2024 Annual Conference

Director of CT Urban Opportunity Collaborative

In his role, Cesar facilitates and coordinates the team of community foundation chief executives and senior level staff from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and Fairfield County’s Community Foundation to develop collective strategies to dismantle structural racism and advance social and economic mobility; aligning the strategic and programmatic efforts of the three  foundations to create an actionable plan that builds on each organization’s individual strengths.

Cesar previously organized for the Center for Leadership and Justice, where he developed racially-conscious leaders who act collectively on issues that intersect with race and poverty.

What do you enjoy most about Greater Hartford?
I enjoy the rich and diverse culture of its people… and the delicious food that comes with it!

What quote best represents your personal philosophy?
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” ― James Baldwin

Are you involved in any volunteer activities?
Cesar is a member of the Pope Hartford Designated Fund.

Alexis Bivens is vice president of strategic initiatives for the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy and managing director of the Supporting Organizing Work Funders Collaborative (SOW-CT), a project supported by the Council. Alexis joined the Council team with over 15 years of experience in philanthropic organizations and nonprofits.

She most recently served as program director at the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, where she spearheaded initiatives focusing on the environment and learning differences. Prior to joining the Tremaine Foundation, she served as director of Thrive by 25 at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. Alexis also worked at the McGivney Community Center in Bridgeport as their Executive Director.

Alexis received her Bachelor of Arts at Eastern Connecticut State University and her Master of Arts in Community Counseling at Fairfield University.

Antoinette Brim-Bell (Antoinette Brim), Connecticut’s 8th State Poet Laureate, is the author of three full-length poetry collections:  These Women You Gave Me, Icarus in Love, and Psalm of the Sunflower.  She is a Cave Canem Foundation Fellow and an alumna of Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation (VONA). Her poetry has appeared in various journals, magazines, textbooks, and anthologies, as well as in Poetry Magazine and on Poem-a-Day.  Brim-Bell has published critical works, “The Myopic Eye in Alice Walker’s ‘Flowers’” (Critical Insights: Alice Walker, Salem Press) and “Juxtaposed Dichotomies: the idealized white suburban pastoral, the surrealist tableau of black poverty & the Women in between” (The Whiskey of Our Discontent: Gwendolyn Brooks as Conscience and Change Agent, Haymarket Books).  Brim-Bell was nominated for the Pushcart Prize for poetry and essay. 

The New England Ballet commissioned a ballet based on Brim-Bell’s These Women You Gave Me.  New York-based ballet choreographer Sarah Grace created the ballet In Her Image, which was danced in Connecticut and on the Alvin Ailey stage in New York City.

A printmaker and collage artist, Brim-Bell exhibited both poetry and monoprints in the Artist-Poet Exhibit at the Eureka Gallery at Art Center East, Jazz: An exhibition of Poetry, Prints, and Photography at the Sumner McKnight Crosby Jr. Gallery in New Haven, CT, and Sheroes, in partnership with the Alliance of Women Veterans at the Grove in New Haven, CT.  She serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors of Indolent Arts Foundation based in New York City.  She is a past Board Member of OneWorld Progressive Institute, and a past President of the Board of Directors of the Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven, CT.

Additionally, Brim-Bell hosted a series of Black History Month television programs for the OneWorld Progressive Institute.  She is also a former guest host of Patrick Oliver’s Literary Nation Talk Radio (KABF 88.3, Little Rock), for which she interviewed a variety of entertainers, literary figures, political pundits, and community developers.  A sought-after speaker, editor, educator, and consultant, Brim-Bell is a Professor of English at Capital Community College in Hartford, CT. 

Yolanda Caldera-Durant is the Vice President of Program & Community Engagement at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (CFGNH). She joined CFGNH in May 2021. Yolanda is a member of CFGNH’s senior management team that provides oversight of the organization. She leads the foundation’s career pathways strategy to connect historically underserved Greater New Haven residents to good quality jobs as part of building a more inclusive economy. Previously, Yolanda consulted for Five Frogs, where she led the design of a virtual leader convening series and group coaching program during the pandemic to connect, inspire, and support nonprofit leaders. Also, as a volunteer for Social Venture Partners CT, she co-led the design and implementation of their Race Equity Fund to invest in racial equity and systems change efforts in Bridgeport and New Haven. Prior to consulting, Yolanda held a variety of leadership roles at the Fund the People, Connecticut Health Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. Yolanda holds an M.S. degree in Nonprofit Management from Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy at The New School and a B.A. in sociology from the University of Connecticut. She currently resides in Milford, CT with her husband and sparky little Morkie.

