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ABOUT US: Our Story

OUR ROOTS

OUR FOUNDING STORY

MEET THE TEAM

ANNE WHITLOCK

On days when Anne isn’t running between meetings or interacting with community members, she can be found doing dishes or last-minute wrinkle removal. As she says “no job is too big or too small when it comes to achieving our mission.”

Lauren Caldarera

As the go-to “ideas” person, Lauren is always seeking new ways to improve the quality of life of residents and empower the community to reach its economic potential.

Shamsa Winnegar

Relationship-builder. Writer. Peanut Butter lover. Shamsa loves amplifying community members’ amazing stories, building partnerships and compounding Connect’s impact.

Ryan Villarreal

Never one to shy away from a difficult conversation or a taciturn teenager, Ryan is seen as an expert in building relationships and advocating for students and families.

Caleb Kurowski

A language nerd at heart, Caleb worked with newcomer communities in Germany for years before jumping over the pond to work for Connect. He’s directing our Connector and Translator AmeriCorps programs. Talk to him in Arabic, German or Spanish!

Stephen Maney

Described by his coworkers as Connect’s “guy friday” and an avid squirrel chaser, Stephen enjoys rolling up his sleeves and getting into the thick of things whether it is at the computer or the sewing machine. He is a lover of baking, appliances, mechanics, gadgets, ideas, and projects.

HTX SEWN GOODS

Norma Delgado

HTX Sewn Goods Management Team

Robaba Hussaini

HTX Sewn Goods Management Team

Queyri Sonana

HTX Sewn Goods Management Team

Humaira Tutakhail

HTX Sewist

Marzia Mohammadi

HTX Sewist

Mursal Brati

HTX Sewist

Jacqueline Mulengezi

HTX Sewist

Maria Chavez

HTX Sewist

Nadine Mugisha

HTX Sewist

Shahgol Sadat

HTX Sewist

Josephine Akingeneye

HTX Sewist

Vestine Mukarusima

HTX Sewist

Community Connectors

NEEMA KIZA
NOELIA FADIQ
Mary Naabwe ElizE
ABDALLA OMAR MOHAMED
SIDIQA ABASSI

COMMUNITY TRANSLATORS

HAMIDULLAH WAFA
NAHEEL RAHMEH

MEET THE BOARD

JERRY CALLAWAY
DETRA ALTON
JULIE ELLERBROCK
SAM DIKE
JOE MARTIN
JOSE LOPEZ
EMINA MASIC
DR ARMANDO X. ORDUÑA
CATHERINE HORN
WALTER BRATIC

MEET THE ADVISORY BOARD

Galen Hines-Pierce
ANN JOHNSON
MUSHAHID KHAN
DR. TOM PACE

OUR MANIFESTO

The greatest world we can see is the one where we are not needed.

And yet, in our current world, our families work hard every day to make ends meet. And every day they are faced with barriers that make it difficult to achieve success. This is why we exist.

We connect the dots.
We break down the barriers.
We ease the transition.
We simplify the process.
We hear the stories.
We build the relationships.
We make the possibilities more plausible.
We compound the impact.

And we do all of this as a collective “We” never “I.” Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about us. This is about our families having the same opportunities as everyone else. This is about our students becoming the greatest beacon for our future. This is about our community unlocking its potential.

This is about working with our community so it can thrive, not merely survive.

“There is nothing more worthwhile than watching somebody blossom into somebody they never dreamed they could be”

– Warren Buffett

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