Board of Directors

A Bit About Me:

I am an Engineer who worked for thirty years at Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford. I have been a resident of South Windsor since 1962. My wife Janine and I have seven children between us and nine grandchildren, two of which are great-grandchildren.

Why Race Amity is Important to Me:

I became a member of the Baha’i Faith in 1975 and have been involved ever since in promoting the oneness of humankind, which is one of the primary principles of this Faith. Other principles are the promotion of justice and building unity. This coalition is multi-racial, multi-faith, and multicultural, and as such allows me and other advocates to represent diversity, as we put into action activities that can assist the world to believe in, and love, each other. 

A Bit About Me:

I am a sustainability manager with Otis Elevator, and have been a resident of Manchester for 30 years.  I serve on the sustainability committee of Manchester, and also as a board member of the Connecticut Council for Interreligious Understanding.

Why Race Amity is Important to Me:

 My interest in race amity stems from personal life experiences, first being born and raised early on in the South, and onto lily white regions in Washington state and New Hampshire.  Although I realized that we are one human family some time ago, I also can still recognize the remnants of this racism disease within me.  And so working with CTCRA is a part of my continuing transformation journey.  Congressman John Lewis said that “now we have to create a sense that we are one community, one family.  Really, we are the American family.” This is what we are seeking to do.

A Bit About Me:

Retiree 23 and a 1/2 years, Operator Service Supervisor-Aid, Southern New England Telephone: widow 45, years: Children None: 53 years Resident in South Windsor, CT: 32 years Charter Grand Lady, St. Benedict Court 33 and Faithful Comptroller, Lady of Grace, 4th Degree Division in the Knights of Peter Claver, the largest predominately African American Roman Catholic Fraternal Organization in the world, also 38 years Politically involved with the Greater Hartford Progressive Democratic Women's Club

Why Race Amity is Important to Me:

Entering into this world in 1936 and some people's is going to Kill/Murder you because of your complexion and being taught by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament not to hate and be afraid of any person, always be Kind, Caring, and Friendly. The 

CT-CRA is teaching and sharing the untold history of racism in the U.S.A. with a clear perception of the real truth that the creator Father of all living humankind in the Universe is his Children, therefor all the human people 

in the world are created 

Brothers and Sisters to 

each another as well.

A Bit About Me:

Born in Calcutta, India, my family moved to East Pakistan which is now Bangladesh after India was divided. I came to Syracuse University in 1970 to get my Masters Degree in Architecture.

Fate brought me to Hartford where I met my wife Diana. We have two adult sons and two grandchildren.

After practicing Architecture for fifty years, I retired in 2017. I devote my time now for volunteer work for organizations like Rotary, Connecticut Council for Inter religious Understanding, Little Theater of Manchester, FoodShare, Muslim Coalition of CT and SCORE a business mentoring organization.

Why Race Amity is Important to Me:

I joined Ct-CRA because as a person of color I know how important it is to work together to foster better understanding of each other in a multicultural and multiracial society.

A Bit About Me:

I am a Quality Assurance Specialist at a Connecticut 

non-profit mental health agency. 

I have been in Connecticut for most of my life, raising six children in New London County. I have been in the social services field for over thirty years, serving those members of our communities 

who are often forgotten.

As part of my current employment, I serve on the Trauma and Diversity Committee and the RISE

(Recovery Includes Spiritual Encouragement) Committee, which has afforded me the ability to fully embrace my passions while working.

Why Race Amity is Important to Me:

I am active in my pursuit of an anti-racist society and the elimination of all forms of prejudices. I work towards the development of equitable policies and laws so that all are equal. It is my firm belief that we can say 

we are individually not racist, but until the day comes in which we 

all live in a society in which all

policies are fair and equitable for all, regardless of race, creed, color, gender, or class, we will be living in

a racist society. I serve on the CT. DMHAS Multi-Cultural Advisory Council at the state level and the local level. I am also a member 

of the Executive Board of the Norwich Branch of the NAACP, serving this year as Secretary. 

I serve on the Norwich Race Equity Committee which strives to educate the community on

race equity issues. In addition, 

I am current President of the Norwich Rotary Community Corps, a group of community members providing ‘selfless service’ to the community. Finally, as a Bahá’í, I believe that we will achieve race unity, amity and equity.

A Bit About Me:
Most of my life has been based in Connecticut but I have had the fortune of living, traveling and working in Europe, the Caribbean and throughout the United States. My husband Bill Thomas and I currently live in South Windsor where we raised our seven children.

Why Race Amity is Important to Me:
I have served humanity in multifaceted ways and developed strong people skills that help me contribute my talents with organizations that honor diversity. I currently serve on the Council of Elders for Artists for World Peace based in Middletown and am also a Board Member of Connecticut Council for Interreligious Understanding based in Hartford.I have always believed in the oneness of mankind. Becoming a partner of the Connecticut Coalition for Race Amity encourages me to face racism within myself and to focus on unity as the desired outcome for the greater community.

A Bit About Me:
Connecticut has always been my home state and I have been enjoying the diversity in the small city of Middletown for almost 20 years.  I recently retired from the State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, which I worked for over 33 years.  This included 7 years of community service in Bridgeport mostly working as a patient advocate for the greater Bridgeport area.

Why Race Amity is Important to Me:
It is the power of friendship which will help heal the false race paradigms in our society.  There is still a lack of trust we can overcome when we practice what we say we believe by building genuine friendships with diverse people.  The days I am comfortable are not the ones I treasure, because I believe the effort to be anti-racist requires a bit of discomfort.

A Bit About Me:
I am an avid believer in the power of conversations to make a difference in our society, and I am an advocate for social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. As an activist and volunteer, I was one of the founding members of Courageous Conversations in Bridgeport, CT. 

Why Race Amity is Important to Me:
I have been a proud member of CCRA since 2021 and have continued to be at the forefront of advocating for diversity awareness through my work. #BeCourageous #DiversityMatters