Leadership Team

The HOYC Leadership Team provides strategic direction, monitors progress, and guides the Collaborative’s annual Learning Agenda. The team includes the Mayor (Convener), Co-Chairs—including youth representation—along with members from the Young Legends, Work Groups, and backbone staff.

Leadership Team Members:

• Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, City of Hartford, Convener

• Tania Banks, Urban League of Greater Hartford, Co-Chair

• Kristina Baldwin, City of Hartford, Co-Chair

• Jen Gifford, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, Co-Chair

• Jim Boucher, Capital Workforce Partners

• Shena Burch, Young Legends

• Arleen Cohen, Center for Latino Progress

• Ayelet Chozick, COMPASS Youth Collaborative

• Kimberly Williams Rivera, Our Piece of the Pie

• Courtenay Jackson, City of Hartford

• Jinelle Hooker, Hartford Public Schools

• Taniqua Huguley-Chaplin, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut*

• Tariq Levy-Pulliam, Capital Workforce Partners*

• Chara May, Community Renewal Team (CRT)

• Hector Rivera, Our Piece of the Pie*

• Joel Rivera, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

• Jackie Santiago, COMPASS Youth Collaborative

• Alice Turner, URISE Ventures

• TBD, HOYC Director, Capital Workforce Partners

(*Denotes Work Group Co-Chair)

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Work Groups

HOYC Work Groups are member-led teams that drive action within six priority areas of the Collaborative’s strategic framework. Each group includes cross-sector representatives and two co-chairs, and reports to the Leadership Team to ensure alignment and accountability.

Together, these Work Groups turn shared vision into measurable impact—advancing equitable pathways, coordinated supports, and youth-driven systems change across Hartford.

Pathways & Career Navigation

Strengthening connections between education, training, and employment opportunities to help young people build rewarding careers.
Co-Chairs:

• Taniqua Huguley-Chaplin, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut

• Tariq Levy-Pulliam, Capital Workforce Partners

Holistic Supports & Protective Factors

Expanding access to wraparound services that address social, emotional, and economic needs, empowering youth to thrive personally and professionally.
Co-Chair:

• Becky McGuigan, Forge City Works

Data & Evaluation

Using shared data and continuous improvement to track progress, identify gaps, and strengthen program effectiveness across the Collaborative.
Co-Chairs:

• Christopher Brechlin, COMPASS Youth Collaborative

• Kimberly Williams Rivera, Our Piece of the Pie

Youth Leadership & Engagement

Centering youth voice in decision-making, design, and implementation—ensuring Hartford’s young people are true partners in shaping the systems that serve them.
Co-Chairs:

• Shena Burch, Young Legends

• Taniqua Huguley-Chaplin, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut

Professional Development & Capacity Building

Enhancing the skills and collaboration of youth-serving professionals through training, shared learning, and network development.
Co-Chairs:

• TBD

Policy & Advocacy

Aligning public policy and advocacy efforts to remove barriers, influence systems change, and elevate the needs and potential of Hartford’s youth.
Co-Chairs:

• Jim Boucher, Capital Workforce Partners

• Ayelet Chozick, COMPASS Youth Collaborative

 

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Backbone Staff

The backbone team, housed at Capital Workforce Partners (CWP), provides the coordination, communication, and support that keep the Hartford Opportunity Youth Collaborative (HOYC) moving forward.

This team facilitates collaboration among members, advances resource development, manages shared initiatives, and ensures that the Collaborative’s strategies are implemented effectively across Hartford’s youth-serving ecosystem.

Backbone Staff:

• Jim Boucher, Capital Workforce Partners

• Tariq Levy-Pulliam, Capital Workforce Partners

• TBD, HOYC Director, Capital Workforce Partners