Our Team
Steering Committee
President
Camille Smith
Camille has served on the MRJC Steering Committee since 2022, taking on the role of Steering Committee President in January 2024. In addition to helping to coordinate the MRJC's T-Square summer enrichment program, Camille also currently works as a Family Liaison at Farm Hill Elementary School in Middletown, a teacher and nursery assistant at her church, and as Direct Support Staff for individuals with disabilities.
Camille is a graduate of several local and statewide Parent Leadership programs and has attended Middlesex Community College and Saint Joseph College in West Hartford. Camille has lived in Middletown for many years and is a proud mother and grandmother to three sons, one daughter and two grandsons.
Vice President
Monica Belyea
Monica joined the MRJC Steering Committee in 2020, moving into the role of Vice President in 2023. She currently works as a Nutrition Consultant at the CT Department of Public Health and has expertise in early childhood health and education systems and infant and young child nutrition. She also serves on the Middletown School Readiness Council and the CT Breastfeeding Coalition.
Monica holds a Master's of Public Health (MPH) from UC Berkeley and a BS in Human Nutrition from the University of Maine. Monica brings her commitment to becoming more anti-racist to all aspects of her personal and professional life. She lives in Middletown with her family.
Treasurer
Beverly Lawrence
Beverly was one of the founders of the MRJC and previously served as the organization's Finance Manager. A longtime Middletown community advocate and mother of three, Bev is also a steering committee member of several other local community groups, including Opportunity Knocks, Middletown Area Transit, the School Readiness Council, and the Middlesex NAACP. She is also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 206. In addition, for the past 11+ years, Bev has co-run a girls' mentoring group called GIFTS (Girls Inspired for Total Success).
Member
Ayanna Wright-McKennon
Ayanna became involved in the Middletown community as the Russell Library's Community Engagement Coordinator in 2019 and joined the MRJC Steering Committee in 2022. She now works at her alma mater, Quinnipiac University, as a Project & Operations Manager in the Office of Career Development & Experiential Learning.
Ayanna holds a Master's of Library and Information Science from the University of Southern Mississippi and Bachelor's in Film, TV, and Media Studies from Quinnipiac. She now lives in New Britain with her husband, 2 children, and her 4-legged princess.
Member
Lanea Collins
Lanea joined the Steering Committee in January 2024. In addition to coordinating the MRJC's T-Square summer enrichment program, Lanea is also the Creative Director of The Teaching Artist Hub CT. She is an award-winning poet and a writer, speaker, and author. Lanea has appeared in theater performances for CT Theater Company and Vintage Soul Productions and has also written, directed, and produced her own productions at the Jamaican Performing Arts Center in Queens, NY and Oddfellows Playhouse here in Middletown.
Lanea has also created many arts and theater workshops and is a certified arts trainer in the principles of Kingian nonviolence through the CT Center for Nonviolence (CTCN). For the last six years, Lanea has been a teaching artist for grades K-12 and in afterschool programs, working in both school and community settings. Lanea has a passion for social justice and the arts and continues to share her gifts in all spaces.
Member
Ashley Blount
Bio & photo coming soon!
Thank you to all of our current and past Steering Committee, subcommittee, and Coalition members who have played an integral role in establishing, growing, and supporting the MRJC over the past six years.