At birth, I was named Joshua David Carter. I was born in South Kingstown Rhode Island. I am the son of Joseph Carter IV and Nancy Bonin. I have four brothers and two sisters. I am fortunate to have married the love of my life and we have been blessed with four beautiful children. I am of Native American (Pequot and Narragansett), African American and Irish descent.

Although I was always made aware of being Native, growing up, I was unaware of where to learn and practice North Eastern Woodland Native American tradition. I knew I was Narragansett and Pequot but the question remained; what does that mean? By the time I was nine my family started visiting our reservation in Mashantucket Connecticut. Our tribe had just received federal recognition and there was an effort to call our family members home after being forced to leave in order make a decent living. This was the beginning of my continuous journey into seeing with the eyes of our ancestors. Through the years I have been blessed to learn the ways, language and practices of my distant relatives. Of the many gifts I have been given, the tradition of wampum has been extra special to me. I have been working with the quahog shell for sixteen years. I am the first Pequot in many generations to practice this ancient tradition. Once I realized the significance of the art of creating wampum from a quahog shell, my only option was to teach my family. We now have several family members who now can pass on the ability to make the amazing transformation but more importantly they have the understanding, respect and appreciation for the gift of wampum.

Currently I am the Executive Director of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center. Embracing the responsibility of carrying out the Museum’s mission to strengthen Pequot culture and to honor and serve our tribal family and friends. I am dedicated to furthering the knowledge and understanding of the richness and diversity of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and indigenous cultures and societies throughout the United States and Canada, as well as building relationships with local universities, historical societies and other educational institutions.

Prior to serving as Executive Director, I spent twelve years in various roles within the Tribe’s Human Resources Department, most recently as Director of Tribal and Native American Relations at Foxwoods Resort Casino where he served as the Tribe’s Native American Preference Officer and promoted tribal culture and appreciation throughout the property. As the third Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Member to serve as Executive Director of the Tribe’s Museum, I currently hold an Associate’s Degree in Business Management from the Community College of Rhode Island.

Lucas Codognolla (He/Him) is a visionary leader and Senior Community Impact Officer at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, where he spearheads strategies within the Nonprofit Support Program. With a deep commitment to empowering small and emerging organizations, Lucas plays an instrumental role in leading efforts in organizational assessments and capacity-building initiatives, ensuring nonprofits have the tools and support they need to thrive.

As the Strategy Lead for the Foundation’s Greater Together Community Funds Program, Lucas works collaboratively to drive participatory grantmaking, mobilizing hundreds of residents to directly invest in their communities. His work not only amplifies the voices of local leaders but also fosters sustainable change at the grassroots level.

A community organizer at heart, Lucas leverages his extensive experience and network to build relationships that bridge gaps and create opportunities for communities of color. His previous roles include serving as Senior Manager of Partnerships and Advocacy for the Nellie Mae Education Foundation and founding Executive Director of Connecticut Students for a Dream, where he pioneered initiatives that continue to impact lives today.

Lucas’s career is defined by his passion for social justice and his unwavering dedication to using his platform to advocate for equity and inclusivity in all facets of his work.

Fionnuala, better known as Finn, joined CTData to implement and run CTData’s Data Strategic Planning program. Finn brings a decade of nonprofit management experience to Data Strategic Planning, and helps organizations learn how to measure their impact, improve their storytelling, and develop new ways to evaluate the power of their mission. She completed her undergraduate work at Trinity College and earned a master’s in public administration from the University of Connecticut. In her free time, Finn enjoys spending time with her children and reading BookTok’s trending fiction.

