WATERBURY, Conn. — Three accomplished community leaders have been elected to the Connecticut Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
The new members include Dr. Angela Chapman, Baba Frew and JoAnn Reynolds-Balanda. These three individuals will bring their expertise and commitment to a dynamic board, according to the foundation, which serves 21 towns in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills.
The Board of Trustees members are stewards of the foundation’s mission and guide the organization’s philanthropic efforts. The board also supports local nonprofits and cultivates leadership, the foundation says.
The foundation endeavors to create a more inclusive, equitable and thriving community.
“We are thrilled to welcome Angela, Baba and JoAnn to our board,” Michael Giardina, chair of the Board of Trustees, said. “Their wealth of experience, passion and perspective will help us deepen our impact across the region and expand equitable opportunities to all the residents who call this community home.”
Kathy Taylor, president and CEO of the foundation, said the trustees bring invaluable insight and expertise to the table.
“We are looking forward to the unique contributions of each of these new members of our board,” Taylor said. “Community leaders like Angela, Baba and JoAnn are important advocates who will help us to create more inclusive, just and vibrant communities.”
According to the foundation, Chapman has more than 20 years of administrative management experience with 12 years in public higher education. She is an associate dean of development at Connecticut State Community College Naugatuck Valley and leads the Institutional Office.
Chapman also teaches nonprofit management and grant writing as an adjunct professor at Charter Oak State College and holds degrees from Albertus Magnus College, the University of North Haven (MBA) and the University of Hartford (EdD). She additionally serves as vice chair for the board at A&S Addiction Services, is a board member for the Waterbury Chamber of Commerce, a corporator for Thomaston Savings Bank and a member of the United Way of Greater Waterbury.
Frew earned both her BA and MA from Middlebury College and taught Spanish and human geography for more than 30 years at The Taft School. There, she served as the chair of the Modern Languages Department and held the Edwin C. Doughlas Chair, recognizing her dedication to her students, according to the foundation.
Beyond the classroom, Frew was the director of Community Service, overseeing several service-related activities and organizations. She also served as director of The Global Leadership Institute, a co-curricular program that unites students from Taft and Waterbury Public Schools for shared learning and leadership experiences.
The foundation says Reynolds-Balanda retired after 20 years with the United Way of Greater Waterbury, where she was vice president of Community Impact and implemented a nationally recognized outcomes measurement evaluation for funded programs. She also led initiatives that addressed homelessness and food insecurity.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked alongside Waterbury leaders to make sure essential services were available for those who quarantined. Reynolds-Balanda is also passionate about early literacy and was recognized for promoting the Sparkler app in Waterbury.
The three new members are joined on the Board of Trustees by Avery Gaddis, Tomas Olivo, Jean Solomon and Saran White. Brian Jones will be leaving the foundation’s board after completing six years of service.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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