Executive Team

Susan Radway, Ed.D | CCC Chair 
Susan Radway is the Executive Director of Riverfront Children’s Center. She holds a doctorate degree in Child and Youth Studies with a concentration in Program Management. Sue’s career has focused on work with children and families. Her experience in public school systems, private nonprofit organizations and municipal and state government gives her a unique perspective in understanding and facilitating collaborations and partnerships. Sue has been involved in the coalition since its first presentation with Adele Faber on How to Talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Talk, as a member partner, currently as Chairperson.   Sue states: “The coalition provides an avenue for diverse partners to come together for discussion and learning around common topics of interest. Together we can make a difference.”

Susan Corrice | Treasurer 
Susan Corrice has been working in the non-profit sector in Southeastern CT for 25 years.  She has been a member of the Community Coalition for Children for 10 years, and currently is the Treasurer.  Susan currently works as a private contractor and consultant for several regional non-profits of varying size, and prior to that worked for 20 years as a Director and Executive Director in Early Childhood Education. She is a member of many local and statewide human services groups.  Susan enjoys the professional collaboration of coalition members as they work together to help children and families in SECT thrive.

Jamie Irwin, LMSW | Program Chair 
Jamie Irwin has been a school social worker for New London Schools for 31 years.  She currently works at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School. Prior to that she worked for the Department of Children and Families and Head Start.  
Currently she participates on the District Equity Team.  She holds a Masters of Social Work.  She became involved in the Coalition as a staff member who brought students to the yearly event.  Eventually she was appointed the District's representative.  She has co-chaired the annual intergenerational event for two years.  Jamie became involved in the Coalition due to the belief that it is important the students from New London get to meet students from the area schools in the hopes of increasing rich dialogue between the schools.  

Marissa Kach, M.A. | Program Chair 
Marissa Kach has been involved with the Community Coalition for Children since becoming the School Counselor at Salem School in 2014.  She has served as the Program Chair for the Community Coalition for Children since 2017.  Prior to Salem School, she was an elementary school teacher in Bloomfield.  Marissa brings a wealth of information to the committee about current challenges students are facing in the schools today.  Marissa is passionate to removing barriers to help students succeed in school and in the future.  She believes strongly in the power of education and early intervention.   One thing she loves most about the Community Coalition for Children is the opportunity to facilitate courageous conversations among children, parents, educators, mental health providers, and community members.

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Denise Gable | Operations Coordinator
Denise Gable has served as the Operations Coordinator for the Community Coalition for Children since March 2018.  She is also the Development Coordinator for Gilead Community Services, Inc., a non-profit organization providing mental health services in Middlesex County and Chairperson on the East Haddam Youth and Family Services Board of Directors. As a parent to two young adults, Denise is committed to CCC’s mission of providing educational and social opportunities to help children thrive. 

​Board Members

Cathy Bakoff
Cathy Bakoff is a Founding Partner of the Community Coalition for Children. She served as Chair from CCC’s inception in 1996 through 2006 and remains an active representative-at-large. 
“From the incredible response to our inaugural program with Adele Faber in 2007 to today, it’s clear that the Community               Coalition for Children taps a critical artery to help children thrive.  We listen and learn, we tweak, we expand, we adapt.  Throughout, we cross generational, geographical, cultural, racial, and socio-economic barriers to address issues that face us all.  It fills me with hope and promise as participants in CCC programming are energized and motivated to grow individually and collectively!”
Through additional involvement with the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut and other local organizations, Cathy enjoys connecting and collaborating across regional sectors.  She resides in Norwich with her husband, Steven, and credits their now adult children, Jen (Chicago) and Michael (Boston), as inspiring forces behind the conception of the CCC. 

Jennifer Croce, LCSW
Jennifer Croce is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a supervisor of the Mobile Crisis Intervention program at UCFS.   Mobile Crisis is a statewide program offering crisis intervention, brief treatment, and connection to services for youth experiencing behavioral health crises.   Jennifer has been working in the field for almost a decade, focusing on serving youth and their families.  Jennifer has been a member of the Community Coalition for Children for over 8 years, and has served on the executive board as Treasurer and Interim Chair.  She is a member of several community collaborative groups and invites others dedicated to children to join the CCC.  Both in her professional and personal life, she is dedicated to helping children thrive. 

Bob Farwell
Bob Farwell is Executive Director of the Otis Library, the public library serving the city of Norwich Connecticut, a position he has held since 2006. This follows twenty years as a museum director. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Washington College, Chestertown Maryland, a Masters in Arts (History) from Trinity College, Hartford CT., and a Masters in Library and Information Studies, University of Rhode Island. He is a board member of Literacy Volunteers of Eastern Connecticut, The New London County Historical Society, and the Norwich Noontime Rotary and most recently, serves on Workgroup on Libraries & Access to Justice and the Norwich Race Equity Committee.
The Community Coalition for Children focuses on one of the largest constituencies served by libraries, children. The coalition understands the salutary results of a library experience. The opportunities presented for socialization and enhanced literacy are particularly resonate within the library community. We are kindred spirits and it is a pleasure to be part of the coalition. 


Kara Giroux

Jennifer Mauro, M.S.  
Jennifer Mauro is an Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Mitchell College where she teaches undergraduate courses in human development and family studies, psychology, and career development. She is also Co-President of Creative Learning Solutions LLC., a unique program supporting children with learning disabilities and/or ADHD and their families in achieving academic, social, and practical living success. Jennifer has more than 25 years of professional experience working with children, adolescents, and families in a variety of contexts. Jennifer joined the Coalition’s Board as a representative of Mitchell College in 2012. As a parent, educator, and a member of the SECT community, she is passionate and committed to collaborating with community partners and families to support the mission of the Coalition…helping children thrive. 


Kathleen O'Beirne, M.A.L.S.
Army daughter, Navy wife, former high school teacher, National Defense University instructor of her course, “Military Families: Research & Policy,” DoD public affairs officer, and Director, Navy Family Service Center, Subase NLON. Board member emeritus, Military Child Education Coalition and rep for military families on the Military-Superintendents’ Liaison Committee, SE CT.
Kathleen O'Beirne represents military families on the CCC board. She is a member of the CCC because in 2000, when she retired from Subase, she saw the need to continue to be a voice in the region for military students, their parents, and those who educate them. Their experience with frequent deployment of a parent coupled with family moves gives them and their educators an added layer of challenge.


Jodi Savage
Jodi Savage is currently the coordinator of the Project Outreach Program at Norwich Free Academy in Norwich Connecticut. In this position Jodi works with numerous community providers, non-profits, schools, and civic organizations to provide volunteer and community leadership opportunities for NFA students. She encourages her students to develop projects that focus on social justice issues, awareness and change. In addition to running the Project Outreach Program she is the advisor for the school's student prevention council that focuses on drug, alcohol, tobacco and suicide prevention programming. Jodi serves on the board of Norwich Youth and Family Services and is a member of the Norwich Prevention Council and Norwich's Heroin Task Force. Jodi started with the coalition 14 years ago as NFA's liaison to the program and joined the board 8 years ago. Jodi believes that the issues that children and families face on a day to day basis need to be looked at through multiple lenses and the CCC with its intergenerational focus and diverse partnerships is able to do that and help parents and children thrive. 
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