Presenter Bios

Sixto Cancel is a visionary leader spearheading transformative change in the foster care system through Think of Us, a trailblazing organization with a mission to "create a foster care system where every child has a loving home."

Think of Us is a Research + Design Lab at the forefront of revolutionizing child welfare policy and practice. They develop trusting relationships with individuals who have lived experiences within the child welfare system, such as current and former foster youth, parents, and families. By deeply engaging with those directly impacted and creating "proximity at scale," Think of Us can better understand the systemic challenges and incorporate their voices and insights into influencing practices and policies across the entire child welfare system. This collaborative approach ensures that the solutions and advocacy efforts undertaken by Think of Us are more effective, relevant, and impactful in driving meaningful change.

At Think of Us, Sixto champions the importance of capturing and utilizing lived experiences as data. By collecting detailed information from thousands of current and former foster youth, they identify systemic issues and advocate for policy changes. During the pandemic, they gathered data from 27,000 youth about their housing, employment, and basic needs, uncovering common problems and challenges across the foster care system nationwide. This powerful data set led to securing $400 million in aid for youth in foster care.

Sixto's team embraces a "co-design" approach, actively involving those with lived experiences in creating data collection tools. This collaborative method leads to higher completion rates and ensures that the tools accurately capture the nuances of their experiences. Leveraging this data, they reframe problems through a systemic lens, revealing that poverty, housing insecurity, and addiction—not solely "child" or "parent" issues—are often the driving forces behind families entering the child welfare system. By correctly identifying the root causes, they can develop solutions that increase the likelihood of every child having a loving home.

Annika is a Childhood Prosperity Lab Program Specialist in Connecticut Children’s Office for Community and Child Health. She holds a Masters of Public Health Sciences and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development & Family Sciences with a specialization in early childhood from the University of Connecticut. Annika is a certified Human-Centered Design Practitioner, Parent Cafe Host, and Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework Trainer. In her role at Connecticut Children’s, she leverages her content area expertise to engage her colleagues in regular capacity building activities to share best practices in parent/caregiver engagement and builds tools for repeatable implementation of Lab activities. Prior to joining Connecticut Children’s, Annika was an Early Learning Engagement fellow at PBS KIDS and an educational consultant for the International Rescue Committee’s New York office, where she contributed to the development of early learning and family-facing educational resources for Ahlan SimSim.

Karyn Backus is a senior epidemiologist with expertise in demographic data analysis and vital statistics at the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH). As the director of the vital statistics program at CT DPH, Karyn oversees the management and analysis of five key health registries, including births and deaths, and leverages population estimates to support public health surveillance. Throughout her career, she has led complex analytic projects, improved operational processes, and delivered data-driven insights to inform public health decision-making.  Karyn is currently spearheading several initiatives to improve the accuracy, fitness-for-use, and availability of the Connecticut’s population estimates. As the state’s FSCPE liaison to the U.S. Census Bureau, she works closely with the Census Bureau and state partners to identify data issues and drive operational changes that improve data quality. She also develops statistical models to produce county- and town-based population estimates with demographic characteristics, addressing gaps not covered by the Census Bureau. Her expertise in population-based statistics has been critical in advancing Connecticut's ability to produce reliable demographic estimates, which are essential for public health surveillance, policy development, and resource allocation.

Brennden D. Colbert is a seasoned training specialist with a proven track record in the non-profit sector. With over six years of experience, he has demonstrated a knack for developing successful training plans that cater to diverse company and employee needs. As the Founder & Managing Partner at The Colbert Group, a consulting firm startup specializing in inspirational-themed empowerment workshops, he has made significant contributions to both for-profit and non-profit sectors within the State of CT. Brennden's commitment to integrity, attention to detail, and stage presence make him a valuable asset in any training-focused endeavor.

Talyn Cook is a dedicated Community Engagement Manager born and raised in Bridgeport. With a passion for social impact and community development, Talyn excels in creating and implementing strategic initiatives that drive engagement, participation, and positive change. She has a deep understanding of the community's needs and with her years of experience in fostering strong relationships between organizations and the larger Bridgeport community she has been committed to supporting the needs of children and families. Talyn has successfully hosted numerous projects just like the recent Youth Civic Data program in partnership with CT Data that have enhanced youth civic involvement and support.

