About the Center
for Leadership & Justice
Mission
The Center for Leadership and Justice develops and organizes leaders in neighborhood-based and multi-faith alliances to build power and act collectively for systemic change toward social, racial, and economic justice. It is headquartered in the Upper Albany neighborhood of Hartford and responds to social justice issues through organizing within Hartford neighborhoods and through GHIAA, the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance.
History
The Center for Leadership and Justice was founded in 1850, then known as the Young Men’s Missionary Society, in response to the plight of the poor and new immigrants in Hartford. Since then, CLJ has continually responded to pressing social issues through a variety of compelling strategies, programs, and initiatives. This has taken many forms over the years including, the formation of numerous nonprofit organizations, the establishment of Hartford’s first kindergarten, founding the Newington Children’s Hospital, construction of a congregate home for the elderly, played a pivotal role in creating an option for universal healthcare in Connecticut, and created over 200 units of affordable housing.
For 50 years the organization also responded to a need for quality summer education programming through the running of a youth enrichment camp. The Center of Leadership and Justice most recently followed the training and format of the Child Defense Fund as a Freedom School site, but concluded the program in 2022.
Core Values
Relational culture: We build authentic relationships as the foundation of our work.
Antiracism: We commit to unmask, understand, dismantle, and eradicate racism in all its forms.
Religious pluralism: We honor and respect one another’s diverse theologies, practices, and traditions.
Intersectionality: We intentionally navigate our complex web of identities, oppression, and privilege.
Lived experience: We center the voices and perspectives of people who are most impacted by injustice.
Commitment and collaboration: We engage in varied partnerships, always pursuing social justice.
Power and pragmatism: We balance idealism with realism, using clear power analysis to guide our work.
Whole human beings: We foster a culture of mutual care, mutual accountability, and mutual liberation.
Our Staff
Executive Director
email- cmackey@cljct.orgCori brings 25 years of executive leadership experience in social justice work, nonprofit management, and faith-based organizing to the Center for Leadership and Justice, where she has served as Executive Director since 2014. Cori’s passion is building power among marginalized and faith-based communities through organizing efforts to bring about systemic change. She is also deeply passionate about the intersection of social justice and congregational life. She holds an M.Div. from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH and is a member of Immanuel Congregational Church in Hartford.
Director of Operations
e-mail- ltaveras@cljct.orgLucy brings 34 years of administrative, office management, and operational experience in both non-profit and for-profit working environments. She began at CLJ as an executive assistant in November 2020 and was recently promoted to Director of Operations. Lucy holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Phoenix and also holds a life coach certification from the Life Purpose Institute. Lucy is a founding and core team member of the GHIAA congregation Ministerio Nueva Creación in Manchester, CT.
GHIAA Lead Organizer
email- jgardnerspencer@cljct.orgJocelyn led United Church of Christ congregations in Massachusetts and Connecticut for 12 years before joining the GHIAA team in 2021. She has been active in interfaith collaborations in Boston, New Haven, and Northeastern Connecticut, and has facilitated racial justice trainings in local churches, at regional workshops, and for denominational staff. She is past president of the Southern New England Conference of the UCC. Jocelyn holds a B.A. in human ecology and environmental studies from Williams College, an M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, and a Certificate of Executive Leadership from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Director of Neighborhood Organizing
e-mail- ajohnson@cljct.orgAJ pastors Urban Hope Refuge Church in the North End of Hartford, where his father pastored for 24 years. AJ has been active in many social justice movements in Hartford, including key roles in the Fight for 15 Campaign and the No More Slumlords Campaign, and is a well-respected community leader. AJ has a master’s degree in organizational management and leadership and a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and education.
Tieasha joined the CLJ team in 2017 and has been a key leader in both neighborhood campaigns and GHIAA. She formerly served as director of the Freedom School summer youth program. Tieasha graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s in urban and community studies, and from Albertus Magnus College with a master’s in organizational leadership. Born and raised in Hartford, she has worked with youth by mentoring and facilitating workshops for college readiness. Tieasha’s passion is building relationships that unite people in finding solutions to common issues.
Sarah is passionate about Hartford and engaging community members to take an active role in demanding change. In addition to her work at CLJ, Sarah also owns Story and Soil Coffee, and has served the region in various educational, entrepreneurial, and artistic roles. She has a B.A. in journalism from Temple University and a M.S. in school counseling from UMass Boston. Sarah is a GHIAA core team member at Center Church in Hartford.
Pat has over 35 years of neighborhood and faith-based organizing experience as the founder and lead organizer of Elm City Congregations Organized (ECCO) in New Haven, and organizer of Congregations Organized for A New Connecticut (CONECT). He is the principal of AMOS Resources, which works to replicate the success of CONECT and GHIAA throughout Connecticut. Pat has a master’s degree in religion and social ethics from Boston University.
Board of Directors
Rev. Mia Douglas
Chair
Ilene Frank
Vice-Chair
Andriena Baldwin
Secretary
Dave Roozen
Investment Chair
Tyrone Walker
Immediate Past Chairman
Peter Benner
Rev. Andrea Davidson
Rev. Mark Diters
Michael Hassan
Brian Martin
Job Openings
Full-time Organizer for GHIAA (Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance)
We seek an experienced community organizer (or someone with demonstrated transferable skills) who is able to build relationships with diverse communities and organizations.
Click here for the full posting
Part-time Lead Organizer for New Organizing Initiative in Southeastern Connecticut
We seek a skilled community organizer to lead clergy from 15 congregations in Southeastern CT who have been meeting and training members to form an organizing effort in this region.
Click here for the full posting
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