Newsletter | Fall 2025

Erika Nowakoski, Executive Director, celebrates receiving the Phil Bartel's Staff Excellence Award with colleagues. Pictured (L-R): Michaelangelo Palmieri, Jamie Perkins, Paul Klee, Izarelli Mendieta-Martinez, Donna Pfrommer, Andrew Zhebrak, Emily Bohmbach, Eva Ott Hill, Danielle Cooper, and Jacqueline Marks.s

In this issue

Meet Our Students

Driving Change: The Power of Connection

Performance-Based Accountability Initiative Relaunches as Data-Driven Community Violence Prevention Initiative (DCVPI) at 2025-2026 Orientation

Centering Community: Embedding Lived Experience in Statewide Policy

Student Spotlights

Meet Our Students

We are thrilled to introduce the talented and dedicated University of New Haven students who are contributing their skills and passion to our mission. Their diverse backgrounds and aspirations enrich our work and represent the next generation of leaders in the youth justice field.

Emily Foertsch, Co-Op Intern

Emily is the Cooperative Work / Education Program (Co-Op) intern. This program provides students with paid work experience in their field, bridging academic study and professional practice. Emily is currently a senior at the University of New Haven majoring in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Investigative Services and is pursuing a Paralegal Studies Certificate. After graduating, she aspires to be a criminal law paralegal and gain valuable professional experience in the field through her work with us.

Abbie R. Stolls, JJPOC Policy Assistant

Abbie is a junior studying Criminal Justice with a concentration in Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and a minor in General Psychology. This is her second year as the Student Policy Assistant, where her work entails providing administrative support for the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee. Passionate about working with youth, Abbie intends to pursue a master's degree in Social Work after graduation. In her free time, she enjoys reading and cooking and looks forward to continuing her impactful work at the Tow Youth Justice Institute.

Amruth Kuntamalla, Web Developer

Amruth is a final-year master’s student in Data Science at the University of New Haven. He is contributing his technical skills to a charitable initiative by helping develop a breast cancer detection application. At TYJI, Amruth is supporting the development of our new website. After graduation, Amruth aims to work as a software engineer or full-stack developer, blending his technical expertise with entrepreneurial side projects. In his free time, he is a passionate badminton player and enjoys taking on leadership and fundraising roles.

Ryan Connick, Provost Assistant

Ryan is a Provost Assistant currently earning a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Investigations from the University of New Haven. The Provost's Assistantship is a highly competative program that offers a significant tuition assistance and a work opportunity to the University's highest achieving incoming graduate students. Ryan's works alongside with the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee, the Transforming Children's Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee , and the Transforming Youth Justice Program, assisting with reports, communications and legislative tracking.

Isabella "Izzy" DiNunzio, Social Media Assistant:

Izzy is a first-year student at the University of New Haven from West Haven, CT. She comes to us with an impressive background in journalism, having served as the Editor-in-Chief for the Nonnewaug Chief Advocate. Under her leadership, the publication became one of only 43 school papers in the nation to receive the SNO distinguished site award. Izzy serves as our Social Media Assistant, handling social media duties including creating content as well as social media analytics. Her strong communication and problem-solving skills make her a valuable addition to our team.

Project Spotlight

Driving Change: The Power of Connection

At the Tow Youth Justice Institute, our mission is powered by the connections we build to uplift young people across Connecticut. This fall, we spotlight the work of our Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) team, Senior Project Manager, Michaelangelo Palmieri and Project Coordinator, Eva Ott Hill.

The TTA team's focus is building capacity in systems that serve young people. Their approach is grounded in connection, engaging agencies, schools, community providers, and youth. As Eva notes, "We are not just training professionals—we are building leaders who can transform the spaces they serve." This team equips partners with the knowledge and confidence needed to elevate youth voices and drive lasting change.

For Michaelangelo, the TTA team’s core purpose is to expand a network of changemakers across Connecticut. He emphasizes that, “the best part of my job is making connections with our partners across the state… to learn about their work and help share what we are doing.”

He also adds that, “connection is the foundation for lasting reform, because no change is sustained in isolation.” Together, their leadership is guided by a shared belief: transformation happens when people are connected, supported, and unified toward a common goal. Through program facilitation, coaching, and applied leadership development, the TTA team helps professionals strengthen practice while empowering young people to find and use their voice.

Eva notes that during Social Justice School last year, “hearing positive feedback from the students reminded me how important it is to give young people skills to advocate for the issues that are important to them.” Michaelangelo echoes this sentiment, recalling a youth–led session during the Transforming Youth Justice Program Cohort 9 session in which youth facilitated dialogue with professionals: “When youth lead, the room shift…and everyone present is reminded that young people are not participants in the system; they are partners in change.”

The TTA team's commitment immediately translated into the kickoff of two major initiatives this fall.

