For every $1 spent on early childhood education, society gains as much as $16 in long-term savings.
Insufficient early childhood development programming costs the United States $57 billion annually due to loss of productivity.
Executive Director’s Advisory Council

Dr. Jean F. MacCormack
Chairperson, Chancellor Emerita, UMass Dartmouth

Tony Sapienza
President of New Bedford Economic Development Council Board

Joe Nauman
EVP – Corporate & Legal at Acushnet Company (Retired)

Zoe Hansen-DiBello, Ph.D.
Senior Liaison to the Basics Learning Network

Carolee Matsumoto, Ph.D.
Independent – Harvard University Graduate School of Education

Peter Bullard, Esq
Lang, Xifaras & Bullard

Hakima Bey-Coon, Esq.

Andrew O’Leary
Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools

Dr. Jean F. MacCormack
Chairperson, Chancellor Emerita, UMass Dartmouth

Tony Sapienza
President of New Bedford Economic Development Council Board

Joe Nauman
EVP – Corporate & Legal at Acushnet Company (Retired)

Zoe Hansen-DiBello, Ph.D.
Senior Liaison to the Basics Learning Network

Carolee Matsumoto, Ph.D.
Independent – Harvard University Graduate School of Education

Peter Bullard, Esq
Lang, Xifaras & Bullard

Hakima Bey-Coon, Esq.

Andrew O’Leary
Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools
Local Advisory Council

John Medeiros
Fall River Housing Authority Commissioner

Douglas McRay Daniels
Music director for the Fall River Symphony Orchestra

David Prentiss
PRESIDENT & CEO of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra.

Terry Wolkowicz
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra.

Chief Walter Correira
Wareham Police Department

Pam Kuechler
Executive Director, PACE Head Start

Chris Howard
President & CEO First Citizens’ Federal Credit Union

Marci Pina Christian
Program Director for Community Outreach and Engagement, City of New Bedford

Shaun Van Laarhoven
Round the Bend Farm

Wendy Garf-Lipp
Executive Director, United Neighbors of Fall River

Shirley Hardison
Special Education Teacher, S.E.A.L. Foundation

Ashley Occhino
Executive Director, Fall River Arts & Culture Coalition

Robyn Branco
Director of Mission Advancement, YMCA Southcoast

John Vasconcellos
President, SouthCoast Community Foundation (Retired)

Rayana Grace
Program Officer, New Bedford and Womxn and Girls, Island Foundation

Colleen Kennedy-Mello
Program Manager of the Southeast Tobacco-Free Community Partnership (funded by MTCP) at Seven Hills Behavioral Health

Allison Perron
LCSW At High Point Treatment Center

Kathy Treglia
Community Liaison at Little People's College

Alison LeBert
Manager Community Health & Wellness Southcoast Health

Shane Burgo
Councilor at Large

Soraya Dos Santos
Sacred Birthing Village Doula

David Guadalupe
Director of Mission Impact, YWCA of Southeastern MA

Phyllis H. Harris
Care New England Corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council

Jill Fearons
Executive Director, Friends of Jack Foundation

Douglas McRay Daniels
Music director for the Fall River Symphony Orchestra

David Prentiss
PRESIDENT & CEO of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra.

Terry Wolkowicz
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra.

Chief Walter Correira
Wareham Police Department

John Medeiros
Fall River Housing Authority Commissioner

Pam Kuechler
Executive Director, PACE Head Start

Chris Howard
President & CEO First Citizens’ Federal Credit Union

Marci Pina Christian
Program Director for Community Outreach and Engagement, City of New Bedford

Shaun Van Laarhoven
Round the Bend Farm

Wendy Garf-Lipp
Executive Director, United Neighbors of Fall River

Shirley Hardison
Special Education Teacher, S.E.A.L. Foundation

Ashley Occhino
Executive Director, Fall River Arts & Culture Coalition

Robyn Branco
Director of Mission Advancement, YMCA Southcoast

John Vasconcellos
President, SouthCoast Community Foundation (Retired)

Rayana Grace
Program Officer, New Bedford and Womxn and Girls, Island Foundation

Colleen Kennedy-Mello
Program Manager of the Southeast Tobacco-Free Community Partnership (funded by MTCP) at Seven Hills Behavioral Health

Allison Perron
LCSW At High Point Treatment Center

Kathy Treglia
Community Liaison at Little People's College

Alison LeBert
Manager Community Health & Wellness Southcoast Health

Shane Burgo
Councilor at Large

Soraya Dos Santos
Sacred Birthing Village Doula

David Guadalupe
Director of Mission Impact, YWCA of Southeastern MA

Phyllis H. Harris
Care New England Corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council

Jill Fearons
Executive Director, Friends of Jack Foundation
Health Equity & Early Development Team

Kelly Rebeiro–Oliveira, MAT
Executive Director

R.J. Ambrose
Assistant Dir. of Partnerships & Program Innovation

Ana Victoria Santos Y Santos
The Basics Community Liaison

Gregory Schneider
Director of IT Design & Marketing

Kelly Rebeiro–Oliveira, MAT
Executive Director

R.J. Ambrose
Assistant Dir. of Partnerships & Program Innovation

Ana Victoria Santos Y Santos
The Basics Community Liaison

Gregory Schneider
Director of IT Design & Marketing

Britney Santos
The Basics SouthCoast Youth Ambassador

Britney Santos
The Basics SouthCoast Youth Ambassador
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.