She served as an advisory board member for various learning organizations on a district and university regional level. Vilma is a strong supporter of national and international volunteer initiatives serving historically underserved communities. As an educational liaison traveling with The People to People Ambassador Program, Dr. Luz Cabán presented research findings on math equity at the Royal University in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; The Teacher Professional Center in Cairo, Egypt; and The Ho Chi Minh University in Vietnam. Collaborating with Social Changers without Borders, Inc. Vilma conducted program evaluations commissioned by Equality Now, Inc. She evaluated a Kenyan girls rescue center utilizing grassroots efforts to save child brides from the dangers of female genital mutilation. Findings were shared with the United Nations Human Rights Children’s Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. As a researcher and educational consultant for various non-profit organizations, Vilma has worked to examine and support NGO founders. Her work has brought her to Rabat, Morocco and Xela, Guatemala examining the global epidemic of street children and orphans. Ultimately, Vilma’s research has brought her full-circle as she examined domestic violence in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. She just completed a documentary project titled La Casa de Maria which chronicles her story as the daughter of a battered woman fulfilling one last promise. Her creative goal is to channel her experiences to support women authors.

She has been introduced to OCF through her sister, who formerly held a position on the Board of Directors. Elise has worked with teens for over a decade and is passionate about building community, performing outreach and connecting youth to programs and agencies that can help support them as they navigate the world. In her free time, you can find Elise spending time in nature, doing yoga or cooking up a storm. Elise is very excited to begin her journey with OCF as a brand new board member and looks forward to creating connections and sharing her passion, perspective and enthusiasm with the One Circle Family.

Her tenure as Director of the New Choices program at The Children’s Center of Hamden allowed her and her team to collaborate with DCF and CSSD to provide short term, evidenced based substance abuse treatment to adolescent males in Connecticut. Her role as a Mental Health Consultant with the Yale School of Psychiatry required collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to assess and support youth in juvenile detention. Previous professional roles provided opportunities to provide advocacy, collaboration and support to adults, youth and families impacted by HIV/AIDS and foster care. In addition to her professional background, Priscilla has lived experience as an immigrant to the US and growing up in a multicultural family in a marginalized community. Community service, something which is close to her heart, led to a tenure as the Board Secretary for the Greater Bridgeport Latino Network and collaboration with the American Red Cross to establish and run blood drives in Bridgeport’s East Side. Priscilla holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Fairfield University and a Master of Social Work Degree from the Boston University School of Social Work. Priscilla enjoys spending time with in nature, traveling and exploring art/food with family and friends.