Community Partners in Action is pleased to announce four new members are joining our 2022 Board of Directors. See the full board list here.
We want to thank KC Burns and Tiffany Stevens, who will complete their terms on December 31st, for their commitment, leadership, and guidance while members of CPA’s Board of Directors.
Tracy Wu Fastenberg, Connecticut Children’s
Tracy is Assistant Vice President for Development at Connecticut Children’s. She has eighteen years of experience working in Institutional Advancement. Tracy has a passion for connecting people with creative and meaningful ways to impact their communities positively.
Previously, Tracy held Development leadership roles at The Mark Twain House & Museum, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and Covenant Preparatory School. Her personal and professional passion is for the journey surrounding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice.
Tracy is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with an Individualized Major in Criminal Justice & Legal Studies and minors in Psychology, English, and Theatre Studies. She lives in West Hartford with her two amazing young children and husband.
Sue Garten, Retired, Greater Hartford Legal Aid
Sue was a managing attorney at Greater Hartford Legal Aid (GHLA) until she retired in September 2021. During her 36 years at GHLA, Sue represented low-income men and women affected by HIV/AIDS and substance abuse disorders in employment, disability, and privacy cases.
For the past ten years, Sue worked with adults with criminal records to secure pardons from the Board of Pardons and Paroles, make the pardon process more transparent and accessible, and ensure that landlords and employers did not discriminate against their clients based on their criminal records.
In 2019, Sue and GHLA partnered with CPA to host a highly successful pardon clinic that brought together pro bono legal workers and pardon petitioners.
Terri Johnson, Retired, CT Judicial Branch – Court Support Services Division
Terri recently retired as Chief Probation Officer for Court Support Services Division Adult Probation Services. She is a law enforcement veteran with over 28 years of service, including several years as Clinical Supervisor, Addiction Services Unit for the CT Department of Corrections. Her motto is, “Being challenged in life is inevitable, but being defeated is optional.”
Currently, Terri is an adjunct faculty Lead for Post University, where she was instrumental in developing their Community Corrections course. In addition, she serves on the Greater Waterbury Reentry Council, Post University Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling for Waterbury Region, and is a member of the Waterbury NAACP.
A native of Waterbury, CT, Terri has a bachelor’s in Psychology from Western CT. State University and a master’s in Sociology, with a concentration in Criminal Justice, from Southern CT State University. In addition, she is a certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
Bilal Tajildeen, Connecticut Council for Philanthropy
Bilal is Manager of Membership and Culture for the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy. He is responsible for building connections with members from across the state, creating opportunities for education and exploration, supporting the Council’s affinity spaces, and working toward more equitable and inclusive practices across the state’s philanthropic sector.
Previously, Bilal was a Program Officer at the CT Community Foundation. While with the Foundation, Bilal assisted In their community leadership efforts, including the Pride Fund, the Waterbury Bridge to Success Community Council and the Equity Think Tank, and the Supporting Organizing Work CT Steering Committee.
Currently, Bilal is Board Vice President for the New England Grassroots Environment Fund. In addition, he is on the boards for the Leever Foundation, New Haven Pride Center, Waterbury Bridge to Success Community Partnership, and Equality CT, as well as a national PLACES Alum of the Funder’s Network.
Bilal has a master’s in English, primarily focusing on queer theory, political theory, and LGBTQ literature, from Central CT State University. In addition, he is a community and political organizer in Waterbury and an adjunct professor of English at the University of CT- Hartford.