Fairfield County Talks Housing: Housing & Health
Hosted By
SPEAKERS
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Cristin McCarthy Vahey Senate Representative, Chair of the Public Health Committee
Connecticut General Assembly
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Dr. Danya Keene Associate Professor of Social Behavioral Sciences
Yale School of Public Health
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Vincent Tufo Chief Executive Officer
Charter Oak Communities
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Evonne Klein (Moderator) Former CT Commissioner of Housing
Dr. Danya Keene, Associate Professor of Social Behavioral Sciences at the Yale School of Public Health
Danya Keene is an Associate Professor of Social Behavioral Sciences at the Yale School of Public Health. Her research examines housing and housing policy as determinants of population health equity. Moving beyond a focus on housing and individual health, her work considers how an ongoing history of racially discriminatory housing and urban policies have constrained housing access for non-white Americans, and thus contribute to racial health equity. Her work has examined a range of topics including public housing demolition, home foreclosure, the stigmatization of marginalized communities, and the housing experiences of formerly incarcerated individuals. Much of her current work is focused on examining the population health implications of the affordable rental housing crisis. For example, she is using local and nationally representative data to explore whether and how access to federal rental assistance can improve type 2 diabetes management and outcomes. In other work, she is investigating the impact of eviction prevention policies during the COVID 19 pandemic. Dr. Keene is recognized as an expert in qualitative methods and frequently employs both qualitative and quantitative approaches in her work. She teaches a core MPH course called Social Justice and Health Equity and is the founding director of YSPH's US Health Justice Concentration.
Evonne Klein, Former CT Commissioner of Housing
Evonne Klein served as the first Commissioner of Housing for the State of Connecticut in over 30 years during the Malloy Administration from 2013-2019, leading the establishment of Connecticut’s Department of Housing.
As Co-Chair of the Connecticut Fair Housing Working Group she helped shape and supported a number of zoning reform legislation including state-wide inclusionary zoning, changes to the Zoning Enabling Act, and the expansion of housing authority jurisdictions. Most recently, Klein served as CEO of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, a statewide organization whose mission is to prevent and end homelessness.
Klein also served as the First Selectwoman of the Town of Darien from 2003-2009 where she worked with property and business owners to revitalize Downtown Darien; formed Darien’s Affordable Housing Advisory Commission; adopted an Affordable Housing Plan; and spearheaded the adoption and implementation of Darien’s Inclusionary Zoning Regulation.
Vincent Tufo, Chief Executive Officer, Charter Oak Communities
Vincent Tufo leads Charter Oak Communities (COC), driving strategic partnerships and community development. He spearheaded the Vita Health & Wellness District, which focuses on improving health equity and economic opportunity in Stamford’s West Side. Tufo holds a BA from Binghamton University and an MA from the University of Michigan.
State Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey, Chair of the Public Health Committee, Connecticut General Assembly
State Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey is serving her sixth term representing Fairfield's 133rd Assembly District. She is House Chair of the Public Health Committee and a member of the Appropriations and Transportation Committees.
In Cristin' role as the Planning and Development Committee Chair, she has been integral in modernizing and re-organizing zoning statutes to provide greater clarity and tools to local planning and zoning officials, empower towns and cities to facilitate economic growth, ensure inclusive communities, add energy and environmental protections to their zoning codes, and allow accessory dwelling units across the state. Cristin spearheaded legislation that creates a state Geographic Information Systems (GIS) office and advisory council, allows access to original birth certificates for all adult adoptees, and streamlines access for outdoor dining.
Educated at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Washington in the Master of Social Work program, she and her husband, Brian are parents to three children, all of whom attend or have been through Fairfield Public Schools.