Tiffany Donelson is president and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation, overseeing the independent health philanthropy’s work in grantmaking, policy advancement, strategic communications, and leadership development. She brings to the role a deep knowledge of health care systems and policy, extensive experience in grantmaking, and a commitment to equity. Tiffany previously served as the foundation’s vice president of program. 

Before joining the foundation in 2014, Tiffany held several leadership roles at Aetna, including as the deputy chief of staff for Aetna’s National Businesses Office and as a director in corporate strategy. Before joining Aetna, Tiffany was a consultant at Ingenix Consulting and PricewaterhouseCoopers. 

Tiffany is a member of several boards and advisory committees, including the boards of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, where she serves as chair, and Grantmakers In Health. She is also a member of the state’s Healthcare Benchmark Initiative Steering Committee and the Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health.

She is a graduate of Georgetown University and received her MPH in health policy and management at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. 

Allison has a passion for helping organizations create powerful people processes and building exceptional workplaces! Her background includes roles that encompass HR, recruitment and corporate branding including talent acquisition, workforce planning, employee engagement and labor trends and compliance. As President & CEO of The Employers Association of the NorthEast, she leads their team of HR and Learning & Development professionals as they deliver best practices around compliance, employee relations, effective employee engagement strategies and employee development initiatives. Allison is a current Board Member and Workforce Chair for the Massachusetts State Council of SHRM, Vice President of the Board for the Mason Wright Foundation, President of the Board for MassHire Springfield and the Chair of the Springfield Regional Chamber’s Legislative Steering Committee. She is a graduate of Ithaca College in New York where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing and she completed the Mini MBA Management Program with Bentley University.  

Karla Fortunato is the president of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy and a champion for the philanthropic sector. She came to the Council with deep experience in philanthropy, funder collaboration, systems change, and public policy. Prior to the Council, Karla served as director of the Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN), where she worked to mobilize philanthropy nationally around solutions to environmental health and justice problems. Before that, she led policy research, communications, and campaigns for Health Care For All, a Massachusetts-based advocacy group best known for the passage of the 2006 health care insurance reform law.

Katherine is the Associate Director at Lone Pine Foundation, Inc.  Driven by a passion for making a difference in the lives of others, Katherine works closely to evaluate, enhance, and implement the Foundation’s dual mission of fighting poverty through education while developing a spirit of philanthropy among its Board.  An active participant in the philanthropic community, Katherine is an engaged member of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy’s Fairfield County Funder’s Network.  She is also an alumnus of Five Frogs Leadership Development Roundtable, building a powerful movement of diverse leaders to create lasting change for an equitable Connecticut.  Katherine holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Pace University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of Connecticut.  She lives in Wilton with her husband and children. 

William W. Ginsberg has served as president and CEO of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven since 2000. He serves on the boards of numerous local organizations, and previously served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Connecticut Early Childhood Policy and Research Council, and as a board member of the Council on Foundations.

Andy Goodman is an author, lecturer and internationally-known expert in strategic communications. For over two decades, he has taught the art of storytelling as a powerful tool for organizations to move missions and make change. As co-founder of the Goodman Center, he has led hundreds of workshops and seminars for businesses, nonprofits and foundations alike. His approach to storytelling is “a powerful tool for seeing your work afresh, and for telling the world what you do.” And his work “prepares organizations for success.” Hailed as a “clear, funny, passionate and relentless advocate for the power of storytelling” his speeches and presentations blend subject mastery with great humanity and humor. His lectures and keynotes provide lessons and tools you will be glad to have, and sure to use in your work going forward.

In July 2023, Kathy Luria was appointed as the Executive Director of the Harold Webster Smith Foundation. Founded in 1997, the Foundation honors the service and memory of Harold Webster Smith, Webster Bank’s founder and long-time citizen of Waterbury, Connecticut.  The Foundation advances community revitalization across Connecticut by serving as a convener, funder and thought partner committed to guiding collaborative, community-driven solutions to pressing socio-economic needs and emerging opportunities, with a particular focus on housing.

Retiring in June 2023 after 17 years of service, Kathy served as Senior Vice President, head of Philanthropy for Webster Bank. A leader in philanthropy, she led the company to build a best-in-class corporate philanthropy program. Kathy helped guide the bank toward achieving a strong reputation known for its work in the communities they serve. While working at Webster, she served as an adjunct professor in the School of Business at the University of Connecticut – Waterbury Campus for eleven years and served as an adjunct professor in the Business Division at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury, CT.

