Letter from the Board Chair
LETTER FROM BOARD CHAI
Dear Friends and Part
At ConnCAT and ConnCORP, w transformative power of conne and bold ideas. This past year h meets action, remarkable outco strengthened, businesses are em flourish across our region.
Our work is fueled by people board, and the commitment of and ambition into lasting impac accomplished, but what is poss
Beyond accomplishments, our w community can thrive, that eve see the promise of a better tom decisions, shapes our initiatives endure.
As we look forward, our mission and inspire the kind of hope tha are helping to shape a region w promise of today becomes the
With gratitude, vision, and hope
Carlton L Highsmith Board Chair, ConnCAT & ConnC
Carlton Highs
Letter from the CEO
LETTER FROM THE CEO
Dear ConnCAT & ConnCORP Family,
As I look back on this past year, I am reminded of a simple truth: progress does not happen by accident. It happens because people decide again and again to believe in their own power. In a world marked by uncertainty, division, and distraction, we made a conscious choice to do something different.
We chose to scale. We chose to build. We chose self-determination.
That choice shaped everything we accomplished this year.
In Dixwell, we watched the steel rise at First HAVEN in Dixwell, not just a building, but a promise. A promise that the hopes and dreams of a community long overlooked would finally take physical form. First HAVEN in Dixwell is what happens when we refuse to wait for others to decide our future. It is what happens when we honor our past and manifest our vision with courage.
We expanded our workforce ecosystem with the launch of the Construction Training Academy, a program built to prepare individuals for long-term opportunity in an industry that builds the world around us. Our first cohort is already underway. That is more than a milestone it is a declaration: our people deserve access to skills, to careers, to the tools that shape their destiny.
This year, we also took a bold step beyond New Haven. Through our new partnership at the Wallingford Country Club, ConnCORP and Orchid Hospitality now steward the culinary kitchen creating a real-world classroom where our culinary students can train, grow, and launch into the industry with confidence. This collaboration is not about food alone. It is about dignity. It is about pathways. It is about telling our students, “Your craft matters. Your future is worthy of investment.”
Across our ecosystem, the work continued to deepen. Our BioLaunch program pushed forward to bridge the bioscience divide. Our Culinary Arts Program honed talent and expanded opportunity. Our Phlebotomy and adult education programs prepared individuals for stable, essential careers. And our Wealth Accelerator launched its transformative mission rooted in truth, and radical trust to close the racial wealth gap and help young adults reclaim their futures.
But let me be clear: the story of this year is not simply what we did. It is how we did it. Programs matter. Buildings matter. But the spirit behind them matters most. In a time when the world urged caution, we answered with creation. In a time when many retreated, we expanded.In a time when some questioned what is possible, we showed them.
As we step into a new fiscal year, I hold deep gratitude for everyone who has walked with our students, families, partners, staff, and community members. Your belief in this work fuels our determination. Your love strengthens our resolve. Your trust pushes us forward.
We are not finished. We cannot be finished. The work ahead is too important.
Together, we will continue to build, to rise, and to manifest a future grounded in dignity, opportunity, and truth.
With gratitude and determination,
E rik Clemons
Erik Clemons Founding CEO, ConnCAT & ConnCORP
TWO ORGANIZATIONS. ONE MISSION.
TWO ORGANIZATIONS. ONE MISSION.
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ConnCAT
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CONNCAT YEAR IN REVIEW
ConnCAT 2024/2025 Snapshot
2024/2025 Snapshot
KEY MOMENTS. MEANINGFUL PROGRESS. A SNAPSHOT OF THE PAST TWO YEARS AT CONNCAT.
100 graduates
We celebrated the achievements of 100 graduates in 2024–2025 who completed training in Culinary Arts, Healthcare Pathways (Phlebotomy), Bioscience, and our newly launched Construction Academy—programs designed in alignment with industry trends and employer demand and strengthened through continued expansion. With the support of dedicated instructors and staff, participants engage in high-touch, cohort-based training that integrates technical instruction with professional development, workplace readiness, and direct employer engagement. 70% of students enrolled graduate and move on to employment, advancing toward stable, living-wage careers and long-term economic mobility.
Students in Co summer arts p a dynamic sho over 200 famil friends and the During the sum program, the s an opportunity about the histo New Haven an impact, highlig celebrating co legends and th Monterey Club Dixwell Avenue
$30 MM
Gellman, Arts Council
ConnCAT has launched a $30 million capital campaign to expand workforce training and youth development programs in Dixwell and beyond, and grow our endowment by 30%, securing the mission in perpetuity.
ConnCAT offered several tours of our facility for local high schools, adult education and veterans from the VA Hospital.
We were also represented at several high school-sponsored activities throughout the year to promote our culinary arts, phlebotomy and BioLaunch programs. For students exploring career pathways, we provided 3 job training and information sessions at the Dixwell QHouse.
ConnCAT held its first annual Jazz & Gospel Brunch, celebrating Dixwell’s rich jazz history. During the standing room only event, we had the privilege of celebrating local jazz legends, including New Haven’s own, Jesse Hameen II, recipient of the prestigious 2023 “Ellington Fellows Award” for Jazz Masters, from Yale University School of Music. Proceeds from the event supported ConnCAT’s Culinary Arts adult training program.
