2024 Citizens of the Year

Kerri Ubaldi

BEATRICE BOUCHER VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Kerri Ubaldi said she always knew she wanted to give back to her community, so in 2021 she took The Center for Family Justice’s domestic and sexual violence certification training and became a volunteer crisis navigator.

As a crisis navigator, Kerri would be the first person a walk-in client would meet with to go over intake forms and briefly assess the client’s needs, which she then would communicate to one of team of advocates. Most importantly, Kerri would provide as much support and comfort as possible.

“I went through the crisis navigator training…because I wanted victims and survivors to know that you do not have to continue the cycle of abuse,” Kerri recently said. “We can break the cycle and go on to have a successful and happy lives free from abuse.”

When Kerri, a registered nurse by trade, wasn’t with a client, she would keep herself busy by restocking the food closet or organizing donations.

Advocates who worked with Kerri say she is very knowledgeable and thorough, and that she would always ask if there was anything more she could do.

“I believe that this world would be a better place if there were more people like Kerri. Kerri has a great heart which makes a great difference for our agency,” one of the advocates said in her nomination. “Kerri always has the best interest of the clients in mind by showing compassion towards them.”

While Kerri could not continue as a crisis navigator due to recently moving on to a different job, as Senior Director of Clinical Operations for Americares, she still keeps busy as a CFJ volunteer. Most recently, Kerri helped out at CFJ’s Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event in April.

Kerri and her husband Marc live in Milford. Her son Luca and her daughter Roma are both in college.

Danielle Goddard

CAROL ROBERTO EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

Entering the civil court building on Main Street in Bridgeport can be intimidating for anyone on the best day.

For clients of The Center for Family Justice, they are entering a courthouse because they need to file a restraining order against someone who is posing a threat to their safety or have to face their abusers in a divorce or child custody case.

Danielle Goddard, CFJ’s Civil Court Coordinator, makes it her mission to ensure that clients coming to the courthouse feel supported as they make their way through a complicated system at a stressful time in their lives.

Danielle is a one-person office at civil court in Bridgeport, but always displays a positive attitude – even though she may have anywhere between eight and 10 restraining order hearings in a single day. She is also able to provide services in English and Spanish.

Her focus on communication with clients helps them understand the process and helps remind them they are not going through this situation alone.

“If there is a delay or something isn’t moving as it should, she assists in keeping the case moving for clients, so their cases are heard in a timely manner,” one of her co-workers said. “This is particularly important for clients who are non-English speakers and face particular challenges in access to justice.”

In a single week in March 2024, Danielle accompanied 18 clients to court hearings.

“Danielle doesn’t see imposed limitations in her position, she attempts to knock down walls and assist her clients in any way she can,” the co-worker explained. “Danielle interprets her client’s successes as her successes and is there to celebrate when there is a success and assist them in planning and moving forward if there isn’t.”

Olivia Kahn and Declan O’Gorman

CFJ’S 2024 YOUTH VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR

The Center for Family Justice is lucky to have the support of so many volunteers, especially our youth volunteers who spend hours working to help us with donations, putting together event packets, and organizing food drives.

We are happy to announce that Fairfield residents Olivia Kahn and Declan O’Gorman are this year’s Youth Volunteers of the Year!

Olivia, a junior at Fairfield Ludlow High School, has been volunteering every week at CFJ since October 2023. She readily jumps in with any task needed – spending hours helping us organize closets, donations, and food. She also recently helped at CFJ’s Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event in April.

Always arriving with a smile and ready to work, Olivia works well with other volunteers and staff alike! In addition to CFJ, Olivia is a member of the National Honors Society and serves as the Vice President for the American Field Service organization at her school.

Olivia enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, and going on runs outdoors. She is planning to study social work and public health in college.

Declan O’Gorman, also of Fairfield, worked closely with The Center for Family Justice to coordinate a food and toiletry drive for our clients as part of his Eagle Scout project. Over any given year, supplies tend to run low, and Declan’s project came at a perfect time.

