Dr. Rohit Chandra
Chair
is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at MGH Chelsea, where he works closely with immigrant populations, co-chairs a Research Round table, and Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, where he teaches 3rd-year medical students. He is president of the New England chapter of the Indo-American Psychiatric Association (psychiatrists of Indian origin), and co-chairs the Early Career Psychiatrist committee of AACAP, the largest organization for child and adolescent psychiatrists nationally. He has a BA from Dartmouth College and an MD from Boston University School of Medicine, and trained at Boston Medical Center and MGH for psychiatry residency and child and adolescent fellowship, respectively. During fellowship at MGH, he served on the Psychiatry Department’s Diversity Committee, won a Child PRITE fellowship from the American College of Psychiatrists, and spoke at Harvard College about Asian-American student mental health. He is interested in the cultural identity development of Asian-Americans, values differences and intergenerational conflict within Asian-American families, and the impact of academic pressure on student mental health. He has published on the influence of values and culture on the mental health of Asian Indians in America. He is so pleased to have the opportunity to work closely with the CCSEW.
Keith Marion
Vice Chair
Kieth is the Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and is a seasoned a seasoned executive with expertise in leading enterprise-wide DE&I initiatives. He leads corporate strategic initiatives through a DE&I lens that contribute measurable business impacts in revenue growth, costs management, product/service innovation, brand awareness, employee and customer engagement, and community advocacy. His approach values difference and seeks to create business value through those differences.
For Keith, DE&I work is organic in nature and unique, as every organization is different and has its own “state of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.” He is a practitioner that is well versed in best practices and find them important and helpful; but often moves towards disruption and innovation to uncover next generation and customized solutions.
Keith graduated from Newton South High School, holds a BA in Business Admin and a BS in Finance from Lincoln University (PA), a recipient of the BBJ Diversity Champion Award, has completed The Next Generation Leader Programs at The Partnership Inc., and is also a graduate of the Bentley University Diversity Champion Executive Leadership Program. He is a proud resident of Dorchester MA, where he lives with his lovely wife Robin and fantastic son Mason.
Marc LaCasse,
Treasurer
Marc has been practicing law in Massachusetts since 1988. He graduated from Northeastern University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice, magna cum laude, and continued at Northeastern University School of Law to obtain his JD. Shortly after graduating, Marc served as a Law Clerk for the Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court and as a Staff Attorney for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Marc is also a licensed real estate broker. Marc has advised commercial and residential real estate developers concerning issues such as zoning, development approval under Article 80 of the Boston Zoning Code, transactions, licensing, and all other aspects of permitting. He has also acted as counsel to various Boards of Trustees regarding condominium laws, procedures, and disputes. On the unit owner side, Marc has represented clients concerning neighborhood associations, noise, and conducts residential purchase and sale transactions. Marc advises small business and non-profit organizations in matters related to entity formation, governance, contract and related business disputes.
Marc’s appellate practice has included over 45 appeals to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court. The appellate cases have covered a wide variety of civil matters. As a responsible citizen, Marc has served on many boards and associations throughout the course of his career. Since 1990, he has served as Chairman or President and Board Member of several organizations, including the Town of Harvard Zoning Board of Appeals, Washington Gateway Main Street in the South End, and the Rollins Square Condominium Association. He is also a current Board Member of the Boston Center for Adult Education [BCAE], Central Reform Temple of Boston, the Cape School of Art, and Mass Equality PAC. In addition, Marc donated his time as pro bono attorney for the GMDVP Domestic Violence Program and the Boston Main Streets Program.
Donna Brown
Executive Director of South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation, a non profit developer and manager of affordable housing. SBNDC has created over 200 units of affordable housing in South Boston, including housing for the elderly, families and Veterans. Donna has more than 25 years of experience in the community development field, serving as a project manager at the City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development and President of the board of SBNDC.