ConnCAT hosted The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s Basic Needs Fund Advisory panel event to discuss how meeting basic needs with dignity is the foundation for a healthy society; and improves outcomes for people in education, job-training and other programs working to address social concerns. The event brought out a cross-sector of over 50 people.
Our adult programming has seen significant growth, earning certification from the Connecticut Department of Higher Education through 2025, reaffirming our commitment to providing highquality education and programming.
In 2025, ConnCAT implemented the first cohort of the Cash Catalyst Program, a financial empowerment initiative designed to support adult learners and alumni in building financial stability and long-term wealth. The program combined financial education, coaching, and peer learning to strengthen participants’ understanding of budgeting, credit, debt reduction, and assetbuilding strategies. By centering participants’ lived experiences and connecting financial knowledge to real-world decision-making, Cash Catalyst supported participants in strengthening their financial confidence and advancing toward greater economic security.
ConnCAT hosted Kulturally Lit’s 5th annual celebration. In continuing with the #YearofBaldwin, this year's LIT Fest focused on the works of James Baldwin, commemorating the centennial year of the prolific writer.
ConnCAT: Who We Serve
OUR
REFLECTS
Building
Futures
B ildi F t Th h A t
Through Arts, Technology, and Experience
,
ConnCAT’s Youth Arts & Technology programs continue to inspire creativity, expand opportunity, and prepare young people for future pathways. Through after-school and summer programming, more than 200 youth engaged in hands-on learning experiences that blend arts, technology, and career exploration, supported by mentoring and work-readiness development.
including New Haven g students to workforce way trip to New York City to see The Lion King and The Wiz, further enriched learning by connecting youth to culture and creative expression. Collectively, these efforts deepen engagement, broaden horizons, and help position young people for long-term success in school, career, and life.
Summer Arts Showcase
Summer Arts Showcase Celebrates 60 You
In August 2025, ConnCAT celebrate Summer Arts Performance Showca together 60 young artists for a high summer production honoring funk musical genres and cultural movem weeks of immersive training in mus and visual arts, students took the s confidence, creativity, and joy ma the first time before a packed audit and community members. The sho ConnCAT’s commitment to youth d through the arts, highlighting not o and cultural history, but the growth self-expression, and belonging that with them long after the final curta
Wealth Accelerator Launches Cash Catalyst Pilot to Close the Racial Wealth Gap
In June 2025, community leaders gathered at ConnCAT to launch the Wealth Accelerator’s Cash Catalyst pilot, a new initiative designed to help close the racial wealth gap through direct cash transfers and financial education. The program will provide $2,000 to 52 participants ages 18–30, with 20 participants receiving an additional $20,000, alongside an six-week financial literacy curriculum focused on budgeting, investing, and long-term planning. Building on Connecticut’s pioneering Baby Bonds program, Cash Catalyst tests how direct capital can support wealth-building in real time offering immediate economic impact while generating insights to inform future statewide and national efforts to promote generational wealth and economic equity.
PARTICIPANTS
How did we get here?
The Wealth Accelerator began in 2021 with a question posed by Erik Clemons: What would it take to aggressively eradicate poverty in the state of Connecticut?
This question developed into action, bringing along organizations like ConnCORP, ConnCAT, M&T Bank, Edward Jones, Graustein Memorial Fund, Public Finance Initiative, the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, and the Connecticut Project, who have been instrumental in creating the infrastructure for this work.
Today, in conjunction with a 10 member Council of New Haven residents, the Wealth Accelerator is building out the answer to Erik’s question by launching wealth-building programs for Connecticut’s low and moderate income families.
ConnCAT Headquarters is Moving to Dixwell
In May 2025, ConnCAT and ConnCORP marked a major milestone on Dixwell Avenue with the topping off of the building that will become the new ConnCAT Headquarters at First HAVEN in Dixwell formerly known as ConnCAT Place on Dixwell. Community members, elected officials, developers, and partners gathered to celebrate the completion of the steel frame for Phase I of this transformative project, signaling the next chapter for ConnCAT in the heart of the neighborhood.
As ConnCAT prepares to move into its new headquarters, the space will serve as a central hub for its programs, partnerships, and growing impact, designed to support economic opportunity and deepen its connection to the community it serves.
The new ConnCAT Headquarters is part of the $163 million redevelopment of the historic Dixwell Plaza corridor. The first building will also include a childcare center operated by Friends Center for Children and a children’s mental health center led by Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, bringing together services that support families and community well-being.
Future phases of First HAVEN will expand this vision, adding mixed-income housing, neighborhood-serving retail, and a public plaza, reflecting both the legacy of Dixwell and a long-term investment in generations to come.
First HAVEN’s Construction Workforce Reflects Deep Commitment to Equity
First HAVEN in Dixwell's construction workforce demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, opportunity, and local impact exceeding multiple hiring benchmarks while creating pathways into the trades for New Haven residents.
The Wallingford Country Club
In May 2025, ConnCAT and ConnCORP partnered with Wallingford Country Club to expand hands-on culinary training opportunities for aspiring professionals in Connecticut. Through this collaboration, ConnCORP assumed strategic management of the Wallingford Country Club culinary kitchen, creating 30 new jobs and establishing real-world training pathways for ConnCAT culinary students.
