Aurora Women and Girls Foundation Kicks Off 25th Anniversary Year
Event at Hartford Public Library Featured Recap of 2024, Release of New Research
West Hartford – The Aurora Women and Girls Foundation kicked off its 25th anniversary year at the Hartford Public Library on March 27 by unveiling its seminal research report, Toward Equity: Investing in Women and Girls for Connecticut’s Future, and welcoming four new Board members and a new Board Chair.
Presiding over a large crowd in the Library’s newly reopened Center for Contemporary Culture, Executive Director Jennifer Steadman, Ph.D. also cited highlights of the record-setting 2024, which included nearly $500,000 in community investments in grantmaking and research and the launch of the Young Women’s Initiative, a leadership-development program for high school girls of color – the first in Connecticut that’s part of a national collaborative.
“The Annual Meeting is a wonderful opportunity to gather Aurora’s community and reflect on the incredible success of the past year and set our intention to have even more impact in our 25th anniversary year,” Steadman said. “I am always energized by the dedication of Aurora’s community to building new opportunities for women and girls.”
The meeting featured an inspiring panel discussion about the key findings from Aurora’s 2025 research report, published in collaboration with Demographic Perspectives, LLC; the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s Community Fund for Women and Girls; and the Fund for Women and Girls of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation.
Led by Dr. Steadman, the panelists included Shamya Douglas, a participant in the Aurora-funded YW Career Women program and a member of the Class of ‘25 at CT State--Manchester; Thea Montañez, senior advisor to Gov. Ned Lamont; and Janée Woods Weber, Executive Director of She Leads Justice.
During the meeting, outgoing Board Chair Meghan Burns, a partner at Ruel Ruel Burns Feldman & Britt, was recognized and thanked for her strong leadership over the past three years. She will be succeeded as Chair by Amy Miller, CFP, CFDA, senior vice president at Wealthspire Advisors.
Departing Board members Samantha Castillo-Davis, Evelyn Johnson, and Stephani Roman were also acknowledged for their service to Aurora.
Four women were elected as new members of Aurora’s Board of Directors: Samia Ameur, Heather Lashway, Trisha Pitter, and Teesia Renée Williams of Windsor, known professionally as Chef Renée.
Aurora is grateful to the following Community Partners who have already committed operating support for 2025: Ares Management; Barnes Group; Family First Life;Liberty Bank; NBT Bank; Jennifer W. Pennoyer, MD; Robinson + Cole; Ruel Ruel Burns Feldman & Britt; Tokio Marine HCC; UConn Health Disparities; The Village for Families and Children; Wealthspire; and Whittlesey.