Our Board of Directors
Common Ground is governed by a Board of Directors, volunteer community members, who provide oversight and support to the organization so it can fulfill its mission as a community non-profit organization and public charter high school. Board members come from different backgrounds and reflect the rich diversity of our community.
The Common Ground Board of Directors
Alexis Smith, Chair
Executive Director of New Haven Legal Aid,
Email: alexis.smith@nhep.com
Kyeen Andersson, Secretary
Public Health Policy Analyst
Email: kyeen.andersson@nhep.com
Jeff Carter, Treasurer
Owner of Westmount Group
Email: jeff.carter@nhep.com
Shaquira Brockington, Parent Representative
Lead Substitute Teacher
Email: shaquira.brockington@nhep.com
Lauren Caplan
Founder, Mill River Advisory,
Email: lauren.caplan@nhep.com
Kymani Chapman, Student Representative
Lizanne “Liz” Cox
Retired Common Ground High School Director
Email: liz.cox@nhep.com
Jameson C. Davis
Founder/President, Writing Wrongs LLC
Email: jameson.davis@nhep.com
Yexandra Diaz
New Haven Poet Laureate and Development Strategist
Email: yexandra.diaz@nhep.com
Sarah Field
Common Ground High School Science Teacher
Email: sarah.field@nhep.com
Brian Kelahan
Retired Common Ground Teacher,
Email: brian.kelahan@nhep.com
Clouds Mutale, Student Representative
Carly Osborne
Pootatuch Watershed Association and Go Fish Memorial Fund
Email: carly.osborne@nhep.com
Michelle Sepulveda
Dropout Prevention Officer at New Haven Board of Education
Email: michelle.sepulveda@nhep.com
Kathi Torres
Administrative Officer, Federal Public Defender Office of Connecticut
Email: kathi.torres@nhep.com
Almut Zieher
Associate Research Scientist, The Education Collaboratory at Yale
Email: almut.zieher@nhep.com
Common Ground is Seeking New Board Members
Each year we recruit a class of 3-4 members to serve a 3 year term. Board members are expected to attend monthly public board meetings, contribute to meetings of one of our standing committees (Audit, Development, Finance, Governance, School), and support fundraising efforts (including by contributing to the organization at a level that is personally significant). Board members find that they spend an average of 10 hours a month on board-related tasks and can attend most meetings virtually. If you’re motivated and excited to help Common Ground serve our community and contribute to a just and sustainable world, please email Board Chair Alexis.Smith@nhep.com with a resume or bio to express your interest.
Common Ground Board of Directors Meeting Schedule 2025-2026
All in person meetings will be located at 358 Springside Ave. New Haven, CT unless otherwise noted. In person meetings include September, November, March, April, May, and June.
August 25, 2025 (Virtual)
September 29, 2025 (In Person)
October 27, 2025 (Virtual)
November 24, 2025 (Virtual)
January 26, 2026 (Virtual)
(Agenda / Minutes)
February 23, 2026 (Virtual)
(Agenda / Minutes)
March 30, 2026 (In Person)
(Agenda / Minutes)
April 27, 2026 (In Person)
(Agenda / Minutes)
May 18, 2026 (In Person)
(Agenda / Minutes)
June 29, 2026 (Annual Meeting/ In Person)
(Agenda / Minutes)
June 29, 2026 (Business Meeting/ In Person)
(Agenda / Minutes)
Board Committees
School (Committee Minutes)
Finance (Committee Minutes)
Development (Committee Minutes)
Governance (Committee Minutes)
Board of Directors Meeting Archives