticut
lawyers to develop a same sex immigration practice. She and Kristen also co-founded the
Connecticut LGBT Law Project, which provides information, free of charge, to members of the
LBGT community who may not be able to afford attorneys. In addition to the LGBT
community, Meghan is a proud supporter of the arts in Hartford and volunteers her time for the
Greater Hartford Arts Council. She is a strong advocate for the causes she supports, the friends
she surrounds herself with and the City she calls home.
Jennifer Galiette
Age: 31
Position: Associate, Day Pitney LLP
Current town: Hartford
Jennifer will help inspire the next generation of women through her
passion for mentoring. At Day Pitney, she is an associate in the
firm’s Energy and Utility Law Department. Jennifer represents
clients in state regulatory proceedings and proceedings before the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). She is a member
of the team of lawyers serving as general counsel to the New
England Power Pool (NEPOOL), a regional utility consortium
engaged in the wholesale markets for electrical power. Jennifer also serves as a mentor to junior
associates in her department, and she serves as an advisor and mentor to summer associate
classes across the firm. She takes her role very seriously and carries it even outside of work.
Jennifer currently holds the position of Secretary of the Public Utility Law Section of the
Connecticut Bar Association and is actively involved in Lawyers for Children America. In any
capacity, she leaves a footprint and influences change.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Jessica Grossarth
Age: 37
Position: Partner, Pullman & Comley, LLC
Current town: Bridgeport
Jessica will help inspire the next generation of women by
developing the practice of law throughout Connecticut. A leader
throughout her academic and professional career, Jessica was a
member of the Fairfield University Women’s Division 1 basketball
team. On the court, she served as a role model to young women for
her dedication to the team and perseverance as an athlete. She was
inducted into Fairfield University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.
Today, as a junior partner at Pullman & Comley, LLC, she is the founder and chair of the Young
Bankruptcy Lawyers Group, a Connecticut organization that provides a forum for networking
and professional development. Jessica serves as the chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee and
also serves as a member of the firm’s Recruiting Committee. Since becoming the chair of the
Diversity Committee, she has worked hard to raise the profile of the firm’s efforts towards
diversity. In 2013, Jessica worked closely with the Connecticut Bar Association to launch a new
LGBT section. As its current chair, she works tirelessly to organize the new section and host
events to raise awareness and build its membership. At the conclusion of its inaugural year, the
LGBT Section has garnered over 65 members. The networking groups that she has pioneered
have had a very real impact on the ability of female professionals to organize and develop
professionally. She actively inspires female members of the legal and LGBT communities by
devoting so much of herself to their betterment on a daily basis.
Amy Markim
Age: 33
Position: Associate, Hinckley Allen
Hometown: Middletown
Amy will help inspire the next generation of women through her
appreciation and understanding that she is representing her gender in every
interaction. On a daily basis, she interacts with mostly male counterparts
in the commercial litigation practice area and has been willing to embrace
the challenge of making a mark in an area of law where women are
underrepresented. Her intensity to strive for only the best was evident
while at law school at Quinnipiac University. She carried out roles of
leadership including as the Executive Managing Editor of the Probate Law
Journal, as a volunteer for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, and then after
graduation, as the President of the Quinnipiac University School of Law Alumni Association.
She was recently named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine, and despite juggling a
successful career and role as a new mom, she also serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors
for Hartford Food Systems, Inc. Amy has a commitment to the field of law, to motherhood, to
her community, and to her gender.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Roopa Modha
Position: Student, UConn Law School. Editor-in-Chief, UrbanAsian.com,
Marketing, NEQUA Studios and Pageant Winner, Jewel of India, Miss
Connecticut 2014
Current town: Shelton
Roopa will help inspire the next generation of women as a passionate agent of
change. As a current law school student, Roopa has been a member of the
Student Bar Association’s Diversity Committee and has worked each year to
assist in planning the School’s Diversity Week. She has also served as the
President of the South Asian Law Student’s Association. Last year, in the wake of
the Delhi Rape Case, she organized and moderated a “Violence against Women”
panel to encourage dialogue on domestic violence and rape, as well as the current
state of the law. Roopa was elected and has served as Magister of the Phi Delta
Phi: International Legal Honor Society’s Ellsworth Inn Chapter, which only
accepts students who are in the top third of their class as members. She has always been
committed to volunteering and will continue her commitment to the community around her. She
single-handedly raised funds to build a school in Sri Lanka in the wake of the 2004 Tsunami and
has held blood drives for the Red Cross. Roopa founded and drew her own web comic series,
“Erratic Beat Comics,” which she has used to raise funds for various causes. Her desire for
equal opportunity will continue to motivate her work toward changing the landscape for women.
