New England Streetworker Conference
Culture Cures: Embracing Strength, Overcoming
Trauma, and Cultivating Joy
September 25-26, 2025 | Gillette Stadium
Please save the date for the largest gathering of outreach and violence prevention professionals in the region! The New England Streetworker Conference unites frontline workers for expert-led workshops, peer learning, and networking—all through the lens of this year’s theme:
Culture Cures: Embracing Strength, Overcoming Trauma, and Cultivating Joy
Gain new skills, share best practices, and connect with others committed to building safer, healthier communities by harnessing the power of culture and joy.
Please join us the evening before the event for our annual networking celebration!
A Community to Encourage and Empower
| Meet Your Planning Committee |
Liz Brown
Engagement and Events Coordinator, Alternative House
Location: Boston, MA
Fun Fact: I do a lot of crafting, I make my own earrings and trinket dishes out of shells!
Juan Carter
Outreach Manager, Giffords Center for Violence Prevention
Location: Providence, RI
Fun Fact: “A hidden passion of mine is art. I was accepted into an art program, where I was a sketch artist and photographer.”
Shawnic Coleman
Statewide Youth Engagement Coordinator, EOHHS (Homeless Youth Services)
Location: Lowell, MA
Fun Fact: “In high school, I was in the Lowell Sun newspaper for asking former Governor Deval Patrick to the prom as a joke.”
Liz Giannetta-Ramos
Program Director, COMPASS Youth Collaborative
Location: Hartford, CT
Fun Fact: “I love to dance salsa. Not sure if I am really good at it but I get by!”
Leonard Jahad
Founder and Executive Director, Connecticut Violence Intervention and Prevention
Location: New Haven, CT
Fun Fact: “During my career, I unknowingly hired a police officer who helped get me off the streets when I was young.”
Natalie Johnson
Associate Director, Capacity Building Assistance, Health Resources in Action
Location: Boston, MA
Fun Fact: “I had the dubious honor of winning “most improved” my senior year of high school!”
Alivia Langley
Program Manager, Connecticut Violence Intervention and Prevention
Location: New Haven, CT
Fun Fact: “When I was younger, I was in a movie with Robert De Niro and 50 Cent.”
Sako Long
Northeast Regional Director, Department of Youth Services
Location: Lowell, MA
Fun Fact: “I fish at least 50 times a year.”
Christian McCloskey
Youth Services Coordinator, City of Fall River
Location: Fall River, MA
Fun Fact: “I am the sole proprietor of a small nonprofit, McCloskey’s Irish Pub. It hasn’t made a penny, but it is the 2nd most famous fictitious bar in the state, right behind Cheers.”
Nichelle Sadler
Executive Director of the Training Center for Excellence, UTEC
Location: Lowell, MA
Fun Fact: “I still wash dishes by hand. I’ve never used my dishwasher!”
Leslie Rivera
Senior Director of Training and Capacity Building, UTEC
Location: Lowell, MA
Fun Fact: “I love music, I love to sing, I can’t remember any lyrics!”
Manuel Sequeira
Senior Program Manager, Safe and Successful Youth Initiative
Location: Boston, MA
Fun Fact: “When I was shorter (I’m 6’1) Skee-Lo’s song ‘I Wish’ was one of my favorites.”
Anna Thordarson
Program Associate, Health Resources in Action
Location: Boston, MA
Fun Fact: “The one time I rode a horse it fell on top of me while I was on it. I came out unscathed, but the horse had a bloody nose.”