In addition, Luria served as the bank’s primary lead on the United Way Employee Campaign with year over year success resulting in driving over $25 million into the community over almost two decades of her leadership.

Kathy earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and continued on to earn an M.B.A. from the University of New Haven.  She held various positions at Naugatuck Valley Community College, steadily building her career. These included Director of Marketing / Public Relations and Director of Continuing Education / Community Services. With almost 20 years of employment with the College, Luria remains a strong advocate and resource throughout the state and the region.

Kathy also serves as a Director on the Harold Webster Smith Foundation board, a position she has held since 2006, and is a board member and co-chair of the grants committee on the Elisha Leavenworth Foundation both in Waterbury, CT. She served as board chair of the CT Council for Philanthropy and was a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston CT Working Cities Challenge Advisory Council. Luria was on the board of the American Bankers Association Foundation, Washington, DC, who recognized her with their highest award – the George Bailey Distinguished Service Award in 2019. This award was given for her outstanding initiative, commitment to customers and community and the ability to inspire others.

Nora Moreno Cargie serves in a dual role. She is vice president of corporate citizenship for Point32Health and president of Point32Health Foundation.

Through Nora’s leadership, Point32Health and its Foundation have earned national and local recognition. Point32Health was named to The Civic 50 by Points of Light as one of the most community-minded companies in the United States the last four three years in a row.  Point32Health also is consistently in the top 20 on the Boston Business Journal’s Top Charitable Contributors list.

A leading voice for changing inequitable systems change, Nora has been recognized throughout her career for her candid and authentic engagement. In her first year at the Boeing Company, she received the Global Diversity Process Improvement Award for eliminating barriers to make it easier for nonprofit organizations to access resources. Since arriving in Boston, she’s been recognized as one of Amplify LatinX’s ALX100, GK100 Boston's Most Influential People of Color, El Planeta’s Most Influential People for Latinos, and YW Boston’s 150 Women of Influence. She was inducted into YW Boston’s Academy of Women Achievers in 2023 and the National Council on Aging honored Nora with the Trailblazer in Aging Change Agent Award in 2022.

Her professional background includes roles as director of global corporate citizenship at the Boeing Company; with Illinois Action for Children as vice president of communications; and on Barack Obama’s 2004 U.S. Senate campaign in the role of deputy communications director. She also has served in various leadership positions with the City of Chicago, including as deputy commissioner for the department of Health and Human Services.

Nora is on the board of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy and Conexión, an organization supporting the advancement of Latine talent. She also serves on the Executive Forum for Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship and the Elder Stakeholders Group, convened by AARP Massachusetts to inform policy and practice in aging. She recently completed a term on the Governor's Council to Address Aging in Massachusetts,

Nora earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College and a master's from NorthPark University, both in Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Mark Overmyer-Velázquez is the inaugural Dean and Chief Administrative Officer of the University of Connecticut-Hartford where he is Professor of History and Latine Studies. Serving 3500 students, UConn Hartford is a federally designated Minority Serving Institution with a mission of academic excellence focused on equity, justice, and community-based learning. The founding Director of UConn’s El Instituto: Institute of Latina/o, Caribbean & Latin American Studies, Dr. Overmyer-Velázquez trained at Yale University as a historian of Latin America and U.S. Latinos. He draws on his scholarly expertise on marginalized and migrant communities to catalyze and promote research and teaching at UConn Hartford. In his efforts to engage in scholarly debates and collaborations with academic communities globally, he has published translations of his books and essays, helped publish works of colleagues in Latin America, and presented work and served as a visiting professor internationally. The first Latino elected official in West Hartford, he served a six-year term as a member and Chairman of the West Hartford Board of Education. He currently serves on several boards of directors including as the in-coming chair of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, co-chair of the Hartford Consortium for Higher Education; and member of the Hartford Public Library and MetroHartford Alliance boards. The son of a Mexican migrant and a scholar of Chinese religion and philosophy, he keeps his commitment to the arts by playing keyboard in the UConn faculty band, Blues without Borders.

