Executive Director’s Advisory Council
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Dr. Jean F. MacCormack
Chairperson, Chancellor Emerita,
UMass Dartmouth
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Joe Nauman
EVP – Corporate & Legal,
Acushnet Company (Retired)
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Carolee Matsumoto, Ph.D.
Independent,
Harvard University Graduate School of Education
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Hakima Bey-Coon, Esq.
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Tony Sapienza
President,
New Bedford Economic Development Council Board
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Zoe Hansen-DiBello, Ph.D.
Senior Liaison,
Basics Learning Network
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Peter Bullard, Esq
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Andrew O’Leary
Superintendent,
New Bedford Public Schools
Local Advisory Council
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Margo Saulnier
Creative Strategist,
City of New Bedford
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Douglas McRay Daniels
Music Director,
Fall River Symphony Orchestra
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Terry Wolkowicz
Director of Education,
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra.
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Pam Kuechler
Executive Director,
PACE Head Start
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Marci Pina Christian
Program Director,
Community Outreach and Engagement,
City of New Bedford
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Wendy Garf-Lipp
Executive Director,
United Neighbors of Fall River
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Ashley Occhino
Executive Director,
Fall River Arts & Culture Coalition
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John Vasconcellos
President,
SouthCoast Community Foundation (Retired)
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Colleen Kennedy-Mello
Program Manager,
Southeast Tobacco-Free Community Partnership (funded by MTCP) at Seven Hills Behavioral Health
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Kathy Treglia
Community Liaison,
Little People’s College
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Shane Burgo
Councilor at Large
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David Guadalupe
Director of Mission Impact,
YWCA of Southeastern MA
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Jill Fearons
Executive Director,
Friends of Jack Foundation
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John Medeiros
Commissioner
Fall River Housing Authority
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David Prentiss
President & CEO,
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
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Chief Walter Correira
Chief of Police,
Wareham Police Department
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Chris Howard
President & CEO,
First Citizens’ Federal Credit Union
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Shaun Van Laarhoven
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Shirley Hardison
Special Education Teacher,
S.E.A.L. Foundation
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Robyn Branco
Director of Mission Advancement,
YMCA Southcoast
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Rayana Grace
Program Officer,
New Bedford and Womxn and Girls, Island Foundation
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Allison Perron
Licensed Clinical Social Worker,
At High Point Treatment Center
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Alison LeBert
Manager,
Community Health & Wellness Southcoast Health
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Soraya Dos Santos
Doula,
Sacred Birthing Village
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Phyllis H. Harris
Corporate Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion Council,
Care New England
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Catarina Faioes
Community and Family Support Coordinator,
Health First Family Care Center, Inc.
Health Equity & Early Development Team
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Kelly Rebeiro–Oliveira, MAT
Executive Director
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Ana Victoria Santos Y Santos
The Basics Community Liaison
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Britney Santos
The Basics SouthCoast Youth Ambassador
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R.J. Ambrose
Assistant Dir. of Partnerships & Program Innovation
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Gregory Schneider
Director of IT Design & Marketing
HEED is a collaborative network comprising diverse stakeholders committed to providing every child with the best start in life, ensuring they enter kindergarten prepared to achieve their maximum potential.