Administrative Consultants and Leadership

Barbara Lisien-Juliano, BA, MT (ASCP)

Barbara Lisien-Juliano, BA, MT (ASCP)

Executive Director

Barbara was introduced to A Sacred Place and its mission at York Correctional Institute in the fall of 2005 during a presentation by Sister Patty Cook at Christ the King Church in Old Lyme, CT. Sister Patty’s words and passion about her ministry were so moving and inspiring to Barbara that she wasted no time in becoming part of the mission of A Sacred Place. After about 8 years of volunteering as a prayer partner in both the Chrysalis and Daybreak Programs, Barbara is thrilled to become Executive Director of A Sacred Place. She has volunteered for many years in church, school and civic programs, and comes to this position as a champion for York’s incarcerated women.

Prior to assuming the role of Executive Director, Barbara worked in the Medical Technology field (Laboratory Science) for over 30 years. Aside from medical testing in the laboratory, she enjoyed opportunities to work as an educator for hospital personnel. Barbara graduated from Rivier College in Nashua, NH with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and became a registered Medical Technologist upon completion of an internship at Northeastern University in Boston.

“In my mind, although society may intend prison to be a place of punishment, it can be used as place of refinement and transformation. Ergo, the charge of A Sacred Place – to provide the means to that end.”

Allison Fresher

Allison Fresher

Financial Consultant

Allison Fresher was appointed as the Financial Consultant to ASP in January 2018. She has over 35 years of finance experience, retiring from Bank of America as a Managing Director and National Treasury Product Sales Segment Executive, coordinating treasury product delivery to 5,000+ local, state and federal government clients. Her finance background is diverse, having also served as a senior treasury, credit risk and client manager, covering a broad portfolio of clients in the public, not-for-profit, healthcare and general industries segments across the Northeast.

When Allison is not working with ASP, Inc, she volunteers as a lay chaplain for Connecticut Hospice and provides life skills training to incarcerated men at CT’s Osborn Correctional Institution. She also serves as a volunteer for ASP’s Storybook program at York prison. Allison is active at her church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Essex, CT, where she is its trust investment committee chairperson and secretary of the endowment committee, among other activities. Allison is also training to serve as an Episcopal Verger. She lives with her family in Haddam, CT.

Our Board

Laurie Blefeld, BA, MA

Laurie Blefeld, BA, MA

Director

Laurie Blefeld received her Bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University and her Master’s degree from Syracuse University. She was certified in Spiritual Direction from the Claritas Institute Interspiritual Mentoring Program founded by program director Dr. Joan Borysenko, pioneer in mind-body science. Laurie also received certification from the Spiritual Direction Practicum at the Mercy Center in Madison, CT. She is a member of Spiritual Directors International.

For over twenty five years, Laurie was a social work counselor for women and families who experienced emotional, physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence and homelessness. Currently, she facilitates retreats and maintains a private spiritual direction practice in which she mentors individuals and small groups of all faith traditions. Laurie’s recently published book, Moments of Grace, is available for purchase from Amazon or at Bank Square Books in downtown Mystic.

Laurie has volunteered at York CI for the past twelve years. She co-facilitated the Chrysalis and Daybreak programs which provided inmates the opportunity to deepen their spiritual lives and develop tools for spiritual and emotional healing. At this time, Laurie facilitates the thirteen-week Houses of Healing course in the Marilyn Baker substance abuse program. She also offers individual Spiritual Direction counseling for the women in the Reintegration Center.

Marissa Crean

Marissa Crean

Director

Marissa Crean received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bryant University and a Master of Science in Taxation from the University of Hartford. She began her career as a Certified Public Accountant in public accounting in RI and CT.

Marissa leveraged this experience when she transitioned her career to corporate finance in the property casualty insurance industry, where she held leadership positions overseeing significant business initiatives.

Recently retired from the corporate world and formed her own career coaching business, Marissa is currently the President of the Alumni Leadership Council for Bryant University and serving on a new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee for Women on campus. She has been involved with the Alzheimer’s Association, CT Chapter since 2007, having served on their Board of Directors as Audit Committee Chair, Finance Chair, Vice President and President, and is currently volunteer committee lead for Public Policy and Advocacy.

Marisol Garcia

Marisol Garcia

Director

Graduate of Trinity College 2022 in Public Policy and Law, currently pursuing a graduate degree in Public Policy and applying to law school in 2023.

She is also the 2022 Yale Prison Education College to Career Fellow and a compliance specialist with LAZ Parking in Hartford.

Marisol is also serving as an advocate for Regulate DOC Healthcare Coalition addresses the healthcare inequalities in DOC and other research on the carceral impact on incarcerated individuals and returning women. re-entry services.

