Board of DirectorsThe Meriden Children First Initiative (CFI) makes great strides in creating positive educational, social and health outcomes for all children in greater Meriden with the assistance of the following dedicated members of its board of directors:
Here is who serves on the Children First Board of Directors for 2009-2010:
Marisol Estrada-Soto Chair
Meriden resident for over 30 years. Graduated from Maloney High School. Married with two children in the Meriden school system. One is attending Platt High School and the other Hanover School. 2007 Parent Leadership Training Institute graduate. She is employed full time and holds an A.S. from Middlesex Community College and a B.S. from the University of Hartford. Passions include educating parents on the importance of their involvement in their children's education and providing continuity for all children K – 12.
Craig Hazel Treasurer
Father of two. Twenty years experience in the banking, finance, and insurance industries. Special interests include revitalizing low and middle income communities.
Kim Carbone-Pandiani Secretary
Director of Education at Connecticut Computer Service, Inc. Lifelong resident of Meriden. Married/mother of two children, both enrolled in Meriden Public Schools. Active Parent leader. Member of School Building Committee-City of Meriden. St. Joseph's Parish- CCD teacher.
Cathy Abercrombie
State Representative for the 83rd district since 2005. Active mom of three. Life-long Meriden resident. Self-employed. Graduate of Parent Leadership Training Institute graduate. State Representative.
Beth Vumbaco
Beth is proud to serve the City of Meriden as Director of Health & Human Services where she oversees the Divisions of Health, Youth Services, Senior Services and Social Services. She is also co-chair of the School Readiness Council. She has been a CFI Cheerleader since its inception.
Mary Noonan Cortright
Superintendent of Meriden Public Schools. She has spent thirty-two years in education in Meriden as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal prior to becoming Superintendent. She also has a long record of active community involvement in non-profit organizations and served on the Meriden City Council.
Nydia Dominguez
Born and raised in Meriden and owns a home in this wonderful city with her spouse. Two children, 22 and 12 years old. B.S. in Studio Art from Southern CT State University. Nydia is an amazing artist.
Karen Roesler
Karen Roesler became Director of the Meriden Public Library in January 2008 after 25 years as Co-Director of the Wallingford Library. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Masters in Library Science. For ten years, Karen served as half-time Reference Librarian in Meriden while continuing work as Co-Director of the Wallingford Library. But as a 30 year resident of Meriden, she is now delighted to serve her own community full time.
Karen and her husband Ned have five children, many pets, an old house, and have been active in a variety of city initiatives.
Sophie Vargas
Has resided in Meriden, CT for the past 38 years. Married with four beautiful children, 27, 13, 12, and 9. A 2007 PLTI graduate. A community leader with a passion for social change and forward movement.
Cathy Battista
Cathy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish and a Master’s Degree in Administration, Supervision, and Curriculum in Education and is cross-endorsed in ESL, certified in Adult Education and holds Parents As Teachers Supervisor’s Certification. She taught middle school Spanish in Southington, was the acting director of Meriden Business and Learning Center, a non-profit business/ education organization, and an adult education facilitator prior to being hired as the Director of two Family Resource Centers in Meriden located at John Barry and Ben Franklin Schools. She is very active in her community and serves on a number of local boards and commissions.
Barbara Holloman
Married with two children and resident of Meriden. President, Meriden-Wallingford NAACP. Also a member of the Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce, Meriden Rotary Club, and Boys and Girls Club. Holds Bachelor of Theology and currently pursuing B.S. in Business Management from Albertus Magnus College.
David Salafia
Life long Meriden resident. University of Hartford grad 1984. Coached youth soccer, basketball and baseball for the past 20 years. Elected to the Meriden City Council in 2005. Serves on City Council Park and Recreation and Public Works Committees. Married to Teri Riley and together have two children, Allie 11 and Joey 9.
Michael Cardona
Mr. Cardona was elected to the Meriden Board of Education in 2005 and served on the School Building Committee for two years. Mr. Cardona was elected the Board Secretary in December of 2007. Currently, he works as a Parole Officer for the Board of Pardons and Paroles. Mr. Cardona also worked as a correctional counselor in the adult and youth facilities of the Department of Corrections. He is married with two young children.
Julissa Nixon
Julissa is a native of Connecticut; a single mom of school-age twins who attend Pulaski; a black woman; and a professional social worker. Julissa was born in New Haven and raised in Meriden. She earned her MSW from the UConn School of Social Work and is a 2009 graduate of Meriden’s Parent Leadership Training Institute.
Sonya Jelks
Sonya is an involved and energetic member of the Meriden community. Sonya is an active volunteer at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and at the Meriden YMCA. In addition to her volunteer activities, she is also a member on the Meriden Family Resource Center’s Parent Advisory Board and she is a new member of the Junior League of Hartford. Sonya is also a 2009 graduate from the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) where she completed a community project establishing a scholarship program honoring community mentors for their leadership and commitment to children.
Sonya earned a BA in Anthropology and a BS in MIS from Syracuse University. She currently works for UTC Carrier as a Commercial Sales and Service Information Technology Manager. Sonya has been a Meriden resident for over 5 years where she lives with her partner, Bryan and their two daughters, Zari (age 4) and Aja (age 2).
Maura Jo Lynch
Maura Jo Lynch was introduced to CFI as a member of Meriden's 2009 Parent Leadership Training Institute. She is certified as both a Childbirth Educator and as a Birth Doula, providing professional labor support to women and their families. In addition to participating in the Prenatal Subcommittee of the Meriden Blueprint for Young Children, Maura Jo is also a delegate of Conneticut Parent Power, and is incoming president of United Families for Midwifery Care, a consumer advocacy group which promotes awareness of options in childbirth. Having most of her life working with children, first as a camp counselor, and later as a recreational sports instructor and program director, Maura Jo is well aware of how much the work of CFI matters to the children in our community. Maura Jo holds two associate degrees, a bachelors and a hard-earned Master of Arts in Women's Studies through Southern Connecticut State University. Along with her spouse of six years, and two vibrant, active daughters, she resides, proudly, in Meriden.
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