In the spirit of the holidays, the NHPC would like to share some information with you, about us! So many of you have shared so many things with us over the course of the year, that we thought it was only fair to share some “fun facts” about us.

John Allen

1. Where did you grow up?
I was born in Baltimore where I lived until 13 and then moved to Tustin, California for three years and then Guilford, CT.

2. Where did you go/are you going to school?
I went to Southern Connecticut State for a BS in Economics in 1979, an MS in Urban Studies 1996, and a Doctorate in Education in 2008.

3. What is your profession and where do you work?
I devoted 20 years to supporting people with disabilities and now am working as a sixth grade English teacher in Newark, NJ through the Teach for America organization.

4. In what town do you live?
Branford

5. How long have you been on the board?
Many years!

6. What are some of your hobbies?

7. Married? Partnered? And to whom?
My husband Keith Hyatte and I were married in March 2009 on our 27th anniversary.

8. Favorite NHPC-sponsored event?
My favorite NHPC event is the Dorothy Awards ceremony where we get to honor the leaders of the community from throughout Connecticut.

9. Celebrity who would play you in the movie about your life?
No answer!

10. What do you bring to the Center?
It has been a privilege to be with the Center from the beginning. I believe that our region is a better place because of the visibility of a queer-designated space.

11. Why did you join the NHPC's board?
What is exciting to experience is a new wave of community leaders working at the Center willing and prepared to lead the Center in new directions.

12. Anything else we should know about you?
Not that I can think of.

Tom Donato, Co-President

1. Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Bridgeport, moved to the New Haven area when I was in my the early part of my mid-to-late twenties, and then moved to Hamden a few years ago.

2. Where did you go/are you going to school?
Graduated from Notre Dame High School in Fairfield; went to Sacred Heart University for my undergrad; Southern Connecticut State for my Master’s in English (creative writing).

3. What is your profession and where do you work?
I work for The Nielsen Company as an operations manager.

4. In what town do you live?
Hamden

5. How long have you been on the board?
Less than a year; I still have my baby teeth.

6. What are some of your hobbies?
Music, movies, yardwork, gardening

7. Married? Partnered? And to whom?
No. Yes. And to Ricardo.

8. Favorite NHPC-sponsored event?
Dorothy Awards

9. Celebrity who would play you in the movie about your life?
Luke Perry

10. What do you bring to the Center?
Usually a bottle of water or two; a few weeks ago I brought a tension rod and a curtain.

11. Why did you join the NHPC's board?
I joined because I was asked, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to pay it forward, or “gay it forward” as it were. A different GLBT community center was important to me when I was growing up in Fairfield County, and it was time to return the favor.

12. Anything else we should know about you?
I am not as evil as I look.

Dorian Harding-Morick, Co-President

1. Where did you grow up?
I was born in Poughkeepsie, and grew up in Albany, NY and Newark, DE.

2. Where did you go/are you going to school?
Different public schools as a "youth," Sarah Lawrence College to study filmmaking and then transferred to Wesleyan University and got a B.A. in history. Almost completed a Master's in poetics and New College of California, just didn't do a thesis. New College's poetry was very grounded in the Beat Generation and postmodern type stuff. I did complete (phew!) a Masters in Library Science at Southern Connecticut State in August 2008. My final project was a survey of the New Haven Public Library's catalogue and its accessibility for LGBTQA youth.

3. What is your profession and where do you work?
I am a researcher in the Yale Office of Development.

4. In what town do you live?
New Haven (Fair Haven)

5. How long have you been on the board?
Umm...3.5 years ish?

6. What are some of your hobbies?
Reading, beading, piano. 

7. Married? Partnered? And to whom?
Nope!

8. Favorite NHPC-sponsored event?
Dorothy Awards.

9. Celebrity who would play you in the movie about your life?
Funny! Jodie Foster? or maybe John Cameron Mitchell? Sadly, Divine is no longer with us, or she would be a top choice.

