Dr. Leon Bailey, Jr., M.P.A, DMIN, is the Senior Vice President for Human Resources and Organizational Culture for The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

He has a record of starting and directing innovative community-based programs, including forming the first Family Planning Clinic for men and developing a community-based alternative to incarceration for children, in New Jersey.

Bailey was a partner in the optical industry with the franchising chain American Vision Centers and served as Vice President of Franchising. He developed operational processes that led to this company’s success and ultimate sale. American Vision Centers acquired regional chains across the country and converted the stores into owner-operated franchises. The growth of this company led to being purchased by Pearl Vision Centers.

Before joining The Community Foundation, Bailey was Vice President of Human Resources for Dianon Systems in Stratford, an anatomical laboratory specializing in cancer diagnosis. At the height of Dianon’s growth, there were 3,000 employees nationally.

Bailey holds a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University in Psychology, a Masters in Public Administration from New York University, a Masters of Divinity, and a Doctorate of Ministry from New York Theological Seminary.

Dr. Bailey serves on CHN’s Executive Committee.

Larry Duncan is a LIMHP, LADC, LPC credentialed Behavioral Health Services professional that has been in the field for more than 30 years. He has hosted many local workshops and training for other professionals on various mental health, substance abuse, and criminogenic topics. His work in private practice, corrections, and residential treatment settings provide him a wealth of experiences to draw from during the courses he presents. He’s a certified trainer for The Training Addictions Professionals (TAP) program and has conducted training for probation personnel and private organizations as well. As an adjunct Instructor, he teaches human services courses regularly through Grace University and Metropolitan Community College.

He’s an Ordained Minister and is presently the Operations Director for CenterPointe’s Campus for Hope, here in Omaha, Nebraska. Larry is presently the Senior Director for Charles Drew Health Center’s Behavioral Health Services Department here in Omaha, NE. He holds a Master’s Degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. He’s licensed by the State of Nebraska as an Independent Mental Health Practitioner, Alcohol/Drug Counselor and Professional Counselor. Additionally, He’s an Ordained Elder.

Larry is an adjunct professor at the Metropolitan Community College and has been an adjunct instructor with Grace University in Omaha, Nebraska. He has been a featured trainer for Nebraska’s Training Addiction Professionals (TAP) Program. His background includes a career in the United States Air Force as a Counselor, Manager, Director, and Educator. He has designed programs and educational curriculums for Adult Personal Growth and Development, Substance Abuse Programs, and Adolescent/Family Education Courses.

As a board member for the Community Healing Network (CHN); he’s a certified trainer of facilitators for CHN’s Emotional Emancipation Circles. Elder Duncan has many years of experience helping others heal as a Minister and a Credentialed Behavioral Health Care Professional. His work derives from his sense of personal purpose and divine calling. He has worked in concert with schools, churches, government institutions, corporations, and non-profit agencies to create a program for positive community change. As a true Leader, Visionary, Teacher, Counselor, and Entrepreneur he continues to serve the least among us.

Larry is the father of two beautiful adult daughters; LaRita and MarLa. He’s also the grandfather of three; twins Lailend & Lailyah, and Torique.

Alfred R. Jarvis is Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Jacquelyn Mayo was born in Kingstree, SC to sharecroppers and domestic workers. At an early age of 10, her family relocated to New Haven, Connecticut for better opportunities. Being the second oldest of thirteen, she quickly understood her role in the family to support emotional and financial stability. She learned early on that “Every problem is an opportunity, only you have to recognize it.”

As a teen mother her role expanded and she worked to secure her education and financial future graduating from Southern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor of Art in Speech Communications in 1976. Several years later she pursued additional education in Labor and Employee Relations at University of New Haven and Cornell University. She received her Human Resource Certification from Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in 1999.

Jacquelyn retired from AT&T with over 43 years of telecommunications experience as Assistant Vice President Human Resources for AT&T Business Marketing Advanced Business Solutions supporting worldwide initiatives. Her role at AT&T and Southern New England Telecommunications includes strategic roles in Compensation, Contract Negotiations, Marketing, Small Business Sales & Planning and Operations. Her role not only resided in the state of Connecticut but included assignments in Seattle, Washington and Dallas, Texas.

Jacquelyn has been an active member of Tau Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated for almost 20 years supporting all initiatives as they give service to all mankind.

Jacquelyn now resides in Tyrone Georgia to be near her family. She is the mother of four; late son Derreck, daughter-in-law Monique, daughter Markita, sons Jermaine and Justin. She is the grandmother of seven; Deziree, JaeLynn, Kevin, DeAntae, Litrell, Markus and Justin Jr.

Jacqueline Randolph is a native of Richmond, Virginia. She graduated from Albright College with a double major in Biology and Chemistry and then received a Masters Degree in Microbiology from Howard University.

Ms. Randolph was employed by Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Company and retired as Associate Director of Operations in Clinical Cancer Research after over thirty-seven years with the company. In that capacity, she directed and managed clinical oncology studies throughout the world traveling to Australia, Canada, Europe, Mexico, and South America as well as to major Cancer Centers in the United States. Her clinical research studies involved comparative and combination modalities of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. She played a major role in the development and FDA approval of several ethical drugs for the treatment of lung, colorectal and breast cancers.

While working for Bristol-Myers Squibb, she earned an Executive MBA from the University of New Haven and received advanced training in Management from the London School of Business. She also completed a Hospital Residency Program in Medical Oncology at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, New York.

“To be in a room sharing our history, aspirations, and commonality with brothers and sisters of African descent from across the globe is totally awesome. Through CHN, I now understand both the cause and effect of our history. I am even more proud of us as a people for what we have overcome and our resilience.”

Diane Young Turner is a retired Human Resources Administrator of 37 years at Yale university. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Grambling State University and a graduate degree from SUNY Albany, New York. Diane has served on numerous boards and civic organizations including United Way of Greater New Haven, the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, and Women’s Health Research at Yale. She is an active member of her church and her service includes the Deacon Board and the church’s nonprofit, Inextricably Bound, Inc. Diane has served on CHN’s Board for three years. She and her husband reside in Hamden, CT.

Kelly E. Mero, Ph.D. has worked with children throughout her entire career. She worked in various positions at New Haven Public Schools for 13 years helping to decrease truancy, manage disruptive behavior, increase academic scores, and support students’ non-academic needs. After New Haven Public Schools, she managed a juvenile parole program in Hartford at Catholic Charities. Dr. Mero currently works as an Education Consultant with the Connecticut State Department of Education. She is involved in work focused on academic advancement, diversity, equity, inclusion, race, rigor, and school development for the state’s magnet schools.

Dr. Mero is a life-long resident of New Haven. She credits her father, Harrison Mero, with instilling community engagement in her. She currently organizes an annual Juneteenth event in the Elm City that focuses on families and fun in a festival that includes community resource tables that provide information on education, employment opportunities, financial health, housing, mental and physical health, and social intelligence with the goal of building a stronger community.

Dr. Mero has a deep desire to help people – family, friends, and strangers. She has three adult sons whom she is especially proud of and she is enthusiastic about keeping up with her toddler grandson. She is fond of creative projects, loves to laugh, and is currently learning to increase her capacity of using the laptop!