Jim Horan leads LISC Connecticut’s work, including its longstanding focus on developing and preserving affordable housing and building the capacity of partners, particularly CDCs. LISC Connecticut’s strategic plan, adopted in 2020, also seeks to revitalize urban neighborhoods with partners, including anchor institutions, and build family income and wealth with a network of Financial Opportunity Centers. A commitment to racial equity underlies all goals.

Prior to joining LISC in 2018, Jim served as executive director/CEO of the Connecticut Association for Human Services, a statewide antipoverty program that focuses heavily on the economic success of families.

Before entering city government, Jim worked as associate director of the Connecticut Housing Coalition and as an attorney working on land use, affordable housing regulations and zoning at Robinson & Cole, a regional law firm.

He earned his J.D. and Master of Planning from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor’s of Arts in government from Georgetown University. He has volunteered his time in a variety of capacities for Collaborative Center for Justice, the Association for Adult and Continuing Education, the Connecticut Asset Building Collaborative and the Connecticut Center for School Change.

Angela Berry is the Office Manager and Administrative Assistant for the LISC office. Her duties include purchasing, vendor payments, expense reporting, and event planning and information technology. She organizes office operations and procedures; serves as liaison with facility management and its vendors; addresses employees’ queries regarding office management issues; assists in the onboarding process for new hires. Ms. Berry joined LISC in 2001. She previously worked in the insurance industry and has extensive knowledge of nonprofit management and community development. Ms. Berry is active in her church, as a Sunday School teacher and licensed missionary and has her Bachelor of Theology degree. She plans and coordinates women’s meetings which feature expert speakers on health and wellness and other topics related to women.

Elizabeth Fraser is the Program Officer for the Early Childhood Facilities and Renovation Project. Liz has spent over 40 years working in the field of early childhood education as a teacher, program director and advocate. Prior to LISC, Liz was the Policy Director for The Connecticut Association for Human Services, a subsidiary of Advancing Connecticut Together. During that time Liz led efforts to encourage multi-generational approaches to family economic security and early childhood well-being, with the understanding that “when parents do better, children do better.” Through this lens she has partnered with non-profit leaders, social service agencies, task forces, and legislative officials to influence policies and support programs which provide increased equity and opportunity for families and a stronger start for children. Elizabeth holds an M.Ed. from Cambridge College in Cambridge, Massachusetts and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education and Human Growth and Development, from Wheelock College in Boston, Massachusetts.

Franches Garay is a Program Assistant, providing support to LISC’s broad portfolio of capacity building programs, including the Housing & Community Development Leadership Institute. Before LISC, Franches served as a Community Health Worker at St. Mary’s Hospital under Trinity Health of New England where she helped implement the hospital’s Social Care Hub Program to advance health literacy in the City of Waterbury. Through this work, she was able to sustain intentional relationships with various community-based organizations, advocate for BIPOC communities, and bridge health disparity gaps through Social Influencers of Health. Prior to this, she worked in the frontlines of the pandemic at Griffin Hospital through COVID testing and vaccinations. At LISC she hopes to impact and serve underprivileged communities through diversity and equity work. Franches has a B.S. in Allied Health Sciences with a minor in English from the University of Connecticut.

Karahn Green is the Assistant Program Officer at LISC CT, focusing on supporting the Financial Opportunity Center network’s operations, fundraising, and communications. Karahn received his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from HBCU, Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC in May 2020. Karahn formerly worked as a Program Coordinator at a community non-profit dedicated to creating pathways to prosperity to individuals and families in poverty, meanwhile being a Certified Financial Education Instructor. He has over 3 years of experience as a VITA (Voluntary income tax assistance) coordinator, and he is dedicated to helping low to moderate income families in every community improve their financial bottom lines in a variety of ways.

