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Casey Foundation Announces First Class of Community Leader Fellowship Program

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New Haven, CT – The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently named eight local executives to the inaugural class of the Elm City Fellowship for Children and Families, a leadership initiative led by the national philanthropy and its direct service agency, Casey Family Services.

“To improve the outcomes of families in our community, we need to increase the capacity of individuals and organizations to lead change that meets the needs of vulnerable populations,” says John Padilla, a senior fellow with the Casey Foundation who is leading the fellowship initiative. “Our first class of Elm City Fellows has the potential to reform and improve services and advocacy for families throughout our region.”

Members of the first fellowship class:

• Yadira Durán, Social Work Supervisor, Connecticut Department of Children and Families
• Elizabeth Ronan Duryea, Research Attorney, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch
• Addys Maria Castillo, Assistant Director, Project MORE, Inc.
• Joanne Goldblum, President and Founder, Diaper Bank
• Amy Casavina Hall, Director of Civic Engagement, United Way of Greater New Haven
• Kate Nicoll, Executive Director, Soul Friends, Inc.
• Cynthia Rojas, Research Manager, Clifford Beers
• Dexter Singleton, Executive Director, Collective Consciousness Theatre

The Elm City Fellowship for Children and Families is a nine-month leadership program designed to foster leadership within New Haven’s nonprofit and public sectors. It strives to increase the pool of diverse, visionary leaders and cultivate professionals who can lead and sustain major system reforms and community change initiatives that benefit large numbers of children and families. Inherent in this task are improving an organization’s ability to work collaboratively while focusing on results; using data to inform decision-making and track progress; and involving families in decisions about their lives.

“Building communities that support and strengthen families is a complex challenge that requires bold and imaginative action, particularly in the midst of an economy when resources become limited and the challenges to our neighbors become greater,” says Raymond Torres, vice president of the Casey Foundation and executive director of Casey Family Services. “Our new fellows have long been engaged in the welfare of New Haven, and we should expect great things from them in the future.”

The Annie E. Casey Foundation is the nation’s largest private foundation devoted exclusively to improving the lives of disadvantaged children and families. It was established in 1948 by Jim Casey, a founder of UPS. In 1976, he established its direct service agency, Casey Family Services, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to offer quality, long-term foster care as part of the Foundation. Today, with divisions in both Bridgeport and Hartford and headquarters in New Haven, Casey Family Services offers a range of services aimed at preserving and achieving families for life for children in or at risk-of entering foster care throughout New England and in Baltimore, Maryland.