JOURNEY HOME STAFF

We invite you to read below and learn more about each of our staff members. Staff are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

ANDREW FREEMAN

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
andrew.freeman@journeyhomect.org

Andrew is a Connecticut native who spent 19 years in Chicago before returning to his home state in early 2020. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and then attended seminary. Andrew has spent his career working in church and nonprofit operations, with a passion for helping collaborative teams find creative solutions to complex challenges. He is excited to join the dynamic team at Journey Home in this vital work. Andrew and his partner Erik live with their yellow lab Magnus in West Hartford, where together they enjoy tackling home improvement projects and entertaining guests.

GERILYN HARRISON

HOMELESS YOUTH & EMPLOYMENT MANAGER
geri.harrison@journeyhomect.org

Geri has worked in the homeless field for 8 years in the Greater Hartford region. Before transitioning to Journey Home, she was the Program Coordinator for The Salvation Army Marshall House, in Hartford CT. Geri enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and playing tennis. Geri can often be found spending time with her family in Southwest Florida.

ABREKA HAWKINS

OUTREACH COORDINATOR
abreka.hawkins@journeyhomect.org

Abreka is a first generation graduate from Southern Connecticut State University. She has a degree in Public Health and has worked in the nonprofit sector for 5 years. She has a background working with housing and medical case managers to better serve the financial needs of those experiencing homelessness. She has experience with program management and supportive services. In addition to her Public Health Career she is very passionate about her makeup business.

JILL HELTON

BOOKKEEPER
jill.helton@journeyhomect.org

After 20+ years in car dealership accounting, Jill joins Journey Home excited to be part of a team that makes a difference.  Jill lives in Plantsville with her husband Dave and their spoiled dog Harper. She enjoys spending time with her twin daughters, car shows in their 67 Chevelle, and watching the Boston Bruins.

MICHELLE LIPAR

VOLUNTEER & CLIENT SUPPORT ASSISTANT
michelle.lipar@journeyhomect.org

Michelle previously interned with Journey Home as a UCONN MSW student, and is excited to be joining JH as the Volunteer and Client Support Assistant.  She is passionate about increasing access to safe and stable housing and ending homelessness, and loves connecting with people and organizations who are working towards similar social justice goals.  Michelle grew up in Connecticut and has a BA in English from the University of Notre Dame and an MSW from UCONN.  She enjoys hiking, baking, reading and traveling with her husband, their two children and their two dogs. Her favorite place is anywhere she can see and smell the ocean.

NADINE MALONE

CAN HOUSING MANAGER
nadine.malone@journeyhomect.org

Nadine Malone originally joined the Journey Home team as a social work intern from Central Connecticut State University and she moved into her role as the Housing Authority Preference Coordinator in May, 2019. Nadine has a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in social work. She received her associate’s degree and certificate in Drug and Alcohol Recovery Counseling in 2015. In her spare time, she enjoys quality time with her family, cats and puppy.

TAYLOR MCCORMACK

CCADV HOUSING SEARCH SPECIALIST
taylor.mccormack@journeyhomect.org

Taylor graduated from the University of Saint Joseph with a Masters in Public Health.  She enjoys helping people in any way she can.  She loves spending time with her boyfriend, family, and friends.  Some of her favorite things to do are going out to eat, watching movies and cooking.  She loves to try new things, especially different types of food.

MATTHEW MORGAN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
matt.morgan@journeyhomect.org

Matt has almost 20 years of nonprofit experience bringing a tremendous breadth and depth of experience to the leadership of Journey Home—in affordable housing, community organizing, international community development—as well as a strong vision and deep commitment to ending homelessness and creating opportunities for those most vulnerable in our community. 

Matt has served as Journey Home’s Executive Director since 2011, and has grown the organization from a staff of 2 to a staff of 16, leading the Capitol Region to reduce chronic homelessness by 90% and overall homelessness by 60%.  Matt has led Journey Home to receive several awards, including the Diane Randall Leadership Award, the Bank of America Neighborhood Builder Award, the Carol E. Walter Think, Be, Lead Change Award, and he has been recognized by the MetroHartford Alliance for the Hartford Unsung Heroes Award for his service during the Covid-19 pandemic, and by the Hartford Business Journey for the Top 40 Under 40 Award.

Matt is a member of the religious order of Deaconnesses and Home Missioners of the United Methodist Church.  Matt also serves on the boards of directors of the Betty Knox Foundation, based in Hartford, CT, the Cargill Falls Community Development organization, based in Putnam, CT, and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program for the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut.  Matt and his husband Whitney and their three children live in West Hartford.

KIMBERLY NARDONE

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

kimberly.nardone@journeyhomect.org

Kim joined Journey Home in 2021 as our part-time Director of Finance; after retiring from a national accounting firm. Kim is a CPA with over 35 years of public accounting experience serving nonprofit organizations, quasi-governmental and affordable housing entities focusing in audits of government funded programs.  Kim is a long time volunteer at Saint Patrick Saint Anthony Church in Hartford and currently coordinates meals for area emergency shelters during the winter, coordinates a group of bakers to provide homemade goods to Hartford residents in need and is involved in several other meal programs.  Kim resides in Colchester with her husband Dave, their three adult children and granddaughter also live close by.

