The Boston Family Engagement Governing Council provides oversight of the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Grant awarded by the Department of Early Education and Care. The BFEN citywide council is comprised of parents and key stakeholders in the early childhood community who service families with young children birth to age 8. The Council is representative of the city’s geographic, ethnic and linguistic diversity. They are the voice of the neighborhoods and participate in setting BFEN’S strategic direction, family engagement goals and provide input on funding decisions. The BFEN Council is mindful of maintaining equity across the city to ensure access to quality family engagement programming.
The role of a Council member is to educate the community about BFEN programming, embrace best practices of family engagement, empower parents with knowledge and nurture children for improved family development and children’s school readiness outcomes. For more information or to attend Council meetings, please contact Maria Menzi at mmenzi@familynurturing.org.
GOVERNING COUNCIL MEMBERS JULY 2021-JULY 2023
| Name | Seat/Position | Representative/ Contribution to Council |
|---|---|---|
| Nashwa Fars | Parent of young child | Roslindale Parent |
| Katie Savage | Parent of young child | South Boston Parent Partner |
| Hamda Ullah | Parent of young child | Allston Brighton Parent Partner |
| Matt LiPuma | Lead Agency Representative | Executive Director, FNC |
| Maria Menzi | Lead Agency Representative | BFEN Coordinator Citywide |
| Marie Enochty | Disabilities/ Special Needs Representative | BPS Special Needs/ BPS Early Childhood Department |
| Carla Therriault | Representative of Early Intervention | Director, Community Impact United Way |
| Richard Claytor | Representative of Parent -Child+ Program | FNC Director of Programs |
| Thara Fuller | Representative of Head Start | JFK Family Services Center Charlestown |
| Sandra Rodriguez | Representative of Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCR&R) | Child Care Choices of Boston |
| Aditi Subramaniam | Representative of Mental Health Consultation Grant Program or local Mental Health Provider | MSPCC Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Manager |
| Cynthia Dye | At Large | Children’s Librarian, Field’s Corner Branch |
| Antonio Mendez | At Large | Boston Children’s Museum |
| Cheryl Itri | Early Childhood Center-Based | South Boston Neighborhood House |
| TeeAra Diaz | K through 12, School Age | BPS/UPK |
| Samilla Quiroa | Neighborhood Agent | Allston Brighton Neighborhood Agent, Family Nurturing Center |
| Crystal Galvin | Neighborhood Agent | Kennedy Family Service Center |
| Katee Duffy | Early Childhood/Family Literacy Program | Raising a Reader |
| Mary Sarin | At Large | Thom Boston Metro Early Intervention |
| Kathryn Ratey | Family Support/Social Services | Family Resource Center |
| Marissa Lehrman | Family Support/Social Services | Families First Parenting Program |
| – | Representative of Center-based Early Education and Care Program | |
| – | FCC System Administrator | |
| – | At Risk | |
| – | FCC Provider |