Workshops Descriptions and Bios

Reimagining our Journey Together

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Workshop Block 1 10:15 – 11:30 AM

Where Health and Economic Mobility Intersect – Ron Dendas

The interdependent, mutual relationships between the health of a community and its opportunities for economic mobility are well documented in research.  During this session, we will develop a deeper understanding of the connections between health and economic mobility and discuss how transformational relationships between Community Action and health care systems can be developed and advanced.

Ron Dendas has recently retired from a long career in community non-profit work focusing on improving the health and well-being of community. He built partnerships with multiple systems (including health, housing, social services, education, etc.) to better understand the complexity of well-being, as well as root causes of poor health and health disparities. His focus on cross-system collaboration, neighborhood level data, and authentic involvement of community has led to numerous innovative approaches to health improvement.

Healthy Homes, Happy People – Will Eberly & Geoff Wilcox

This presentation will highlight the ways our climate impact-focused in Capstone Community Action’s Weatherization and Climate Impact program are serving as a catalyst for improvements in our client’s mental health and well-being while increasing the energy efficiency and affordability of homes in Vermont, serving as engines of economic empowerment, and helping our local economy flourish. The perspectives and lived experiences of our WXCI clients will be centered in this presentation, which will be led by our WXCI Director who will also provide an overview of the programs we utilize to achieve these goals.

Mindfulness:  Thriving from within – Mary Ellen Lynch, M. Ed.

Research shows that there’s a direct correlation between leaders’ mindfulness and the well-being and performance of their employees. Mindfulness practices promote empathy and cultivate a deeper understanding of one’s strengths and values, increasing one’s confidence and self-compassion to build stronger relationships in the workplace.

In this session, mindfulness concepts and breathing and awareness techniques are introduced. Participants will learn how daily applications of mindfulness practices help us connect fully with ourselves and others to build stronger relationships, leading to improved workplace well-being so that all employees thrive.

Mary Ellen Lynch is an educator, leadership consultant, executive coach and certified mindfulness instructor with over a decade of non-profit experience and college level teaching. She is currently an adjunct professor of community development at Roger Williams University Extension School and Founder of Mary Ellen Lynch Consulting. As a leadership consultant and coach, she helps individuals and organizations navigate workplace challenges by focusing on the intersection of mindfulness and leadership. Mary Ellen earned her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island, and graduated with a Master’s in International Educational Development from Boston University.

Reflective Supervision – Vilma Martinez-Dominguez at the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council and Jeff Davis

Among many nonprofits, the habit is to conduct more traditional task-oriented supervision, employee evaluation, and compensation review once a year.  A new framework approach known as Reflective Supervision promotes and supports the development of a trusting relationship-based organization by building collaborative partnerships for professional growth that improves practice, cherishing strengths, and partnering around vulnerabilities to generate growth.

Vilma Martinez-Dominguez at the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, along with consultant Jeff Davis, will highlight the multiple benefits of integrating this supervision framework in organizational practice, and share GLCAC’s experience in making the transition to this DEIB-based Reflective Supervision over the past year.

Equitable Advocacy – Shannon McMahon & Hannah Isaacs

With our understanding of trauma informed advocacy, in our session we will take it a step further and have an open conversation about what it looks like to support a person that lives on the margins of our society. What does “fairness” look like when serving populations that intersect with different types of oppression and harm? Is fairness the goal to strive towards? This session will hold multiple truths and welcome every voice in this conversation.

Shannon McMahon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Champlain College and has been working in the movement to end gendered violence in Vermont for twelve years. Shannon is currently the Director of Voices Against Violence/CVOEO. Shannon is a passionate leader in her communities and in antiviolence work. Shannon lives in St. Albans, VT with her partner and two young children.

Hannah Isaacs holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from St. Michaels college and has been working in the movement to end gendered violence in Vermont for ten years. Hannah is currently the Outreach and Education Coordinator for Voices Against Violence/CVOEO. Hannah strives to provide holistic and accessible support to all populations that are vulnerable to experiencing violence, with a special understanding of our work with children and prevention. She lives in Highgate, VT with her partner, two children, five dogs and a couple goats.

