Citywide Youth Coalition has a small organizational structure with a broad community impact. The strength and action of this coalition depends upon active community stakeholders. Please see below for brief bios of CWYC staff and board members.
Rachel Heerema, Executive Director
Rachel Heerema is the executive director of Citywide Youth Coalition, with
over 15 years of non-profit management experience and strong ties within
greater New Haven
nonprofit community.Rachel holds a Masters
degree in Business Administration and a Bachelors degree in Psychology. In
addition to working with CWYC, Rachel also owns Jump-In Consulting, specializing
in management and leadership consultation and coaching to the nonprofit sector.Rachel Heerema may be reached at
203-786-5970x322, and via email.
Monique Turner-Lopez, Board President
Monique Turner-Lopez is the Director of Service
Development for Easter Seals Goodwill Industries (ESGI). In her role, Monique
oversees children and family services for the agency, and spearheads multiple
initiatives related to ESGI's current and future services. Monique brings
over twenty years of experience in the fields of youth development, human
services and education. A seasoned administrator and a former Peace Corps
Volunteer, Monique is fluent in Spanish. She holds a BS Degree from Georgetown
University and an MS degree in Human Service Administration from Springfield
College.
Joanne Sciulli, Vice President
Joanne
Sciulli,
Founder/Executive Director of Solar Youth: Joanne received
her BA from Barnard College, New York
City in 1992 and came to New
Haven to receive a Master of Environmental Studies from
Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies in 1996. She is a recipient
of an Echoing Green Foundation Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurship
(1997-2000) which she used to develop the concept and ultimately launch Solar
Youth Inc. Solar Youth's mission is to provide opportunities for young people
to develop a positive sense of self and connection and commitment to others
through programs that incorporate environmental exploration, leadership and
community service. She is a graduate of New Haven's Youth Development and Training Resource Center
(YDTRC) Advancing Youth Development training, and currently teaches
an online course on Youth Development through Charter Oak State
College.
Lydia Bornick, Treasurer
Lydia Bornick is a non-profit consultant specializing in
special event fund raising planning and donor development. Ms. Bornick has
previously been Executive Director of the New Haven Public Education Fund and
The Volunteer Center of Greater Bridgeport. Ms. Bornick has Bachelor of Arts
degree in Education, and a Masters Degree in Elementary School/ Education Child
Psychology. She has a long career in positive youth development and advocacy.Ms. Bornick has served on a range of
community efforts addressing issues related to the health and welfare of children,
youth and families in the greater New
Haven region.
Fernando Muñiz
Fernando Muniz
is the Program Director of Planning and Best Practices for the
Department of Children and Families (DCF). In this capacity, he
oversees the Connecticut Comprehensive Outcomes Review, the Risk
Management Unit and serves as the state's Child and Family Services
Review (CFSR) Coordinator. Prior to his role in in Planning and Best
Practices, he served as Executive Assistant to the Commissioner of
DCF. As Executive Assistant, he provided leadership to projects across
the Department's various bureaus and facilitated the development of the
strategic plan for Riverview Hospital, the state's only public child
psychiatric hospital. Before joining the Department of Children and
Families, Fernando worked in the not-for-profit field. Most recently,
he worked for two years as Executive Director of the Connecticut
Juvenile Justice Alliance where he helped advocate for reform of the
state's juvenile justice system. Prior to joining the Alliance,
Fernando served as Deputy Director of ASPIRA of Connecticut where he
assisted the Executive Director in managing the agency's statewide
programs for Latino youth. Fernando holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Psychology from Fairfield University and a Master of Public
Administration degree from New York University.
Jen Vickery, Board Member
Jen Vickery has practiced law in Connecticut since 1999, first at Shipman and Goodwin, LLP and Connecticut Legal Services, and now as a solo practitioner. From 2006-2007, she served as Litigation Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City of New Haven. Vickery's practice currently focuses on fair housing and the constitutional implications of the racial disparities in Connecticut's criminal justice system. A former teacher and a published poet, she earned a BA in Poetry from Hampshire College with a merit-based scholarship, an MA in English from the University of Amherst, where she was named Juniper Fellow. She was awarded J.D. from Western New England College, where she was a member of the Law Review and elected "Supra-Woman" by her classmates. Having lived everywhere from Nepal to North Carolina, she settled in New Haven in 2002. She appreciates the opportunity to participate in New Haven's vibrant array of community events, organizations and campaigns, as well as its thriving yoga scene.
Sherese Ward, Board Member
Sherese A. Ward is a native of New Haven and the former Director of Government & Community Relations for Achievement First. In this capacity she worked with elected officials, lobbying for education reform legislation and led parent advocacy efforts, as well as student recruitment across the state. Prior to her work in the non-profit sector, she spent several years working for Bank of America serving as Marketing Programs Specialist for Global Investment Bank in New York City and Market Development Coordinator in New Haven, directing investments for the bank's charitable foundation. An active community member, Sherese currently serves on the United Way Community Impact Cabinet, the Board of the Hartford Children's Theatre and sits on the Education Committee for the NAACP. She is also very involved with the Junior League for Greater New Haven and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is also a graduate of Leadership Greater New Haven and recipient of New Haven Business Times, Forty Under 40. Sherese holds a B.S. in Finance and Economics from Southern Connecticut State University and currently resides in Hartford.
If you are interested in supporting youth in greater New Haven by working with Citywide Youth Coalition, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please see our Contact Us page for more details or sign up for our newsletter.
Citywide Youth Coalition, Inc. ♦ PO Box 354 ♦ New Haven, CT 06513 ♦ 203-786-5970x322