He reached out to us in July of 2023. As part of his project, Declan researched what the center does and what kinds of items we needed. Based on that information, Declan put together an Amazon Wishlist, and then advertised that list through a video he put together. He also held a food drive at a Stop & Shop in Fairfield, which allowed him to gather even more donations.

The items Declan brought in filled our lobby and our shelves, allowing us to provide our clients with basic needs during a stressful time in their lives.

Congratulations to Olivia and Declan and thank you for your hard work in support of your neighbors in need. We know you inspire others!

Gregory Bennici and Robinson + Cole

PARTNER OF THE YEAR

Gregory Bennici works hard to help The Center for Family Justice protect the interests of the clients who seek the agency’s help in domestic violence and sexual assault cases.

An attorney with Robinson + Cole, Gregory works tirelessly – no matter what time of day – to help CFJ’s advocates and clinicians support their clients. When a subpoena arrives at the CFJ reception, our staff can rest assured that Gregory will work hard to review the case and provide the highest level of advice and representation.

CFJ also extends its gratitude to Robinson + Cole for allowing Gregory to offer pro bono assistance.

Gregory, a member of Robinson + Cole’s Managed Care and Employee Benefit Litigation Group, is a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and a former Co-Chair of the Young Lawyers Committee.

Robinson + Cole has a long history of helping vulnerable citizens and charitable organizations access the justice system. The number of people helped and matters covered have only expanded with the law firm’s growing size and geographic reach.

The firm has an active Pro Bono Committee, which consists of partners, counsel and associates from various practice areas.

Central Connecticut Coast YMCA

COMMUNITY HERO OF THE YEAR

Camp Hi-Rock is located among 1,000 acres in the Berkshire Mountains. There’s a huge lake, hiking trails and a conservation forest.

Any child would dream of spending some time there swimming, hiking and roasting marshmallows, and thanks to CFJ’s partnership with the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, more than 300 children, impacted by the trauma of abuse, have been able to experience the majesty of the location and the camaraderie of the camp experience.

The Elizabeth M. Pfriem Camp HOPE America-Bridgeport, CFJ’s therapeutic summer camp, is for local youth who have been impacted by the trauma associated with domestic and/or sexual abuse.

We want to extend our gratitude to Timothy Bartlett, President and CEO of Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, and Jessica Speer-Holmes, Executive Director of Camp Hi-Rock, for all their hard work and support as we continue to bring Camp HOPE to scores of children.

The camp first kicked off in the summer of 2017. This summer, an estimated 75 kids between the ages of eight and 17 will participate in a week of overnight summer camp at no cost to them.

The camp means so much to so many kids that 45 children have attended multiple summers, with six campers now serving as HOPE counselors.

Camp HOPE America-Bridgeport was the first summer camp and mentoring program for children impacted by domestic and sexual violence and child abuse in New England. Camp HOPE pairs a traditional, overnight summer camp experience with a clinically-proven, national model for addressing the physical and emotional trauma these children have faced.

Thank you and congratulations to Central Connecticut Coast YMCA! We look forward to continuing our important work and partnership.

Ethan Dubrosky
THE FIRST ANNUAL MARK A. ANTONINI AWARD

Mark A. Antonini may have officially retired as The Center for Family Justice’s Chief Financial Officer, but the spirit of his dedication, leadership, and good humor will remain!

In honor of Mark, we are pleased to announce CFJ’s first annual Mark A. Antonini Award, awarded to someone who exemplifies the integrity and heart that Mark has demonstrated over the nearly 11 years of service here at the center.

We are thrilled to announce the award’s first recipient – Ethan. An alumnus of Camp HOPE America-Bridgeport, Ethan delivered a powerful speech at 2019’s Speaking of Women event. He also worked hard during the COVID-19 pandemic to collect food and other essential supplies for his fellow campers and their families.

As Ethan said at the time, “School, our jobs, our prom, our lives may be canceled, but HOPE is not canceled.”

Congratulations Ethan!