Supported by the culinary and hospitality expertise of Orchid Hospitality, the initiative provides students with access to professional kitchens and real-world hospitality environments, connecting classroom training with industry experience and career opportunities.
Black Wall Street Festival
In August 2025, ConnCAT and ConnCORP partnered with and sponsored the Black Wall Street Festival, Connecticut’s largest Black-owned festival. Building on that partnership, they became presenting sponsors of the Black Wall Street Masterclass Series for Black Entrepreneurs: Educate, Empower, Elevate, hosted at The Lab at ConnCORP.
Orchid GalleryOrchid Gallery
Orchid Gallery opened in April 2024 as a creative space dedicated to showcasing contemporary art and supporting emerging and established artists. Envisioned by ConnCAT and ConnCORP CEO Erik Clemons, the gallery was created to center and elevate the voices and work of Black and Brown artists, ensuring their stories are seen, valued, and celebrated. Clemons personally contributed to the creation of the gallery through a financial gift, helping bring the space to life as part of a broader commitment to investing in artists as essential contributors to community and economic vitality. The gallery was launched in partnership with The Building Fund, whose founder Nico Okoro also serves as Orchid Gallery’s curator.
Since opening, the gallery has hosted six exhibitions, including Liminal Landscapes, Origins, Beholder, and Mythmakers, each highlighting diverse artistic perspectives and fostering dialogue between artists and the community.
As the gallery continues to grow as a cultural hub within the ConnCORP ecosystem, Orchid Gallery has announced an open call for artists for its 2026 exhibition season, inviting creatives from across the region to participate in future programming.
Culinary Arts Spotlight: Jenna Martin
Staff Spotlight: Culinary Arts
Jenna Martin
For the past ten years, Chef Jenna Martin has been a cornerstone of ConnCAT's Culinary Arts Program, helping students transform passion into purpose and skills into sustainable careers. As Lead Chef Instructor, Jenna joined ConnCAT with its very first culinary cohort. Today, she continues that work with Cohort 14, guiding each new class with the same dedication and high standards.
For Jenna, the program is about more than cooking. Many students enter seeking a fresh start some returning to the classroom after decades away, others ready for a new chapter in life. She has watched hesitant students grow into confident professionals, discovering their strengths and finding joy in their work. That transformation is what continues to inspire her as an educator.
In addition to teaching, Jenna supports Orchid Hospitality's catering operations, contributing to on-site and off-site events throughout the region. Orchid Hospitality provides full-service catering, delivery, and event support at ConnCORP venues and beyond, connecting workforce training directly to a thriving hospitality business.
About the Culinary Arts Program
The Culinary Arts Program is an intensive sixmonth, hands-on experience designed to prepare students for real careers in hospitality. Students train Monday through Friday, learning foundational and advanced techniques from baking and pastry to international cuisine, stocks, and sauces. A defining moment comes when students take full ownership of Orchid Café, creating menus, managing ordering, and running daily service. The program culminates in an 80-hour externship where many students are hired directly after completing their placement.
you don't try, you'll never know what you're capable of.
Chef Jenna Martin
BioLaunch Spotlight: Safura Mohammed
Participant Spotlight: BioLaunch
Safura Mohammed
A New Haven resident and mother of three, Safura had previously taken college coursework at Gateway Community College, but like many adult learners, she was unsure of her long-term career path. While exploring options to return to school, Safura was introduced to ConnCAT's workforce programs and discovered BioLaunch an introduction to biotechnology that would ultimately redefine her future.
Safura joined ConnCAT as part of BioLaunch Cohort Two, where she quickly demonstrated determination, resilience, and a strong commitment to growth. Through the program, she completed two weeks of Science Academy, followed by four months of intensive classroom and laboratory training focused on essential biotech skills such as lab techniques, compound handling, inventory management, regulatory compliance, and safety procedures.
The program culminated in a two-month internship with Alexion Pharmaceuticals, one of BioLaunch's industry partners. During her internship, Safura worked in compound management, gaining real-world experience in a professional laboratory environment. Her performance and work ethic stood out, and following her internship, she was hired into a contracted role supporting laboratory operations. Today, Safura continues her career in biotech as a Compound Management Technician.
THE IMPACT
After years of working late shifts in retail, Safura transitioned into a stable, full-time role in the biotech industry more than doubling her previous earnings. The flexibility of her new position has allowed her to better support her three children, manage family responsibilities, and plan for the future with confidence.
nt Spotlight: ccelerator
ya” Shaw
w Haven, Maya has spent the past Certified Nursing Assistant , including at the VA, rehabilitation care settings. Caring for others , but the realities of frontline s, capped hours, and physical strain chieve financial stability.
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her credentials by earning a cense and completing phlebotomy arely covered basic living expenses. In the summer of 2025, a community partner referred Maya to ConnCORP's Cash Catalyst program. At orientation at ConnCAT, she joined dozens of other young adults participating in workshops focused on budgeting, credit, savings, and the fundamentals of wealth-building.
