Get Involved
There are many ways to get involved in the Bristol HEZ project. One way to stay informed is by visiting the project website frequently. Here, you will find our calendar of events, past presentations and graphics, and findings of any outreach efforts.
Another way to stay involved is to contact any of the individuals on our team to share ideas to make suggestions or comments. You can also stay connected on Facebook.
You can get actively involved by volunteering, interning, or using your work-study with us. You can also get actively involved by joining a working group, or collaborating with us on a project.
Working Groups
Collaborative
Emily Pearce-Spence (Interim), Food & Nutrition
Emily Spence, Substance Use, Awareness and Prevention
Kate Hawley, Personal Health & Mental Wellness
Steven Contente, Town Administrator
Nathan Calouro, Bristol Town Council (Chair)
Tim Sweeney, Bristol Town Council (Vice Chair)
Mary Parella, Bristol Town Council
Sarah Klein, Bristol Parks and Recreation Department Director
Diane Williamson, Bristol Community Development Department Director
Ed Tanner, Town Planner
Ed Carusi, Bristol Social Services and Public Welfare Department Director
Betsy Cambra, Town Hall employee/Resident
Tanya Kieron, Bristol Christmas Festival
Bristol Police Department
Capt. Josue Canario, Bristol Chief of Police
Lt. Steve St. Pierre
Mia Patriarca, Project Officer – Healthy Communities Specialist
Jeff Hill, Youth Suicide Prevention Project Manager
Travis Vendetti, Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Bristol Warren Regional School District
Mario Andrade, Superintendent
Leslie Anderson, Director of Pupil Personnel Services
Laurie Heyden, School Psychologist
Deb DiBiase, Principal, Mt. Hope High School
Christine Bandoni, Student Assistant Counselor
Sara Braganca, Student Advocate
Bristol Warren Regional Schools Family Resource Center
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Patricia Brissette, Coordinator
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Emily Pearce-Spence, Program Manager Parents as Teachers /Bristol HEZ Coordinator
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Sarah Bullard, Parent Educator, PAT/Bristol HEZ Assistant Coordinator
Craig Pereira, Project Manager
Mosaico Community Development Corporation
Diana Campbell, Executive Director
Courtney Poissant, Board of Directors
East Bay Food Pantry & Thrift Shop
Nicky Tyska, Executive Director
Karen Griffith-Dietrich, Program/Operations Manager
East Bay Community Action Program
Dennis Roy, President and CEO
Donna Ramos Razza, Director - Family Development
Beth Nitkin, Director - Women Infants and Children Supplemental Feeding Program
Bob Crossley, Vice-President of Bahavioral Health
Tommy Joyce, Program Director, East Bay Recovery Center
Ernie Thivierge, Peer Recovery Coach, East Bay Recovery Center
Angie Downing, Director of Social Services
Bristol Warren Thrive by Five and Beyond
Donna Ramos Razza, Emily Pearce-Spence, Beth Nitkin, Sarah Bullard, Executive Board
Carolyn Souza, Clinical Supervisor
Veronica Turner, Counselor
Marcy Shyllon, Community Engagement Director
Joanne Quinn, Executive Director
Rhode Island Association for Infant Mental Health
Susan Dickstein, Executive Director
Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties
Joan Rossi
K.C. Ferrara, Director – Feinstein Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement
Kerri Warren, Associate Prof. of Biology/Coordinator – Interdisciplinary Program in Public Health
Becky Spritz, Prof. of Psychology, Director of University Honors Program
Marybeth MacPhee, Chair, Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Associate Prof. of Anthropology
Sean Varano
Donna Darmody
Erin Tooley
Steve Melaragno, Director of Public Safety
Maureen Minarik, Assistant Director of Counseling
Nancy Soukup, Chaplain
Franklin Court Independent Living
Marie Knapman, Director - Franklin Court Independent Senior Living
Angela Cabral, Director - Franklin Court Assisted Living
Stephany Silvia, Activities Director - Franklin Court Independent Living
Carmen Dutra, Resident Services Coordinator - Franklin Court Independent Living
Donna Wilson, Assistant Director
Candy Pansa, Executive Director
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Melissa Ames
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Penny Ferrara
Bristol County Elks Lodge #1860
David Cioe
Rhode Island Ataxia Support Group
Anabela Azevedo, Founder
Mike Byrnes
Lisa Raiola, President and Founder
Joan Prescott, Library Director
Alex Krogh-Grabbe, Executive Director
Rhode Island Statewide Independent Living Council
Jack Ringland, Chairperson
Bristol/Warren Prevention Coalition
Ann Marie Roy
Faith Leaders
Linda Arruda
Rev. Burton Bagby-Grose
Linda Cabral
Joanne Dahmer
Jennifer DeWolf
Rev. Elizabeth Habecker
Rev. Marilyn Mason
Jack Ringland
Joel Sedam
Sean Smith
Kate Sparrow