Dr. Stephen M. Cox is a professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice and came to CCSU in the Fall of 1996. He has a B.S. and an M.S. in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University and a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Michigan State University. Prior to coming to CCSU, he was a social science analyst at the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services in the U.S. Department of Justice. In addition to teaching at CCSU, Dr. Cox has worked with many criminal justice and social services agencies across Connecticut. He has been the principal investigator for 25 grant or contract-funded evaluation projects, including 16 community corrections programs. He has also made several presentations in statewide forums including the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Planning and Oversight Committee, the Connecticut Criminal Justice Policy Advisory Committee, the Connecticut Sentencing Commission, and the Connecticut Prison and Jail Overcrowding Reentry Committee.

NVCOG provides a regional framework within which municipalities can jointly address common interests, and coordinate such interests with state and federal plans and programs. The focus is on planning and implementation for transportation, economic development, land use and housing, brownfield redevelopment, environmental concerns, and emergency preparedness.

My name is John D'Souza, and I am a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Connecticut with a passion for data-driven solutions. I served as a Hartford Youth Data Fellow at the CT Data Collaborative, focusing on eviction trends in Hartford. Previously, I was an AmeriCorps member with the Urban League of Greater Hartford, where I contributed to the UniteCT program from 2020 to 2022. Currently, I work as a Data Management Assistant for ULGH, leveraging data to support community initiatives.

Ayawa Fiagbedzi is a Senior Associate of Strategic Learning & Impact at The Rockefeller Foundation, where she collaborates with teams to assess programmatic work, capture lessons, and enhance the Foundation’s impact through continuous learning practices. Previously, she was Associate Director of Applied Research at the NYC Department of Education, shaping evaluation methods and implementing data equity principles. Ayawa has international development experience in West Africa and served as a Special Education teacher through Teach for America. She holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Alysha joined the Partnership for Strong Communities in May 2023 as a Senior Policy Analyst and brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise in evidence-based policy analysis, particularly in housing and public finance. Alysha has held positions in both state governments and a prestigious think tank, allowing her to gain valuable insights into policy formation and implementation. Her roles within the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, the Utah State Office of Legislative and Fiscal Analysis, and the Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C., have equipped her with a well-rounded perspective on policy issues. Alysha holds a Master of Public Policy degree from George Washington University.

Scott Gaul is Chief Data Officer for Connecticut, at the Office of Policy and Management, where he supports the state’s efforts to improve open data, integrated data, through the state longitudinal data system, GIS data and data analytics. Previously, Scott worked on research, evaluation and community indicators at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, the community foundation for the Greater Hartford region. Prior to that, he served as director of analysis in the Washington, D.C.-based Microfinance Information Exchange and worked for the World Bank, Mercy Corps, and Quantitative Risk Management. He holds a master’s degree in international affairs from Johns Hopkins and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Chicago.

Barbara Ghilardi is the State Data Coordinator at the Connecticut State Library in the Division of Library Development. She manages the collection of data on CT’s Public Libraries as well as the borrowIT CT program. Prior to her time with CSL, she was the Assessment Librarian at the DiMenna-Nyselius Library at Fairfield University, overseeing assessment projects across the library. She loves listening to podcasts, watching classic films, and spending time with her 3-year-old son, husband, and her two cats Gatsby and Gandalf.

Augusta is a research analyst for the State of Connecticut and has four years of experience improving processes. As an analyst, she manages the metadata for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) programs and supports understanding the impact of the various initiatives on the community.

Jordan Jefferson is the Director of the Lynne L. Pantalena Law Library and an Associate Professor of Law. In her role, she manages all aspects of the Law Library's services, facilities, and staffing and teaches legal research.

Before joining the faculty, Professor Jefferson worked at Yale Law School, where she served for ten years, most recently as Associate Director of Operations, Outreach, and Engagement in the Lillian Goldman Law Library. Prior to her administrative role, Professor Jefferson was the Associate Director for Research and Instructional Services, managing the day-to-day strategic operations of the Research and Instructional Services department, including faculty and clinical liaison services, formal and informal instruction, reference desk, and research consultations.