10. What do you bring to the Center?
I grew up more or less in a LGBTQA community around universities as my mom is lesbian and a professor so I have 30+ years perspective from at least the academia/lesbian feminist arena. I like working around people and seeing them develop their skills and I get really jazzed seeing what a team of people can achieve and like feeling I have a part in making that happen.

11. Why did you join the NHPC's board?
Was asked to become volunteer coordinator, felt I could contribute to leading the Center, and liked the other leaders I'd seen Center-wise, particularly the co-presidents at the time I joined the board, keha esposito and Paul Kuehn.

12. Anything else we should know about you?
I think this about covers it!

Joshua O’Connell

1. Where did you grow up?
I grew up initially in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia...Newport News, Hampton and Poquoson. When I was 11, my family moved to Connecticut, and I lived in Trumbull until I headed to school.

2. Where did you go/are you going to school?
I went to Fairfield University, where I graduated with a Marketing major and a Journalism minor.

3. What is your profession and where do you work?
I'm a copy editor at the Connecticut Post, and I'm the print/web designer for Metroline.  I am also Senior Web Designer for CGI For Me (I like to keep busy!).

4. In what town do you live?
I currently live in Hamden.

5. How long have you been on the board?
I've been on the board for three years.

6. What are some of your hobbies?
I'm a big reader and casual gamer. I also like to travel, when the exchange rate and/or paychecks permit.

7. Married? Partnered? And to whom?
I'm partnered for almost four years now to former Center volunteer "Venus."

8. Favorite NHPC-sponsored event?
GLANCE and the Dorothy Awards!

9. Celebrity who would play you in the movie about your life?
I have no clue!

10. What do you bring to the Center?
Computer sk1llz. Web and print design, editing and writing experience, plus a motivation to do something good in the community!

11. Why did you join the NHPC's board?
I was asked to after being heavily involved in producing the Center's newsletter.

12. Anything else we should know about you?
I think that about covers it!

Chris Rodgers

1. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Hamden my entire life but spent most of my time running around the mall so I might as well have grown up in Milford.

2. Where did you go/are you going to school?
I went through the local prison system…did I say prison? I ment eduation (sp)…and then went to Gateway.

3. What is your profession and where do you work?
I am currently looking for work but have experience in the hospitality field.

4. In what town do you live?
I still live in Hamden and probably will until the day I die.

5. How long have you been on the board?
Only since August. It’s been a short time but hopefully the beginning of some long fun times.

6. What are some of your hobbies?
I love spending time with my brothers and all of our friends but in my spare time I enjoy reading about fiction and forgotten history. I also enjoy driving. As long as I am behind a wheel and with some good company I can drive for miles and enjoy the journey for what it is.

7. Married? Partnered? And to whom?
I'm happily single.

8. Favorite NHPC-sponsored event?
The Dorothys. They are just the perfect place to really appreciate everything that has happened in the community in the past year.

9. Celebrity who would play you in the movie about your life?
John Pinette but I think that my movie would end up on the cutting room floor.

10. What do you bring to the Center?
I don't really know what I bring to the Center. I always hate when people ask what I do best because I don't give what I do credit.

11. Why did you join the NHPC's board?
I joined the NHPC board because I have enjoyed everything that the center offers and I wanted to do what I can to make sure others can too.

12. Anything else we should know about you?
What ever you want to know you should ask my friends; they know me better than I know myself.

Kathryn Thomas

1. Where did you grow up?
I'm a born & bred Connecticut Yankee!

2. Where did you go/are you going to school?
High School: Clinton CT; College: Southern CT State College (now Southern CT State U)

3. What is your profession and where do you work?
Computer geek (primarily database programming) for a small manufacturing company in Fair Haven.

4. In what town do you live?
Branford

5. How long have you been on the board?
I'm the newest kid on the block & still on probation.

6. What are some of your hobbies?
Singing, reading, singing, gardening, singing, needlepoint - did I mention singing?

7. Married? Partnered? And to whom?
Married (1st & only time) for 31 1/2 years to Dennis Titley. One son, 26, now living in Bangor, Maine.