Esther Jean-Marie is a Program Officer responsible for fundraising and communications for LISC CT. Before joining LISC, Esther co-founded a nonprofit and helped to launch a consulting practice. Esther lead programs, development, and communication initiatives. As a consultant, she facilitated race-equity workshops for municipalities, nonprofits, & colleges. Esther provided workforce readiness services for disconnected and disengaged youth, coordinated youth financial coaching and education programs. She has a Master of Science (MS) degree in Nonprofit Management & Philanthropy and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in International Studies. 

Kasey LaFlam is a Program Officer responsible for capacity-building initiatives to support the broad portfolio of LISC Connecticut's community development partners. Kasey has fifteen years of experience in the non-profit sector, in positions ranging from program management to fund development, in communities including southwest New Hampshire, New York, and Washington, DC. She also has a background in community planning. Kasey is a graduate of Columbia University, with an MS in Urban Planning, and also holds a BA in Social Sciences from Keene State College.

Debi Martin is a Program Officer for LISC Connecticut having worked with the program for nearly 28 years. Over that span, she has fostered solid, lasting relationships with Connecticut’s nonprofit community development organizations and across LISC networks.  She works closely with the Executive Director on budgeting and overall financial oversight for the LISC Connecticut program, and serves as liaison between local and national staff around internal operations. Debi is leading community engagement efforts for the program as LISC moves towards the goal of creating a system to ensure authentic and equitable resident participation across its programming. Debi is committed to giving back and does so through her church, within her community and at LISC. 

Kadeem is the Assistant Program Officer at LISC CT, focusing on supporting the Early Childhood Facilities and Renovation Project. Kadeem is a student at heart. Learning and professional development are what keep him motivated. Prior to joining LISC, Kadeem worked in retail customer service, supervisory positions, child development, and case management based social work. Kadeem has a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven. Kadeem is excited to learn and grow with LISC!

Pheobe is a Program Officer focused on Housing & Capacity Building for Connecticut’s suburban and rural communities. Pheobe has a background in housing planning, policy administration, and affordable housing technical assistance. She holds an MPA and a BA in Political Science from the University of Connecticut. Prior to joining the team at LISC, Pheobe worked at a Council of Governments as a housing planner focusing on facilitating affordable housing initiatives and providing technical assistance to municipalities in Western Central CT. She has also worked throughout the State of Connecticut as a residential property manager for affordable housing and senior units and as an undergraduate instructor.

Maxiel is the Grant Specialist focusing on supporting the Early Childhood Facilities and Renovation Project. She focuses on supporting all providers especially Spanish speaking individuals. With a background in nonprofit development, she has spent several years in fundraising, program management, event planning and enhancing individual and corporate portfolios to create a more inclusive pipeline. Maxiel remains dedicated to her mission of advocating for marginalized populations and providing equal opportunities to those in need. Maxiel is a Connecticut College alumna with a major in sociology, she is committed to advancing equity and ensuring equal access for individuals in underrepresented communities.

RaQuasia Smith is a Program Officer at LISC CT, focusing on supporting Community Economic Development initiatives and programming. RaQuasia is a NYC Native who migrated to CT in 2015 to pursue her educational goals at the University of New Haven. She holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice and an M.A. in Community Psychology. Before LISC, RaQuasia worked as a Program Assistant for a nonprofit working to end housing insecurity and homelessness. She has also held positions in many of CT's non-profit organizations, mostly focusing on criminal justice and supporting the reentry population and has used her skills to enhance her knowledge of program development and evaluation.

Elizabeth is a Senior Program Officer responsible for lending initiatives in Connecticut with a focus on affordable housing mortgage lending and development partner capacity building. Elizabeth has over 20 years of experience in real estate, affordable housing, and economic and community development, including work in the public, private and non-profit sector in positions ranging from high yield commercial mortgage lending in markets across the United States to the administration of HUD entitlement funds for one of New England’s gateway cities. She also volunteers as a member of her town’s planning and zoning commission. Elizabeth is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School and Mount Holyoke College.