Board of Directors

The Meriden Children First Initiative (CFI) makes great strides in creating positive educational, social and health outcomes for all children in greater Meriden with the assistance of the following dedicated members of its board of directors (2010-2011):

Marisol Estrada-Soto                  Chair     
Meriden resident for over 30 years.  Graduated from Maloney High School.  Married with two children.  2007 Parent Leadership Training Institute graduate.  She is employed full time and holds an A.S. from Middlesex Community College and a B.S. from the University of Hartford.  Passions include educating parents on the importance of their involvement in their children's education and providing continuity for all children K – 12.
      
Craig Hazel                        Treasurer           
Father of two.  Twenty years experience in the banking, finance, and insurance industries.  Special interests include revitalizing low and middle income communities.

Kim Carbone-Pandiani            Secretary                 
Lifelong resident of Meriden.  Married/mother of three children, the oldest two enrolled in Meriden Public Schools.  Active parent leader.  Member of School Building Committee-City of Meriden. St. Joseph's Parish - CCD teacher.

Marinerva Diaz
Mari was born and raised in small community in Puerto Rico, where she lived with her parents and youngest sister. After graduating from high school she traveled to Connecticut to visit family members for the summer and has been living in Meriden ever since. Mari is a single mother of two beautiful children and currently works as an assistant manager for a commercial bank. In 2010, she graduated from PLTI after spending 20 weeks learning and becoming a better parent leader for my children as well as for her community. Mari is passionate about her children and building a better future for them.

Sonya Jelks
Sonya is an involved and energetic member of the Meriden community. She is an active volunteer at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and at the Meriden YMCA. In addition to her volunteer activities, she is also a member on the Meriden Family Resource Center’s Parent Advisory Board and she is a new member of the Junior League of Hartford. Sonya is also a 2009 graduate from the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI). Sonya earned a BA in Anthropology and a BS in MIS from Syracuse University. Sonya has been a Meriden resident for over 5 years where she lives with her partner, Bryan and their two daughters, Zari (age 5) and Aja (age 3).

Karen Roesler
Karen Roesler became Director of the Meriden Public Library in January 2008 after 25 years as Co-Director of the Wallingford Library.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Masters in Library Science.  For ten years, Karen served as half-time Reference Librarian in Meriden while continuing work as Co-Director of the Wallingford Library. But as a 30 year resident of Meriden, she is now delighted to serve her own community full time. Karen has five children, many pets, an old house, and have been active in a variety of city initiatives.

Cathy Abercrombie                       
State Representative for the 83rd district since 2005.  Active mom of three.  Life-long Meriden resident. Self-employed. Graduate of Meriden Parent Leadership Training Institute graduate.  

Mark Benigni
Dr. Mark Benigni is currently the Superintendent of the Meriden Public Schools. He has a B.S.  in Business Administration, M.S. in Education, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.  He served as a special education teacher, assistant principal, principal, and as Mayor for the City of Meriden.  Currently he teaches at the collegiate level at SCSU and MxCC.  He has published numerous articles in national journals and recently published his first book, "Mentoring Matters: A Toolkit for Organizing and Operating Student Advisory Programs".  Dr. Benigni also serves on the Governor's Task Force to study ECS Funding.  Mark is married to Amy, a second grade teacher, and they have two young children, Bria (5) and Blake (4).

Pam Bahre
Pam was born and raised in West Virginia and has lived in Meriden for 11 years.  She is married to George, who was born and raised in Meriden.  Pam is mother to 10 year old Matthew who attends Nathan Hale Elementary School.  She has a BS in Medical Technology/Biology from West Liberty University in WV and works as a Client Integration Analyst at Clinical Laboratory Partners.

Pam is active with the Nathan Hale Elementary PTO, Pack 10 Cub Scouts, Meriden Democratic Town Committee, City-Wide Band Boosters, and First United Methodist Church Administrative Board Member.

