OUR STAFF
Cori 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.
Lucy 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.
Jocelyn 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.
AJ 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.
Bea is a licensed lay minister, mission developer, and the Dean of the School of Lay Ministry for the ELCA, New England Synod. She is the pastor of Ministerio Nueva Creación in Manchester, CT, a founding member of GHIAA. She is a liaison to churches for the Town of Manchester Latin Affairs Council. She also has 20+ years of leadership experience in the healthcare industry. Originally from the Bronx, New York, Bea has lived in Connecticut for the past 23 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human services from Southern New Hampshire University. Bea is passionate about housing, immigration, and mental health issues that affect BIPOC communities.
Marika came to GHIAA with experience in faith-based organizing and nonprofit management. She has previously worked in leadership development, addiction recovery, and volunteer management. She specializes in community engagement, racial justice, and volunteer development. Marika earned her MSW from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology, focusing on social justice and inequality, from Wheaton College in Illinois.
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.