Calondra (she/her) is the Director of Strategic Communications at William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund (WCGMF), bringing more than 15 years of proven expertise in driving social impact through strategic communications in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. With a track record of leveraging communications to advance equity and catalyze meaningful change, she has developed expertise in content development, digital strategy, media relations, design/branding, and more. She is passionate about advancing social justice and human rights for all and believes in the power of communications and storytelling to inspire, educate, and motivate.
Prior to WCGMF, Calondra served as Director of Communications at the Ms. Foundation for Women in NYC for five years, where she led the foundation’s comprehensive communications strategy, brand management, and media relations while building and mentoring a high-performing team of communications professionals. Her career also includes roles as the Senior Communications Manager at the Clinton Foundation, where she led media outreach for the organization’s national initiatives, and Communications Manager at WhyHunger, a food and social justice organization, where she spearheaded social media strategy and played a key role in executing major fundraising campaigns. Earlier in her career, she honed her media relations expertise at the NYC Department of Small Business Services, securing media placements across print, digital, and broadcast platforms.
Calondra holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio and a Crisis Communications and Reputation Management Certificate from Rutgers University. Originally from her hometown of Cleveland, OH, she lived in New York City for over a decade and will soon call CT home.
Outside of work, she can be found bingeing the latest TV show, snuggling with her furbaby, and practicing that “joy is an act of resistance.”
Akia S. Callum is a Senior Program Officer at the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund. She works to shift power and narratives by leveraging the Fund’s resources, relationships, and strategic advocacy efforts to serve communities most impacted by systemic inequities. Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to equity, community power, and systemic change.
Akia brings over a decade of social impact leadership spanning philanthropy, community organizing, and advocacy. Prior to Graustein, she served as Deputy Director at Waterbury Bridge to Success, co-leading the $2.5 million BOOST! Community School Initiative across six neighborhood schools, strengthening youth development, family engagement, and wraparound supports. A former adjunct professor at Post University, she has built a career rooted in education, civic participation, and equity-centered community building.
In addition to her philanthropic leadership, Akia serves as Chair of the Northeast Region of the National Black Law Students Association (NEBLSA) for the 58th term. Under her leadership, NEBLSA has doubled membership, hosted its largest regional convention in five years, and expanded access to career development, wellness, and global engagement opportunities. Her leadership is anchored in her mantra: “Titles and positions may get you into rooms, but who you are as a person is what keeps you there.”
Akia’s impact and advocacy have earned her recognition including the inaugural John Lewis Youth Leadership Award, presented by the National Association of Secretaries of State, and the Women of Inspiration Award from the WNBA Connecticut Sun and Post University, received alongside Good Morning America Co-Host Robin Roberts.
A proud Brooklyn native, daughter of Jamaican immigrants, and product of NYC Public Schools, Akia holds a Master’s in Education and a B.S. in Legal Studies. She is pursuing her Juris Doctor and a Corporate and Regulatory Compliance certificate at UConn School of Law, with an anticipated May 2026 graduation. She serves on several boards, including the ACLU of Connecticut, and embraces travel, family, and dancehall music as sources of joy, restoration, and inspiration. For Akia, rest and play are just as essential as purpose and service.
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Grace-Oriana Andre brings over a year of experience at the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, specializing in impact investing. In her role as Impact Investment Analyst, she conducts in-depth research, analyzes portfolio investments, and supports portfolio management activities, all in alignment with the fund’s mission to foster equity and social change.
Grace-Oriana is deeply passionate about driving positive social and environmental impact. Her work focuses on empowering people of color and underserved communities to overcome systemic inequities and achieve sustainable progress. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with a minor in Finance and an MBA in Management Finance from the University of New Haven. She is committed to continuous learning and exploring diverse cultural perspectives on impact and sustainability.
Outside of work, Grace-Oriana enjoys serving her community through her church in Connecticut, traveling to explore beautiful destinations, and discovering unique culinary experiences.