THE CHALLENGE
Maya's financial challenges intensified during the pandemic, when disruptions to her education forced her to leave Southern Connecticut State University with a $5,000 balance. Struggling to manage a $370 monthly loan payment, she accrued interest and experienced a significant drop in her credit score. Like many young adults, she found herself working nonstop while still unable to get ahead.
What stood out most was the collective momentum "a room full of people trying to make something happen," she shared. For Maya, the Wealth Accelerator represents more than financial relief; it offers a foundation for rebuilding credit, expanding opportunity, and creating long-term stability.
CONNCORP YEAR IN REVIEW
ConnCORP 2024/2025 Snapshot
2024/2025 Snapshot
Entrepreneurship Academy graduates (across three cohorts)
ConnCORP leadership participated in Forbes BLK 2025 in Atlanta, where CEO Erik Clemons, President Philip Rigueur, and VP of Impact Investing & Organizational Effectiveness Yaw Owusu-Boahen joined entrepreneurs, executives, and changemakers focused on advancing Black economic prosperity.
Lab Members
Additional Lab members expected in July 2026 after completion of renovations, funded by a grant from the Small Business Administration (SBA)
ConnCORP hosted its 3rd and 4th annual Community in Action! Back-toSchool Giveaway, supporting local families as they prepared for the new school year.
Hundreds of children received free backpacks filled with school supplies, dents start the year confident, vent reflects ConnCORP's ar after year, made possible by usiness partners.
Launched the State of Black Business survey to better understand the experiences, challenges, and successes of Black entrepreneurs and business owners across Connecticut.
3 properties purchased in the Dixwell/ Newhallville neighborhoods in 2024-25. All properties have undergone on are currently undergoing rehabilitation.
ConnCORP Housing currently owns 17 affordable housing units across Dixwell & Newhallville, with 34 upcoming affordable residential units through FHiD.
The Lab
In 2025, The Lab at ConnCORP continued to serve as a trusted hub for entrepreneurship, culture, and community connection building on years of momentum while expanding both its reach and impact across Greater New Haven. Throughout the year, The Lab hosted a robust slate of programs that supported business owners, artists, youth, and families, reinforcing its role as a place where ideas are nurtured, relationships are built, and opportunity takes root.
TGIT Business After Hours
Regular networking gatherings bringing entrepreneurs together to build relationships and share resources.
LaunchPad Speaker Series
Expert-led sessions offering insights on business growth, funding, and industry best practices.
Rotating exhibitions showcasing local artists, providing visibility and connection to new audiences.
Level UP
Orchid Gallery Exhibitions N E W I N 2 0 2 5
Entrepreneurship Academy
Cohort-based programming supporting founders whose businesses now contribute to the city's economic fabric.
Free quarterly skill-building trainings focused on what matters most to entrepreneurs
Seeds of Success Youth Business Lab
Expanding The Lab's mission to the next generation, this program offers young people tangible tools, mentorship, and the confidence to imagine new possibilities building entrepreneurial skills from the ground up.
ConnCORP/Quinnipiac University Community Entrepreneurship Academy Outcomes
95% of participants completed a comprehensive business plan and pitch deck
100% of participants received seed funding upon completion
62% reported improved business performance
45% introduced new products or services
40% reported revenue growth
Holiday Toy Giveaway
17 CURRENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS ACROSS DIXWELL & NEWHALLVILLE
34 UPCOMING AFFORDABLE RESIDENTIAL UNITS THROUGH FHID
ConnCORP’s housing e development that rest identity that define th and operates 17 affordable housing units, representing approximately 50% of the organization’s affordable housing strategy outside of First HAVEN in Dixwell. These homes provide stable, quality housing while helping preserve the fabric of historically significant neighborhoods.
At the center of this work is First HAVEN in Dixwell (FHiD) a transformative mixed-use development that includes 34 new affordable residential units alongside workforce training, entrepreneurship programming, and community gathering spaces. More than a development project, First HAVEN in Dixwell is a gift to the community an investment in restoring opportunity, strengthening neighborhood vitality, and expanding pathways to economic mobility while honoring Dixwell’s rich cultural legacy. Designed as a beacon of opportunity, FHiD reflects a commitment to revitalization that strengthens the neighborhood, preserves its history, and ensures that long-time residents remain part of Dixwell’s future.
Holiday Toy Giveaway Brings Cheer to Local Families
In December 2024 and 2025, ConnCORP partnered with the New Haven Police Department to host its second annual Christmas Toy Giveaway at the Winchester Avenue police substation, bringing holiday cheer to local families on December 17. Community members, officers, and volunteers came together to support families during a season that can be both financially and emotionally challenging.
The event reflected a shared commitment to collaboration, care, and neighborhood connection—demonstrating how collective investment in the community can create lasting impact well beyond a single afternoon.
F E A T U R E H I G H L I G H T
Entrepreneurship Academy Spotlight: Cherryll Lafond
Participant Spotligh
Cherryll LaFond
Cherryll LaFond is the founder of Caribbean H Products LLC, a business creating all-natural a body and food products that provide chemica alternatives rooted in Caribbean tradition. Insp her great-grandmother's teachings on self-hea through herbs and plants, Cherryll built her br around cultural knowledge, wellness, and acce
Cherryll joined the ConnCORP/Quinnipiac Uni Community Entrepreneurship Academy after about the opportunity just as applications wer Accepted into the inaugural cohort, she entere Academy with an established business and a d strengthen operations, explore new product li better position her company for long-term gro
The program provided rigorous instruction, combining academic insight with realworld application. Cherryll often describes the experience as comparable to a graduate-level program, noting the value of the curriculum, faculty accessibility, and peer collaboration.
