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
Zoe Hansen-DiBello, Ph.D.
Chairperson, Senior Liaison to the Basics Learning Network
Tony Sapienza
President of New Bedford Economic Development Council Board
Joe Nauman
EVP – Corporate & Legal at Acushnet Company (Retired)
Dr. Jean F. MacCormack
Chancellor Emerita, UMass Dartmouth
Carolee Matsumoto, Ph.D.
Independent – Harvard University Graduate School of Education
Peter Bullard, Esq
Lang, Xifaras & Bullard
Hakima Bey-Coon, Esq.
Zoe Hansen-DiBello, Ph.D.
Chairperson, Senior Liaison to the Basics Learning Network
Tony Sapienza
President of New Bedford Economic Development Council Board
Joe Nauman
EVP – Corporate & Legal at Acushnet Company (Retired)
Dr. Jean F. MacCormack
Chancellor Emerita, UMass Dartmouth
Carolee Matsumoto, Ph.D.
Independent – Harvard University Graduate School of Education
Peter Bullard, Esq
Lang, Xifaras & Bullard
Hakima Bey-Coon, Esq.
Local Advisory Council
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
Human Services Coordinator at City of New Bedford
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
Human Services Coordinator at 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
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
Soraya Dos Santos
Sacred Birthing Village Doula
John Vasconcellos
President, SouthCoast Community Foundation (Retired)
Rayana Grace
Program Officer, New Bedford and Womxn and Girls, Island Foundation
Colleen Kennedy-Mello
Program Director, Southeast Tobacco-Free Community Partnership · Seven Hills Foundation
Soraya Dos Santos
Sacred Birthing Village Doula
John Vasconcellos
President, SouthCoast Community Foundation (Retired)
Rayana Grace
Program Officer, New Bedford and Womxn and Girls, Island Foundation
Colleen Kennedy-Mello
Program Director, Southeast Tobacco-Free Community Partnership · Seven Hills Foundation
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
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
David Guadalupe
Director of Mission Impact, YWCA of Southeastern MA
Phyllis H. Harris
Care New England Corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council
David Guadalupe
Director of Mission Impact, YWCA of Southeastern MA
Phyllis H. Harris
Care New England Corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council
Health Equity & Early Development Team
Kelly Rebeiro–Oliveira, MAT
Executive Director
R.J. Ambrose
Assistant Director of Partnerships and Program Innovation
Ana Victoria Santos Y Santos
The Basics Community Liaison
Gregory Schneider
Director of IT Design and Marketing
Kelly Rebeiro–Oliveira, MAT
Executive Director
R.J. Ambrose
Assistant Director of Partnerships and Program Innovation
Ana Victoria Santos Y Santos
The Basics Community Liaison
Gregory Schneider
Director of IT Design and Marketing
Nicole Dupuis
RI Partnerships and Communication Lead
Britney Santos
The Basics SouthCoast Youth Ambassador
Nicole Dupuis
RI Partnerships and Communication Lead
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.
