ABOUT US
Our Story
The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) promotes inclusion and acceptance through education and advocacy to building inclusive, respectful communities. Since 1927, NCCJ’s mission has evolved to include nine areas of social justice identity: Ability, Age, Body Size, Class, Gender, Race, Religion, Sex, and Sexual Orientation.
For 96 years NCCJ has served as a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) anchor institute, a community convener, catalyst for change, and collaborator for innovation in DEI education to strengthen communities. NCCJ celebrates the diversity of races, religions, cultures, genders, abilities, and sexual orientations.
Headquartered in Middletown, CT, NCCJ designs and delivers DEI programs and consulting services to thousands annually. NCCJ offers a continuum of free programs including fee for service DEI Consulting Services which include, executive coaching, focus groups, community conversations, customized curriculum, assessments tools and development of affinity groups. Helping humans human better together is not only our mission, it is our call to action.
Director of Operations
Sandra Vonneissen-Applebee
About Sandra Vonneissen-Applebee
Sandra Vonniessen-Applebee is the Director of Operations for the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ). Sandra has been a social justice educator for more than 25 years, working as a private consultant as well as a facilitator of social justice programs for many of the leading organizations in the field. She has worked in a number of areas of higher education/student affairs and taught as an adjunct at the college level as well as engaging with organizations, corporations, and religious institutions. She has worked extensively throughout Connecticut with participants from aged 5 to over 80 years old. Originally from Canada, Sandra received her undergraduate degree at The University of British Columbia and her master’s degree at Bowling Green State University. Sandra believes in brave allies who are lifelong learners, who educate and challenge others to show up for those who are marginalized as well as challenging and changing the systems that marginalize people.
Director of Programs
Nyaunu Stevens
About Nyaunu Stevens
Nyaunu Stevens is the Director of Programs for the National Conference for Community and Justice. She is a passionate advocate for social justice and brings with her over two decades of experience as an educator and 15 years of experience in the world of social justice advocacy. Trained as an actress and an academic, Nyaunu is a powerful presenter and facilitator. She has worked with people of all ages, from preschool to adult, and with people from a myriad of identity backgrounds. She has served as a Lead Teaching Artist with Cleveland Public Theater where she worked to bring theater education to marginalized youth on their own territory. She spent years at The Cleveland Play House as an instructor and in collaboration with Project Act’s The Reading Company staging children’s books for children experiencing homelessness in an effort to foster their literacy skills. She has also taught in the fields of Sociology and Women’s Studies. She holds a Master’s in Sociology from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Theater from Cleveland State University where she was graduated summa cum laude. She is a subject matter expert in Sociology of the Body, Fat Studies, and Race, Class, and Gender.
Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships
Lisa Tatko
About Lisa Tatko
Lisa Tatko, the Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships at NCCJ, brings over 30 years of entrepreneurial and consulting experience to NCCJ. Her primary focus is on supporting leaders and organizations to seamlessly integrate DEI initiatives into daily practices, while fostering understanding and measurable progress in communities and workplace cultures. With a commitment to aligning personal and professional values, Lisa works to ensure that these efforts have a lasting and meaningful impact for everyone.
Our Supporters
