Board of Directors
Janice Murray, Founder and Executive Director
Janice has experienced everything her prospective clients will face. At the age of 12, Janice began drinking and drugging, resulting in decades of her self-destructive lifestyle. During that time she was in and out of prison 13 times, and her mistakes enforced her belief that she would never be capable of becoming a productive member of society after making so many mistakes in her past. However, at the age of 46, she finally entered into a successful treatment program, sobered up, and earned her GED. At 53 Janice pursued an Associates Degree in the Human Service Field and is committed to helping other women succeed in transitioning into a new lifestyle.
New Lifestyles Women's Empowerment Workshops and Guest Resource Center are dedicated to helping women break the cycle of self-destructive behaviors and stimulate positive interpersonal relationships to have stability and stand tall with self-sufficiency. Who better to reach broken women than women who have recovered from being broken and made it out to the other side? Janice truly believes in the God of her understanding who played a major part in her recovery.
Janice's favorite Scripture is Isaiah 61:1 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD GOD IS UPON ME; BECAUSE THE LORD ANOINTED ME TO PREACH GOOD TIDING UNTO THE MEEK; HE HAS SENT ME TO BIND UP THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVE, AND THE OPENING OF THE PRISON TO THEM WHO ARE BOUND.
Jackie James, Board Member Robin Bowman, Board Vice President
Born and raised in New Haven’s Hill neighborhood, James’s dedication to public service began early. After graduating from Career High School, Jackie received her Bachelor’s degree from Bay Path College and immediately returned home to put her degree to use. She earned a Master’s Degree at Springfield College and began working in New Haven with homeless youth and mentally challenged adults.
Jackie has been active in the neighborhood as a Democratic Town Committee Ward Chair, Ward 3 Alderwoman, and member of the Democractic Town Committee. In 2012, Jacqueline James was the first African American Woman to ever be elected in the City of New Haven to the position of Chairwoman of the New Haven Democratic Town Committee.
Jackie is committed to serving the people in her hometown and around the state. Jackie is a true “Public Servant.” Her strength of character and compassion are qualities that keep us all aiming higher for ourselves and our community. Jackie is also a mother of a beautiful daughter named Chloe.
Chrissy Fox, Board Treasurer
Chrissy Gardner Fox is a songwriter, pianist, singer, recording artist, event producer, teacher, and bookkeeper. She is a founding member of the New Haven-based theater company, A Broken Umbrella Theater, for whom she has helped to produce many successful fundraising events and theater productions along with composing music for six of their original productions. She has been performing in piano lounges and concert halls for 20 years and has produced and recorded two original albums with world-renowned musicians. She is a member of the female-fronted bands Sister Willow, Lovefox, The Lee-Ann Lovelace Band, and Guinnevere. She is the producer, creator, and host of The Moose Piano Lounge – an online, weekly variety show created during quarantine that raised money for families in need. Chrissy also ran a piano teaching studio for 12 years, worked as a legal secretary for eight years, and is currently the bookkeeper for BOP Audio, Inc.
Chrissy has passionately supported and produced projects that empower women in every aspect of her working life. She hopes to bring her experience in event production, fundraising, and administrative bookkeeping work to support New Lifestyles whose mission she believes in deeply.
Robin Bowman, Board Vice President
Robin is passionate about health and wellness. She is on a mission to help communities become stronger and healthier by breaking generational curses through effective lifestyle changes. Robin strongly believes in the connection between the body, mind, and spirit which means all three entities are needed to achieve our overall wellness. She is passionate about breaking generational curses for everyone.
Robin is particularly interested in targeting families of all ages to escape being another statistic and improve the overall quality of life. Poor health causes individuals to enter into poverty over time. Once in poverty, it becomes impossible to exit and return to optimal health. Robin is aware of how life events, trauma, loss, parenting, and relationships, play a significant role in health. We lose confidence and are prone to neglecting our health developing more issues. The longer we stay at risk, the more susceptible we become to disease, poverty, depression, substance use, and even death. We often talk about dying for our children but forget to do the things to live for our children and families.
Maggie Young, Board Member
Maggie Young, MSW, LCSW, LADC, is Cheif Recovery Officer at Liberations Programs, Inc. For over 25 years, Maggie has worked at Liberation Programs one of Fairfield County’s leading behavioral health organizations specializing in treatment for all types of substance use disorders including alcohol, opiates, depressants, and stimulants. Ms. Young is also an inductee to the CT Hall of Change.
Nickelle Cooper, Board Member
Rosetta Washington, Board Member
Rebecca Allen, Board President- Interim
Rebecca grew up in eastern Connecticut and has worked in the behavioral health field for over 20 years. She received her undergraduate degree from Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Connecticut (UConn) in 2015. Rebecca works as the Director of Recovery Advocacy for the CT Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR). CCAR provides peer-based recovery support services to people with alcohol or other drug addiction.
Rebecca identifies as “a person in recovery” and has been drug-free for over 26 years. She’s also been incarcerated numerous times and knows first-hand, the challenges women face upon reentry. Rebecca’s drug of use was heroin so for her, the ongoing “opioid epidemic” conversations are personal.
Amber Kelly, Board Secretary
Amber Kelly is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Quinnipiac University's School for Health Sciences where she teaches with a focus on theory, practice, and psychological trauma. Her scholarship focuses on using trauma-informed and anti-oppression-based interventions and contemplative practices with survivors of violence, specifically with currently and formerly incarcerated people. She is also active in working for social justice and system change within institutions.
Dr. Kelly currently works with the Quinnipiac University Prison Project, teaches two trauma-informed mindfulness-based classes within Connecticut prisons, and is Co-Chair of the New Haven Women's Resettlement Working Group. She also continues to maintain a small private practice, working with survivors of violence.