Rapid Cycle Learning – Carey Gibson

Join us to learn about Rapid Cycle Learning, a concept borrowed from business and the evaluation field that uses periodic “check ins” to see if a change is producing the desired improvement identified. Learn how it aligns with applying the ROMA cycle in a focused way. Examples will be provided of how data analysis, decision making, and application of proposed improvements can deepen our understanding of how to make meaningful changes in our work.  

Carey Gibson holds a Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A Certified Community Action Professional, Master ROMA Trainer, and ROMA Implementer, she is Project Manager for the National ROMA Training and Certification Project and Deputy Director of the Association of Nationally Certified ROMA Professionals. Carey has 26+ years of professional social work experience and provides training and technical assistance to the Network and non-profit organizations across the country.  

Workshop Block 2 2:00 – 3:15 PM

Building a CAA Workforce for the Future – Jonathan Cohen – CAPLAW

This session is intended to help CAA leaders think about staffing and succession planning at all levels of the organization, including the legal issues that impact employee compensation, health and wellness supports, and planning for staff vacancies.

Reimagining Communities of Practice for Statewide Impact – Scott Pasco, Jaimi Clifford

Maine CAP, the CSBG Office and our network believe that we strengthen our mission and increase our impact if we align our efforts as a single system, instead of acting as separate entities. This allows us more funding opportunities, deepening collaboration on statewide programs and better marketing towards policymakers and others. Learn how Maine is actively doing this work with special focus on the newly formed Data Integrity and ROMA CoPs.

Jaimi Clifford has been with the Maine DHHS for 11+ years and is currently the CSBG State Coordinator for Maine’s Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS). 

Scott Pasco is a 29-year veteran of CAP and his current role is as the Director of CSBG and Data Management for the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program.

Heidi Parmenter joined MeCAP in April 2024 as the state association’s Operations Manager.

Local Food Systems & Charitable Food Partnerships – Emmet Moseley, Julia MacGibeny, Lindsey Berk, Christine Porcaro

Hear stories of successful partnerships between local farmers, local food organizations and charitable food organizations that explore the intersection of local agriculture, food access, and community empowerment.  Sharing infrastructure and creating durable collaborations with local farmers and food hubs can increase the availability of fresh, high quality foods for our clients and embed charitable food into our grassroots local food system.

Christine is the Healthy Roots Collaborative (HRC) Supervisor. HRC is a food systems program and Food Hub in Grand Isle & Franklin Counties

Emmet Moseley has been working in the charitable food sector for 15 years in a variety of roles: gleaning, culinary education, social enterprise, SNAP outreach and now food distribution as the Addison County Food Hub Supervisor.

Julia MacGibeny is the Food Access Manager at Feeding Champlain Valley and helped launch an online ordering platform for home deliveries. Julia is a food systems graduate of UVM and has a history of working with farms and hunger relief organizations.

Lindsey Berk sees food sovereignty as an important pathway towards liberation for all peoples. Lindsey joined ACORN in 2015 and has served as its Executive Director since 2021. She lives in Vermont’s Champlain Valley and enjoys growing things in her backyard, getting crafty with thrift store finds, and hanging on the couch with Matt and their three pets.

Workshop Block 3 3:30 – 4:45 PM

Organizational Structure: the Unsung Hero of Successful Organizations – Marsha Florio

While organizational structures on the page seem two dimensional, developing one for your agency that accurately and dynamically depicts where people and programs fit, in relationship to each other and the CEO, can be a powerful tool that enhances appropriate delegation, communication, collaboration, and ultimately, overall agency effectiveness.  In this session, we will learn about the purpose of organizational charts, review various types of structures, and in small groups, explore and discuss how to determine the optimal model to serve the overall agency strategy, goals, and client needs.

