Staff

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 staff: 

David Radcliffe, Director
Work Phone: 203.630.3566
Fax: 203.630.2423

David has been the Director of the Meriden Children First Initiative (CFI) for ten years.  Children First has led numerous successful campaign, including efforts to expand a school breakfast program to all Meriden elementary schools and to expand the full-day kindergarten program for more than 200 children.   

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 grew up in a small Pennsylvania town.  He graduated from Brockway Area High School, 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 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.

• Noemi Gonzalez, Parent Leadership Coordinator
  Work Phone: 203.630.3566
• Cathy Lewis, Coordinator, Senior Buddy Readers
  Work Phone: 203.630.3566
• Marissa Cardona, Health Care Organizer
  Work Phone: 203.815.5680
• Barbara Cockfield, Health Care Organizer
• Joan Goodman, Regional Health Care Organizer