ADRIANA NEGRON

COORDINATED HOMELESS PREVENTION MANAGER

adriana.negron@journeyhomect.org

Adriana is super excited to be joining Journey Home and continuing to make a difference in the community. As a born and raised Hartford native, she comes from a background in Property Management, working with small businesses, community work and event coordination. In her free time, Adriana enjoys cooking, spending time with close friends & family and reading. You can also always catch her at a local farmers market or community events, supporting locals in CT.   

KANISHA NEWMAN

HOUSING LOCATOR
kanisha.newman@journeyhomect.org

Kanisha is very excited to fill this role for Journey Home and to help end homelessness. She has a background working in nonprofit organizations by helping families in need with support and resources. She graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s degree and hopes to further her education by attending law school. Kanisha enjoys traveling, cooking, acrylic nail art and reading.

SARAH PAVONE

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY
sarah.pavone@journeyhomect.org

Sarah has her degree in Social Work and has worked in homeless services for more than 8 years in the Capital region. Sarah has worked for numerous agencies and has experience managing the full continuum of care including outreach, prevention, diversion, emergency shelter, and permanent supportive housing. Sarah’s passion and work have been committed to system improvement to ensure individuals and families experiencing homelessness have access to quality services and housing. Sarah lives in Hamden with her family and enjoys running, hiking, and coffee.

AUTYM POLLARD

HOMELESS MEDICAL LIAISON
autym.pollard@journeyhomect.org

Autym graduated from Delaware State University with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice. She is furthering her education by attending Central Connecticut State University to attain a Masters Degree in Health Psychology. Autym enjoys exploring the great outdoors through activities such as hiking, camping, and fishing. She also enjoys exploring new cities and countries and spending quality time with family and friends. Autym’s overall passion and work has been committed to improving the health and wellness of individuals by ensuring access to health services.

JOE RAGO

QUALITY ASSURANCE SPECIALIST
joseph.rago@journeyhomect.org

Joe is passionate about his role on the Journey Home team, utilizing his background in both case management as well as housing quality assurance to best serve his clients. He is a 2020 graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University with a degree in Sociology and is currently pursuing an MBA at the University of Hartford. A lifelong resident of Connecticut, Joe enjoys spending time with friends and family, learning about new cultures/languages, photography, and rooting for his favorite football team, the Green Bay Packers.

ALISON SJOBERG

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
alison.sjoberg@journeyhomect.org

Alison started off her work at Journey Home as an intern and has since been hired as a full-time employee at Journey Home. She graduated from Quinnipiac University in 2015 where she earned her degree in Social Services and from UConn School of Social Work in 2017 where she earned her Masters of Social Work in Community Organizing. She is honored to have the opportunity to work at Journey Home and serve the Greater Hartford community. When she is not at work you can find her running, doing yoga, spending time with friends and family, reading, and traveling!

MATTHEW SNYDER

WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
matthew.snyder@journeyhomect.org

Matthew graduated with a Bachelors in Liberal Arts from MCLA. He has worked for over 10 years in Senior & Human Services. Matthew started off as a volunteer and continued to work with volunteers helping Seniors and disabled individuals. Most recently he has worked for a Community Center helping build Age-Friendly programs that were awarded the 2023 Wellspring Award from the CT Age Well Collaborative. Matthew is excited to join the talented and dynamic Journey Home team in the fight to End Homelessness.

SARA SALOMONS WILSON

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONS
sara.wilson@journeyhomect.org

Since 1995, Sara has committed her life to advocacy and justice within urban communities. Her early work as a VISTA volunteer in Grand Rapids, Michigan shaped her entire life’s calling.  She is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ with a BA from Calvin College and an MDiv from North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago.

Throughout her career, Sara has served churches in Michigan, Illinois and Connecticut.  She has been working with Journey Home since 2014.  Her passion and commitment to the work of ending homelessness is unwavering.  Throughout her many years at Journey Home she has helped raise millions of dollars of essential funding all in an effort to ensure that people who need a home have a home.  She also conceptualized and developed Journey Home’s volunteer engagement program, A Hand Up.

Sara lives in West Hartford and when she is not working she spends lots of time with her husband and three sons, cooks and bakes, and plays with her two pugs.

ANASTACIA WOOLCOCK

DIRECTOR OF HOUSING
anastacia.woolcock@journeyhomect.org

Anastacia holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Pace University. Anastacia has worked in the housing sector for over 10 years in the Northwest region of Connecticut, playing an instrumental role in creating the foundation of the Northwest CAN. Before beginning her work at Journey Home, she was the Director of Community Services for New Opportunities Inc., a community action agency in Waterbury. Anastacia is recognized in the Northwest Region as a leader in collaboration with other community partners. Anastacia enjoys spending quality time with her son Aidan and often found in Poughkeepsie, New York spending time with her family.

ANDREA YESKEY

DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
andrea.yeskey@journeyhomect.org

Driven by a desire to make a positive impact, Andrea has devoted her career to working in the nonprofit sector and is thrilled to join the team at Journey Home! She has over 15 years of development experience with prior roles in communications, special events and donor relations at healthcare and social service organizations. Andrea loves the beach, live music, the Yankees and spending time with family and friends. She lives in Suffield with her husband, Peter and two sons, James and Andrew. 

Journey Home Mission: Our mission is to ensure a home for all.

We believe the most powerful way to do this is collectively - by working together with service providers, elected officials, businesses and local communities to end homelessness in the Capital region of Connecticut. We will build partnerships, advance innovative solutions and achieve enduring, systemic change.

Journey Home

PO Box 260727
Hartford, CT 06126

Tel: 860-808-0336