Our Team

Christopher Grant earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Biological Sciences from The University of La Verne. Chris worked two years for Mobile Med, Inc., a hospital, and healthcare company, as a surgical laser technician in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. He is currently working towards a Master of Healthcare and Genetics degree from the University of Connecticut. He has served as a laboratory technician for IDEXX and the University of Connecticut where he implemented COVID-19 testing for students. The acute application of Chris’s experience in parasitology and virology has allowed him greater insight into effective experimental design and research.

Chris has been a long-time leader in his community, a census volunteer, and one of three Health Care Genetics graduate students to complete the 2020 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Tomorrow’s Leaders College Program.

Arthur Masi is a retired banker and a professional musician who has lived and worked in the Greater Hartford area for over forty years. In mid-2018, he completed a 29-year career in banking at Bank of America. His banking career started in mortgage banking technology with a predecessor company and continued over the years in various positions with successor companies in consumer banking reporting, data warehousing, change management, and production support operations.

He graduated from The Hartt School of Music of the University of Hartford with a bachelor’s degree in music performance. Because of his banking and finance background, Arthur has been sought by several local arts non-profits’ Boards of Directors. He has served as an elected musician member of the Board of Directors of the Hartford Symphony and has also served several elected terms representing the players’ organization. From 2012 to 2017, he also served as a Board Member, Treasurer, and President with CONCORA (Connecticut Choral Artists).

Cindy Dubuque-Gallo, LMSW, MAT is an educator, political activist, and policy practitioner. Prior to returning to school to pursue a doctorate in social work, Cindy lobbied to end homelessness, improve health equity, and protect workers’ wages. In addition, Cindy has served on multiple boards and committees including the Hartford Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues, the CT Chapter of Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network, CT Latinos Achieving Rights and Opportunities, and the San Francisco Human Rights Advisory Board. She also served as a Congressional Intern for Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland). She is currently earning a PhD in social work from UConn.

As a political social worker, Cindy has worked on various political campaigns and is a fierce advocate for voter registration, civic engagement, and fair elections. While passionate about numerous social justice initiatives, Cindy’s proposed research examines the emerging school meal debt crisis, and the ensuing practice of debt shaming. Cindy is an adjunct faculty at the University of Saint Joseph in the social work department. She holds a B.A. in history from Wells College, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Quinnipiac University, and a Master of Social Work (public policy concentration) degree from the University of Connecticut.

Mercedes MacAlpine brings a framework of systems analysis and social change to her work. She served as an AmeriCorps Public Ally in Hartford as a member of the 2016 – 2017 cohort. Through the nonprofit management apprenticeship, she gained invaluable skills, working with teammates to record and analyze qualitative data, host community events, and collaborate with local organizations.

Mercedes joined the Perrin Family Foundation in 2017 as a Program Associate, where she is responsible for developing and implementing the foundation’s operating, administrative, and grants management systems, and overseeing the foundation’s digital communications. She is currently an MPA Fellow at the University of Connecticut.

Adam Murphy is a policy professional originally from Meriden, Connecticut. He obtained a Master of Public Policy from the University of Connecticut where he focused on urban and regional policy analysis. He has previous experience working in policy and legislative affairs for the Connecticut Attorney General, a government relations firm and currently for the Hartford Court of Common Council. Adam is a previous Fulbright-Hays Scholarship recipient where he conducted research in Central Java in the country of Indonesia.

Adam is passionate about ensuring access and opportunity is available to all, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Adam is committed to the idea that the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community must be a part of the policy making process.