Following the Academy, Cherryll continued her engagement with ConnCORP and The Lab, where she gained access to business development resources, government contracting workshops, vendor opportunities, and networking events. Through the Lab's ecosystem, she expanded into new wellness products including teas and specialty blends and began actively pursuing state and federal contracting opportunities. Participation in the Launch Pad Series further elevated her visibility, connecting her with new audiences and collaborators.
Construction Academy Spotlight: Robert Kimball
Participant Spotlight: Construction
Robert Kimball
At the start of 2024, Robert Kimball made a deliberate decision to change the trajectory of his career. After ten years working for the United States Postal Service, he sought an opportunity to build tangible, transferable skills and pursue long-term growth. His search led him to ConnCAT's Construction Academy, a six-month i i free program designed to prepare adults for careers in the trades.
Robert entered the program with no prior trade experience. Through evenin classes led by seasoned professionals, he was introduced to the breadth of opportunities within construction far beyond the roles he initially imagine Coursework covered foundational construction math, tool use, safety, and i terminology, while exposing participants to pathways including carpentry, e plumbing, and project management.
HANDS-ON LEARNIN
Robert and his cohort toured active construction sites, met industry professionals, and built a fully functioning model bathroom incorporating plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and finishing work. These experiences transformed abstract concepts into real-world skills and gave participants confidence entering job sites.
From Postal Service to Skilled Trades
Through ConnCAT and ConnCORP's networks, Robert gained access to employers actively seeking motivated, trained workers. Shortly after completing the program, he secured a full-time apprenticeship at a custom cabinet-making and finishing shop in Cheshire learning fine carpentry, finishing, and painting for high-end residential and commercial projects while expanding his skills through CAD coursework.
As a father, Robert takes pride in knowing that his work inspires his young son, who shares his enthusiasm for construction and sees firsthand what it means to pursue growth, persistence, and purpose.
Lab Member Spotlight: Root Life
“
Food is political. You can't talk about community power without talking about access to land, knowledge, and nourishment.
F E A T U R E H I G H L I G H T
Lab Member Spotlight: Root Life
Dishaun Harris
In New Haven, where community roots run deep, one name has become synonymous with nourishment, culture, and connection. The name "Farmer D" wasn't chosen—it was given to him by youth and staff at ConnCAT while he was teaching in one of the organization's summer programs. What began as a nickname quickly became an identity.
Born and raised in New Haven, Dishaun originally studied political science, believing policy work was the most direct pathway to community change. Over time, his perspective shifted as he began to understand the deeper relationship between power, access, and food.
That realization led him away from traditional politics and into agriculture. He began volunteering and apprenticing at Common Ground, eventually founding Root Life LLC an organization dedicated to empowering communities through food sovereignty and agricultural education.
Operating out of a rented indoor space within The Lab, Dishaun grows specialty crops like microgreens and experiments with gourmet mushrooms. The space allows him to start thousands of seedlings each season, supporting his five farm sites across New Haven, community gardens, and home installations. Through Root Life and the ConnCORP Lab, he continues to demonstrate that agriculture is a vehicle for empowerment, healing, and longterm community resilience.
DEEP ROOTS
Dishaun's relationship with ConnCAT spans more than a decade. As a youth instructor, he co-created the garden that still sits beside the building today. There, he taught young people how to plant seeds, build raised beds, and explore their cultural relationships to food reframing the land not as a symbol of oppression, but as a tool for self-sufficiency and pride.
Looking Ahead: ConnCAT
As we look ahead, ConnCAT remains committed to preparing adults for high-demand careers through industry-aligned training, flexible scheduling, and strong employer connections. Our adult programs respond directly to regional workforce needs while expanding access to sustainable career pathways for New Haven residents.
BioLaunch
BioLaunch supports aspiring professionals in the biosciences sector through intensive, cohort-based programming. Offered in spring and fall cohorts, the program provides participants with foundational skills, mentorship, and exposure to industry leaders helping translate scientific knowledge into viable careers within Connecticut's growing life sciences ecosystem.
SPRING & FALL COHORTS
Construction Training Academy
The ConnCAT–ConnCORP Construction Training Academy is an evening program designed to strengthen the quality, safety, and competitiveness of the construction workforce. Through standardized training and hands-on instruction, participants are prepared for immediate employment while building pathways to long-term careers.
EVENING PROGRAM
Ready to take the next step?
Learn more about enrollment, schedules, and upcoming cohorts for all ConnCAT programs.
Culinary Arts Academy
APPLICATIONS REOPEN 2026
Phlebotomy Technician Program
ConnCAT's Phlebotomy Technician Program addresses the growing demand for trained phlebotomists in the healthcare sector. The program focuses on proper specimen collection and handling critical to ensuring accurate laboratory results and high-quality patient care.
