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.