In addition to her work at South Boston NDC, Donna has volunteered at a variety of non-profits. She served as the Clerk of the South Boston Community Development Foundation, managing the distribution of $400,000 in grants to South Boston charities. She is Treasurer of the South Boston Association of Non Profits and a member of the board of Medicine Wheel Productions. Donna is an avid gardener and became a Certified Master Gardener through the Massachusetts Horticultural Society
Letta Neely
Letta Neely is an Earthling; she is also a Black Dyke, an Artist, an Activist, a Feminist, and a Mother. In addition to Juba and Here, Letta is the author of the chapbooks When We Were Mud and gawd and alluh huh sistuhs. Her plays: “Hamartia Blues”, “Last Rites”, and “Shackles & Sugar” have been produced in Boston, Philly, and Los Angeles. She is a co-artistic director for Fort Point Theatre Channel and the editor of Ife Franklin’s book, “The Slave Narratives of Willie Mae”. She is also an actor and director, most recently performing with the A.R.T. in the Boston Theatre Marathon Zoom Edition and directing Renita Martin’s “Unmasked” for the Revolution of Values Black Theatre Project. She believes in the interconnectedness of both the struggle and the liberation.
Her newest poetry project: Geographies of Power will be available in the Spring 2021
Phyllis Corbitt,
President of Old Colony Tenant Task Force discusses her passion to serve Old Colony’s community and advocate for the elderly.
Since court-ordered busing in Boston 40 years ago, the Old Colony Public Housing development became one of BHA’s first desegregated developments to become tremendously diverse. Today, Phyllis Corbitt, President of Old Colony Tenant Task Force is proud to serve this diversity. She included an international cook off, in which BHA’s Administrator, Bill McGonagle participated as a taste judge at the site’s Unity Day earlier this summer. “I wanted to include different cultures just because we have many different ethnic groups,” said Corbitt. The community leader, who enjoys eating Spanish foods, hoped to see more Hispanic residents attend the family event.
According to BHA’s 2014 records, the residents of the Old Colony development are approximately, 38 percent Hispanic, 34 percent African-American, 29 percent white, and 10 percent Asian. The changing demographics are in part the result of decisions by many Irish white families, who were disinterested in busing their kids to city schools, to move to the suburbs in the early 70’s. But Corbitt remained living in the Southie development once considered predominately white, with her two young children. Meanwhile, a neighbor, noticing Corbitt’s big heart and leadership skills, asked her to join the Tenant Task Force. She’s been serving for 25 years.
In 2014, Corbitt and her team witnessed with joy the completion of 129 new apartments and beginning construction of 44 additional units as part of Old Colony’s phase 2 redevelopment process. Meetings with BHA officials and residents were productive and she commended BHA when it implemented the non-smoking policy into the newly reformed development.
Now, the community leader spends her time setting up activities for Old Colony’s youth with The Boys and Girls Club and running yard sales behind the community center. Corbitt uses profits made from the yard sale to host barbecues for the elderly on weekends. The proceeds left over, allow for trips with elderly residents to go see Emerson College’s theatrical plays.
In Memorial Jack Casey
On December 1, 2020 we lost one of the best, Jack Casey. I met Jack in February of 1992 almost 29 years ago. Jack had a way of seeing people for who they truly are. His capacity to listen deeply endeared him to the many communities he dedicated his life to serving. His work spanned and touched many communities including; Student, LGBTQ , HIV/AIDS and, Recovery. He is one of the men who taught me to be who I say I am and has held me up during my own 29 years of work in the LGBTQ community, HIV/AIDS and with the young men and women we are privileged to serve at Medicine Wheel/SPOKE
What a gift it has been to have him by my side all these years, most recently as a board member of Medicine Wheel. I spoke with him last night, November 30, as we were preparing for the 29th annual World AIDS Day Vigil. In his usual manner he said: “What can I do to help?, how can I be of service. “ That was Jack, that was my friend.
– Michael Dowling