APPLICATIONS OPEN
conncat.org/programs
Photo credit: Chris Randall, I Love New Haven
Rendering: First HAVEN in Dixwell
Looking Ahead: ConnCORP
As we look ahead, ConnCORP remains committed to strengthening economic opportunity in New Haven by investing in entrepreneurs, supporting small business growth, and building spaces where community and innovation thrive. Through initiatives that connect residents to capital, resources, networks, and place-based development, ConnCORP continues to expand pathways for wealth-building and long-term economic mobility across our city.
The Lab First HAVEN in Dixwell
Through education, mentorship, and community-building, The Lab at ConnCORP continues to serve as a catalyst for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community wealth-building in New Haven.
Looking ahead, The Lab is preparing for its next phase of growth. Renovations funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will expand the space and allow 14 additional Lab members to join, a brand new creative area space, strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem and increasing opportunities for Black and minority-owned businesses in the region.
ConnCORP Housing
Looking ahead, ConnCORP will continue expanding access to affordable housing and pathways to homeownership, ensuring that the revitalization of Dixwell is rooted in community wealth-building, cultural preservation, and opportunity for the families who call the neighborhood home.
The project continues to move forward as a cornerstone of ConnCORP’s vision for community-driven economic development. Once complete, the development will include a mix of residential housing, retail and food spaces, workforce training facilities, childcare services, technology and business incubation space, and cultural programming, creating a vibrant hub for residents, entrepreneurs, and families.
Orchid Hospitality
Orchid Hospitality is one of ConnCORP’s fastest-growing business lines. Looking ahead, Orchid Hospitality will continue expanding its footprint while creating new opportunities for community-rooted employment, hospitality training, and culturally grounded guest experiences.
Ready to imagine greater?
Learn more about ConnCORP’s initiatives, and upcoming opportunities to support entrepreneurs and communitydriven economic development.
conncorp.org
C o n n C A T
O U R T E A M
PROGRAMS
Stephen Driffin Director of Programs
Stephanie Mallard Career Pathways Manager
Erik Clemons
Founding CEO and President, ConnCAT & ConnCORP
Jenna Martin
Lead Culinary Chef Instructor
Rachel Graziano Youth Program Assistant
Brionna DavisReyes, PhD BioLaunch Trainer
Tiena Caez Assistant Phlebotomy Instructor
Erin Pinsince BioLaunch Learning Experience Manager
Orlando Yarborough III, PhD Director, BioLaunch Program
OPERATIONS & ADMINISTRATION
Opal Harmon Director, Operations & HR Milissa Cordon Administrative Staff
Front Desk / Security
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Erik Clemons CEO & President
Carlton Highsmith Board Chair
Catherine E. LaMarr, Esq. Treasurer
Kevin A. Myatt Board Vice Chair
Alexis Smith, Esq. Board Secretary
Administrative Staff / Driver
Daniel Caron Board Member
Ronald X. Johnson Board Member
Paul A. McCraven Board Member
Denise Morris Board Member
Dr. Milton Wallack, D.D.S. Board Member
ConnCORP
ADMINISTRATION & OPERATIONS
Andrea
PROGRAM, IMPACT & COMMUNITY
FINANCE & OPERATIONS
Timothy Alleyne Staff Accountant Kerry-Ann Stewart Senior Accountant
ADVANCEMENT
Stephanie Barnes Director of Advancement ConnCAT/ConnCORP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Erik Clemons CEO
Carlton Highsmith Board Chair
Paul A. McCraven Vice President
Alan Bowie Board Member
CLIENT SERVICES
Seanita Jones Front Desk & Administrative Assistant Jeneave Dacres Account Manager
HOSPITALITY & FOOD SERVICES
Ishateama Hilton Kitchen Supervisor, Orchid Café & Catering
Brittany Spruill
Assistant General Manager, The Bistro at Wallingford Country Club
Jay Taylor Executive Chef, The Bistro at Wallingford Country Club
Tiniasha Haynes
Operations Supervisor, Cornell-Scott Hill Health Center
Gina Castillo Kitchen Supervisor, Cornell-Scott Hill Health Center
Kevin Glassbrook Executive Chef, Cornell-Scott Hill Health Center
Bridget D’Angelo Board Member
Malcolm Ellis Board Member
Kim Harris Board Member
Patrick Lorent Board Member
Miles Lasater Board Member
Jesse Phillips Board Member
Nina Silva Board Member
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
Thank you to our ConnCAT Donors
Powering
Progress.
Creating Opportunity.
Craig Crews and Kate McKenzie Family Giving | William Graustein Family Giving
Adaejah Childs
Ajua Bobo
Aleah Newton
Alexis Smith
Alicia Brown
Alicia Wilson
Alisha Crutchfield
Andrea Isaacs
Andrea Rivers
Anna Blanding
Anne Coates
Anne Trimachi
Annika Diaz
Antoinette Badillo
Aquil Abdul-Salaam
Arden Santana
Ariel Barnes
Arielle Crispen
Arnold Pritchard
Ashley DeBarros
Ashli Fowler
Asia Matthews
Asia Matthews
Azaria McClure
Beverly Greene
Brittiany Mabery-Niblack
Candace Morrison
Caprice Covington
Carlah Esdaile-Bragg
Carlton Highsmith
Carolina Marquez
Carrie Greatheart
Catherine LaMarr, Esq.