Dr. Ngounou is a visionary leader with over 20 years of experience across the education sector, including philanthropy, nonprofits, and school districts. Her work is characterized by a deep commitment to social and racial justice, youth and community empowerment, and systemic change.
Dr. Ngounou’s background includes serving as the Interim President and CEO, as well as Vice President of Strategy and Programs, at the Nellie Mae Education Foundation (NMEF). There, she led efforts to advance racial justice in public education through strategic grantmaking, trust-based philanthropy, policy advocacy, and community-driven initiatives. During her tenure at NMEF, the Foundation earned one of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy’s prestigious Impact Awards.
In addition to her tenure at NMEF, Dr. Ngounou has held key positions at Phi Delta Kappa International and various school districts, where she has taught, as well as designed and led programs focused on equity, social justice, and leadership development.
She also brings rich academic credentials, holding a Doctor of Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, an Education Specialist in Administration from the University of Missouri Kansas City, a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Missouri Central, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri Kansas City.
Viviana [she/her/ella] is an Administrative Assistant at the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund (WCGMF). She provides support to guests, manages the front desk, and assists with various administrative tasks, ensuring smooth daily operations.
Viviana started with WCGMF as convening staff in 2013, where she ensured on-site events went seamlessly. Her compassion and deep passion for the Fund’s mission made her a natural fit when the Administrative Assistant position opened in 2019. Prior to joining WCGMF, Viviana spent over a decade in the chiropractic field, where she excelled as an office manager and therapist’s assistant.
As a lifelong New Haven resident and the daughter of Colombian immigrants, Viviana understands the importance of WCGMF’s mission. She envisions a world where all children feel happy and safe and have equal educational opportunities, regardless of where they live. With children who have experienced New Haven public schools across two decades, Viviana has witnessed the widening gap between city and suburban schools and is committed to continuing the work needed to bridge this divide.
A lifelong learner, Viviana eagerly embraces opportunities to enhance her skills. While pursuing a degree in Communication Disorders at Southern Connecticut State University, she discovered another of her passions—motherhood. Now, Viviana enjoys nothing more than spending time with her children and husband, especially during warm summer days at the beach.
Christianna (she/her) is the Grants Officer at the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, where she provides technical and logistical expertise to grantee partners and the Program Implementation Team to ensure a supportive and efficient grantmaking process, from inquiry to award. While Christianna has always been passionate about education, her firsthand experience with the inner workings of the education system made the need for systemic change all the more apparent. Christianna is thrilled to be part of the Memorial Fund as it supports grantee partners in this inspiring work.
Prior to joining the Memorial Fund, Christianna spent twenty years working to improve the lives of Connecticut’s children and families through local and national nonprofits, leading development and communications efforts and streamlining organizational operations. Christianna began her career in development with The Cove Center for Grieving Children, then moved into an operations and accountability role within the Juvenile Justice System, focusing primarily on juvenile diversion after the Emily J verdict.
Returning to development and communications work, Christianna supported cancer patients and their families for sixteen years, as a Senior Campaign Manager for School & Youth programs statewide, as well as Light the Night Walks in New London, Hartford, and New Haven counties, then in a part-time capacity as a coordinator with the First Connection peer mentoring program. Most recently, as the Director of Organizational Advancement at a nonprofit outplacement, Christianna spent nine years supporting K-12 special education students, leading communications, marketing, admissions, fundraising, and strategic efforts. She graduated from the University of New Haven with a degree in Criminal Justice and a concentration in Juveniles and Families.
In her free time, Christianna can be found spending time with her daughter, husband and their many animals. She loves trips to the beach, especially in the winter, and providing love and care for foster dogs as they find their way to their forever homes.
Sheena (she/her) is the Director of Investments at WCGMF. She connected with our organization both professionally and personally, bringing her own personal experience as a driving force for her work. Her goal is to further assist and educate Black and Brown communities on their financial journeys.