Kimberley Russo is the Executive Director of The Fund for Greater Hartford, a private, independent foundation that invests in efforts, both programmatic and systemic, to support children’s early development. She has served in this role since 2015.

Kim is a founding member of the CT Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, past board chair of the CT Network for Children and Youth as well as a current board member of CT Voices for Children.

For the 11 years prior to joining The Fund, Kim was with the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut serving most recently in the role of Director of Community Investment. Prior to joining philanthropy, Kim served in the domestic violence field. She served at two nonprofits, as a program manager for Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis and a residential services coordinator for the Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County in Rhode Island.

Although a proud Rhode Islander, Kim lives in Colchester with her partner, three teenagers, two cats and dog.

Jennifer Steadman, Ph. D. is the executive director of the Aurora Foundation for Women and Girls, which works to strengthen opportunities for women and girls in Greater Hartford. Previously, she served as the Adult Programs Manager at the Connecticut Historical Society. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Women and Gender Studies from Emory University and a B.A. from Wake Forest University.

As the Data Engagement Specialist, Jackie (she/they) supports residents of Connecticut by instructing public and custom workshops designed to increase participants' data literacy. With her Master's in Community Psychology and focus on program development from the University of New Haven, she honed her passion for teaching. In her free time, you will find Jackie pursuing creative interests, such as drawing and pyrography, practicing meditation and yoga, and going on hikes in search of mushrooms.

Purpose-driven and committed to equitable outcomes across the state, Mirellise serves as Vice President of Investment at The Connecticut Project, where she leads philanthropic strategy development, stakeholder engagement, and the design and implementation of the organization’s myriad of social investments and grantmaking efforts.

Mirellise has over twenty years of experience in the public and non-profit sectors, including policy, advocacy, and philanthropy. Prior to joining The Connecticut Project, she was Executive Director of the Tauck Family Foundation, a Bridgeport-focused grant-maker. She has also held policy and advocacy leadership roles at several international nonprofit organizations. Mirellise’s professional career began at the U.S. Department of Labor, where her work centered on child labor and education technical assistance grant programs, research, and policy. She has also served in various capacities on a number of Connecticut nonprofit boards and philanthropic membership organizations. Mirellise lives with her family in Darien, Connecticut.

Saran White is a mission-driven strategist with over twenty years of experience strengthening the capacity of organizations and systems that increase equity, access and justice in under-resourced communities. With a background in philanthropy, K-12 education, civic engagement and organizational effectiveness, Saran has worked with renowned nonprofits, foundations and thought leaders to effectively implement innovative strategies through collaborative initiatives and grantmaking. 

As the Leever Foundation CEO, she has utilized her change management expertise to orchestrate and implement a more intentional, vision-aligned, equity-driven and community-informed strategic agenda. In addition, Saran is honored to serve on several boards including the Connecticut Community Foundation and the Waterbury Bridge to Success Community Partnership.

Saran holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University and a Master of Public Administration degree from CUNY Baruch School of Public and International Affairs. Continual pursuits in dance, photography, reading, teaching and travel help to maintain her work/life balance.

Since July 2017, Jay Williams has served as president of the Hartford Foundation. He is currently leading the Foundation’s commitment to dismantle structural racism, achieve equity and improve social and economic mobility in our region, in partnership with nonprofit organizations and community stakeholders. In his role, Jay serves on the boards of the MetroHartford Alliance, AdvanceCT, and is a member of the Governor’s Workforce Council.  At the national level, he is a member of the Community Foundation Opportunity Network, board vice chair of the Council on Foundations, and board vice chair of the Center for Community Progress.

Prior to coming to the Foundation, Jay served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, where he led the federal economic development agenda for the United States. He also served as Deputy Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House where he was the principal liaison between the President of the United States and local elected officials. Previously, Jay served as the executive director of the federal Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers. He arrived in Washington, DC after serving as Mayor of the City of Youngstown, Ohio where he helped lead regional economic development initiatives to improve the city’s global competitiveness. Prior to being elected Mayor, Williams led a Community Development Agency in Youngstown.