8. Favorite NHPC-sponsored event?
The Dorothys - what else??

9. Celebrity who would play you in the movie about your life?
If time travel were possible, Beverly Sills. Otherwise Sandra Bullock, with perhaps Kathleen Battle for the singing - as long as she does nothing BUT sing. Her temperament is legendary and (I devoutly hope) nothing like mine!

10. What do you bring to the Center?
Programming skills, a different perspective. I know what the straight family member goes though when a much loved one unexpectedly comes out as gay. I am also a staunch supporter of gay rights, including marriage (Go Connecticut!!) Though I admit that I have absolutely no clue to the mentality of those who condemn others simply for being something other than straight.

11. Why did you join the NHPC's board?
First, because Simon asked me to! But more importantly, I thought my programming skills would be of use. Also, as the Center strives to become a center for the entire community, I thought perhaps having someone who was not GLBTQI (did I miss any here?) might be beneficial to the mission of the Center. I hope I can help those who love members of the straight community and for straights who love those in the GLBTQ community.

12. Anything else we should know about you?
I will do anything for those I love, no matter what the cost to myself. My family will tell you I have a very hard time saying 'no' to anyone in need. I treasure my friends - they have gotten me through the toughest times in my life. I love birds, all animals, and can't even conceive of living away from the water. I still have the teddy bear I was given for my first Christmas. I'm liberal, VERY independent, a feminist before I knew there was such a thing. I'm also a jewelry hound, and can tell you how I came by every piece I wear. Just ask next time you see me! ;-) I'd rather lose my sight than my hearing. I simply can't imagine a world without music - or without hearing the voices of those I love.

Maureen Thomas

1. Where did you grow up?
Pittsburgh PA until I was 11 and then a Pittsburgh suburb, Monroeville, for my teen years.

2. Where did you go/are you going to school?
My most notable educational experience was as a Psychology Grad student at Penn State Main Campus, otherwise known as "Happy Valley". I dragged it out as long as I possibly could, 5 years on campus, another 4 years writing my dissertation. I wasn't crazy about becoming an adult. Maybe I've still not reached adulthood yet. I guess I could skip that stage and go straight to senility.

3. What is your profession and where do you work?
I am a clinical psychologist by profession. I work as a Program Manager for the State of Connecticut in the Department  of Developmental Services.

4. In what town do you live?
New Haven, in the Fair Haven Heights neighborhood. My home was built in the 1820's and was an oyster fisherman's cottage. The soil still has lots of oyster shells, which seems to be good for plants.

5. How long have you been on the board?
I think it has been about 2 years or so.

6. What are some of your hobbies?
Genealogy/genetics, surfing the web, watching obscure movies, playing Irish traditional music on my concertina.

7. Married? Partnered? And to whom?
Single

8. Favorite NHPC-sponsored event?
The Rainbow Support group.

9. Celebrity who would play you in the movie about your life?
The first actress I thought of for playing my younger self (although I had to look up her name) was Thora Birch as she played Enid in Ghost World. Though she definitely should have gotten in on with Scarlett Johansson in that movie rather than Steve Buscemi! Come to think of it, maybe Steve Buscemi could play me in the story of my life, that might be more realistic. Thinking more about Ghost World, I loved the record they kept playing by Skip James. That sent me off looking up all of his recordings. He's a 1930's acoustic blues guy who does a great guitar accompaniment to his singing.

10. What do you bring to the Center?
I think I understand how to survive as a small business, which in a sense the Center is; I learned that from growing up with parents who were small business people and living off a private practice as a psychologist for 16 years.

11. Why did you join the NHPC's board? I thought I could help.

12. Anything else we should know about you?
I think my strongest driving force is curiosity with a second strongest interest in sticking up for underdogs and making things fair. I don't have much patience for people who are arrogant and dismissive of people they think are beneath them.