our members
We have intentionally engaged multiple sectors in order to develop comprehensive cross-sector alignment to support early childhood development and education across the region.

Robyn Branco
YMCA Southcoast

Kate Carney
Carney Family Charitable Foundation

Helena DaSilva Hughes
Immigrants' Assistance Center, Inc.

Anthony Sapienza
New Bedford Economic Development Council

demo name
Position position
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Liz Wiley
The Marion Institute

Chris Howard
First Citizens’ Federal Credit Union

Wendy Garf-Lipp
United Neighbors of Fall River

Melissa Cardelli
Bristol Community College

Colleen Kennedy-Mello
Southeast Tobacco-Free Community Partnership · Seven Hills Foundation

Jeff Bradley
Bristol County Savings Bank

Rachel Lerner, LICSW
Greater New Bedford Health Center

Gail Fortes
YWCA of Southeastern MA

Joe Pinsonneault
The Children's Museum of Greater Fall River

Chief Walter Correira
Wareham Police Department

Kim Smith
Executive Director

Jill Fearons
Friends of Jack Foundation

Michelle Hantman
President & CEO

Mark Montigny
Massachusetts Senator - Second Bristol and Plymouth

Ashley Occhino
Fall River Arts & Culture Coalition

Pam Kuechler
PACE Head Start

Jeff Bradley
Senior Vice President/
Community Relations
Bristol County
Savings Bank

Shane Burgo
Councilor at Large

Kate Carney
Carney Family
Charitable Foundation

Walter Correira
Chief
Wareham Police Department

Soraya Dos Santos
Doula
Sacred Birthing Village

Gail Fortes
YWCA of Southeastern MA

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

Michelle Hantman
President & CEO
United Way of Greater New Bedord

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

Helena Dasilva Hughes
Immigrants’ Assistance Center, Inc.

Pam Kuechler
Executive Director
PACE Head Start

Alison LeBert
Manager Community
Health & Wellness
Southcoast Health

John Medeiros
Commissioner
Fall River Housing Authority

Ashley Occhino
Executive Director
Fall River Arts
& Culture Coalition

Joe Pinsonneault
Executive Director
The Children’s Museum
of Greater Fall River

Anthony Sapienza
Chair
New Bedford
Economic Development Council

Kathy Treglia
Community Liaison
Little People’s College

Liz Wiley
Executive Director
The Marion Institute

Robyn Branco
Director of Mission Advancement
YMCA Southcoast

Melissa Cardelli
Bristol Community College

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

Douglas McRay Daniels
Music Director
Fall River Symphony Orchestra

Jill Fearons
Executive Director
Friends of Jack Foundation

Wendy Garf-Lipp
Executive Director
United Neighbors of Fall River

David Guadalupe
Director of Mission Impact
YWCA of Southeastern MA

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

Chris Howard
President & CEO
First Citizens’ Federal Credit Union

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

Shaun Van Laarhoven
Round the Bend Farm

Rachel Lerner
Greater New Bedford
Health Center

Mark Montigny
Massachusetts Senator
Second Bristol and Plymouth

Allison Perron
LCSW
High Point Treatment Center

David Prentiss
President & CEO
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra

Kim Smith
Executive Director
United Way
of Greater Fall River

John Vasconcellos
President
SouthCoast Community Foundation
(Retired)

Terry Wolkowicz
Director of Education
New Bedford
Symphony Orchestra
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.