Grounded in Community: NHCJE Launches Its Community Advisory Board
In an effort to deepen our commitment to community-driven change, the New Hampshire Center for Justice and Equity (NHCJE) has launched a Community Advisory Board (CAB) beginning in early 2026. This new initiative is designed to ensure that the voices of local people from communities across the state who are impacted by inequities continue to shape the organization’s work.
The CAB brings together 9 regionally-based ambassadors from 6 different geographic regions across New Hampshire who are actively engaged in on-the-ground efforts within their communities. These individuals serve as advisors and connectors, bridging local experiences with statewide advocacy and public policy work.
“Connection and trust are not side conversations to equity work. They are its foundation.”
Centering Lived Experience
At the core of the CAB is the principle that effective solutions must be informed by those who are most directly impacted by the issues we seek to solve. By integrating lived experience into our programming and policy priorities, NHCJE aims to strengthen both the relevance and impact of our work.
The CAB provides a structured mechanism for regional community ambassadors to convene local stakeholders, particularly those representing communities of color and other historically underserved groups, to share insights about local challenges, emerging needs or opportunities, and the real-world impacts of policies and systems. This input directly informs NHCJE’s four program pillars and six sectors of effort, ensuring that our organizational strategies remain responsive and grounded.
How the CAB Works
The CAB is designed to be flexible, consistent and collaborative, with members expected to complete a participatory facilitation training, organize a minimum of two regional gatherings, and meet quarterly as a full group to synthesize their findings. Between meetings, CAB members are actively engaged in their regions, facilitating conversations, gathering feedback and strengthening relationships.
Each member plays a key role in:
Identifying and engaging a broad range of community stakeholders
Facilitating community conversations by partnering with local groups and coalitions
Documenting and synthesizing insights from these engagements
Sharing findings with fellow CAB members and NHCJE staff to inform broader organizational strategies
To support this work and ensure consistency in our practice and pedagogy, members participate in facilitation training, emphasizing a “Hand, Heart, & Mind” approach. This approach centers authentic community connections, practical action, emotional literacy, and thoughtful analysis in every interaction. It also provides a liberatory approach to designing gatherings that encourage participation by removing material barriers and inviting creativity.
Regional Representation Across the State
The inaugural CAB reflects a wide geographic and community reach, with members in every New Hampshire region:
Southern NH: Shaunte Whitted, Greg Jean-Baptiste, Jessica Hägg
Northern NH: Chris Roberge
Lakes Region: Carlota Almeida
Monadnock Region: Gina Burke
Upper Valley: Anna Adachi-Mejia, Miranda Dupre
Seacoast: Kelly Touhey-Childress
Each CAB member acts as an ambassador on behalf of their region, bringing deep local knowledge and trusted relationships within their communities, strengthening the CAB’s ability to connect with and include a wide spectrum of perspectives.
“Connection and trust are not side conversations to equity work. They are its foundation,” said Gina Burke, Monadnock Region CAB Member. “The Community Advisory Board recognizes that communities already hold wisdom, solutions, and insight. Our role is to create authentic pathways for listening, relationship-building, and shared action so that policy and systems are informed by real people and real experiences.”
“The Community Advisory Board recognizes that communities already hold wisdoms, solutions, and insight. Our role is to create authentic pathways for listening, relationship-building, and shared action so that policy and systems are informed by real people and real experiences.”
Staying Rooted While Scaling Impact
The launch of the CAB marks an important step for NHCJE as we continue to grow our programs, presence and effectiveness. While the organization already works at a statewide level, the CAB ensures that our efforts remain rooted in the realities of our communities.
This initiative also acknowledges a broader challenge: meaningful engagement cannot be scaled through policy alone. It requires ongoing relationship-building, trust, and sustained presence within communities. It is the infrastructure that must be built and maintained with integrity and intentional investment – always with directly impacted people at its center. As the CAB begins its work, it represents a feedback loop that brings communities’ lived experience from the periphery to the center, embedding those voices into how decisions are made throughout all the systems that impact our lives.
We are excited to announce our participation in this year’s NH Gives campaign, the 24-hour fundraiser hosted by the NH Center for Nonprofits. Save the date and help us reach our $5,000 goal!