Marsha Florio has become a trusted figure in guiding individuals and organizations towards success. Known for her unique ability to analyze needs, devise effective solutions, and connect people with resources, Marsha has played a pivotal role in helping clients navigate challenges in internal leadership and revitalizing departmental policies. Marsha currently serves as the Executive Director of the Academic Consortium for the America East Conference. The America East Academic Consortium (AEAC) is dedicated to facilitating inter-institutional academic and administrative collaboration between the nine universities that comprise the America East Conference. In this role, she provides vision and strategic leadership for the AEAC as well as facilitating the implementation of initiatives endorsed by the AEAC’s member institutions. Prior to her role with the America East Conference, she spent seven years at the University of Massachusetts Boston as the Assistant Vice Provost for Business Operations in IT. In addition to overseeing budget, operations, and professional development for the division, Marsha was directly involved with the university’s strategic planning process and served as a liaison to various departments and committees across the university.

She earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science from Penn State University.

Tackling Gentrification:  A Coordinated Approach – Ashley Tienken, Danny McLaughlin, David Gibbs

Poverty eradication requires both systemic change and one-on-one work with those living in poverty. Focusing on housing in a rapidly gentrifying city, this workshop describes how CAAS’ Housing Advocacy Program (which works with individual households facing housing insecurity) and Community Organizing and Advocacy Program (which mobilized low-income tenants to bring about systems change) share clients, collaborate with other agencies and city offices, and coordinate their work. The presenters will also discuss the funding, environmental, and staffing challenges related to this work and their solutions to those challenges.

Ashley Teinken is the Director of Housing Advocacy, Danny McLaughlin is the Director of Community Organizing and David Gibbs is the Executive Director of Community Action Agency of Somerville. Ashley & Danny  lead a staff of housing advocates and organizers working on the front lines of the housing crisis in Somerville, MA. All share a deep commitment to equity, social justice and the ideals of Community Action.

Bridging Generation Gaps in the Workplace – Mary Ellen Lynch M.Ed.

There are five generations represented in our workforce today: Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X-ers, Millennials and Generation Z. Understanding and appreciating the different values and work styles of each generation fosters engagement and reduces communication challenges in the workplace. This highly interactive workshop will provide you with the opportunity to enhance the capacity to communicate and collaborate effectively across generations. Participants will discover effective resources, tools and strategies that can be integrated into workplace culture to build cohesion in a multi-generational environment.

Mary Ellen is an educator, leadership consultant, executive coach and certified mindfulness instructor with over a decade of non-profit experience and college level teaching. She is currently an adjunct professor of community development at Roger Williams University Extension School and Founder of Mary Ellen Lynch Consulting. As a leadership consultant and coach, she helps individuals and organizations navigate workplace challenges by focusing on the intersection of mindfulness and leadership.

Mary Ellen earned her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island, and graduated with a Master’s in International Educational Development from Boston University.

Mind the Gap:  Alternative Responses in Law Enforcement – Anna Wageling, Lacey-Ann Smith, Jenal Dumas

Since 2021, the Burlington Police Department’s CAIP team of embedded social service-focused workers, clinicians, and advocates have been expanding the department’s ability to provide gap case management and to support community members in need. Their person-centered approach aims to address conditions that do not require police intervention, but have a public safety, public health, mental health, or quality-of-life nexus. This is a unique addition to the law enforcement model in that the team can work with anyone for an infinite amount of time from the moment a call comes to the department. This presentation will focus on the mechanics of the program, how we collaborate with other agencies, and goals for the future. Participants will gain a working model and the effective principles for providing social, gap case support to community members whose needs fall outside of or between traditional service and enforcement structures. They will also learn how to utilize CAIP in their place of employment and what services are offered by the team.

Anna Wageling has ten years of experience working in the human services field. Her previous work includes supporting refugees settling in New Hampshire and Vermont, providing support for families in the Reach Up program, and most recently, as one of the first Community Support Liaisons at the Burlington Police Department. She currently serves as the Community Support Supervisor of the liaison program. Anna has a passion for learning new languages, partaking in any type of craft, and exploring Vermont. When she is not at the police department, she is working concerts at Higher Ground or volunteering in the Burlington area.

