Through the Vermont and New Hampshire Humanities Councils, Suzanne Brown has spent 25 years facilitating discussions of books in hospitals, libraries, workplaces, schools, prisons, homeless shelters, and tutoring centers for new readers. She currently teaches at Dartmouth College. She loves working with Connections because “the only thing better than reading a book is seeing how much richer that book becomes as people share the different reactions, insights, and life experiences they bring to reading it.” Suzanne lives in Etna. Contact her at 643-1352 or by e-mail.

Carolyn Cicciu spent 36 years teaching junior high level students in private and public schools in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.  During her first year of retirement, she became involved with refugees in the Manchester area; the new English learners became an inspiration for their courage, determination, and gratitude, and she finds Connections offers a new way to reach out to them. Carolyn lives in Goffstown. Contact her at her home phone at 627-9473, cell phone at 203-6207 or by e-mail.

Terry coordinates the Connections program for the New Hampshire Humanities Council. She's also a writer and teaches yoga but is not having good luck as a dog trainer. Terry lives in Portsmouth. Contact her at the Humanities Council at 224-4071, by cell phone at 828-7911, or by e-mail.

Linda has worked with children and families in many capacities from preschool teaching to family literacy work and is currently a program specialist with the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Developmental Services, Family Centered Early Supports and Services. She writes, “I love using children’s literature as a powerful art form to stimulate discussion.” Linda lives in Concord. Contact her at work at 271-5036 or by e-mail.

Elaine taught Spanish at Webster Elementary School and is a legal and medical interpreter for The Language Bank. She write“I love books and care very much for the immigrant community in New Hampshire.” Elaine lives in Northfield. Contact her at 731-3959 or by e-mail.

Sandra has taught U.S., European and world history, primarily on the college level. She is working to bring Connections to community groups serving adults with special needs.
Sandra lives in New London. Contact her at her home phone at 526-7444, her cell phone at 748-3047 or by e-mail.

Jennifer is a “roaming humanist” for book discussions and other humanities projects, edits Inquiry, the University of New Hampshire’s online undergraduate research journal, and was a university teacher of English and Comparative Literature in NH, among other states and countries. Jennifer describes Connections: “It’s a rare time of direct, friendly, human communication beyond languages, of learning, laughing--and eating!” Jennifer lives in Durham. Contact her at 969-9959 or by e-mail.

An award-winning artist and scholar, Rachel is a founder and US Executive Director of Rubia, Inc. She writes, “A close relationship to my immigrant grandparents, their foreign accents and the stories of their adjustment to America has colored my own experience with learning other languages and the struggle to communicate in a new environment.  I empathize with the immigrant’s challenge and like to be part of their successes.” Rachel lives in Warner. Contact her at her home phone at 456-3838, on her cell phone at 229-7615, or by e-mail.

Apariita (Appy) has an MBA with a major in marketing and is working part-time as a tutor for the No Child Left Behind Program with the Manchester School Department. She writes, “I am interested in helping create a community by bringing people with different experiences and diverse backgrounds together, and by making a discussion come alive.” Appy lives in Manchester. Contact her on her home phone at 669-0186, cell phone at 867-0439 or by e-mail.

Courtney recently moved to New Hampshire from Los Angeles.  She's an Assistant Professor of English and Women's Studies at UNH and is writing a book about law and African-American women's literature. Courtney lives in Dover. Contact her at 531-3711
or by e-mail.

Rodger is a poet (The Battlefield Guide), editor (The Worcester Review), teacher (journalism, Keene State College), and directorof New Hampshire's Poetry Out Loud Project.  He enjoys leading Connections "Lifted in Small Ways" programs because he “loves language and the give-and-take between languages as the group learns from and about one another.” Rodger lives in Hancock. Contact him at 525-4715 or by e-mail.

Stephanie has been a children’s librarian in Milford, a teacher of Spanish in Franklin, and is a writer and a weaver. Connections for her is “just that - closing the circuit by using words, pictures, discussion and, like magic, the universal truth of story unites us. We develop a new, intangible way to relate to one another--our shared story.” Stephanie lives in Jaffrey. Contact her at 532-7486 or by e-mail.

Maggie worked with college student writers at the Robert J. Connors Writing Center at UNH, is currently volunteering with GED and ABE students at the Dover Adult Learning Center of Strafford County. “Our group discussions about the stories we read in Connections expand our world, encourage meaningful conversations, and give us confidence that our individual contribution leads to a deeper appreciation of the stories, our community and ourselves.” Maggie lives in Durham. Contact her at her phone phone at 868-2965, her cell phone at 767-5904 or by e-mail.

Maria is a Bilingual Family Liaison for the middle and high schools in the Manchester School District. She works closely with parents and students and helps parents become knowledgeable about the U.S.educational system. She has studied in Bogota, Colombia, Quebec, Canada, and UNH, Manchester. She speaks English, Spanish, and French. Maria lives in Goffstown. Contact her at her work phone at 661-7130, her home phone at 606-2789, or by e-mail.

Hetty has been an educator at the Children’s Museum in Providence and the Currier Museum and now is an adjunct professor of art history. She writes, “I see all kinds of lifelong learning as a way to 1) enliven our grasp of new information, 2) encourage critical thinking skills, and 3) most importantly, to foster opportunities to grow and enrich our lives and the lives of the people around us.” Hetty lives in Manchester. Contact her at 858-5393 or by e-mail.

Maren is a pastor, workshop leader for all ages, and non-fiction author of sixteen books, two of which are anthologies of poetry and interfaith spiritual writing from around the world. She is passionate about stories -- the ones in books and the ones people tell -- and has never had such a great time with both kinds of stories as in the Connections program. Maren lives in Portsmouth. Contact her at her home phone at 436-9352, on her cell phone at 674-0886, or by e-mail.