New Bedford Community Connections Coalition

Since 1996 our United Way has served as the fiscal partner and home of New Bedford Community Connections Coalition (NBCCC). Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF); the mission of the coalition is to take a leadership role within the City of New Bedford in facilitating collaborative strategies to build neighborhood-based networks of family support to prevent child abuse and neglect, strengthen families, and build healthier communities.

NBCCC works through a philosophy and culture of building off family’s strengths and the promotion of the 5 Protective Factors. NBCCC supports the work of a co-located DCF unit called Patch, which utilizes a community-based child welfare practice model and focuses on families within the South End of New Bedford.

NBCCC is continually working to improve the landscape for families in New Bedford. The coalition is guided by its Advisory Board, which is comprised of a diverse group of passionate community residents and stakeholders. The coalition is currently working toward growing its membership through 3 main areas:

Task Force for Foster Care Support
Since 1999, the Task Force has worked to increase our community’s awareness and responsiveness to the needs of foster children and their foster families. For more information about becoming a foster parent, please click here. To learn more about the Task Force, click here.

Fatherhood Engagement
Working towards increasing community awareness of the importance of fathers within the family unit and provide more opportunities for resident fathers to increase their protective factors and become resident leaders.

Near North End Partnership
Focusing on creating a multi-disciplinary team of individuals and organizations to address some of the challenges and build on strengths and assets to improve the quality of life within a struggling area of the city.

For more information on NBCCC and how to become involved in the coalition, please contact Stan Brajer at sbrajer@unitedwayofgnb.org or (508)-994-4521 x106.

New Bedford Community Connections Coalition Advisory Board

Esperanza Alejandro-Berube
Manager of Resident Services, New Bedford Housing Authority

Katlyn Auty
Director of Business Development, Southcoast Behavioral Health

Lucy Canuel
New Bedford Area Director, Department of Children & Families

Xavier Cardona
Resident, Nurturing Fathers Master Facilitator

Joseph Cordeiro
Chief of Police, New Bedford Police Department

Linda Hutchinson
Assistant Director of Development, Dorca’s International Institute of Rhode Island

Pam Keuchler, Advisory Board Chair
Executive Director, Massachusetts Head Start Association

Glenn Oliveira
Director of Foundation Programs, Carney Family Foundation

Marcelina Pina-Christian
Human Services Coordinator, City of New Bedford

Corinn Williams
Executive Director, Community Economic Development Corporation

Warley Williams
Assistant Principal, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School