Lacey-Ann Smith has called Vermont home for the last sixteen years, spending the entirety of that time working for the Burlington community. Originally from Connecticut, Lacey was intentional in choosing to live and raise her family in Vermont, as the shared feeling of community was not something experienced elsewhere. Her professional career consists of working in both the nonprofit and public sector; ten of those years as a public servant for the City of Burlington. Seven of those ten were spent as the only public safety social worker for the City, with the last three consisting of growing a division of positions related to providing social work service throughout the public safety system in Burlington. The foundation of her work is grounded in community connections, and holistic social work approaches. She is the mother of 2 boys, a couple of dogs, lizards and chickens.  

Jenal Dumas has worked in the mental health field for the last eight years in the Burlington area. Her experiences have been with people with IDDs, outpatient mental health and substance use counseling, and the Burlington State Treatment Court, emphasizing a trauma-informed and person-centered approach. She started her position at the Burlington Police Department as the Crisis, Assessment, and Engagement Services (CARES) Team Clinical Supervisor in March 2024. In part of her current position, Jenal is a Federal Reentry Treatment team member. When Jenal is not working, she works towards completing her PhD, participating in advocacy work, and volunteering. She enjoys traveling with her children, swimming, and taking spinning classes.

Increasing Diversity in Clinical Trials-A Community Action Collaboration with EQBMED– Amos L Smith, Aassmi Poudyal, and Valentina Ramirez

Every 33 seconds, cardiovascular disease claims a life, disproportionately impacting underrepresented communities, alongside other major diseases like stroke and cancer. To address healthcare disparities, the Community Action Agency of New Haven (CAANH), with strong community ties, and Equitable Breakthroughs in Medicine Development (EQBMED), committed to health equity, have partnered to diversify clinical trial participation in communities of color and rural communities. With an aim to overcome barriers and empower communities for an equitable healthcare landscape.

 Amos L Smith, MSW, has led the Community Action Agency of New Haven as President and CEO since 2006. With extensive public, private, and corporate sector experience, he engages and empowers clients in healthcare and community initiatives. Under his guidance, the agency addresses social determinants of health through behavioral and mental health services, infant mortality prevention, and supports low-income non-custodial fathers. Recognized nationally for health disparities expertise, Mr. Smith contributes to summits, publications, and promotes equity.

Aassmi Poudyal, MPH-Epidemiology from the University of New Haven, is an Equitable Breakthrough Specialist at Community Action Agency of New Haven. Passionate about health equity, her research explores self-medication, maternal health, health disparities. During COVID-19, she served as a contact tracer for Connecticut’s Department of Public Health, health ambassador at her alma mater, and led Nepal’s pandemic response. She also advocated for universal health coverage at the United Nations, promoting equity and public health change.

Friday, March 28

Block 4 9:45 – 11:00 AM

Time Management for Non-Profit Leaders – Melissa Green

Most nonprofit leaders feel overwhelmed by their workloads, believing there isn’t enough time to get everything done.  This workshop challenges that idea, showing how effective time management and planning can help you maximize your time, focus on what matters most, and increase your impact.  You’ll leave with practical tools to transform both your work and life, leading with greater efficiency and purpose.

Melissa Green has been with Community Concepts since 2001, serving in different roles.  Currently the Director of Customer and Prevention Services, she previously held positions as Director of Transportation and Vice President of Client Services at Community Concepts Finance Corporation, a subsidiary of Community Concepts.  Melissa has a strong track record of collaboration with partners, providers, staff, and volunteers.  In addition to her position at Community Concepts, she is a certified life coach specializing in coaching women in leadership positions.

Community of Practice:  Young Professionals – Isabella Dickins-Bowman

Join fellow young professionals (18-35) from around the region to discuss the opportunities and challenges of working in Community Action. Through question prompts, breakout discussions, and activities this will be a chance to share successes, ask for advice & feedback, and brainstorm together what the future of Community Action can be. You’ll learn more about professional development and networking opportunities available to young professionals through NCAP and the YPC (Young Professionals Cohort), a national network for young professionals working in Community Action.

Isabella Dickins-Bowman is the Training & Resource Manager for MASSCAP, running the MASSCAP Training Center, coordinating Communities of Practice, and developing professional development opportunities for CAA staff around Massachusetts. She has worked in this role for 3.5 years, and prior to that worked in political organizing & campaigns and issue advocacy. She also serves as the Region 1 representative for NCAP’s Young Professionals Advisory Committee (YPAC) which works to represent the next generation of Community Action Leaders to the NCAP board.

