Board of Directors
Ashika Brinkley, President
Goodwin University
Marinda Monfilston, Vice President
Yale University
Leslie Lyte, Secretary
Pratt & Whitney
Calvin Price, Treasurer
Liberty Bank, Retired
Ana Clara Blesso
UConn School of Business
Pamela Ellman
Attorney, Information & Referral service volunteer
Brandi Kennedy
The Village for Families and Children
Our Staff
Janée Woods Weber, Executive Director
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Janée is an activist, advocate, facilitator and trainer for social justice issues, and a long-time Connecticut resident. Before joining CWEALF, Woods Weber served five years as the Director of Organizational Culture for the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund in Hamden, a family philanthropic organization with a focus on achieving equity in education. In that role, she helped imbue antiracist, inclusive values into the Fund’s internal organizational culture and external strategy for working with grantees and community partners. Prior, Woods Weber worked as the Program Director for five years at Everyday Democracy, a national nonprofit in Hartford that helps communities across the country create action around important issues such as food security, community prosperity, immigration, education, and undoing racism.
In 2019, Woods Weber was appointed to the Women’s Policy Committee for the Lamont-Bysiewicz gubernatorial transition, which made recommendations for numerous policies the Governor should implement to uplift women and girls across the state of Connecticut, especially women and girls of color living in poverty.
In May 2021, Woods Weber, with host Alvin Hall, won the inaugural Ambie for Best History Podcast from The Podcast Academy for their acclaimed podcast Driving the Green Book. She currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for PoliticaCT, Co-Chair for the State Committee for the Connecticut Working Families Party, on the Board of Directors for the Greater Hartford Arts Council, and with Training for Change, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit peace group. Woods Weber attended Williams College and Pace University School of Law.
Meghan Dubois, Development and Communications Director
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Meg views philanthropy as a powerful tool to advance women and girls’ opportunities. Meg earned her Masters of Social Work degree from UConn and enjoys mentoring social work students today.
A lifelong Connecticut resident, Meg loves to spend time outdoors with her family and dogs, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the northwest corner of the state. When not working, you can find her reading or trying out a new recipe to share with family. Meg believes that everyone can change the world for the better, even with small steps, as envisioned by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau: “Don’t do nothing because you can’t do everything. Do something!”
Jeniffer Perez Caraballo, Director of Community Organizing
Pronouns: Them/She
Jeniffer Perez Caraballo is a Hartford born-and-raised, English-as-a-second-language-speaking, queer, neurodivergent, spiritually inclined Boricua. She has played the role of community organizer, facilitator of transformative conversations, local artist, and Mami. Jen has been mentored and taught by radical BIPOC queer feminists and strives to continue the legacy of support and care in her role of Director of Community Organizing working with people where they are at to be moved to action that creates change. Recently, she has found renewed hope in leading with LOVE thanks to the writings of Bell Hooks. They currently live in Hartford with their son, dog, bunny, and houseplants.
Nilda Rivera, Community Advocacy Manager
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
When Nilda isn’t dancing to Spanish music, crocheting, or spending time with her seven grandchildren, she is traveling around the state to empower women during difficult times as a Community Advocacy Manager at CWEALF. “Nilda took the time to listen to me when no one else would,” said a CWEALF client, “and helped me feel confident to take the next step with my legal challenge.” Described as passionate, empathetic, conscious and supportive by clients and colleagues, Nilda is most proud of all she has learned from the women she has served over the years.
Along with her support for women, Nilda is our resident “green thumb,” and keeps our plants growing with water, love, and a little encouragement. With more than 15 years of experience in community advocacy, Nilda was an instrumental part of the design and implementation of the Peer Advocacy Program. She is excited by CWEALF’s unique work and for the organization to expand its presence more throughout the state, so more young women can participate in her services.
Nicole Sanclemente, Policy Director
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
As CWEALF’s Policy Director, Nicole supports the organization’s policy efforts coupled with her personal values and unwavering commitment to advance the rights of women and girls through legislative advocacy.
A proud UConn Husky, Nicole is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Public Administration through UConn’s School of Public Policy as well as a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management, and is expected to graduate with both titles in May 2024.
Although she lives in Marlborough, Connecticut, Nicole’s heart is in Cali, Colombia where her family is proudly from. When not working, you can find her singing and dancing to a variety of music ranging from Colombian salsa to 80’s soft rock, making people laugh, doing makeup as a self-taught makeup artist, or spending quality time with her family and her Pomsky Simba.