Sarah French Russell
Age: 37
Position: Associate Professor of Law, Quinnipiac University School of Law
and Visiting Lecturer in Law, Yale Law School
Current town: Milford
Sarah will help inspire the next generation of women by advocating for policy
reform in the justice system. At Quinnipiac she teaches in the Civil Justice
Clinic, which represents low-income clients and advocates for policy reform.
With the Clinic, Professor Russell advocates for reform in Connecticut to
respond to US Supreme Court decisions and provide a “second look” at long
prison sentences imposed on juvenile offenders. Professor Russell teaches a
course on sentencing at Yale Law School, where she previously directed
Yale’s Liman Public Interest Program and taught in Yale’s clinical program.
There she co-supervised a team of students who won a trial in federal court securing the right of
a female Muslim prisoner not to be pat-searched by male correctional officers. Prior to teaching,
Professor Russell served as a federal public defender, where she developed an innovative
approach to challenging sentencing enhancements that led to a major reduction in the use of
these enhancements in federal cases in Connecticut. Through her work in the classroom and in
the Clinic, she is helping to shape a new generation of lawyers and advocates who will
understand the importance of access to justice and the lawyer’s role in meeting this need.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Sylvia Rutkowska
Age: 34
Position: Associate, Dzialo, Pickett& Allen, P.C.
Current town: Middletown
Sylvia will help inspire the next generation of women as an immigrant,
lawyer and woman. She works every day to make a difference in the lives
of her clients, the communities served by the organizations for which she
volunteers, and the larger legal community. As a student at the Quinnipiac
University School of Law, she was deeply committed to public interest
work. She was instrumental in creating what has now become an
important annual event, Poverty Awareness Week, in which the law school
is flooded with information about poverty. She was largely responsible for
the successful launch of that event and its expansion. Sylvia remains
creative in seeking ways to make things happen. As an attorney and member of the Connecticut
Bar Association, she facilitated the Young Lawyers Section’s $1 Million Pro Bono Campaign,
which raised over $2.2 million worth of pro bono work over the course of a three month period.
She also serves on the CBA’s Pro Bono Committee and the Judicial Public Service and Trust
Commission Pro Bono Committee, as well as represents clients in her community who need help
but cannot afford to pay legal fees. She is an active volunteer with the Oddfellows Playhouse in
Middletown, serving on their Board of Directors as vice-chair. The energetic yet unassuming
dedication she demonstrates helps her to stand out as a role model for young women. She shows
the best side of the legal profession to everyone with whom she interacts.
Sara Spodick
Age: 37
Position: Director, Tax Clinic at the Quinnipiac University School of Law
Current town: Simsbury
Sara will help inspire the next generation of women through her passion
and persistence in providing education to low-income clients so that they
will achieve success. In the representation of clients before the Internal
Revenue Service, she either preserves or vindicates their rights as
taxpayers, but, even for those clients for whom she is not able to achieve a
successful outcome, she provides education so that they will go forward to
fulfill their taxpayer responsibilities in the future. She takes a holistic
approach to her practice, recognizing that a client’s tax problems are often
emblematic of larger social/personal difficulties. In the course of helping
to solve her clients’ tax problems, Sara, with the assistance of her students, educates clients on
financial literacy, assists them in securing other social services assistance they may need, thus
empowering her clients to realize and reach their full potential. Sara instills in her clients and
students the importance of professionalism, community, and family. She has also served on the
board of the New Haven chapter of Habitat for Humanity and as a volunteer for Labs for Rescue.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
NONPROFIT/COMMUNITY
Keshia Ashe
Age: 28
Position: Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate, University of
Connecticut and Co-Founder, Many Mentors
Current town: Newington
Keshia will help inspire the next generation of women through her
unique ability to bridge youth services with the technical science,
technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. In 2011, she cofounded ManyMentors, an innovative nonprofit STEM mentoring
organization that harnesses the power of peer mentoring to inspire,
encourage, and support students to pursue STEM degrees and
careers. Through her organization, she is redefining and expanding
mentoring in the STEM fields; using her voice, skills and talents to
usher in a new generation of empowered STEM students and future
professionals. Keshia and her team of mentors have impacted over
2,000 students in the State of Connecticut, and will continue to grow
and expand as more community members become
aware of the available opportunities.
