Massachusetts Community Engagement Alliance (Massachusetts CEAL)

Aja Jackson is a seasoned grant manager, accountant, and educator with over 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, youth development, and financial strategy. She has directed multimillion-dollar budgets, managed compliance for government grants, and led organizational growth using systems like Yardi, Salesforce, and MRI. As the former Executive Director of Operation LIPSTICK and current Youth Manager at We Are Better Together, Aja combines financial acumen with community-centered leadership to address systemic violence and economic inequity. She is the project manager of Afrimerican Academy, where she fuses education, cultural strategy, and economic justice to uplift Black and Brown communities in Boston. Based in the Boston area with deep ties to Roxbury, Aja's work centers around justice, resilience, and amplifying underrepresented voices. She joined the MA-CEAL Steering Committee to help bridge public health efforts with trusted community leadership and lived experience.

Gregory L. Davis is the Founder and Executive Director of Metro Boston Alive, where they've been serving individuals and families for over 40 years in the areas of substance abuse, returned citizens referrals, and counseling. They serve all areas of the City of Boston, especially in communities of color. His organization is currently providing outreach to substance use disorder (SUD) clients and homeless individuals with Narcan, clothing and referrals to both medical and detox within the City of Boston. He is a proud member of the MA-CEAL Steering Committee where he finds joy in it's mission to provide empowering support and opportunities to the most underserved members of the City of Boston. 

Matilda Drayton is from Roxbury in the Mission Hill area of Boston. She is a Vocational Specialist at Communities for People, an organization that supports youth involved with the DYS and DCF systems. She is affiliated with multiple institutions in her neighborhood expanding from academic to public health and family advocacy services. She is the chair for the Alice Taylor Advisory Council and the Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) Advisory Board, Parker Hill Fenway. She serves on the Advisory Board for Wentworth School of Technology and Northeastern University. She is a member of the City of Boston's Mayor's Office Monitoring Committee for the Boston Housing Authority, where she believes her contributions empower residents of Alice Taylor to find, use, and expand the power of their voices. She joined the MA-CEAL Steering Committee so that Alice Taylor can have an extended voice. When you live in public housing, people seem to speak for you, if not over you and we deserve to have a voice. 

Leah Dotten is a retired Travel Agent, a licensed Community Health Worker, and a volunteer. She is currently serving her community as a volunteer at STEPRox Recovery Support Center and as a Network Coordinator with Union Capital Boston, where she is also a member. Leah volunteers her time in food and justice spaces such as the Neighborhood Food Action Collaborative (NFAC), the Greater Mattapan Neighborhood Council (GMNC), and the Mass Senior Action Council (MSAC).  She joined the MA-CEAL Long COVID Health Ambassador project in 2023 and she is very happy to be a member of the MA-CEAL Steering Committee, where she believes her knowledge, education, and lived experiences can further help to educate and advocate for the communities she lives and serves in.

Sophia Mendez is a research coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is currently gaining clinical experience with the hope of one day being able to address major gaps in the healthcare system. Apart from providing joyful hours of connecting with awesome human beings, the MA-CEAL Steering Committee has provided Sophia with the opportunity of seeing research unfold in a more interpersonal dimension.

Arlene Carr has been a Housing Advocate for about 20 years, and her motto is "Know your rights". She is from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago who now lives in Dorchester. She is a member of numerous boards in Boston including Boston Housing Resident Advisory Board and the Mayor's Family Advisory Council. Arlene is also known in other communities around the City of Boston for sharing up to date information pertaining to housing policy changes. She was a trainer for the Local Tenant Associations, as she believes that knowledge is power. Arlene amplifies her belief that everyone should "Know their rights living in Public Housing" and "housing is for everyone". Arlene's family is very active in health and housing and was instrumental in advocating for smoke free public housing because of her son's asthmatic diagnosis. She joined the MA-CEAL Long COVID Health Ambassador project in 2023 and has since become a MA-CEAL Steering Committee member because she loves sharing information and making a difference in her community.  

Raymond Rodriguez is an Outreach Worker and Shelter Support Staff. He is also a Latinx LGBTQ+ Activist for the Boston area. Raymond currently works predominantly in the Brockton area but also works all over the city of Boston and surrounding towns.  He has been working in Public Health, specifically HIV/STI prevention and Harm Reduction, for over 15 years, serving the Latinx LGBTQ+ Community.  He joined the MA-CEAL Steering Committee because it was something nice, he could do to expand his horizons and serve the community.

Tania Rivera is a passionate and accomplished manager with over 25 years of experience in Human Services, working across health, education, local government, and housing. As a lifelong Boston resident, Tania has contributed her talents to several respected organizations, including the Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Public Schools, Boston Medical Center, Department of Children and Families (DCF), Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI), and Trinity Management.  Known for her warmth, leadership, and collaborative spirit, Tania brings deep expertise in program development and management, social services, and community engagement. Guided by her family-centered values and a genuine passion for helping others, Tania continues to support children and families across Boston. Whether she's launching new initiatives, connecting people to resources, or strengthening partnerships, her focus remains the same: empowering communities by investing in their well-being and potential. Tania continues these efforts by contributing her knowledge and community engagement expertise.

Eugene Sanders is a proud lifelong Boston resident and a long-time member of the Roxbury community. Deeply rooted in the fabric of the city, Eugene has spent his life not only living in Boston but working tirelessly to uplift and support the greater Boston community. His dedication to service, equity, and connection has made him a trusted and valued presence among his neighbors and peers. Eugene has always stepped up to help those around him; whether it's mentoring youth, assisting seniors, or volunteering his time to support local events, food drives, and neighborhood improvement efforts. His belief in the power of community has led him to be involved in numerous grassroots initiatives and the MA-CEAL Steering Committee, often serving as a bridge between residents and local resources.

Griselda Polanco is a mother, community leader, and one of CPLAN's education equity advocates. Griselda arrived in Boston from Santo Domingo with a suitcase full of dreams. She is a driven and passionate activist, caring deeply for the wellbeing of her community. She joined the MA-CEAL Steering Committee because she deeply believes in the power of collective action and community-driven solutions. Being part of this committee allows her to contribute her voice and experience to shape meaningful strategies that address the real needs of our community. She is committed to fostering collaboration, ensuring representation, and helping create an inclusive space where every perspective matters.

Jayme Bonds is a Senior Community Coordinator at Winn Residential and has been with the company for 16 years. She was born one of seven children, raised in Roxbury, Massachusetts. In her everyday life, she was able to contribute to families and community agencies by writing grants for various programs created to assist and help individuals of all ages, she learned how to provide resources and referrals as time went on. Some of the organizations she is a part of include (New England Residents Services Coordinator (NERSC) Board Member, Mass Association of Resident Service Coordinators in Housing (MARSCH), Certification Coordinator and Minister of The Gospel. Her passion is to service residents as well as the community with healthy choices regarding housing, security, nutrition, resources, and referrals. She joined the MA-CEAL Steering Committee because she felt that after becoming a Long COVID Ambassador, she could continue to provide health information and resources to every community, spreading the good news.