Professor Jefferson has written and presented on technology, pedagogy, and service improvement in law libraries. Her scholarly interests include critical information theory, trauma-informed services in law schools, and access to justice. Professor Jefferson has extensive research knowledge of the carceral state, veteran's issues, and human rights law. She is active in various professional law library organizations, including the Southern New England Law Librarians' Association, the Law Librarians of New England, and the American Association of Law Libraries.

Kasey LaFlam oversees the Connecticut office’s portfolio of capacity building programs and other impact programming, including the Financial Opportunity Center network and child care facility fund. Kasey has nearly twenty years of experience in the non-profit sector, in positions ranging from program management to fund development, in communities including southwest New Hampshire, New York, and Washington, DC. She also has a background in community planning. Kasey is a graduate of Columbia University, with an MS in Urban Planning, and also holds a BA in Social Sciences from Keene State College.

With over seven years in IT security, I specialize in implementing comprehensive solutions to protect digital assets. My expertise includes Threat Analysis, Incident Response, and Risk Management, supported by certifications in CEH v11, AZ-500, and Fortinet NS1/NS2. 🔐

Passionate about cybersecurity and emerging technologies, I am particularly interested in how machine learning can enhance security measures. 🤖 Outside of work, I enjoy mandala art 🎨, singing 🎤, traveling ✈️, and reading 📚, which enrich my perspective and creativity.

Let’s connect to explore collaboration or new opportunities! 🌟

As the Data Analyst at COMPASS Youth Collaborative, Mica supports the work of staff on the frontline of community-based change by empowering others to build their data literacy skills, facilitating data-informed decision-making, and communicating data insights effectively at all levels.

Mica recently earned a Master of Public Policy with a Graduate Certificate in Human Rights from the University of Connecticut, in addition to holding a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish from Ohio University. Since graduating, she has also pursued a nano-degree in Data Science from Udacity. As a former AmeriCorps City Year member, Mica maintains a service-oriented mindset with a passion for equity, educational advancement, and youth development

Melissa Paul has spent her career dedicated to empowering young people to live out their best lives through education and leadership development. After earning a degree in Music from UConn she went on to pursue a Masters in School Counseling at CCSU. She has worked in a variety of educational settings including public and private schools, as well as in the nonprofit sector. Her role at Hartford Promise includes cultivating and managing partner college relationships, scholar coaching and outreach, and tracking college success.
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Melissa also shares a passion for the performing arts as a singer and actress. She performs as a solo artist and with several performing groups throughout the northeast. She and her husband, Jason, have two children whom she loves to bake, dance and sing with as much as possible.

Nicole O’Brien serves as Impact Manager for the Women’s Business Development Council. She plays a key role in measuring, enhancing, and communicating WBDC’s economic impact. Over her five plus years with WBDC, she has helped the organization to harness data and its power in operational decision-making.

Prior to joining WBDC, Nicole worked in the Office of Grants & Funded Research at Central Connecticut State University, and she has over a decade of customer service experience. She has worked on a variety of research projects in conjunction with faculty during her time at CCSU and UConn. She is passionate about ensuring data integrity and sharing clients’ success stories to showcase WBDC’s impact.

Nicole has a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Connecticut and an M.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Community Psychology from Central Connecticut State University.

Courtney is a Director with The Connecticut Project where she works with partners, grantees, and community members to understand the lived experiences of our neighbors and collaborates to generate meaningful individual outcomes and systemic change.

Prior to joining The Connecticut Project, Courtney managed a portfolio of early childhood policy initiatives at Bank Street College of Education. She also held leadership roles in the New York City Department of Education. Courtney lives with her husband and three children in Essex, Connecticut.

Sumit Sajnani serves as the Health Information Technology Officer (HITO) for the State of Connecticut. In this role he chairs several state committees and commissions focused on health IT and is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the statewide Health Information Exchange (Connie).

Sajnani directs the development of uniform data standards and collaborates with other state officials to implement a state health information plan. He engages in the legislative processes in pursuit of Office of Health Strategy (OHS) objectives.

Previously, he spent 12 years as an executive consultant at Connecticut Department of Correction (CT DOC), driving transformational IT programs for offender management and electronic health record.