From Wall Street in NYC to Goldman Sachs in London, Sheena’s expertise has served as an asset to many. Her dedication to advising others on building generational wealth led her to create her own firm, Feel Good Investments, where she combines financial wellness with financial planning.
Sheena’s interest in wealth management has always been driven by the desire to bring capital back to BIPOC communities. As a young Black girl in New York City, she thought “if people knew how to save money, things would be better.” As she learned about wealth and finance, Sheena’s vision grew and she dreams of building generational wealth for Black and Hispanic families so they can invest in their businesses, ideas, and communities. In her work at the Memorial Fund, she centers the feelings of the groups she works with, remembering the words of Maya Angelou, “People don’t remember what you do, they remember how you make them feel.”
Sheena has lived and traveled to many places, as far as England and France, to across the U.S. in Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. She calls New York City home and currently lives in New Haven.
Billy (He, Him, His) is the Director of Educational Strategy & Program at the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund. He brings his lived experience and education systems perspective to the Memorial Fund’s grantmaking strategies, working closely with community stakeholders and strategic partners.
Billy’s passion for teaching and education comes from his own experiences as a student in New Haven Public Schools, where he discovered after arriving at college that he did not receive an equitable education. Over a 23-year career, he has worked as special education teacher, middle school math teacher, first-grade reading teacher, assistant principal, principal, Director, executive leadership coach and assistant superintendent of schools. Throughout his career he has also worked for Middletown Public Schools, Amistad Academy Middle School, Stamford Public Schools, New Haven Public Schools and Windham Public Schools.
Born and raised in New Haven’s The Hill neighborhood, Billy was deeply affected by the loss of friends at an early age but also witnessed the resilience of working families creating their own economic opportunities. Billy is proud to be a second-generation college attendee and later earned a Ed.D. in 2021.
Billy’s passion and life’s work has been educating, supporting and coaching others to become leaders and make an impact in their communities. He is still very connected to his community in New Haven, Hamden and many educators across the state of CT.
Patti is the Director of Operations and the Executive Office at the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, where she supports the Executive Director, senior staff members and the Board of Trustees. She shepherds the organization, holding things together, creating space and providing the back-up that helps senior staff and the trustees do their work more effectively.
For almost 20 years, she’s been helping staff of the Memorial Fund support the crucial work of grantees. Before coming to the Fund, she worked at the Regional Water Authority, the Orange Visiting Nurses, and proudly served as a Director for the Ulysses S. Grant Foundation. She served 2 years on the Conservation Commission for the Town of Orange. Her goal is to support the change needed to give every child in Connecticut the same opportunities that her own four children experienced.
Patti is most proud of the love and support she receives from her husband, children and grandchildren. She is an avid baker who loves to bring people together and spread the love with her baked goods. Around the office, she is affectionately called “Patti Cakes” by friends and co-workers.
Dave Martin (he/him) has spent his career working to promote equity and create meaningful change. He began his work in the non-profit field at the Human Services Research Institute, conducting research on services and supports for adults with disabilities. Dave continued in the disabilities field at the UConn Center for Developmental Disabilities, promoting self-advocacy for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
While exploring next steps and new opportunities, Dave was introduced to the field of philanthropy by a friend. He joined the Graustein Memorial Fund in 2008, first focusing on supporting early childhood education advocacy and communications, and then moved onto program development and design. As a member of the Program Implementation Team, Dave is committed to building relationships with grantee partners, and to co-creating and implementing program strategies. He enjoys being part of the PIT team, collaborating with peers, and has an insatiable curiosity. For Dave, the most rewarding part of his work is being able to see the positive impact it has on communities.
When he is not working, Dave loves spending time with his family, hiking with his dogs, and doing anything outdoors in Vermont.