Setta Mushegian
Age: 30
Position: Director of Crisis Counseling and Advocacy, The Center for Sexual
Assault Crisis Counseling
Current town: Stamford
Setta Mushegian is the Director of Crisis Counseling and Advocacy at The
Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education. Before moving into
her role, Setta worked in several positions at The Center, first as an assistant and
volunteer and then as a Community Educator. Setta graduated from the
University of Connecticut in 2006 with her Bachelor's Degree in Women's
Studies and Philosophy and later from the UCONN School of Social work in
2010 with her Master's in Social Work. She is also a recent graduate of the
Leadership Development Roundtable Program. Currently, she sits on the Board of Directors for
the Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services, is a member of the Governor's Task Force on
Justice for Abused Children Multidisciplinary Team Evaluation Committee, and is a member of
the two multidisciplinary teams in Lower Fairfield County that investigate disclosures of child
sexual abuse. Setta uses her expertise in sexual violence and passion for positive change to
inform her practice and to inspire the next generation of women. She is the current leader of The
Center's Girls Circle Program whose mission is to maintain that girls have the basic right to
safety and health. It is her belief in a world that is free from all forms of oppression that allows
her to live a life in which her work and her personal community involvement intertwine.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Gina Muslim
Age: 39
Director, Hartford Community Partnerships,
Community Solutions
Director at Large, Aurora Foundation
Advisory Council, Boys and Girls Club of
Hartford
Current town: West Hartford
Gina will help inspire the next generation of
women by dedicating her life and using her
talents to ensuring that all people have the opportunity to reach their goals and lead healthy and
prosperous lives. As Director of the Hartford Community Partnership for Community Solutions,
Gina and her colleagues work alongside residents to help communities solve the most complex
problems affecting their most vulnerable, hardest hit neighbors. In the northeast neighborhood of
Hartford, this work is focused on using a collective impact approach that empowers and acts as a
catalyst for existing organizations to participate in broad problem solving strategies drawing on
expertise from all sectors. Improving the physical infrastructure of a community is also important
in turning neighborhoods around. Community Solutions transforms long-neglected buildings into
neighborhood assets including housing and multi-purpose community hubs that will meet the
needs of low and moderate income families in a comprehensive, holistic way. At the Aurora
Foundation, Gina has been integral to the Foundation’s strategic planning for future grantmaking and has catalyzed their data gathering process as a step toward increasingly thoughtful
growth. Her involvement in increasing and shaping funding and services for women, girls and
families puts her at the forefront of community action in the city.
Sarah Thrall
Age: 37
Position: Immediate Past President, Junior League of Hartford
Current town: Granby
Sarah will help inspire the next generation of women through her work with
nonprofits whose missions aim to impact women and girls in positive and
meaningful ways. This is most evident through her work with the Junior
League of Hartford including her most recent term as President. In that role
she led the 400 member organization and oversaw the budget, personnel
management, adherence to governance and by-laws, fundraising and project
management. She assisted in determining the organization’s next
community impact project that the League would endure for the next 5
years as well as designed and implemented a 3-year strategic plan.
Currently, she is participating in the Quest Program with the Leadership
Greater Hartford working on a task force project involving iQuilt. All of this comes out of
volunteer hours fueled by her commitment to motivate and impact others.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
EDUCATION
Meghan Hatch
Age: 35
Position: English Teacher, Woodland Regional High School
Current town: Hamden
Meghan will help inspire the next generation of women by teaching
in a way that works to advance not only the students in her
classroom, but the entire school and greater community as a whole.
Like a true leader, her decisions are not made for self-serving
interests; she does what is best for the entire educational community.
She is a founding member of Woodland for Women Worldwide,
whose mission is to provide opportunities for women and girls, both
locally and around the world. The group works to raise awareness
about gender discrimination and media bias; promote equal access to education for females;
advance leadership and service opportunities; combat gender stereotyping, and end human
trafficking worldwide. In addition to her commitment to girls, Hatch plays a unique role in
giving back to the Connecticut community by advising Woodland Regional High School’s
Preserving Our History Club. There’s not a single day that passes by that Meghan doesn’t have
the needs of the greater community at the forefront of her mind.
