GHIAA STRATEGY TEAM
Born and raised in Hartford, Andriena is a graduate of Auburn University where she earned her B.A. in Journalism with a minor in Spanish. She worked for newspapers in Alabama and Louisiana before returning to CT in 2009. Her involvement with CLJ began in 2016 when she began advocating for students at Milner School as a member of the Northend Power Team. She used her voice to fight for the safety of students and, later, joined CARA residents in their battle to receive adequate housing. She has been involved with GHIAA since its inception- even being a part of the group’s naming process.
Andriena is a mother to two and bonus-mom to two more. She and her fiancé reside in Hartford where her love for the arts lead her to establish Who’s Hue?, a custom arts and apparel business. Andriena also serves as a board member for the Center for Leadership and Justice.
Andriena is a mother to two and bonus-mom to two more. She and her fiancé reside in Hartford where her love for the arts lead her to establish Who’s Hue?, a custom arts and apparel business. Andriena also serves as a board member for the Center for Leadership and Justice.
Rabbi Andi Fliegel came to Congregation Beth Israel in 2016 and has been a part of GHIAA for many years, including as a host for the founding in 2018 and through the Clergy Caucus. She is originally from Missouri and received her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master’s from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York.
Since joining CBI, she implemented an ongoing mental health initiative and formed gender-based teen groups empowering teens to reject sexism and develop healthy peer relationships. Rabbi Fliegel is married to Rabbi Daniel Fliegel and is mom of Matan and Lilah.
Since joining CBI, she implemented an ongoing mental health initiative and formed gender-based teen groups empowering teens to reject sexism and develop healthy peer relationships. Rabbi Fliegel is married to Rabbi Daniel Fliegel and is mom of Matan and Lilah.
Born in St. Vincent and raised in Trinidad, Rev. Hugh Hamilton first moved to the States in 1998 to serve at churches in New York before coming to Hartford in 2001. Rev. Hamilton earned his B.A. from the University of the West Indies before completing his M. Div. from Drew University in New Jersey, a Doctor of Minitstry degree at Andover Newton Theological School, and a Master’s in Public Administration from Sacred Heart University.
Rev. Hamilton is the father of two and was a recipient of the ‘100 Men of color’ Award in 2017 for his leadership in the Hartford community.
Rev. Hamilton is the father of two and was a recipient of the ‘100 Men of color’ Award in 2017 for his leadership in the Hartford community.
A graduate of Weaver High School, Luwannia started her professional career as a community organizer in the Asylum Hill neighborhood of Hartford. She spearheaded the effort for the first Boys and Girls Club facility in the district and went on to serve as a union representative for SEIU and UAW, representing both school bus drivers and paraprofessionals.
For the last 15 years Luwannia has worked as a Constituent Engagement Coordinator for 4 state representatives. She has also served as the Vice-chair of the Hartford Democratic Town Committee and is a member of New Antioch Baptist Church, a GHIAA member institution.
For the last 15 years Luwannia has worked as a Constituent Engagement Coordinator for 4 state representatives. She has also served as the Vice-chair of the Hartford Democratic Town Committee and is a member of New Antioch Baptist Church, a GHIAA member institution.
Rev. Tracy came to Connecticut from Indianapolis when she was a teenager and went on to earn her B.A. from Miami University (Ohio), M. Div from Yale, and M.A. in Education from Quinnipiac. She taught in the New Haven school district while also serving as Vicar at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. It was there that she co-founded Your Place Youth Center, which has since expanded to Greater Hartford, and where Rev. Tracy currently serves as the Executive Director.
In 2015, she became the first African-American woman to serve as Priest-in-Charge at St. Monica’s in Hartford, later becoming the church’s Rector. St. Monica’s is a founding member of GHIAA. Rev. Tracy also continues to serve as a lecturer at Yale Divinity School and on staff at Hartford International University.
She, her husband, son and nephew live in Bethany, CT.
In 2015, she became the first African-American woman to serve as Priest-in-Charge at St. Monica’s in Hartford, later becoming the church’s Rector. St. Monica’s is a founding member of GHIAA. Rev. Tracy also continues to serve as a lecturer at Yale Divinity School and on staff at Hartford International University.
She, her husband, son and nephew live in Bethany, CT.
Rev. Isaac is the South Central Area Conference Minister for the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ. Previously he served in a dual call as Associate Pastor at Immanuel Congregational Church and Communications Associate at the Center for Leadership and Justice, both in Hartford, CT.
He has a B.A. from Goucher College, a M. Div from Union Theological Seminary, and a Master of Sacred Theology from Yale Divinity School.
Prior to moving to Hartford, Rev. Lawson served as a minister of pastoral care at a local UCC congregation in Washington, DC, while simultaneously providing logistical and operational support for the South Asia Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice of the World Bank.
He has a B.A. from Goucher College, a M. Div from Union Theological Seminary, and a Master of Sacred Theology from Yale Divinity School.
Prior to moving to Hartford, Rev. Lawson served as a minister of pastoral care at a local UCC congregation in Washington, DC, while simultaneously providing logistical and operational support for the South Asia Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice of the World Bank.
Dwayne David Paul is the son of immigrants from Trinidad and Tobago. For the past three years, he has served as the director of the Collaborative Center for Justice, a Hartford-based, Catholic social justice organization sponsored by six communities of nuns.
Prior to his work at CCFJ, Dwayne worked as a campus minister, lecturer, and director of a multi- cultural center. He has his B.A. from St. Peter’s University, a M.A. from Yale, and he was a 2016 Fellow of the Black Theology & Leadership Institute at Princeton Theological Seminary.
Dwayne has helped to lead GHIAA’s criminal justice reform efforts in the past. He is also a contributing writer at the National Catholic Reporter.
Prior to his work at CCFJ, Dwayne worked as a campus minister, lecturer, and director of a multi- cultural center. He has his B.A. from St. Peter’s University, a M.A. from Yale, and he was a 2016 Fellow of the Black Theology & Leadership Institute at Princeton Theological Seminary.
Dwayne has helped to lead GHIAA’s criminal justice reform efforts in the past. He is also a contributing writer at the National Catholic Reporter.
Rev. Josh Pawelek has served as the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Society: East in Manchester since 2003. In addition to his work with GHIAA, he currently serves as a clergy leader with the Recovery for All Coalition, the Domestic Worker Justice Campaign, and is a founding board member of A Better Connecticut Institute. In the spring of 2021, the town of Manchester identified him as a “luminary for change.”
Josh received his Master’s of Divinity from Harvard University and currently lives in Glastonbury with his wife, two sons, three cats, and three chickens.
Josh received his Master’s of Divinity from Harvard University and currently lives in Glastonbury with his wife, two sons, three cats, and three chickens.
For as long as she can remember, Cynthia has loved helping and connecting with people. She graduated from Cambridge College with a B.A. in Human Services and thought about careers in pediatrics and social work before becoming an Operations Manager. After engaging with the house meeting process, Cynthia is eager to get more involved with GHIAA as it has shown to be an effective way to bring change.
She has been a member at Faith Seventh-Day Adventist Church for over 40 years and currently leads the community service team. Cynthia is a native of Bloomfield where she lives with her husband, Derrick. The two have one adult child.