Leadership

Meet the TCC Team

Rachel Simon

Executive Director

She / They

Julie Walsh

Deputy Director

They / Them

Stephen Dixon

Development Manager

He / Him

About Stephen
Stephen Dixon is dedicated to making a positive impact within the community. As a seasoned fundraising professional, Stephen brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role in advancing the mission of non-profits. He has a proven track record of successfully leading fundraising initiatives including Pride in the Park, cultivating meaningful donor relationships, and implementing strategic campaigns to support the important work of his colleagues at TCC. Stephen believes in the power of allyship and collaboration in uplifting LGBTQ+ voices . When he is not on hold with a customer service representative, he is making nachos, cranking up the air conditioning, or taking drives to clear his head.

DaJavon Davis

Clinical Supervisor

He / Him

Wendy McCaffery

Case Management Supervisor

She / Her

About Wendy
Serving as Triangle Community Center’s Case Management Supervisor is Wendy McCaffery, LCSW. Wendy is licensed in Connecticut and New York and has been a practicing social worker for more than 15 years. Prior to TCC, Wendy was providing individual and family psychotherapy in the community as well as providing clinical supervision to new social workers seeking licensure. Wendy holds an interest and specialization in treating individuals with distorted body image and disordered eating patterns and has extensive training in this area. Along these lines, she has served as an individual and group psychotherapist at the Renfrew Center in Greenwich, CT and trained in William Alanson White Institute’s Eating Disorders, Compulsions and Addictions Program. Wendy has completed training in the following modalities: cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavior, acceptance and commitment, and trauma-informed therapies. Additionally, she studied Buddhist psychology at Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science in New York. Here, she spent two years learning how to integrate contemplative practices such as meditation, yoga, and breath work into her clinical offerings.

Amanda Redfern

Manager of Programming

She / They

About Amanda
Amanda began her career at TCC as a Young Adult Housing Navigator, bringing compassion and purpose to the task of tackling the housing barriers facing the LGBTQ+ community. During this time, they were actively involved in programs, events, and workshops focusing on community enrichment and social support. Recognizing gaps in services, connecting community members with program leadership, and developing new ways to solve issues of loneliness, identity, and skill building are tasks Amanda takes great pride in. Amanda holds a BA in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University, an MA in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and is currently completing a Masters in Social Work at Capella University. Amanda’s clinical and case management background focusing on social and emotional wellness of marginalized individuals has provided her with insight and empathy to effectively work with folks in the community. As Manager of Programming, Amanda believes in supporting TCC’s youth and senior programming, increasing accessibility to quality programs despite income or ability, and expanding creative skill-building programs designed to connect, educate, and empower LGBTQ+ folks in the area. In their spare time, they’re usually thrifting, collecting cat memes, writing poetry, checking out the newest ramen joint, or spending time with their partner and their fur family at home.

Cadence Pentheny

Community Education Manager

They / Them

About Cadence
Cadence Pentheny (they/them) is Triangle Community Center's Community Education Manager. As the lead of the TCC LGBTQ+ Training Institute, they are responsible for engaging with the wider community to provide educational opportunities and professional development surrounding LGBTQ+ cultural humility and advocacy across Fairfield County and beyond. They hold a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Franklin & Marshall College, and a Graduate Certificate in Human Sexuality through the University of Minnesota. Upon graduating, they served two years with the AmeriCorps program City Year, where they supported students in an under-resourced elementary school. Before joining the team at TCC, they worked as Coordinator for LGBTQ+ Programming & Initiatives at the University of Mississippi, doing a wide variety of work involving intersectionality, diversity, equity, and education, especially around LGBTQIA+ issues and sexual and gender justice. In their free time they enjoy thrifting, making art, writing, reading, listening to podcasts, and fussing over their plants.

Kelly Peraino

Youth Support Clinician

She / Her

About Kelly
Coming soon...

Liz Semenyck

Clinician

she / her / hers

About Liz
Liz Semenyck is a Clinician at Triangle Community Center. She is a graduate from Fairfield University's Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy program. Liz completed her clinical internship at Triangle Community Center and is now excited to be a part of the TCC clinical team. She has experience working with families, couples, consensual non-monogamous and polyamorous relationships, as well as individuals of all ages, genders and identities. She passionately serves the LGBTQIAA+ community and is experienced in providing affirming Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and Gender Affirming Surgery referral letters. In addition, Liz is experienced in working with those with dual diagnosis, ADHD, OCD, depression, anxiety, and trauma. Whether you are looking to create boundaries, expand your relationship, explore your gender or sexual identity, or want to learn how to support your loved one in exploring their identity; Liz is the therapist for you.

Emma Okell

Young Adult Housing Navigator

any pronouns

About Emma
Emma was born and raised in Litchfield county, also known as "where is that?" They have two passions: social justice and the environment. Both interests intersect in housing. During the pandemic, they worked first in mortgage closings and then in evictions, and they were unsettled by the threads of injustice they saw. They are happy that their work will help people to find stable housing. In their spare time they enjoy reading, novel-writing, needle-felting, knitting, and walking.

Elena Sicconi

Development & Communications Coordinator

She / Her

About Elena
Elena started her queer journey in college, where she was able to embrace queer education and joy. She has been in the mental health field for over a decade and is very encouraging of everyone to try therapy. She has extensive experience with libraries, mental health facilities, and art institutions, having volunteered and worked professionally in all three. Elena is passionate about using art as a therapeutic and expressive tool. She is grateful for having found a queer community in Connecticut and hopes to provide the same for others. As Development & Communications Coordinator, Elena is getting the word out about TCC’s programs and offerings, with hopes of reaching every person seeking queer acceptance, encouragement, and culture. She is also the event lead for Pride in the Park and other TCC events. In addition to English, Elena is also fluent in Italian. In her spare time, she enjoys thrifting, her three calico cats, and every kind of visual art - from making crafts to watching movies to museum-hopping days.

Board Executive Committee

Jeff Arnold - President

Kim Gillece - Vice President

Vanessa Clark - Treasurer

Tim Brosnan - Secretary

Board Members

Colin Hosten

Annie Fineman

Vinay Kapoor

Ari Linder

Carole Noujaim

John Volpe

Paul Whynott

Dr. David Rubin

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