Sajnani has held several senior leadership positions in information technology, management consulting and healthcare administration. He has nearly 25 years of experience in health IT, IT strategy, planning, development, delivery, and monitoring of technical solutions.

Hannah Smith is the Director of Shelter Services at the Beth-El Center. Passionate about compassionate and comprehensive care, she leads efforts to support individuals and families experiencing hunger and homelessness, ensuring trauma-informed and client-centered services. Hannah is dedicated to creating a safe, dignified, and supportive environment for those in need.

Noely Sanchez Velez works at Community Partners in Action (CPA) as the Administrative Manager and IT Liaison. She works as a Project Manager responsible for agency-wide projects and as the IT Liaison. She oversees the management and development of the agency’s Case Management Database Salesforce since 2018. Noely is a member of CPA’s Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (BEDI) Committee, Development Committee, and Governance Committee. As a member of the BEDI Committee, she works closely with the Executive Director to oversee the management of their current BEDI projects. She has been with Community Partners in Action since 1999. In addition to her work at CPA, Noely also sits on the Hartford Data Collaborative (HDC) Data Oversight Committee helping to shape HDC’s work with data analysis and also as a Board Member of the Roberts Foundation for the Arts.

In 2020, Noely became a published author through the Transformation 2020 book anthology that provides twenty inspiring stories of power and healing from women leaders. In March 2021, she wrote a chapter for Upward: Leadership Lessons for Women on the Rise. Each chapter is written by a woman business leader sharing the struggles and challenges faced as they made their way in the business world and also providing advice for the next generation of women business leaders. In 2023 also wrote a chapter for the Live Your Optimal Life anthology book series where 18 heart-centered leaders share what it means to live an optimal life, how to discover what is optimal for you, and what steps to take to begin to experience that now.

In 2020, Noely was awarded a 100 Women of Color Award for her work in the Hartford community. Outside of CPA, Noely and her husband own JCV Freelance Photography, LLC. In addition, they volunteer their time with Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) as photographers for National Adoption Day. They also volunteer for DCF’s Heart Gallery of America, capturing the individuality and dignity of children living in foster care in photos.

Noely attended Manchester Community College and The American Women’s College at Bay Path University with a concentration in Organizational Leadership Studies. In addition, she holds a Certification in Project Management from Post University.

Noely and her husband engage in a healthy lifestyle by staying active and sharing a mutual love for photography and gardening. Noely is a native of Caguas, Puerto Rico and has lived in Connecticut since 1991.

Noely Sanchez Velez is CPA’s first Administrative Manager and IT Liaison, a position she has held since 2021. She works as a Project Manager responsible for agency-wide projects and as the IT Liaison. Noely is a member of CPA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, Development Committee, and Governance Committee. As a member of the DEI Committee, she works closely with CPA’s DEI consultants to oversee the management of their current DEI project. In addition to her work at CPA, Noely also sits on the Hartford Data Collaborative (HDC) Data Oversight Committee helping to shape HDC’s work with data analysis. She has been with Community Partners in Action since 1999.

Before her current position, Noely was CPA’s Business Operations Administrator from 2019 to 2021 and served as the Executive Assistant to CPA’s Executive Director from 2002 to 2019. Noely's first job at CPA was as the Administrative Assistant for the Community Service Program at Hartford Community Court and later for the Beyond Fear Program in 2000.

In 2020, Noely became a published author through the Transformation 2020 book anthology that provides twenty inspiring stories of power and healing from women leaders. In March 2021, she wrote a chapter for Upward: Leadership Lessons for Women on the Rise. Each chapter is written by a woman business leader sharing the struggles and challenges faced as they made their way in the business world and also providing advice for the next generation of women business leaders.

In 2020, Noely was awarded a 100 Women of Color Award for her work in the Hartford community. Outside of CPA, Noely and her husband own JCV Freelance Photography, LLC. In addition, they volunteer their time with Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) as photographers for National Adoption Day. They also volunteer for DCF’s Heart Gallery of America, capturing the individuality and dignity of children living in foster care in photos.

Noely attended Manchester Community College and The American Women’s College at Bay Path University with a concentration in Organizational Leadership Studies. In addition, she holds a Certification in Project Management from Post University.

