About Our Staff
"True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the deep desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of God."
Carol Walter has worked throughout the state of CT in the field of homeless services since 1987 as a service provider, manager, administrator and community leader. She has operated shelter programs in New Haven, Stamford, Hartford and East Hartford, created and implemented supportive housing programs in Hartford and East Hartford, served on the Board's of both the CT Coalition to End Homelessness and the CT AIDS Resource Coalition, and has worked extensively as a senior manager for a community action agency overseeing not only homeless programs but a myriad of ancillary anti-poverty programs such as employment, energy assistance, youth services, and neighborhood services.
"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
Lisa has a history of working for economic justice and effective public programs. Lisa has considerable experience with complex health and social service delivery systems including Medicaid, managed care and long term care. She is a co-founder of the Connecticut Women’s Health Campaign. Most recently Lisa was the Research and Policy Director for the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. She holds a Masters in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University. As Deputy Director, Lisa oversees CCEH's public policy and advocacy efforts, and leads the CCEH staff in areas such as communications, data analysis, research and field mobilization.
"All lives are valuable."
Mary Jane DeFilippo, CPA began working for CCEH in April 2000 as a Financial Consultant and has since been hired as the Financial Manager to the organization. Mary Jane graduated from the University of Michigan and has worked in both the public and corporate sectors. She has significant experience in non-profit accounting and has worked with several Connecticut non-profit agencies providing financial support, budgeting, analysis and reporting.
"We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails."
Caroline DiPietro comes from a background with managerial experience in both the horticultural and restaurant industries as the assistant manager of Holly Farms of Avon and shift supervisor at the 99 Restaurant. She joined the CCEH team as a project assistant in February of 2009, managing the entry of 2009 Point in Time count data. She is currently assisting with Point in Time Count report release as well as event coordination for the Waterbury Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness and other various projects. She has volunteered her time with The Boys and Girls Club of America and the Noah Wallace Elementary School Centennial Gardens.
Naomi Elliott
Manager Technical Assistance & Program Services
Email: nelliott@cceh.org
Office: (860) 721-7876 109
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
Naomi E. Gallagher joined CCEH in April 2008 as a Community Impact Coordinator and has since been promoted to Project Manager. She is the primary staff expert at CCEH on direct service provision with expertise in areas such as family homelessness, early care and education, runaway and teen homelessness, and case management. Naomi graduated from Central Connecticut State University in 2001 with a Bachelor's in Education. She began work with after school programs with Meriden high schools and moved on to New Opportunities Inc-Shelter NOW. She was the Senior Case Manager for three years and the Program Director for one year at Shelter NOW's DOC Halfway House. Since joining CCEH, she has become a member of the CT Team on Runaway and Homeless Youth and will participate on the CT Multicultural Health Partnership. Naomi is also a member of the National Kidney Foundation and Lupus Foundation of America.
"Individual commitment to a group effort, that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."
Tracy worked at the Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS), for nine years. Most recently, he served as the Program Director at CAHS. His responsibilities involved overseeing outreach staff, and improving access to programs that benefit people with low to moderate-incomes, including SNAP (formerly food stamps) and the Earned Income Tax Credit, reaching thousands of people across the state. Tracy holds a Masters degree in Social Science from Wesleyan University. As Manager of Community Impact Initiatives, Tracy will be working with Continua of Care and assisting with implementation of Ten Year Plans to End Homelessness around the state.
"A change is brought about because ordinary people do extraordinary things."
Edward J. Lazu joined CCEH in March 2010 as a Data Entry Specialist for the Point-In Time Count 2010. Currently, as the Project Assistant he assists with various projects including data entry, The Childcare Assistance Fund, research projects and community impact coordination. Edward is a fulltime student at Central Connecticut State University where he is majoring in Geography specialized in Urban Planning. Edward is a family oriented man and spends as much time as possible with his parents and siblings.
"Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking."
Jeanne D. Miner came to CCEH in February 2010 as a Data Entry Specialist/Point-in-Time Count Coordinator. As a Research Associate she now helps prepare most of the reports CCEH publishes. She retired from State service in July 2009 after many rewarding years at the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women and the CT Department of Labor. She loves her time with her husband, three children and two grandchildren.
Sarah Petela
Project Coordinator
Email: spetela@cceh.org
Office: (860) 721-7876 101
Cell: (203) 535-3967
"Treat people as if they were what they should be, and you help them become what they are capable of becoming. "
Throughout the course of Sarah’s professional career she has been committed to uplifting disadvantaged communities and empowering individuals to advocate for their basic human rights. After graduating from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Communications, Sarah worked as a family violence victim advocate at Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven and as a recovery and advocacy advisor working with individuals living with chronic mental illness at Fellowship Place, Inc. She recently graduated with a Master of Social Work degree in Policy Practice with focused areas of study in both urban issues and international social work. In her graduate career, Sarah interned in the Office of Congressman Christopher Murphy, the Office of State Representative Toni Walker, and the Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work. In 2010, Sarah was elected to serve as the MSW Student Representative on the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Board of Directors. Sarah also serves on the Connecticut Chapter of the National Organization for Women Board of Directors and the University of Connecticut School of Social Work Alumni Board of Directors. As a Project Coordinator on the Community Impact Team, Sarah works to further the implementation of plans to end homelessness in both New Haven and Norwalk.
"If you limit your actions in life to things that nobody can possibly find fault with, you will not do much."
Chelsea Ross joined CCEH in October of 2011 as the Development Coordinator and a Project Coordinator on the Community Impact Initiatives Team. She comes from a background in social work and community organizing with a focus on mental health, housing, and economic justice. Her recent professional focus has been around strengthening the nonprofit sector, working in development and program evaluation, most recently as a consulting intern at the Alford Group. Chelsea graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Masters Degree in Public Administration and a Certificate in Public and Nonprofit Management.
"Acknowledging the good that is already in your life is the foundation for all abundance."
Sorimar Vazquez is the assistant to the Executive Director. She joined the CCEH team in September 2007. She has extensive managerial, administrative and case management experience. She has worked for companies such as Travelers, Department of Transportation, American Airlines, Nielsen Media Research and has worked collectively with the Department of Social Services through managing the Rowe 77 Emergency Housing Assistance Program. She has also volunteered her services in various soup kitchens and nursing homes in the state of Florida. She resides in East Hartford with her 13 year old son Emanuel.
"Things don't change. We change."
Sarah Zucker joined CCEH as Research and Communications Associate in May of 2008 as part of the CORE team, working with research, data, and information. She comes from the University of Connecticut 's School of Social Work research department, wherein her last professional focuses were devoted to national domestic violence service evaluation and educational grant assessment in the Hartford Public School system. During her first year at CCEH, Sarah's work surrounded the statewide coordination of the 2009 Point in Time Count, communications, and collaboration in research.