TYJP Cohort 10 Launch

The launch of the TYJP 10th cohort on September 12, 2025, put this philosophy into action. Uniting a diverse group of professionals from education, law enforcement, and behavioral health, the orientation centered around an activity called "The Web of Support." Participants shared a unique strength as they tossed a ball of yarn, ultimately connecting everyone in a visual web. This exercise beautifully represented the shared talent and collective promise that now binds the cohort together, reinforcing the core values of truly listening and working together, and setting the tone for the months ahead.

Change Can't Wait Fellowship: Igniting New Leadership

The Change Can't Wait Fellowship also officially kicked off on October 3, 2025. Fellows gathered for an inspiring, interactive community-building workshop designed to strengthen connections, explore individual strengths, and begin developing a shared vision for the months ahead. The energy, ideas, and collaboration set the stage for an incredible journey. A huge thank you to our partners Our Piece of the Pie and the Connecticut Sun Foundation, facilitators Khaiim Kelly, Rapoet, and organizations like Connecticut Center for Nonviolence who helped make the opening session impactful.

Get Involved

To learn more about the Change Can't Wait Fellowship and see the updates of TYJP Cohort 10, follow our journey on social media!

Interested in partnering with our TTA team? Please contact Michaelangelo Palmieri, Senior Project Manager, at mtpalmieri@newhaven.edu.

Project News

PBA Relaunches as Data-Driven Community Violence Prevention Initiative (DCVPI) at 2025-2026 Orientation

On Thursday, October 9th, the Performance-Based Accountability (PBA) Initiative officially became the Data-Driven Community Violence Prevention Initiative (DCVPI). The new name, which reflects the initiative's expanding scope and strategic direction, was unveiled at the 2025-2026 orientation for over 141 new and returning partner organizations.

The DCVPI is a core component of The Tow Youth Justice Institute's (TYJI) Community Partnerships and Mobilization division, designed to strengthen the capacity of nonprofit organizations through dedicated training, technical assistance, and a structured data reporting framework. The goal is to foster collective impact and empower organizations to clearly demonstrate the success of their vital community programs.

During the orientation, attendees received a comprehensive overview of TYJI’s role in providing nonprofit partners with essential skills and tools. A representative from the Judicial Branch also delivered a crucial outline of the fiscal reporting requirements with which all participating organizations must comply. Following the general session, attendees split into two groups. New partners participated in a session facilitated by Shelby Henderson-Griffins, TYJI Policy Administrator, while the second group was facilitated by Ron Schack, Ph.D., Managing Director of The Charter Oak Group LLC, and Anne McIntyre-Lahner, CEO of Action 2 Outcomes.

A key highlight of the day was the presentation, "A CBO's Perspective: A Success Story," delivered by Tammy Robinson, Executive Director from CERCL. Robinson shared valuable insights from her organization's experience, detailing how the targeted training and consistent support provided by the initiative were instrumental in overcoming initial challenges. She emphasized the immense value her organization found in participating, explaining how they now use their data not only for compliance but also to strategically improve services and powerfully communicate their impact to funders and the community. Her firsthand account provided a compelling look at the practical and transformative power of the initiative as all partners embark on the year ahead.

Project News

Centering Community: Embedding Lived Experience in Statewide Policy

We are actively incorporating the principle of lived experience into the structure of our legislative committees. This year was groundbreaking for the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee (JJPOC), as its Community Expertise Workgroup (CEW) recently welcomed new members, including individuals from the community with lived experience alongside representatives from partners like Love146 and the Center for Children's Advocacy (CCA), to contribute their vital expertise to the committee’s work.

Similarly, the Community Voices Workgroup (CVW) for the Transforming Children's Behavioral Health Planning and Policy Committee (TCB) held an orientation for new members, which included parents and adults with lived experience, as well as representatives from partner organizations such as Gilead Community Services, CTFSN, and FAVOR.

Following this, members participated in the successful CVW Summit, a half-day event led by Taylor Tucker from Health Equity Solutions, which brought together twenty-five dedicated individuals. The summit fostered meaningful discussions about the impact of storytelling and explored innovative strategies to incorporate these valuable experiences directly into effective policy development, demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing our shared goals.

Coming Stories in the Next TYJI Newsletter!

Integrating a Public Ally into Our Youth Justice Work
Our Roadmap for Impact: Release of the TYJI Strategic Plan
Celebrating the Diane Sierpina Scholarship Recipient
Igniting the Path: TYJI Career Summit Leads the Next Generation of Leaders
Partnering for Justice: Highlighting the Social Equity Council

The Tow Youth Justice Institute is a university, state and private partnership dedicated to transforming the systems that impact youth, young adults up to age 26, and their families through collaborative planning, training, research and advocacy.

Please visit towyouth.newhaven.edu for more information about the Tow Youth Justice Institute.