Washington Today… A Closer Look and Insider’s View into Understanding Washington – David Bradley

This presentation will sort through the chaos and confusion enveloping Washington and, most importantly, decipher what it all means for the Community Action Network. With the biggest attempt at reordering the role of the federal government since the Great Depression, how will Community Action fare? How serious are the threats to America’s 60-year war on poverty? Is Head Start and LIHEAP really on the elimination list? Where do we see Community Action in two or four years?

As Executive Director of NCAF, David has helped power CAPLAW, a legal resource center for the nationwide CAA network, and CAP-PAC, a Political Action Committee that supports the interests of CAAs. He also has helped foster unique partnerships between the private sector and the CAA network.

Safe Haven:  Harm Reduction for Homeless Individuals with Active Substance Use – Christa Thomas-Sowers, BS – Michelle Taylor, MS, CAGS, LMHC

Harm Reduction strategies protect people by reducing the spread of communicable disease, injection-site infections and most important, keeping people alive. The intersection between the opioid epidemic and the homeless crisis has hit most communities very hard.  Learn how harm reduction efforts are saving lives.  Through collaboration with a variety of community partners, we are providing trauma-informed care, connecting individuals with behavioral health treatment and implementing creative strategies to shelter and house our most vulnerable community members.

Christa Thomas-Sowers has devoted over 5 years to building up a Harm Reduction team, using a non-judgmental, low-barrier approach.  Establishing a trusting relationship with our clients is at the very heart of this effort

Michelle Taylor supervises a variety of programs that address the social determinants of health.  Through these, as well as other agency and community programs, we are supporting people with a wide array of wraparound services

Journeying Together: Integrating DEIB into Our Vision – Saadia Ahmad, DEIb Director at Community Teamwork in Lowell, and Leona Whetzel, Chief DEI Officer at Making Opportunity Count

Join us for an engaging plenary session on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), where together we’ll unpack these concepts and discuss their relevance within community action agencies. We’ll explore how integrating DEIB into your organization’s strategic vision will create a more inclusive, thriving environment for staff and clients alike. This session will offer specific, research-backed strategies and tools for implementing DEIB effectively at your organization, as well as interactive opportunities to troubleshoot challenges and brainstorm opportunities

Leona Whetzel is the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Making Opportunity Count, leading impactful DEIB initiatives. President of the Three Pyramids Board of Directors and North Central Mass Minority Coalition.  Passionate about helping others, she has dedicated years to organizing, activism, and promoting social, cultural, and racial equity and economic justice.

Saadia Ahmad is the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Community Teamwork and is also an ombuds at the Milwaukee Area Technical College. Having first become involved in this work as a Muslim at a Catholic college facilitating interfaith dialogue and advocating for racial justice and religious pluralism, Saadia has since worked in education, nonprofit, government, and corporate contexts at the local, national, and international levels.

Statewide Asylum Seekers Assistance Program:  Coordinating Direct Services for Asylum Seekers in Vermont – Lindsay Wenkouni Reid, Sandrine Kibuey

This session will explore Vermont’s Statewide Asylum Seekers Assistance Program (SASAP), which provides critical support to asylum seekers through a network of local organizations. The workshop will highlight how SASAP coordinates direct service delivery, focusing on housing stability, employability, and community integration. Additionally, we will discuss the unique partnership with the State of Vermont and the capacity-building efforts to strengthen the Vermont Asylum Support Network (VTASN). Participants will gain insights into the successes, challenges, and future opportunities in supporting asylum seekers.

Sandrine Kibuey is the Director of Housing Advocacy Programs at CVOEO. For the last 10 years, she has been working at CVOEO managing rapid rehousing housing, advocacy and support services to vulnerable communities including asylum seekers and mobile home park residents.

Lindsay Wenkouni Reid is the Statewide Asylum Seekers Assistance Program (SASAP) Administrator at CVOEO. She coordinates subgrants and capacity-building efforts for Vermont’s asylum seeker support network, fostering sustainability and collaboration across the state.