Juanita Durham, APRN

Juanita Durham, APRN

Director

After graduating from the school of nursing at Syracuse University in 1966, Juanita worked in oncology, as a school nurse, instructor in various schools of nursing, public health, childbirth education, and as a nurse manager in labor and delivery. In 1995 she graduated from The University of Rhode Island with a masters degree in nursing education and in 1996 completed a post masters certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner. During the masters programs she taught childbirth education at York Correctional Institute.

After graduating, Juanita went into private practice caring for OBGYN patients in 1966 while also working in OBGYN at York. In 2001, she dedicated her practice solely to the women at York CI. Women needed the same care in both practices, but at that time she was the only female OBGYN provider at York. She said “I have never regretted the decision. I loved my practice there!”

After leaving York in 2016, she sought volunteer opportunities to return to serve the women there and was blessed to meet Barbara when she spoke about A Sacred Place at our church. In January of 2018 she began teaching prepared childbirth and postpartum classes every Wednesday morning. Then, with support and encouragement from YCI administration,  a labor coach program was initiated. 

“My current volunteer service to the women of York is rewarding and treasured.” – Juanita

Shonda Northup

Director

Shonda is a graduate of Middlesex Community College 2022 with an Associate in General Study, currently pursuing a bachelor’s in Social Work.

Recovery Supporter committed to assisting men and women achieve their goals in recovery. Passionate about advocacy and speaking up for others. Driven to create change for the betterment of all. Active spokesperson for rehabilitation and education in the prison system in hopes to bridge the gap. Devoted to helping with social change and human services whenever given the chance.

Shonda is an RSS: Recovery Support Specialist helping men and women recovering from mental health and substance use disorders. Shonda is an advocate for treating both diseases in order to create change in the person’s life. Shonda has training in Harm Reduction and helping people live a safer lifestyle.

Cindy Palmer

Cindy Palmer

Director

Cindy Palmer has enjoyed diverse employment in recent years including director of development for the Mystic & Noank Library, and event coordinator for both a Thyme to Cook catering and the Mystic Museum of Art. She also spent many years in the hospitality industry in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Colorado.

She has been a volunteer at York CI since 2003. During that time she has been involved as a teacher for continuing graduates of the Chrysalis program as well as a Prayer Partner, facilitator for a 12 Step Fellowship, and most recently as a teacher of the Houses of Healing curriculum.

Verna Swann, BS, MS

Verna Swann, BS, MS

Director

Verna Swann retired in May 2013 after 45 years of service at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital. Throughout her career she held several positions beginning as a Health Unit Coordinator (Unit Secretary); Emergency Room Registrar; Patient Account Clerk; and the Information & Reception Manager. Always aspiring to do more to assist patients and families navigate the complicated healthcare system, Verna was appointed by the President & CEO to be the Hospital’s first Patient Relations Manager. She designed, organized and directed the service from 1988 until her retirement.

While working full-time, Verna began her college studies in 1989 at Mohegan Community College (now Three Rivers Community College) where she received an AS degree. She then furthered her studies and received a BS from the University of Connecticut and MS from Eastern Connecticut State University.

“My passion is to extend a hand wherever there is a need and share my blessings.” Verna is currently a volunteer at the Smilow Cancer Center and the East Lyme Senior Center. She is excited and honored to be a member of ASP Board of Directors.

Rhode Van Gessel, A.AS Graphic Design

Rhode Van Gessel, A.AS Graphic Design

Director

Rhode graduated with an A.AS Degree in Applied Graphic Arts & Science from Springfield Technical Community College. Since then she has joyfully applied her skills as designer and art director for various corporations, advertising agencies and design studios.

In 1991, she formed Rhode vanGessel Design – consulting and designing for myriad New England based clients.

Rhode joined ASP as a volunteer Prayer Partner in 2009.

She is thrilled to be able to offer design and advertising help for A Sacred Place and other non-profit groups, participate as an active volunteer for Storybook, and especially honored to be a member of the ASP Board of Directors.

Rhode considers her relationships within A Sacred Place and York CI continuously life-altering, sacred and priceless.

With Sincere Appreciation to our Former Leaders

The Rev. Laurie Etter
The Rev. Valerie Dixon
Sister Elaine Deasy
Sister Patty Cook
The Rev. Charlotte White
Susan York
The Rev. Dianne Warley
Marty Purdy

A Sacred Place, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to providing rehabilitative programs and educational opportunities for incarcerated women in Connecticut.

Click on AMAZON SMILE and designate A SACRED PLACE as your charity and Amazon will make a donation.

Contact

A Sacred Place, Inc.
P.O. Box 48
Niantic, CT 06357

Information regarding the Barbara Mahon College Fund:
barbaramahonfund@gmail.com