Chad Wooten
Chavis Bell
Chevanne Spencer
Chiaka Frank
Christine Batts
Chywan Bright
Cieanna Little
CT Department of Social Services
Craig Crews & Kate
McKenzie
Cynthia Heredia
Dan N. Caron Charitable
Fund
Dandre Ford
Daniel Caron
Dave Bechtel
Dave McClure
Davena Owens Emenyonu
David Schaefer
David Stelly
Deborah Wright
Dejah Smith
Dena Langley
Desiree Balbuena
Dianca C. Tyson
Dominic Dawson
Donique Haynes
Dorothy Edwards-Follins
Douglas Wardlaw
Dr. Mary Graham
Durval Evans
Ebony Askew
Edward Hughes
Elizabeth Keenan
Eneera Harris
Erik Clemons
Erin Pinsince
Estelle Murphy
Evelyn Massey
Genesse Skinner
Genita Santos
George & Meghan Knight
Giovanni Lopez
Glenda White
Grace Walters
Gregory Trotman
Helen Barnes
Ian Williams
Iris Morales
Iva Johnson
Ivy McKinney
Jacob Robison
Jalin Morant
James Vincent
Jasmine Eaton
Jay Forman
Jaylen Evans
Jeneave Dacres
Jenna Martin
Jeron Alston
Jessica Mercado
Jewish Foundation of
Greater New Haven, Inc.
Joaquiem Fernandes
Jocelyn Dent
Joe Powell
Jolyn Walker
Jolyne Brown
Jorgieliz Casanova
Joseph Lowery
Josiah Brown
Julie Cohen
Karen Cortez
Karen DuBois-Walton
Kassi Young
Katelyn Wang
Kayla Salters
Kaylah Guest
Kenley Pierre
Kenneth Greene
Kevnesha Boyd
Ki’Mell Batista
Kiarrah Pearson
Kierra Guest
Lakisha Bobo
Laneice Gamble
Latonya Sumpter
Laura Brown
Laura Daniels
Lauren Safady
Lauryn Kearney
Lesleyrae Martinez
Letamarie Highsmith
Lindsey Ruminski
Lindy Lee Gold
Lisa Fluker
Lisa Scrofani
Lori Michele Bethune
Makayla Dawson
Malcolm Brooks
Marc & Becky Camille
Maria Sterling
Mario Edwards
Mario Fernando Divioka
Marissa Del Toro
Martha Brogan
Martha Fernald
Matthew Zwilling
Melissa Mathews
Michael Chung
Michele Monteiro
Michelle Sepulveda
Mira Debs
Miya Brooks
Moriah Lopez
Mya Massey
Natalie Renee
Neftali Medina
Neile Pressman
Nia Clemons
Nicki Gurley
Nicole Tyson
Nikia Demps
Nikilia Reid
Nykese Thomas
Opal Harmon
Orchid Cafe
OrLando Yarborough III
Parrish Edwards
Patrick Lowe
Paul McCraven
PayPal Giving Fund
Phillip Modeen
Rachel Graziano
Ricardo Cordido
Rita C. Richards
Rita Charles
Robert Turner
Robin Golden
Rodnae Rembert
Rodney Dabney
Ronald Hammond
Ronald Johnson
Ronisha Douglas
Rosalinda Mabery
Ruby Melton
Samantha Malone
Samira Abdul-Karim
Sara Armstrong
Scripps Family Fund
Shaina Barnett Plunkett
Shanae Gamble
Shani Knox
Shanice Little
Shannon Petty
Shayla Moye
Shayla Streater
Sheraine Walston
Sheree Gurley
Shiheym Eldridge
Siobhan Carter-David
Stacy Downer
State of CT Department of Children & Families
Stephanie Barnes
Stephanie Mallard
Stephen Driffin
Susan Papa
Tameeka Parks
Tameka Sims
Tamika Pettway
Tanisha Waite
Tari Thomas
Terrance Dill
The Prosperity Foundation
Theresa Owens
Tiffany Robinson
Tyquesha Manning
United Way of Greater New Haven
Vencenza Harris
Vilandria Turner
Walter and Joan Wallack
Wanda Moore Alston
Whitney Nichols-Haywood
William Davis
William Ginsberg
Yaw Owusu-Boahen
Yolanda Bright
Yvette Torres
Thank you to our ConnCORP Donors
Powering Progress. Creating Opportunity.
Albertus Magnus College
Alisha Crutchfield
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Tau Xi Omega
Chapter
Amrit’s Grooming Lounge LLC
Andrea Taylor
Andrew Aschettino
Anna Blanding
Arden Santana
Armand Muniz
Asantewaa
AvidXchange Inc.
B Clean LLC
Ben Walter
Celine Bonilla
Cornell Scott Hill Health Center
Daniel Hunt
Edward Jones Financial Advisors
Elaine Roper
Elizabeth Esposito
Emma Hill
Erica G. Bradley
First Place USA
Gideon Gebreyesus
Glenn Levinson
Greater New Haven
Chamber of Commerce
Harvest Charity
Howard K. Hill
JP Morgan Chase
Jahkeeva Morgan
Jameson Davis
Jean Marie Sanchez
Jeneave Dacres
Jenna Martin
Joy Brown
June Archer
Keith I. Smith, Jr.
