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.