Margarita (she/her/ella) is a Program Officer at the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, where she is committed to supporting marginalized parents, especially Hispanic/Latinx parents, by amplifying their voices. Margarita’s passion for education stems from her own experience as a first-generation student, raised by a single mother from Puerto Rico who faced significant challenges navigating the education system. She believes that education is a powerful tool that can provide opportunities and empower individuals, and is committed to creating a world where everyone has access to quality education.
Margarita’s journey to her current role was challenging, but she persevered. While attending school, she worked two jobs, and the Memorial Fund supported her by helping to pay for her education and bills. Margarita started as an intern in 2006, eventually becoming a Grants Administrator Assistant, and then a Program Officer. In her current role, she builds authentic relationships with grantee partners, particularly grassroots organizations, to understand their work and effectively communicate it to the Memorial Fund staff. Margarita finds fulfillment in seeing the work in action and supporting efforts to promote equity in education.
Margarita holds a master’s degree in Sociology from Southern Connecticut State University, where she focused on parent involvement. She is passionate about supporting teachers of color in becoming certified and staying in the field. Margarita’s story is a testament to the power of education and perseverance, and her commitment to empowering marginalized communities is inspiring.
Malwin (he/him/el) is a Program Officer at the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, where he focuses on supporting the implementation of program strategy including, grant making and grantee capacity building. He engages in ongoing conversations with grantees to provide organizational leaders with information and insight to make decisions that support equity in education.
Malwin was born and raised in Springfield, MA to Multiracial Puerto Rican Parents. He moved to Connecticut over two decades ago and brings with him a 15 year career in Youth Development and Leadership, working with Black, Puerto Rican and other Latine youth from Boston to New Haven. Past roles include AmeriCorps Program Director at LEAP in New Haven, and Youth Program Coordinator for the AHORA Program at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School in Cambridge MA.
He joined the Fund in 2006 and remains excited about the progress being made toward supporting racial equity work. Knowing that he is someone who benefited from social and policy changes brought about from the civil rights movement while conditions in his community grew progressively more dire, Malwin hopes his work centering racial and economic equity can remain focused on whole communities. He believes in resisting the allure of efforts that surgically pluck individuals from oppressive systems to bestow them with exceptional opportunities, without ever investing in efforts to fundamentally change the systems that oppress.
Malwin has always loved superheroes and comic books; the DC Comics’ Super Friends’ message to “fight injustice, to right that which is wrong, and to serve all mankind!” continue to resonate with him today. While his daily fight looks like commitment and support for grassroots and community organizing groups, he likes to spend his free time creating a collection of Puerto Rican superhero characters from across the Diaspora. His characters, including Ogun and Albizu, have powers that are culturally relevant, like technokinesis and the ability to analyze and disrupt power. He continues to write and draw their stories when he’s not spending time with his partner and two amazing children.
David (he/him) is the Executive Director of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, where he has led efforts for over nine years to fulfill the fund’s mission, vision, and strategy to address equity in education by dismantling persistent structural barriers of racism and poverty.
He has also held various nonprofit management positions, including Executive Director of the Oliver Scholars Program, Executive Director of Associated Black Charities, and Vice President of the New York Urban League. David has served in several public service roles, including Deputy Manhattan Borough President and Chief of Staff at the Manhattan Borough President’s Office, Deputy Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, and Director of Affiliate Diversity and Strategic Initiatives for the American Civil Liberties Union. He has also been a Visiting Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Administration at Brooklyn College and an adjunct professor of public policy and law at Brooklyn College Graduate Center, City College of New York’s Center for Legal Education, and City University of New York Law School at Queens College. Currently, David serves as an Affiliate Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Officer for the Board of the ACLU of Connecticut.
Previously, David worked as an attorney and specialist in negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution. David holds a B.A., magna cum laude, from Princeton University, an M.S.J. from Columbia University School of Journalism, and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law. In his free time, David enjoys hiking, reading science fiction, and going to the theater. Married to Zanetta Addams-Pilgrim, he is the proud father and grandfather of three adult children and a granddaughter.
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