Kerry-Ann Stewart
Kobey Smith
Kurt Luttecke
Marsha Jones
Michael Kingan
Nadine Nelson
Nathan Ware
Neil Holme
RISC Foundation William Graustein
New Haven Symphony Orchestra Inc.
Nicole Forbes
Opal Harmon
Opal Stork Home Care LLC
OrLando Yarborough, III
Paul McCraven
Petra Construction Shop
Philip Rigueur
Robert Lyons
Russo Roofing
Shantel Garcia
Southern Connecticut
State University
Stephanie Mallard
Stephen Driffin
Thomas Loricco
Tim Kostuk
Tyrone Smith
United Way of Greater
New Haven
Webster Bank
Aleah Newton
Alexis Smith
Alicia Brown
Alicia Wilson
Alisha Crutchfield
Andrea Isaacs
Andrea Rivers
Anna Blanding
Anne Coates
Anne Trimachi
Annika Diaz
Antoinette Badillo
Aquil Abdul-Salaam
Arielle Crispen
Arnold Pritchard
Asia Matthews
Beverly Greene
Brionna Davis-Reyes
Brittiany Mabery-Niblack
Candace Morrison
Caprice Covington
Carlton Highsmith
Carolina Marquez
Catherine LaMarr
Chiaka Frank
Christine Batts
Cieanna Little
City of New Haven Black and Hispanic Caucus
Connecticut Department of Social Services
Cynthia Heredia
Dandre Ford
Daniel Caron
Davena Owens Emenyonu
David Schaefer
Dejah Smith
Dianca Tyson
Dominic Dawson
Dorothy Edwards-Follins
Douglas Wardlaw
Durval Evans
Ebony Askew
Edward Hughes
Elizabeth Keenan
Erik Clemons
Erin Pinsince
Estelle Murphy
Evelyn Massey
Genesse Skinner
George & Meghan Knight
Glenda White
Gregory Trotman
Iris Morales
Iva Johnson
Ivy McKinney
Jay Forman
Jaylen Evans
Jeneave Dacres
Jenna Martin
Jenna Martin
Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven, Inc
Joe Powell
Jolyn Walker
Jorgieliz Casanova
Julie Cohen
Karen DuBois-Walton
Kassi Young
Katelyn Wang
Kaylah Guest
Kenley Pierre
Kenneth Greene
Kevnesha Boyd
Kiarrah Pearson
Laneice Gamble
Latonya Sumpter
Laueyn Kearney
Lauren Safady
Lauryn Kearney
Liberty Bank Foundation
Lindsey Ruminski
Lindy Lee Gold
Lisa Fluker
Lisa Scrofani
Lori Michele Bethune
Carlah Esdaile-Bragg
Malcolm Brooks
Maria Sterling
Marissa Del Toro
Martha Brogan
Matthew Zwilling
Melissa Mathews
Michelle Sepulveda
Mira Debs
Miya Brooks
Moriah Lopez
Mya Massey
Natalie Renee
Neftali Medina
Neile Pressman
Nia Clemons
Nicki Gurley
Nicole Tyson
Nikilia Reid
Nykese Thomas
Opal Harmon
Orchid Cafe
OrLando Yarborough III
Parrish Edwards
Paul McCraven
PayPal Giving Fund
Phillip Modeen
Rachel Graziano
Ricardo Cordido
Rita C. Richards
Robert Turner
Robin Golden
Rodnae Rembert
Ronald Hammond
Ronisha Douglas
Samira Abdul-Karim
Sara Armstrong
Shaina Barnett Plunkett
Shanae Gamble
Shani Knox
Shanice Little
Shannon Petty
Siobhan Carter-David
Stephanie Barnes
Stephanie Mallard
Stephen Driffin
Susan Papa
Tameeka Parks
Tameka Sims
Tamika Pettway
Tanisha Waite
Tari Thomas
The Prosperity Foundation
Theresa Owens
Tiffany Robinson
United Way of Greater New Haven
Walter and Joan Wallack
Wanda Moore Alston
Whitney Nichols-Haywood
William Ginsberg
Yale New Haven Hospital
Yolanda Bright
Yvette Torres
Join the Movement: PEOPLE. POWER. POSSIBILITIES.
As ConnCAT expands alongside First HAVEN in Dixwell, your support ensures our programs grow with excellence, strength, and long-term sustainability.
These investments power the people, programs, and institutional capacity that allow ConnCAT to expand responsibly, sustaining and scaling our core workforce, youth, and economic mobility initiatives for generations to come.
People Power Possibilities
When you give, you invest in people.
Adults building new careers. Youth discovering creative and technical pathways. Families strengthening stability. Entrepreneurs launching bold ideas.
Your generosity affirms dignity, unlocks potential, and uplifts community.
Your investment powers transformation.
It fuels workforce development. It strengthens arts, culture, and entrepreneurship. It expands access to education and economic opportunity. It anchors Dixwell and New Haven with communitycentered solutions.
Together, we are building ecosystems of opportunity, not just programs.
With your partnership, doors open.
Possibilities grow. Confidence rises. Communities thrive.
The future is not something we wait for. It’s something we build - together.