Barret Katuna
Age: 31
Position: 2014 Ph.D. Graduate, Department of Sociology at the
University of Connecticut
Current town: Glastonbury
Barret will help inspire the next generation of women through
ambitious exploration of gender and leadership development,
particularly in higher education institutions. She has established an
impressive scholarly publication record, with 14 national and regional
conference presentations, many of which have been moved up through
the pipeline to publication. In terms of her public advocacy, she coauthored a statement for the March 2010 United Nations Commission
on the Status of Women, and submitted a co-authored resolution for the
American Sociological Association to formalize its relationship with the
Economic and Social Council Department of Public Information, Non-Governmental
Organization Section at the United Nations (UN). She has served as the lead UN delegate to the
Commission on the Status of Women for Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS) and as the
UN Lead Representative to the Economic and Social Council for SWS. She has also served as
Sociologists Without Borders’ student delegate to the American Association for the
Advancement of Science and has been an active member of the Junior League of Hartford since
2009. Barret is an exquisite and gifted young scholar, and is well on her way to joining the ranks
of some of the best sociologists and strongest leaders in her profession.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Alisha Smith
Age: 33
Position: Site Coordinator, Yale-Bridgeport Gear Up Partnership
Current town: Bridgeport
Alisha will help inspire the next generation of women through her
dedication to the advocacy of urban, youth. In her current position, she
plans, strategizes, reflects and carries forth youth programs that build
leadership, achievement, and academic success. She addresses school
boards, confers with over 100 teachers who work with young people under
her care, presents at conferences, maintains community partnerships, and
also creates leadership institutes and programs. Through global outreach,
Alisha has mentored young people to fight for issues that matter to them.
She developed a research based organization called Artsy Girls Global, Inc.
that blends social justice for ethnic-minority girls in all cultures through the
power impact of the arts. She promotes artistry and creativity with young women that are
stepping into adulthood and assists them to live with a purpose and cause. Professionally and
personally, she unifies local, state and international communities with the power to incite change.
Rachel Winsor
Age: 20
Position: Student, University of Connecticut
Current town: Stamford
Rachel will help inspire the next generation of women through her dedication
to solving Connecticut’s problem concerning the lack of girls and women in
STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. When Rachel was
in high school, she began volunteering for the Girl Scouts of Connecticut and
Stamford Robotics. Her interest in robotics didn’t stop when she progressed
throughout the grades. She continued to be involved as a mentor and helped
her family develop an expo for the elementary school level of pre-robotics,
Junior FIRST LEGO League. Her leadership in the organization increased
every year until she was finally responsible for organizing and running the
expo herself; engaging community leaders as speakers and reviewers,
recruiting and organizing a team of volunteers and creating hands-on activities
in which all 30 elementary school teams took part. Separate from her
engineering degree for which she is studying at UCONN, she has made it her objective to expose
girls to and engage them in STEM programs and activities. Rachel is currently the President of
the UConn SWE Section, and has worked with her members to create programs that include a
New Member aspect, an educational equality initiative, fundraising for Interval House, and more.
She is also a proud recipient of the UConn IDEA Grant, which she will be using to establish
workshops to empower the women on campus. Through Stamford Robotics, Girl Scouts of CT,
SWE, and IDEA Rachel has served as a trainer, mentor and facilitator to hundreds of girls in CT
and has indirectly reached thousands of others who benefit from these programs.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
PUBLIC POLICY
Lindsay Farrell
Age: 33
Position: Executive Director, CT Working Families
Current town: New Haven
Lindsay will help inspire the next generation of women through her
work leading the Connecticut Working Families Organization. They
empower average people to stand up for economic justice on issues
like raising the minimum wage, protecting workers rights,
advocating for paid sick days and most recently, working for family
and medical leave insurance. Lindsay understands that creating an
economy that works for everyone, not just the rich, is particularly important to women, who are
more likely to take time off to care for family members, and work in low wage jobs. Lindsay
reinforces this message throughout her work and in her personal life as she volunteers throughout
her local New Haven community.
Jillian Gilchrest
Age: 32
Position: Director of Public Policy & Communication,
Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services
Current town: West Hartford
Jillian will help inspire the next generation of women
through her continued focus on advocating for women’s
issues. Through the past ten years she has stood up as the
voice for women fighting for issues related to women’s
reproductive health issues, child care, family and medical
leave insurance, and now, sexual assault. As the former
Co-Chair of the Permanent Commission on the Status of
Women’s Young Women’s Leadership Program, she
focused on analyzing legislation to see how it would impact the unique community of women
ages 18-35. As a community member, she ensures that the voices of working moms are heard as
a blogger for ctworkingmoms.com and that the educational needs of children are met as a
member of the West Hartford Board of Education. Jillian is dedicated to making Connecticut a
better place for women, children and families.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Lorie McGee
Age: 34
Position: Senior Public Policy Manager, Aetna
Current town: Hartford
Lorie will help inspire the next generation of women with her strong
leadership skills and willingness to serve her community. In her professional
life at Aetna, she is responsible for leading policy planning and advocacy for
key aspects of the Medicare and Medicaid businesses. She also collaborates
with lobbyists and industry groups to advance Aetna’s proposals and policies.
