Hello

Before launching Lavender Group, I served in key leadership roles in Western Massachusetts, and for many years, have served extensively on boards and commissions. For nearly four years I was the Interim and then Executive Director of Healing Racism Institute; served approximately ten years as the Chief Operating Officer of Partners for Community with affiliates that include New England Farm Workers’ Council and Brightwood Development; and spent time as Director of the Urban Education Initiative at Smith College.  Appointed by Governor Charlie Baker to the Governor’s Latino Advisory Commission and Massachusetts Department of Transportation Board of Directors; appointed by Governor Deval Patrick to the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority; I have also served as Member of the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board of Directors and as Member of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts Board of Directors.  I now serve as Member and Chair of the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, as a Member of the Springfield Museums Board of Trustees, and as a member of the Arctaris Impact Investors LLC CDE Board.
 

With a deep understanding of historically marginalized communities, I have for many years worked at the intersection of policy, education, human services, workforce development, housing, grants development and community/economic impact. As a consultant and executive, my experience ranges from management of a $60 million annual budget, and leadership for 300 employees, to fundraising campaigns, policy advocacy, organization communication, operationalizing equity, and program development. 
 
I earned a Bachelor’s degree from Smith College as an Ada Comstock Scholar, and a Master’s in Public Policy Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I also served as an Urban Studies and Planning Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Home is wherever my husband John and pup Blu are.