about us Staff Biographies
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The Children's Futures staff members who work to achieve the mission and vision of the initiative include the following individuals:
Mr. Morris leads the initiative's efforts to strengthen parenting, increase access to primary quality health care and child care systems and increase social supports for families, so that every child in Trenton enters preschool healthy and ready to learn. Prior to becoming CF's president in May 2006, Mr. Morris was a senior program officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), where he had responsibility for some of the foundation's largest community-based initiatives, including Fighting Back, the Urban Health Initiative, the After School Project, Join Together, and several other programs. He has also served on the Foundation's Vulnerable Populations and Childhood Obesity program management teams. He joined the RWJF in 1989 as a financial officer, having worked previously as an assistant administrator for United Medical Center in Newark. In 1996 he became a program officer at RWJF and was promoted to the senior program officer position in 2000. Mr. Morris earned a master of health administration degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a B.S. from Salem College in West Virginia. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (609) 695-1977 (ext. 101) James W. Smith, Jr. James W. Smith, Jr., serves as vice president for program management and development. Prior to joining Children's Futures, he was a senior official with New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), including serving as Acting Commissioner of DHS during two different administrations. DHS is New Jersey's largest department with an annual budget of approximately $10 billion and 16,000 employees. During his service to the state, Jim has led New Jersey's system reform efforts in the areas of child behavioral health, substance abuse, child care and developmental disabilities. As Deputy Commissioner, Jim has had the opportunity to oversee such areas as public welfare, Medicaid, early care and evaluation, disabilities and child welfare. In addition, he served as Acting Director for DYFS, Director for the Division of Substance Abuse, Special Assistant to the former Commissioner, William Waldman, and as Special Advisor to Joseph A. Califano, former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, on a project related to alcoholism and drug prevention and treatment programs. Jim began his career as a caseworker for General Assistance in the City of Plainfield. He holds a Masters Degree from the Rutgers Graduate School of Social Work. Contact Jim Smith at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (609) 695-1977 (ext. 102)
Ms. Bellamy is responsible for the database system for Children's Futures (CF). In addition to collecting and entering data, Ms. Bellamy provides reports to assist in the measurement and evaluation of the initiative's objectives. In her role, she works closely with CF's staff and collaborating partners to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the data. Before joining CF, Ms. Bellamy served as the program coordinator for the Trenton Municipal Alliance Committee at the City of Trenton's Division of Health. In that role, she oversaw fiscal accountability and programmatic activities of City of Trenton-funded grassroots substance abuse prevention and education activities. Ms. Bellamy has also served as a Planned Parenthood of the Mercer Area health educator where she provided HIV education and health risk reduction methods for community-based agencies, schools and residents. Ms. Bellamy attended the Cittone Institute, Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Pennsylvania and Lincoln University in Philadelphia. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (609) 695-1977 (ext. 109) June R. Gray As Director of Family Support Intervention, Ms. Gray works to reduce and eliminate disparities in perinatal outcomes for at-risk women, infants and families in Trenton. In addition, she administers the Trenton Nurse Family Partnership Program which provides intensive nurse home visiting, health and parent education, and case management for 1st time, low income at-risk mothers. Prior to joining CF, Ms. Gray served as a public health nurse consultant for the City of Trenton's Children's Health Services. Before that, she was director of professional services for Visiting Homemaker and Health Services, Inc. of Mount Holly, New Jersey. June has also served as: a nurse educator for the Children's Home Society in Trenton; the home health aide director for the Mercer Street Friends Center in Trenton; a staff nurse for the Visiting Nurses Association of Trenton; and a registered nurse in the Pediatrics Department of Cooper Hospital in Camden. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (609) 695-1977 (ext. 110)
Beth V. Harrison As Fundraising Specialist, Ms. Harrison works to enhance the initiative’s resource development activities to support comprehensive, city-wide programs that benefit the lives of Trenton’s children and families. She is responsible for overseeing grants management, fundraising and special event programs. Prior to joining Children’s Futures, she worked in administrative positions at Westminster Choir College (now part of Rider University), Mills College, and Princeton University. She is also a volunteer for the University Medical Center at Princeton, the Princeton Regional Schools PTO, and Cadet Girl Scout Troop 71830. Ms. Harrison graduated from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey with a BA in English and Biology. She also holds a graduate degree in Student Personnel Services from New York University. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (609) 695-1977 (ext. 105)
