Derek has spoken to us previously when represented the 5th state senate district in Connecticut’s general assembly. He teaches political science at Yale University and crisis communications at Sacred Heart University. He earned his master’s degree in business administration from UConn and his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University.
Derek currently oversees development, communications and marketing and works to ensure that staff, donors, volunteers, partners and the Greater Hartford community understand who we are, what we do and how they can work alongside us to help vulnerable children, adults and families. He also oversees The Village’s brand adherence and core brand promise, and works to develop strategies that increase awareness of our work, market specific programs and enhance employee communications.
Derek served as the President & CEO of the Connecticut Technology Council (CTC), where he focused on stewarding its members and engaging local business leaders. He has also served as the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at the UConn Foundation and has 10 years of broadcast journalism experience.
Derek said he was happy to be back with us after a long and tough year. Prior to joining The Village, he didn't know much about it until he started working with them. Like many of us he often drove by the facility at 1680 Albany Avenue. The Village, under several names, has been aiding children and families for 200 years. Over the years, the Society merged with organizations such as the Hartford Orphan Asylum, Connecticut Children’s Aid Society and Children’s Services of Connecticut. Derek said that on average the children have experienced five childhood traumas. Three main facilities now service the community. One of them is the former trolley building and museum across from Bulkeley High School on Wethersfield Avenue.
40 children live at the Albany Avenue site and receive a wide range of educational, nutritional and mental health services. The Village provides voluntary tax assistance and teaches financial literacy to parents. The goals is to break the cycle. They provide mentoring for fathers who never had a father along with foster care services for children. The children who live on campus receive a nutritional diet with primarily fresh foods provided by a contract catering business. The children learn about nutrition and healthy foods.
The Village has 500 employees and is partially financed by state and federal grants including Medicaid. They receive all sorts of donated goods and services. They are especially in need of luggage for the children who move frequently as family and foster care situations change. Donated duffel bags preclude using trash bags.
The integrated care provided puts families in touch with medical and mental health services they might not be able to access on their own.
The diversity of clients has changed dramatically over the years. The services were mainly provided to Hartford, but Hartford now only receives about 35% of the services. The other clients are from towns that surround Hartford. The Village is the largest provider of mental health services in CT.
Bill Barnes was pleased to say they he and Pat adopted their three children through CT Child & Family Services nearly 50 years ago. Their children are now grown and in their fifties with families of their own. Greg Demanche said that his mother was the pastry chef at the facility years ago. Kershwin Singh asked about how we could volunteer as a group or individually. Derek said he would forward information to share. Rollie Sterrett asked about donating duffle bags or other easily used luggage. Jolly Lux asked about how food is outsourced. Derek talked about their marvelous catering service which operates out of a donated kitchen.
For more information on the history of The Village, the wide range of services and volunteer opportunities, go their website at: https://thevillage.org/overview/