Lorie is well-known for her ability to use her leadership skills to take on new
projects. For example, she was selected to be a member of the Chief
Executive Officer’s initiative on mobile health technology. As a part of this
initiative she led a team of developers and mobile app designers in creating
and launching a new app for parents and school nurses. Lorie’s leadership spans beyond the
workplace and fuels her commitment to serving the community and empowering young women.
She is a board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford and a former volunteer for the
Connecticut State Department of Education and the Girl Scouts of Connecticut. Lorie maintains
a commitment to her high school, Miss Porter’s School, where she served on the Alumnae Board
and has served on panels to speak with high school seniors. Lorie seeks to ensure that the next
generation fosters a sense of responsibility and ownership of their education and dreams.
Michelle Noehren
Age: 32
Position: Events & Special Projects Director, Permanent Commission on
the Status of Women, and Founder, ctworkingmoms.com
Current town: Glastonbury
Michelle will help inspire the next generation of women by guiding several
community-based projects that put into action her dedication to effective
motherhood and healthy children. In her capacity at the Permanent
Commission on the Status of Women, she advocates for issues surrounding
women and families including as a coalition co-leader for the CT Campaign
for Paid Family Leave. She created the Young Women’s Leadership Program, through which
she has helped mentor leaders. While out on maternity leave with her daughter she realized there
wasn't a one-stop website with information for working moms so she decided to create her own
and CTWorkingMoms.com was launched September 1, 2011. The website has become a popular
online community of women who help each other navigate the sometimes difficult territory of
new motherhood. She volunteers her time to this website as well as making websites for many
advocacy groups with limited resources. She uses her deep understanding of social media to
raise public awareness of issues such as the dangers of toxins in baby products. Most
importantly, Michelle practices what she preaches and seeks to lead a more compassionate
society.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Gretchen Raffa
Age: 40
Position: Director of Public Policy & Advocacy, Planned Parenthood
of Southern New England
Current town: New Haven
Gretchen will help inspire the next generation of women as a leader on
the ground in local communities and at the Capitol forging
relationships with legislators. She has become a fixture in the
Connecticut reproductive health community; implementing new and
innovative ways to inform and engage the public about political issues
affecting reproductive health and justice. She’s been leading the CT
Coalition for Choice for years and in that role has brought together
numerous organizations and agencies working for the common goal of
supporting women’s reproductive health, rights, and justice. As a
community member, she volunteers her time as a board member of Youth Rights Media in New
Haven and is an active participant in the LGBTQ community. Her enthusiasm, both
professionally and personally, on behalf of the rights of women has an impact on all that interact
with her.
TEENS
Yahaira Escribano
Age: 17
Position: Student, Hartford Law and Government Academy
Hometown: Hartford
Yahaira will help inspire the next generation of women through her
determination to lead by example. At the Hartford Law and Government
Academy, she has a 4.0 GPA and serves as Class President. She actively
participates in social action and volunteer work with HogarCrea and
Peace Jam. She was selected as a youth delegate to attend the World
Summit of Noble Peace Price Laureates in Warsaw and has traveled as
Wise Scholar to the western US to learn the history of the west. Yahaira
has been involved in the Youth Leadership Team (YLT) of the Hartford
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative since its inception in2010. Under
her leadership, the YLT has grown in skills and members, hosted community outreach events,
participated in research and evaluation activities, educated her peers and presented on the project
to city and state officials. She has shared her testimony about breaking the cycle of teen
pregnancy in her family and been a spokeswoman for the YLT. At the unveiling of a mural
created by the YLT, Yahaira moved he audience with her passion for her work in teen pregnancy
prevention and her grace. Yahaira is very driven and has set great goals for herself. She is the
student that will take advantage of every opportunity; her drive is untouchable and she will
always find a way to get things done.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Brianna Fairley
Age: 18
Position: Student, Hartford Public High School Nursing Academy
Hometown: Hartford
Brianna will help inspire the next generation of women by making a
difference in girls’ lives through her volunteerism. She has been
involved in the Youth Leadership Team (YLT) of the Hartford Teen
Pregnancy Prevention Initiative since its inception in 2010. During
this time, YLT has grown in skills and membership, hosted community
outreach events, and participated in research and evaluation activities.
