Our Mission
NCCJ promotes inclusion and acceptance by providing education and advocacy while building communities that are respectful and just for all.


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.
Headquartered in Middletown, CT, NCCJ designs and delivers Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs and consulting services to thousands annually. NCCJ offers a continuum of services including fee for service DEI Consultive, 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.
WHO WE ARE
Our Staff

Monique Lorenzo
President & CEO

Sandra Vonneissen-Applebee
Director of Operations

Nyaunu Stevens
Director of Programs

Lisa Tatko
Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships

Kristen McNamara
Development & Marketing Manager
President & CEO
Monique Lorenzo

About Monique Lorenzo
Monique Lorenzo’s social justice journey has been defined by several pivotal life-transforming experiences that have coursed her personal, educational, and professional trajectory. As a Dominican woman she was raised with a foundation of faith which ingrained tenets of virtue, value of human rights and life. Lorenzo is a fierce Afro-Latina who has dedicated over two decades as a relentless civil leader, tireless change agent, and fearless disrupter. She has a wealth of experience in the areas of nonprofit C-suite and corporate management.
In July 2022, Lorenzo joined the National Conference for Community and Justice, NCCJ. As President and Chief Executive Officer, Lorenzo leads the human relations organization in its mission to advance equity and equality, promote justice, and build diverse and inclusive communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts and nationwide. Lorenzo is an adaptive leader, strategic visionary, and critical thinker whose results-based approach and transformational leadership support systems change. She believes intrinsic motivation and a growth mindset allow one to leverage strengths to guide positive change. For Lorenzo social justice is standing in the face of oppression, standing with marginalized communities, leading change, and social transformation one person at a time. At NCCJ we understand that life is complex, and it’s our mission to create safe spaces to ‘help humans, human better,’ together.
Lorenzo has a Master of Science in Urban Policy Analysis and Management from Milano, The New School for Management and Urban Policy, and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Legal Studies from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In her personal life, she loves to garden year-round, collect vinyl records, write, and play crossword puzzles. Lorenzo lives with her beloved husband, adored son, dog, kittens, and turtle in Connecticut.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board Officers
Erica M. Dean
Secretary
Senior Director of Inclusion and Diversity, Comcast Western New England Region
Susan Dunn
Non-Profit Consultant
Edmund S. Kindelan, CPA
Treasurer
Office Managing Partner – Boston, CohnReznick
Calvin R. Hill, PhD
Vice Chair III
VP for Inclusion and Community Engagement, Springfield College
Edward Lewis
Senior Managing Director & Head of Alternative Investments, CIGNA Investment Management
Brooke Penders
Chair
Executive Director of Career Services, University of Hartford
James Ray, Esq.
Robinson & Cole, LLP
Board Members
Matthew Cambi
Principal, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP
Dianne Fuller Doherty
Senior Business Advisor, UMASS Amherst
Ellen Weiss Freyman, Esq.
Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin, PC
Matthew J. Guanci, Jr., Esq.
Partner, Robinson + Cole, LLP
Paul E. Lambert
Interim Executive Director, Springfield Symphony Orchestra
Jane Lehman
VP, Guest Experience & Programming, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Robert J. Martino, Esq.
Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, PC
Ryan S. McCollum
Owner/Principal,Marketing Consultant, RMC Strategies/Get Set Marketing
Tracy McMillan
Managing Principal, Broadview Talent Partners
Andrea O’Connor
Principal, Fitzgerald Attorneys at Law, P.C.
Paul Robbins
President, Paul Robbins Associates
David B. Rosenthal
Partner, BlumShapiro
Yolande Spears
Senior VP, Education and Community Relations, The Bushnell Center for Performing Arts
Mark A. Wasilefsky
Senior VP, Marketing Commercial Credit Mgr., TD Bank
Our Supporters
MORE SUPPORTERS
Grants and Partnerships
Equity Leadership Alliance | Partnership with Liberty Bank & CT Humanities
State of CT Department of Education | Anytown Interdistrict Grant
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving | Sestero Grant
VIDEO GALLERY
About the National Conference for Community and Justice
View some of our videos below.
Visit us online:
LinkedIn @NCCJ
Facebook @NCCJPosts
Instagram @NCCJPics
Twitter @NCCJTweets

MAKE A DIFFERENCE
When there is an act of bias or hate, NCCJ speaks out…and we empower those we work with to find their voice for change.
Join, support, and add your name to building inclusive communities for all.
Adult Programs
Youth Programs
DEI Consulting
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Be the Difference,