Serena Neal-Sanjurjo serves as our president. She is a development consultant and brings more than 30 years of experience in community and economic development. She has drafted and facilitated the development of project applications leading to awards totaling more than $200,000,000 and leveraged more than $2.3 billion in public and private housing and development partnerships. Born and raised in New Haven, CT.
Chanelle Goldson, SHRM-CP, is a Real Estate Investor, International Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Punta Cana, Certified Human Resources Professional and Training Coordinator. She has over a decade of experience in the human service field. Chanelle is the Co-Founder and CEO of Goldson Investment Group; Community Consultant for Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center; Board of Directors Vice President for ‘r kids Family Center; Member of the Newhallville Community Management Team. She is a Newhallville native.
Linda Davis-Cannon has 38 years of experience in Neighborhood Development with a concentration on housing matters in the City of New Haven. She has worked on many housing and community projects in neighborhoods with a successful record of accomplishment throughout her career. She has facilitated collaborations among community residents and local stakeholders with the goal of achieving lasting partnerships. Linda loves to spend time with her husband, children and grandchildren, she has a passion for cooking and interior design.
Sophie Kaplan serves as the Vice President. She moved to Newhallville in 2022. She has leadership and volunteer experience from her time as a student at Vassar College. During college, she started a group to work with the school community and administration on responses to interpersonal violence. Since high school, Sophie has been deeply involved with her community and served on the Guilford Foundation Fund for Education grant committee. Sophie works as a wealth management client associate at Merrill Lynch. Sophie can be seen walking around the neighborhood with her dog, Bean.
Ngola Santos has lived in Newhallville for the last twenty years. He is an electrical engineer by trade. After experiencing the sickness of his family and friends, he turned his skills and research to solve health problems with natural healthy over the last ten years. He has had success of getting to the root cause and finding solutions. Growing up, he was awarded the top grades in the city of Philadelphia in high school, and obtained a full academic scholarship at Temple University, where he earned his degree. His other passions are acting and music performance, composing, semi-professional basketball, coaching, training, teaching, having fun, and helping others achieve their potential. He believes every person can do what he did (and more) even better, and there is genius inside us all. He wants to see Newhallville to become an example of a striving unified community and improve the economic issues of its citizens.
Miriam James is enjoying her 28th year as Vice President at M&T Bank. Miriam was awarded the “Spirit of Volunteerism” award by People’s United Bank for her commitment to community service. She teaches financial literacy classes to community organizations throughout Greater New Haven. She currently serves as 1st Vice President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW). She serves on the Board of Directors’ for Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers(IVCG) as the Fund Development Chair and Aging At Home non-profit. Miriam is the Co-Advisor of the Connecticut State NAACP Youth & College Conference. Mrs. James serves on the College Ministry Board at Immanuel Baptist Church in New Haven. In recognition of her service to our community, Miriam has received numerous awards throughout the years: 2021 Juneteenth of Fairfield- NCBW New Haven Chapter received the 2021 Founder’s Award, Girl Scouts’ Community Participation, East Haven Chamber of Commerce Community Service, Freddie Fixer’s Community Service Award and the President’s Award of Connecticut NAACP Youth & College Division.
Annette Ridenhour serves as Secretary. She is a child care provider. She enjoys watching cooking shows, and spending time with her dad watching baseball. Her favorite team is the New York Yankees.
Brittany Tomling is a longtime Newhallville resident, mother and board member.
newhallville-ct.com 