Norwalk Acts Appoints New Executive Director

NORWALK, Conn. – Norwalk ACTS, a partnership of almost 60 of Norwalk’s leaders and organizations that support youth, has named Anthony Allison as its first executive director.

Anthony Allison named first executive director of Norwalk ACTS.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

by Lynn Funk

07/21/2014 4:00 a.m.

Allison will be the leader in the coordinated and integrated coalition of resources to improve educational and social opportunities for the city's youth as well as their emotional and physical well-being.

ACTS will affect six community level outcomes: kindergarten readiness; achieving goals for third grade reading levels; transitioning successfully from fifth to sixth grade, and from eighth to ninth grade; preparing graduates for college; training in post-secondary training and full-time employment; and preparing graduates for careers through college degrees or certifications.

Norwalk ACTS is a part of the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network, and offers its services to children and youth of all ages.

“It takes a communitywide effort to make sure every child is able to reach his or her highest level of achievement,” said Norwalk Public Schools Superintendent Manuel Rivera. “By leading a process that helps community resources align around common goals, Norwalk ACTS has a critical role to play in making sure programs and organizations are focused on actions that deliver the biggest impact.

“Under Anthony’s leadership, I’m confident that Norwalk ACTS is ready to build on the foundation already established, and I look forward to working with him and the other members of the Norwalk ACTS network to support all our children.”

Before taking on this position, Allison co-founded and served as executive director of the Norwalk Children’s Foundation. Before that, he was a program director for the Norwalk Chapter of I Have a Dream, facilitated Outdoor Adventure Education programs and was a co-director of Hoops 4 Hope.

“As a longtime Norwalk resident and a person who ‘walked in the shoes’ of many of the youths that Norwalk ACTS seeks to support, I feel particularly connected to the mission of Norwalk ACTS," Allison said. "I am excited to work with a great community network of individuals, organizations and service providers to further a campaign that supports every child in this resourceful and great city.”

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