Barbara Bradbury-Pape of Woodbury, Elizabeth Johnson of Cheshire, John Newton of Warren, and Rabbi Eric Polokoff of Southbury, have been elected to the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Community Foundation, which serves 21 towns in Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills.
Paula Van Ness, President and CEO of the Connecticut Community Foundation, said, “Our new trustees bring a wealth of talent and energy to the Foundation’s work. Each has walked a different path and will bring new perspective and dimension to discussions as the board guides the strategic direction of the Foundation in the years to come. We are elated to have them join us in our efforts to foster thriving communities throughout our region.”
Woodbury resident Barbara Bradbury-Pape has worked for many years in the historic house museum field and recently served as the Interpretive Planner for Connecticut Landmarks. Currently, Mrs. Bradbury-Pape is the Development Director for The Roxbury Land Trust. She has previously served on the boards of The New Britain Museum of American Art, Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust, The Connecticut League of History Organizations, and the Litchfield Historical Society. Additionally, she serves as a reviewer for the Foundation’s Scholarship Committee.
Elizabeth Joy Johnson, Ph.D., of Cheshire is the provost at Waterbury’s Post University. Previously, Dr. Johnson worked as a Wetland Delineator and as a Soil Conservationist for the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Association. Dr. Johnson is a former Cheshire Land Trust Board member and a current volunteer with United Way and Crew3000, a Connecticut-based non-profit ocean conservation organization. Dr. Johnson has served on the Environment, Donor Engagement, and Cradle to Career committees at the Foundation.
John B. Newton is an angel investor and a former Time Warner executive. He has been involved with several successful startups, and continues to invest in a number of early stage companies. Mr. Newton was Senior Vice President of film programming at HBO. He is also a trustee of the Litchfield Historical Society and a member of the National Council of the Atlantic Salmon Federation. Mr. Newton is a graduate of the Foundation’s Western Connecticut Leadership program. Begun in 2014 for proven leaders, the program fosters in-depth understanding of current Connecticut issues and community needs. Mr. Newton lives in Warren.
Southbury resident Rabbi Eric Polokoff is the founding rabbi of Southbury’s B’nai Israel Synagogue, where he has served the congregation since 1997. He gives great attention to his roles as a speaker, pastor, teacher and community participant. He is a long-time Associate National Commissioner and Connecticut Region Executive Committee member of the Anti-Defamation League, moderates the Southbury Clergy Association and serves on the St. Mary’s Hospital and Waterbury Hospital Ethics Committees. He is a member of the Foundation’s Pathways for Older Adults Committee and previously served on the Southbury Community Trust Fund.