Brianna also educated to her peers and has presented on the project to
community partners. Brianna has used the last year to polish her
leadership skills by stepping up to be President of the YLT and
attending community meetings with me. Brianna was selected to
attend a workshop trip to the University of Connecticut because of her leadership and academic
success at the Hartford Public High School Nursing Academy. In her current volunteer position
at a local health center she engages with community members daily while honing in on her
nursing skills. In every capacity, she models skills and positive behavior for and with her peers
and young children in Hartford.
Odia Kane
Age: 17
Position: Student, Engineering and Science University Magnet School
Current town: New Haven
Odia will help inspire the next generation of women through her independent
attitude, community service and her drive for higher education. She is a
humorous young lady who doesn’t let the challenges of being a female
student in a male-dominated school dissuade her from reaching her goals.
She serves as the Varsity Team Captain of their debate team and was Vice
President of Student Government during her 9th and 10th grade year as well as
the school’s Student Representative during her freshman year. In addition,
she is a published author of two novels. She also created a dance group
called African Queens, who exhibit their talents at major African cultural
events. Every year since 8th grade she has participated in Yale Model United
Nations Conference. She has spent countless evenings and weekends assisting with high school
recruitment fairs and has volunteered to be a student teacher during last summer at her school for
a program that introduces new students to the STEM (science, technology, engineering and
math) curriculum through hands-on activities. Odia has an infectious personality that drives her
to be a results oriented student and peer.
40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
presented in categories aligned with CWEALFs’ work and mission
Jeanette Porcello
Age: 16
Position: Student, South Windsor High School
Current town: South Windsor
Jeanette will help inspire the next generation of women as an active
volunteer in her community. Working with Autism Families
CONNECTicut and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, she
takes part in and leads fundraising efforts as well as interacts
directly with children. Her interest in politics is a priority as she
has been selected to be a representative to the Laurel Girl’s State
and has been selected as her Class Secretary for the past 3
consecutive years. After the sudden passing of a friend, Jeanette
channeled her sadness of that loss into positivity organizing the
Friends of Hannah Patrie Country Music Benefit. She exhibited
maturity and strength as she recalled tender stories of her friend and was successful in raising
funds for the Hannah Patrie Scholarship Fund. Jeanette embraces every day as a new learning
experience and strives to serve as a compassionate leader within her community.
Elizabeth Turner
Age: 17
Position: Student, The Ethel Walker School
Current town: Bloomfield
Elizabeth will help inspire the next generation of women by
helping young girls to cultivate self-esteem and challenge
culturally pervasive notions of beauty. She created a program
called “Larger than Life”, which focuses on helping girls to
develop self-appreciation and self-love; learning how criticism
of self and others can be detrimental; and how being of service
to others can boost self-esteem to broaden one’s sense of the
world around her. She believes “Larger than Life” can help
young girls navigate the challenges of these years by giving
them a framework for increasing their self-awareness and selfappreciation, as well as building self-confidence and selfesteem through helping others. At The Ethel Walker School
she serves as Student Body President and is a member of the
Big 7, a group of seniors elected by the student body that leads the School community, working
closely with administration, faculty and staff. She is guided by a strong moral and ethical
compass; she can stand firm in her own convictions while remaining open to and inclusive of the
opinions, worldviews and choices of others; she is tenacious in her pursuit of excellence but also
values her failures for their ability to teach and shape her.
CWEALF Mission Statement
CWEALF is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women, girls and their
families to achieve equal opportunities in their personal and professional lives.
We educate individuals through direct contact to navigate the legal and social service systems
effectively by:
• explaining the law in easy to understand terms;
• developing and disseminating booklets on specific legal rights; and
• making referrals to attorneys and other service providers.
We provide training, technical assistance and resources to employers, schools, and community
organizations by:
• educating individuals and organizations about legal rights and responsibilities;
• increasing awareness of gender inequities; and
• offering practical applications and solutions.
We work to improve laws and policies that affect women, girls and their families by:
• identifying critical issues through research and client contact;
• focusing public attention on those issues; and
• recommending, advocating and implementing reforms.
