Education Luncheon: The Power of Volunteers in Nonprofit Success

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Our Panelists:

Stephanie J. Coakley – Executive Director, Pequot Library 

Stephanie has served as the Executive Director of Pequot Library since 2016. Stephanie has devoted nearly 25 years to working in the nonprofit arts and culture sector, beginning as a college intern at the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, Connecticut. She led an active Education Department with the Tucson Museum of Art in Arizona as the Director of Education and Community Partnerships, where she co-founded the public high school/museum partnership, the Museum School for the Visual Arts and has also worked with the Gibbes Museum of Art and Redux Contemporary Art Center both located in Charleston, South Carolina. Prior to joining PL, Stephanie worked with the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury as the Director of Education.

She has served as an education committee board member/western region with the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and continues to volunteer as a peer reviewer with the AAM. Stephanie earned her BA from the University of Connecticut in Art History and English and her MA with honors in American Studies from Trinity College in Hartford. Stephanie currently serves on the Board of Directors with the Barnum Museum Foundation in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Carla Miklos – Executive Director, Operation Hope of Fairfield, Inc.

Carla Miklos is the Executive Director of Operation Hope of Fairfield, Inc. An advocate for affordable housing, homeless prevention, and economic opportunity for over two decades, she joined OH in 2007. Carla has an extensive background in finance, banking and corporate real estate, but her desire to use her skills to help her community led her to work in homeless prevention and economic empowerment. As the former Director of Family Assets, at Lifebridge, Inc. (previously Family Services Woodfield/FSW in Bridgeport, CT) she helped develop a homeless prevention loan fund, a microenterprise initiative, Individual Development Account (IDA) programs for youth and adults, and other efforts to provide community residents with education, support and asset building opportunities. Carla was instrumental in creating a US Treasury designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), focused on providing access to savings, credit, capital and financial education to underserved populations.

Since joining OH, Carla refined and redesign its programs and services to meet the ongoing challenges of ending hunger and homelessness. Programs include a community kitchen, food pantry, permanent supportive housing, affordable housing, rapid rehousing, housing first, homeless prevention, and a clinical support team. She has been active in local and state efforts, including serving on the boards of The Housing Collective, the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH), the Partnership for Strong Communities’ Reaching Home Campaign Steering Committee, Bridgeport Housing First, Opening Doors Fairfield County (ODFC) – the county’s Continuum of Care, and the Fairfield County CAN.

Carla holds a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities from the University of Bridgeport, as well as a Master’s degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University. She is currently working towards earning a Mindfulness Facilitator Certification through Copper Beach Institute in West Hartford.

Melissa Quan – Director, Center for Social Impact at Fairfield University

Melissa Quan is the Director of the Center for Social Impact at Fairfield University. She earned a Master’s in Education from Fairfield University (2005) and a Doctorate in Higher Education from UMass Boston (2021). Melissa’s research and publications center on professional development in higher education community engagement, institutional change, community-engaged teaching, and assessing community impact. In 2021, Melissa was honored with the Dissertation Award by the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement for her significant contributions to the field. She has served in leadership roles, including co-chair (2022–2024) of the Community-Engaged Learning Professionals Network of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, where she advanced collaboration and innovation among member institutions. Melissa also has extensive experience in nonprofit governance, having served on multiple nonprofit boards.

Fiona Wilkes – Director of Development, Mercy Learning Center

Fiona Wilkes is the Director of Development at Mercy Learning Center of Bridgeport, a women’s education center that provides free literacy and life skills education to low-income women in the greater Bridgeport area using a holistic approach within a compassionate, supportive environment.  Prior to joining MLC in May of 2024, Fiona spent the last decade working in Development and Communications for various non-profits in Fairfield and Westchester Counties, most recently at Liberation Programs.  At MLC, Fiona manages an over $3M budget by managing all individual donors, private foundation giving, and fundraising events. She is also responsible for managing in kind donations to stock MLC’s food and diaper pantry as well as providing essential personal care supplies for its students. Mercy Learning Center relies heavily on volunteers with many small group classes being taught by regular, highly trained volunteer tutors. In this role, and in past positions, Fiona is seasoned in recruiting and managing all aspects of the volunteer process.

Fiona holds a bachelors degree from Susquehanna University, an MBA from Washington State University, and is a volunteer Crisis Counselor with the CrisisTextLine.

Our Moderator:

Tina Tison, Executive Director, The Tiny Miracles Foundation

Tina Tison is a community leader with extensive experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors.  Tina joined The Tiny Miracles Foundation as Executive Director in October 2021 following years of leading the branding and marketing for The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

Tina frequently shares her expertise via several professional groups and committees. Notably, she has served as a Committee Chair for the Board of Visitors at The Welch College of Business and Technology (at Sacred Heart University). A champion of volunteerism in both her professional and personal life, she was recognized as Volunteer of the Year Award by the State of CT.

The graduate of Washington and Lee University is passionate about great food, good wine, live music and rooting for the underdog. Tina lives in Fairfield with her husband, their teen children and the cutest dog in North America.

 

Thank you to Our Sponsor:

TBD

 

Details

Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
11:30 AM Registration and Networking
12:00-1:30 PM Lunch and Program
Location: Westport Library, Komansky Room, 20 Jesup Rd, Westport, CT 06880

Luncheon Fee

AFP MEMBERS – $30
*GUEST of AFP Member &  FUTURE MEMBERS – $35

A BENEFIT for all AFP-Fairfield County Chapter Members! We encourage you to invite a prospective member to an AFP educational program at a special rate of $50.
*Reservations can be made online by the guest, but the Member must attend the event. Walk-in guests will not qualify for special rate. Guests may only receive a special guest rate one time.

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Thank you to Our 2025 Education Series Sponsor: