The Center for Family Justice (CFJ) offers a lifeline of comprehensive support for any & all victims of physical, emotional and sexual abuse…inside and out of their own homes.
Our organization’s roots in the greater Bridgeport community are deep, dating to 1895, first as a YWCA and then as The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County. On January 21, 2014, CFJ officially changed our name to The Center for Family Justice, Inc., beginning an 18-month transformation to become Connecticut’s first Family Justice Center.
Now in its 125th year of existence, CFJ serves six Fairfield County towns: Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull.
CFJ uses a coordinated approach to offer services designed to break the cycle of violence, in one safe place, under one roof. When clients impacted by abuse of a domestic or sexual nature come here for help, they are able to connect with civil/legal providers, counselors, client advocates and a network of our community non-profit partners who work together to streamline services to victims and survivors.
CFJ is proud to continue with the vital work provided for over 12 decades: providing free, confidential, bilingual crisis services that help all people impacted by domestic violence, sexual violence and child abuse restore their lives. CFJ also works daily to provide community education in an effort to prevent future abuse and violence. These comprehensive services are streamlining the road to healing, hope and self-sufficiency.
Empower House Project Construction Crew
Name: Debra Greenwood
Position: President/CEO, CFJ
Debra is an experienced nonprofit chief executive who has devoted her professional life to supporting the health and well-being of individuals, families and children in our communities.
She’s spent her 38 year career spearheading numerous successful capital campaigns, including one that resulted in the founding of a new YMCA and another that led to the opening of Connecticut’s first Family Justice Center. Her leadership has led the agency to be awarded one of the first of 16 National Camp Hope America programs in the US, now identified as one of the top 5 programs for “measuring HOPE and impact” for youth from 7-17 years of age affected by abuse and trauma.
Her visionary leadership and expertise has positioned The Center for Family Justice to be a regional role model for its ability to deliver a full complement of free, confidential services, from shelter and counseling to legal help to victims of domestic and sexual violence in one safe place.
Debra is a sought after educator and speaker as it relates to Non-Profit Management, fundraising, community collaboration and mobilization. An undergraduate of Sacred Heart University in business management and extensive graduate studies from Springfield College, she was a National Faculty Advisor for the YMCA of the USA in working with People with Disabilities where she has utilized her passion and expertise to Advocate for youth and individuals in program development and curriculum enhancements.
She and her husband Jim reside in lower Fairfield County, have three adult daughters and six grandchildren.
Alan & Patti Masarek, Co-Chairs
Patti
Patti is a passionate, high energy and devoted supporter of CFJ’s mission. Patti’s commitment to social service is truly lifelong. She began volunteering for social service agencies as a teenager. Ultimately, Patti received her Masters in Social Work from New York University as an Advanced Standing Student, in addition to her Bachelors in Social Work from the University of Cincinnati.
Patti began working directly in the field of domestic violence shortly after college, and she has remained committed to the cause ever since.
Patti has worked in shelter programs, manned hotlines, and run volunteer programs. Several years ago, Patti served on the Domestic Violence Task Force in Weston, CT and, with her daughter Jordan, started a Teen Dating Violence Awareness Program at Weston High School.
Most recently, Patti has served as a CFJ volunteer. Patti co-chaired the 2020 Speaking of Women event (and will do so again in 2021) while also working with children while their mothers attend CFJ support group meetings.
Patti gets great joy from running, a sport she only began doing at the age of 50. Patti races on behalf of multiple charities, culminating in her completion of the Boston Marathon in 2014.
Alan
Alan has led multiple software companies over the past 25 years. Most recently, Alan served as CEO of Vonage (Nasdaq:VG), ushering in an era of transformation and driving the company’s evolution into a global business cloud communications leader. Alan came to Vonage from Google, Inc. following Google’s acquisition of his prior company, Quickoffice, Inc. where he was co-founder and CEO. Alan earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and his BBA from the University of Georgia.
Alan and his wife Patti live in Milford, CT and are loving parents to two adult children and to new granddaughter Madison. Alan is a fitness enthusiast, lifelong learner, and committed philanthropist with particular devotion to CFJ’s mission. In addition to CFJ, Alan and Patti support a variety of important causes through their Masarek Giving Fund.
Name: Rob Fried
Position: Committee Member
Rob joined Bridgewater Associates in 1983 as the 7th employee and has thrived there as a senior marketer, salesman, and training guide for over three decades. Prior to Bridgewater, Rob was a door-to-door bible salesman. He is executive director of Band Central, which he founded in 2005 to create “Music With Purpose”, and has helped raise over $4 million for local Connecticut nonprofits.
Musically, Rob is a bassist and vocalist with two albums of original music, “Wind Song” and “Water Rhapsody”. He loves being engaged with music – composing songs, arranging shows, playing gigs and practicing. On one level it’s fun and on a deeper level it is a way be in the flow of creativity and healing, and to make a contribution to the world. He earned an MBA from University of Oregon and a BS from University of Connecticut. Rob practices yoga and is inspired by the evolution of consciousness. He lives in Redding balancing his time between family, business and music.
Name: Kathy Maiolo
Position: Committee Member
Kathy is chair of the Board of Directors at The Center for Family Justice and has been a volunteer with CFJ for the last 14 years. She began her service to CFJ as a Safe House volunteer, answering the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence hotlines. Besides her current role as board chair, she co-facilitates CFJ’s Path to Healing sexual assault support group, which she’s been involved with for the last eight years. Her passion for helping others and giving back has kept her involved in various outreach programs through church and community affiliations.
She is the chairperson for the Outreach Board at Monroe Congregational Church, partnering with church and community volunteers to support local charities.
Kathy is the owner of KM Solutions, LLC, which provides clients with business and personal concierge services. Prior to starting her own business, she was with Tyco Healthcare, formerly United States Surgical Corporation, for 15 years in various positions of senior executive support for Marketing, R&D, Legal and Business Development. She holds an A.S. in Secretarial Studies from Gibbs College.
Kathy lives in lower Fairfield county with John, her husband of 32 years. They have two adult, married daughters and an infant granddaughter.
Name: Mark Antonini
Position: Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, CFJ
Mark has more than 35 years of experience with finance, accounting and operations. He joined The Center for Family Justice in 2013 and provides overall leadership for managing financial resources, tracking and monitoring financial expenditures, and ensuring that financial spending is in line with agency budgets. In conjunction with the President/CEO and management team, he is responsible for implementing short and long-term strategies for managing and improving the overall financial health and systems of CFJ.
He also serves as the staff’s Human Resources contact. Prior to joining CFJ, he spent 20 years with Pitney Bowes Management Services in Stamford. He is a Board of Trustee member of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s Fairfield/Westchester Chapter, where he has served as President and Treasurer. He is also a Board Member of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce. Mark received a B.S. degree in Accounting and Business/Management from Sacred Heart University. He was born and raised in Bridgeport and still resides there with his rescue dog, Stella.