Noely and her husband engage in a healthy lifestyle by staying active and sharing a mutual love for photography. Noely is a native of Puerto Rico and has lived in Connecticut since 1991.

Susan R. Smith attended Williams College for her undergraduate, double majoring in Psychology + Studio Art, and Duke University for law school.

She has been a State of Connecticut employee for nearly 28 years. She’s held various positions at the CT Department of Children and Families, including the Procurement Program Director, the Director of the Office of Research + Evaluation, and the Chief of Quality + Planning. Presently, she is the Department of Social Services’ Director of Business Intelligence + Analytics and serves as the agency’s Data Officer.

Over Susan’s career, she has focused on advancing cultural and linguistic competence and racial equity across all aspects of service delivery for Connecticut citizens. In her capacity as DCF’s Chief of Quality + Planning, she served as the Executive Sponsor for the agency’s Racial Justice activities. In 2018, Susan was awarded the Department’s Dr. Janet E. Williams Humanitarian Award for her “Exemplary Leadership and Commitment to Racial Justice.”

Presently, she is continuing efforts to make high quality data more accessible and actionable through an equity, inclusion, and diversity lens. As the chairperson of DSS’ Data Governance Committee (DGC), she has led the development of Race/Ethnicity data collection and reporting recommendations. The DGC is also standing up a data request process and approach that actively assesses for equity within the protection and security of PHI, PII + other sensitive data. To that end, Susan has authored a Data Protection, Privacy + Equity Impact Assessment tool that is currently being reviewed for adoption by the State’s P20 WIN initiative.

Last, Susan is a member of the CT State Data Plan’s Equity Affinity Group and a planning member of the Equity Community of Practice that is convened by the CT Data Collaborative. On both groups, she is part of a community of individuals dedicated to collecting, analyzing, sharing, and using data in an equitable, ethical, and culturally responsive way.

I currently work with United Way as a Young Legend Social Worker who aids in the professional development and workplace development of opportunity youth (ages 18-29) in the city of Hartford. I communicate with families and young people about opportunities within their communities in which they can be involved and engage in discussion about how their communities can be better.

Taylor Tucker is a social worker with a passion for health equity, working to create a system that is accessible, affordable, and affirming. He brings years of experience facilitating and supporting learning communities of all ages, focused on social identities and power, transgender identities and lived experiences, voting and civic engagement, health equity, and DEIB-centered workshops. He believes in igniting social change through imagination while centering the communities most impacted. Taylor describes himself as a life-long learner who leads with authenticity, integrity, and curiosity.

Harley Webley, born in Jamaica and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, is no stranger to the impact of using policy to create better opportunities for individuals and their families. Earning her degree in Health Sciences from Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU), with minors in Sociology and Healthcare Management, Harley has a passion for building healthier communities, through social action. As an undergrad, she founded ECSU’s first-ever Health Conference focused on health equity and was granted the 2021 Social Justice Initiative award. She also earned her Master's in Public Health from the Yale School of Public Health, with a focus on Health Policy. Harley is thrilled to continue fueling her passion for equity, justice, and progress through policy and advocacy work. In her free time, Harley enjoys reading books, exercising, and spending time with loved ones.

Coral Wonderly is a data scientist at the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, where she focuses on leveraging data to enhance early childhood programs and policies. Prior to this role, she served as research analyst at the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management within the Data and Policy Analytics Division and as a data analyst at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Pauline is the Open Data Coordinator at the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. She manages the Connecticut Open Data Portal (data.ct.gov) and works with agencies to make their data available to the public as open data. She is interested in making data accessible and usable to promote government transparency and spark innovation. Prior to joining OPM, Pauline worked in higher education and the nonprofit sector. She holds a Masters in Public and Urban Policy from The New School.

Carl Zimmerman is a broadly trained geospatial professional with experience as a data manager, academic, and applied researcher. He has a PhD from University of Connecticut in Geomatics (remote sensing and GIS) and Natural Resources, and a Masters of Landscape Architecture from Kansas State University.  He has worked at multiple levels of government and taught at the Coast Guard Academy and Tufts University. His current position at the State of Connecticut in their Connecticut GIS Office. Recent work includes writing the first geospatial strategic plan for CT, working on U.S. geospatial data issues, and internal consulting for CT state agencies.