We are guided by our commitment to feminism, diversity, empowerment, personal responsibility
and self-sufficiency, compassion and respect, collaboration, professionalism and self-assessment
in all of our actions and programs.
Proceeds from this project will go to support CWEALF’s programming and
Scholarship Fund.
PROGRAMS
The Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund is dedicated to helping women and girls
achieve equal opportunities in their personal and professional lives. To fulfill CWEALF’s
mission, programs are concentrated on three primary strategies: Legal Education, Public Policy
& Advocacy, and Research & Evaluation. Through these initiatives CWEALF seeks to ensure
that women have the tools and resources to successfully navigate legal, educational and social
service systems, while simultaneously advocating for systemic change to ensure that these
services work to the benefit of women and low-income families.
LEGAL EDUCATION
Through Legal Education, CWEALF explains the law in easy to understand terms and provides
referrals to attorneys and other service providers to help clients help themselves.
Information & Referral – CWEALF’s Information & Referral (I&R) service provides
individuals with information regarding family law, discrimination in employment and education,
and LGBT civil rights. Last year, CWEALF received over 1,200 telephone calls. Depending on
the needs of the caller, CWEALF provides legal information, attorney referrals, and action plans
to help them determine the best course to resolving their issue. All of CWEALF’s services are
available in both English and Spanish. CWEALF is the only organization in Connecticut to
provide this unique combination of services free of charge.
Community Advocacy – CWEALF provides bilingual community advocacy services when
individuals encounter barriers to independently resolving their issues. This includes
comprehensive assistance to women and low-income families representing themselves (pro se)
in the civil court system. CWEALF draws on its decades of experience to provide women and
low-income families with valuable tools and resources to empower them to navigate the process
independently.
Community Education & Training – CWEALF also provides educational workshops for
employees, supervisors, administrators, students, teachers, parents, public officials, service
providers and community groups. Currently, CWEALF offers workshops on sexual harassment
in the workplace, sexual harassment in schools, family law, and the scope of CWEALF’s
services. These educational services are available upon request.
PUBLIC POLICY & ADVOCACY
CWEALF uses a number of strategies to ensure the experiences of women and low-income
individuals are considered in the public policy arena by providing public testimony at the State
Capitol, conducting legal advocacy and leading coalitions. CWEALF offers innovative
approaches to addressing women’s issues by drawing on the wealth of knowledge generated
through our Legal Education and Research & Evaluation programs.
Legislative Advocacy – Yearly, CWEALF provides public testimony at the State Legislature on
a wide range of topics, including access to the justice system, employment and training supports
for women, paid family medical leave, alimony laws, and reproductive choice. CWEALF works
closely with a number of coalitions to enhance and protect women’s rights and opportunities. It
also leads the Campaign for a Working Connecticut, a coalition dedicated to developing
effective, sustainable workforce solutions to encourage economic stability and growth in
Connecticut.
Legal Advocacy – CWEALF works to protect and advance women’s rights through legal
advocacy. These activities include writing and signing onto amicus briefs and monitoring
developments in the law that are important to women and girls.
RESEARCH & EVALUATION
CWEALF conducts research and evaluation activities to document inequities, identify best
practices, and promote reforms in the law and social service provision, in education and in
workforce development. Through nearly 20 years of research and evaluation experience,
CWEALF understands and appreciates the complex systemic and individual barriers facing girls
and women in their personal and professional lives. CWEALF provides evaluation services for
state agencies, non-profit organizations and government-funded programs. CWEALF has also
pioneered several research initiatives documenting the need for greater gender equity in
educational, athletic, legal, and social service programs throughout Connecticut including current
projects focused on teen pregnancy prevention, domestic violence and STEM (science,
technology, engineering, and math).
Generating Girls’ Opportunities (G2O) – CWEALF seeks to serve as a catalyst to positively
influence and change girls’ preconceived perceptions about STEM (science, technology,
engineering, and math) areas of study and careers through G2O. A primary component of G2O is
CWEALF’s Girls and STEM Expos, which are one-day workshops held on college and
university campuses for middle and high school girls. They are designed to engage girls, parents
and teachers in girls’ educational opportunities by providing programming to promote girls’
enrollment in STEM education and careers. Additionally, G2O maintains a creative and useful
website and newsletter to inform parents, educators and youth of new initiatives, resources and
activities in STEM, and provides educators with research and technical assistance related to
girls’ recruitment, retention and achievement in STEM.
