About Us
Who we are
The Wealth Accelerator is a collaboration between ConnCORP, ConnCAT, The Connecticut Project, Public Finance Initiative, Graustein Memorial Fund and The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven designed to close the racial wealth gap by launching wealth-building interventions for low and moderate income Connecticut families.
How we started
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?
Over the past few years, 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, we are building out the answer to Erik’s question by launching wealth-building programs for Connecticut’s low and moderate income families.
Our Steering Committee
-
![A smiling man with black glasses, wearing a gray sweater over a purple collared shirt, standing against a green geometric background.]()
Erik Clemons
Founder and CEO at ConnCAT, Founder and CEO at ConnCORP
-
![A woman with shoulder-length dark hair, smiling broadly, wearing a black blazer over a white top, against a green geometric background.]()
Mirellise Vazquez
Vice President of Investment, The Connecticut Project
-
![Portrait of a smiling woman with curly black hair, wearing a black blazer and a colorful floral blouse, against a green geometric background.]()
Sheena Strawter-Anthony
Director of Impact Investment, Graustein Memorial Fund
-
![A woman with shoulder-length black hair, wearing a black blazer and earrings, smiling against a green geometric background.]()
Lourdes German
Executive Director, The Public Finance Initiative
-
![Professional woman with curly black hair wearing a blue and black houndstooth patterned sweater and gold earrings, smiling against a green background.]()
Karen DuBois-Walton
President & CEO, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
-
![A portrait of a woman with medium-length wavy brown hair, wearing a blue and orange patterned blouse and a chain necklace, smiling softly against a green geometric background.]()
Alexis Willoughby-Robinson
Associate Director for Outreach & Engagement, Yale SOM
Our Leadership Team
-
![Portrait of a young African American man in a suit smiling against a green geometric background.]()
Yaw Owusu-Boahen
Executive Director, Wealth Accelerator
-
![A portrait of an African American woman with short curly hair, wearing hoop earrings and a dark button-up shirt, smiling against a green textured background.]()
Stephanie Barnes
Director of Advancement, ConnCORP
-
![A woman with long brown hair smiling, wearing a black top and a necklace with a small pendant, against a green polygonal background.]()
Kate Reeves
Director, The Connecticut Project
-
![A woman with dark skin, curly black hair, wearing a maroon blazer over a white top, smiling, with her arms crossed in front of a green geometric background.]()
Opal Harmon
Director of HR & Operations, ConnCAT
-
![A man in a black suit wearing black glasses and a dark shirt, smiling, with a green geometric background.]()
Steve Driffin
Director of Programs, ConnCAT
Our Resident Community Council
-
![Smiling African-American woman with styled dreadlocks bun, wearing white blazer and jewelry, professional headshot against green geometric background.]()
Arden Santana
Resident Community Council Chair
-
![Headshot of a smiling man with dark skin, wearing a gray checked suit, light blue shirt, and patterned tie, against a green geometric background.]()
Sean Reeves
PrintzOnDeck LLC
-
![A woman with dark skin, long black hair, wearing large black glasses, a nose ring, and hoop earrings, smiling at the camera against a green geometric background.]()
Sylvia Cooper
Community Resident
-
![Portrait of a man with a bald head and a gray beard, wearing a dark suit, checkered shirt, and light blue tie, standing against a green geometric background.]()
Earl Bloodworth
Connecticut Against Gun Violence
-
![Smiling woman with curly hair, glasses, earrings, pearl necklace, and checked blazer against a green geometric background.]()
Carlah Esdaile-Bragg
Cornell Scott Hill Health Center
-
![A woman with shoulder-length black hair smiling against a green geometric background.]()
Rachel Graziano
ConnCAT
-
![A woman with glasses and pearl earrings smiling, wearing a black blazer and white shirt, neutral expression, green geometric background.]()
Estelle Murphy
Parent
-
![A smiling woman with short, styled hair in a reddish-brown color, wearing dangling earrings and a high-neck, long-sleeved red blouse, against a green, geometric patterned background.]()
Shani Knox
Dixwell Resident & Parent
-
![A smiling African American woman with short gray hair and long dreadlocks, wearing a black blazer with a leopard print top, gold hoop earrings, and a decorative brooch, standing against a geometric green background.]()
Erica Bradley
Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
-
![A woman with long curly hair, wearing a black sweater, smiling, with arms crossed, posing against a green geometric background.]()
Yolanda Bright
Community Resident
Our Partners
Contact us
Please feel free to reach out. As a community-driven effort, we would love to hear from you.