Dynell Kellyman As Associate Director of Communications and Public Policy for Children’s Futures (CF), Ms. Kellyman supports the advancement of CF’s policy agenda, communications efforts and partnership collaboration. Prior to joining CF Ms. Kellyman served as a policy analyst for the Saint Paul City Council. During her time with the City of Saint Paul she focused on communications efforts in the areas of website development and policy research. Ms. Kellyman also spent some time in the private sector at Home and Garden Television (HGTV) where she supported the public relations department with media relations efforts, special events planning and talent management. Ms. Kellyman graduated with a Masters of Public Administration from Baruch College in New York. She received her B.A. in Public Relations from Hampton University in Hampton, VA. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (609) 695-1977 (ext.113) Spencer Lester As Director of Finance and Operations for Children's Futures (CF), Mr. Lester has responsibility for the financial, information technology and human resource components of the initiative. Prior to joining CF, Mr. Lester worked for eight years as a financial analyst for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), where he made important contributions to RWJF's Financial Monitoring Office, including but not limited to, supporting several national initiatives and capacity building for various organizations throughout the US. Before RWJF, Mr. Lester served as a business and tax consultant and held financial positions with the Greater Trenton Community Mental Health Center (now Greater Trenton Behavioral HealthCare). A Trenton native, Mr. Lester has also been the driving force behind a number of CF's successful programs for the community that have helped build financial capacity to improve the operations of Trenton nonprofit organizations; provided books and toys for children and families annually during the Christmas holiday season; and, honored outstanding Trenton fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers and foster fathers through the "Platinum Dad" recognition program. Mr. Lester earned a bachelor's degree from Upsala College in East Orange, N.J. and has been a guest lecturer at Kean College of New Jersey and Mercer County Community College. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (609) 695-1977 (ext. 104) T. Sonya Pritchett Ms. Pritchett is the first voice callers hear and the first person visitors seen when they arrive at Children's Futures. In addition to receiving guests and ensuring calls are routed efficiently, she also is involved in supporting her Children's Futures' colleagues with special event planning; meeting space coordination; securing parking, event/meeting catering, hotel accommodations and arrangements; reviewing and logging all incoming grants; arranging grant review meetings, receiving incoming checks, logging information in the computer; and, researching data and reports. Prior to joining CF, she was an administrative assistant and counselor for Life Counseling Services, a behavioral health center. Before joining Life Counseling Services, Ms. Pritchett spent 10 years working as project manager and health coordinator on her Indian Reservation, the Powhatan Renape Nation. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (609) 695-1977 (ext. 100) As executive assistant at Children's Futures (CF), Ms. Rawls is responsible for all administrative support for CF's president and vice president. In addition, she coordinates communications and logistics for the board of directors, including board meeting preparation and travel logistics; oversees vendors, office supplies and equipment; and, supports a host of other activities ranging from maintenance of the office filing system to preparing PowerPoint presentations. Prior to joining CF, she was a human resources and MIS administrator with Coin Depot Corporation of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Before coming to Coin Depot Corporation, Mr. Rawls was office administrator/manager for Executive Career Resource Group in Princeton, New Jersey. Ms. Rawls received her office administration training from the Cittone Institute. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (609) 695-1977 (ext. 107) Bill Rovner As communications director for Children's Futures (CF), Mr. Rovner is responsible for managing all internal and external communications activities for the initiative including publications, web site, media relations, community relations and special events. Prior to joining Children's Futures, he was vice president of communications for the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP), a national association of nonprofit managed care plans based in Washington, D.C. and New Brunswick, New Jersey. Before coming to ACHP, Mr. Rovner directed the communications program for a statewide nonprofit health maintenance organization, HIP Health Plan of New Jersey and its predecessor organization, Rutgers Community Health Plan. He previously served as communications officer for the Central Jersey Health Planning Council, a federally-created health systems agency. In that position, he also edited The Trenton Report on Health and Human Services. Mr. Rovner earned an M.A. in Information Services from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) and a B.A. in Mass Communications from the same institution. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (609) 695-1977 (ext. 103)
Data Management Specialist |