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
CWEALF offers two paid internships for students interested in working with us. These paid
internships are reserved for graduate and undergraduate students who would otherwise be unable
to participate in our internship program because of their financial needs. The Scholarship Fund
is named in memory of Ruth Pulda and Merrilee Milstein. Ruth and Merrilee dedicated their
lives to promoting equality and justice, thus the awardees must have a strong commitment to
women’s social justice issues.
Thank you to the selection committee!
Sharon Cappetta
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Florence Davis
Day Pitney LLP
Bonnie Edmondson
State Department of Education
CWEALF Board Member
Donna Haghighat
Hartford Public Library
AAUW CT Chapter
Tiana Ocasio
IUOE Local 478
CWEALF Board Member
Alice Pritchard
CWEALF
Nicole Rothgeb
Livingston, Adler, Pulda, Meiklejohn & Kelly, PC
Susan Zhou
Central Connecticut State University Student
CWEALF Intern
Thank you to all of the nominators.
Without you, we would have never been introduced to all of these amazing women!
Congratulatory Messages
To All of the 40 Women for the Next 40 Years Honorees
• Congratulations to all of the honorees. We are thrilled to recognize you and look forward
to sharing in your efforts to support women and girls over the next 40 years! –Alice
Pritchard, CWEALF Executive Director
Britt-Marie Cole-Johnson
• Thank you for all that you do for YWCA and so many others in the community.
-Deborah Ullman
• Congratulations! Thank you for your commitment to the women in our community.
–YWCA Hartford Region
Alissa DeJonge
• We are so happy to hear about the news of your achievement. Congratulations from your
friends. –Dzialo, Pickett & Allen, PC
• We’re so proud of you. You are a “revolutionary” leader in CT’s economy. Congrats!
–Your CERC Family
Lindsay Farrell
• Congratulations! – Hinckley Allen
Meghan Freed
• Congratulations! – Larry and Ginna Freed
• Congratulations! – Kristen Marcroft
Jillian Gilchrest
• Thank you for all that you do to make our community a better place. – Deborah Ullman
Jillian Gilchrest & Setta Mushegian
• Congratulations to both of you on this well-deserved honor. CONNSACS is proud to
have such strong and motivated women working within our coalition. Your leadership
and commitment to preventing sexual violence and supporting survivors will continue to
have a big impact in our state and the lives of those we serve. –Connecticut Sexual
Assault Crisis Services (CONNSACS)
Jessica Grossarth
•
Congratulations! –Diane Whitney
•
We are so proud of your many professional and personal accomplishments. Your
commitment and leadership in promoting diversity in an inspiration to all of us.
Congratulations Jess! –Your Colleagues at Pullman & Comley, LLC
Meghan Hatch
• Congratulations! – George & Marylyn True
Amy Markim
• Congratulations! –Hinkcley Allen
Congratulatory Messages
Michelle Noehren
• In this crazy world of women’s rights, motherhood and just the world at large, you’re a
gem! Congratulations! – Krystal Harrison
• The PCSW congratulates Michelle Noehren on her proud past, productive present and a
feminist, fruitful future. –Your PCSW Family
• Congratulations! We’re very proud of you. – Bev and Bill Noehren
Jeanette Porcello
• Congratulations! “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” (Ghandi) –Mom, Dad,
Stephen & Olivia
Gretchen Raffa
• Gretchen you will still be setting the pace for all of us 40 years from now! –Planned
Parenthood of Southern New England
Sylvia Rutkowska
• Congratulations on your selection as an honoree for “40 Women for the Next 40 Years.”
It is a great achievement and proof of your skills and potential. – Dzialo, Pickett & Allen,
PC
• Congratulations! –Carla van Dijk
Sara Spodick, Sarah French Russell, Amy Markim, Sylvia Rutkowska, Danielle Briand, and
Jessica Grossarth
• Quinnipiac University School of Law is very proud of its faculty and graduates who are
making a positive difference. Congratulations to Professors Sara Spodick and Sarah
French Russell and School of Law alumnae Amy Markim, Sylvia Rutkowska, Danielle
Briand and Jessica Grossarth. – Dean Jennifer Brown and the entire Quinnipiac
University School of Law Community
Thank you to all of the additional donors to CWEALF’s Scholarship Fund
Livingston, Adler, Pulda, Meiklejohn & Kelly, PC
Margaret Cooley
Meghan Freed
Bruce Edgren
If you would like to make a donation this evening to benefit CWEALF’s programming and
Scholarship Fund, please see a CWEALF staff member or go to www.cwealf.org.
Thank you!