Yvonne Jimenez
Meriden resident all of her 42 years. From a very large family, her parents met here over 50 years ago but, both coming from Aguada, Puerto Rico.  Two boys Israel (PJ) 10 years old and Gabriel 6 years old.  They both attend Nathan Hale Elementary.  Yvonne participates in the PTO and Troop 4 Boy Scouts. Graduated from Parent Leadership Training Initiative (PLTI) 2010, which made a big impact of her life. 

Marta Persia
Marta has roots in the Hispanic community where she is an active volunteer.  She is a key player with the organization and leadership of NAMI (National Association of Mental Illness) in Meriden.  This bi-lingual, English/Spanish, Child and Adolescent network provides support for families of children and adolescents with behavioral health concerns. One day Marta wants to create her own non-profit organization.

Her son Christopher is her source of inspiration to speak on his behalf and on behalf of other families. Marta’s goal is to advocate for those families who are struggling to accept their child's condition and the need to overcome the stigma.

David Salafia
David graduated from the University of Hartford in 1984 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.  He worked for several years as a graphic designer at G. Fox and Company (now Macy’s) in Hartford.  For the next fifteen years he worked as an account representative for Miller-Johnson, Inc. handling sales and service for a myriad of clients including Fortune 500 companies, manufacturers, publishers, schools and universities, retail accounts and additional businesses throughout Connecticut and New York City.  In 2001 he purchased a deli and catering business, which he owned and operated for nine years.  Today he works as the In-School Suspension Supervisor at Washington Middle School.

David also volunteers at the Meriden Boys and Girls Club and with Little League baseball.  He is the recipient of several awards, including the John D. Altobello Service award and in 1998 was inducted into the Meriden Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame.  In 2005  David was elected to the Meriden City Council where he served four years. David is married to Teri and together they have two children.

Barbara Wade Holloman
Married with two children and resident of Meriden.  President, Meriden-Wallingford NAACP.  Also a member of the Boys and Girls Club and co-chair/coordinator of Back to School Expo.  She also is a wedding planner/event coordinator.  Holds Bachelor of Theology, Associates in Business Management and currently pursuing B.S. in Business Management from Albertus Magnus College.

Kristina Talbert-Slagle
Kristina is the mother of three children, a boy and two girls, ages 9, 5, and 10 months.  She and her husband, Jamie, have lived in Meriden for 8 years, having moved to Connecticut from Virginia. Kristina grew up in Kentucky and attended the University of Kentucky before attending Yale University to study public health.  She graduated with her Ph.D. in 2010 and is now a lecturer and researcher in global health at Yale. Though the winters in New England took some getting used to, Kristina and her family are very happy in Connecticut. In addition to playing with her children, Kristina enjoys public service and advocacy and is proud to have been a part of the education funding efforts in Meriden last year.

David Radcliffe, CFI Director
David grew up in a small Pennsylvania town.  He graduated from Brockway Area High School and Cornell University with a B.S. in economics and marketing. In 2008 he completed a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Connecticut.  David has been the Director of the Meriden Children First Initiative (CFI) for twelve years.  During his tenure Children First has led numerous successful campaigns, including efforts to expand a school breakfast program to all Meriden elementary schools and to grow the full-day kindergarten program. 

Previously, David served as lead organizer for the well-known community organizing group Hartford Areas Rally Together (HART).  There, David worked with neighborhood leaders to address issues related to property taxes, public safety, park improvements and public housing.  The $50 million revitalization of the formerly notorious Charter Oak Terrace public housing project benefited from David’s leadership.  David has written a number of articles and published two books:  ‘People’s History:  The Story of Hartford Areas Rally Together’ (1995), and “Charter Oak:  The Life, Death and Rebirth of a Low Income Public Housing Project’ (1998).  Back in the day he hiked the length of the Appalachian Trail and has twice ridden a bicycle across the country.  The proud father of three boys, David and his wife Chaucey live in Meriden, CT.