Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen is excited to announce the addition of three new members to our Board of Directors: Amelea Lowery, Tom Goldenberg, and Pastor Kelcy Steele. With diverse personal and professional backgrounds, these three extraordinary individuals bring extensive leadership experience and passion for service to DESK’s Board.
Amelea Lowery (she/her/hers) hails from the San Francisco Bay Area and has lived in New Haven for three years. Having earned her B.S. in Nutritional Science, Amelea now works in Public Health, supporting health equity research with Associate Dean Marcella Nunez-Smith at the Yale School of Medicine.
Amelea was drawn to DESK because of its clear mission to promote health, community, and equity. She believes that stronger communities are the foundation for meaningful and lasting change. Amelea recognizes that DESK’s dedication to harm reduction demonstrates how it seeks to disrupt the pervasive cycle that inevitably leads to worsened health outcomes. Joining the board complements Amelea’s current work with the Board of Directors of Medicare for All CT; the Social Justice Committee of the Yale African American Affinity Group; and her previous work as a Community Research Fellow for CARE (Community Alliance for Research and Engagement).
As a Board Member, she hopes to bring an unapologetic perspective that challenges the status quo and allows us to reimagine what’s possible in tackling systems of oppression. Amelea is grateful for this opportunity and excited to learn from the amazing leaders and community members working alongside DESK.
Tom Goldenberg (he/him/his) was born and raised in the New Haven area. With a B.A. in Cultural Studies and an M.B.A. from Columbia, Tom is now a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where his work focuses on improving the effectiveness of public finance institutions. He also serves as a business advisor to underrepresented entrepreneurs in Greater New Haven through his work with another community organization, Collab.
Tom is thrilled to return to DESK after having volunteered in his youth. He is eager to give back to the New Haven community and make it a better place to live. Tom is enthusiastic about helping DESK in its mission to serve people experiencing homelessness or living in poverty.
Pastor Kelcy Steele (he/him/his) is originally from Rock Hill, South Carolina, and has called New Haven home for over six years. He graduated with a B.A. in Religion and Psychology and earned his M.Div. from UTS. Pastor K. is the 23rd Pastor of New Haven’s historic Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church. He also serves the New Haven community as the CEO of the Varick Center for Empowerment; Imani Breakthrough Project Leader; Founder of the Connecticut Social Justice Collaborative; founding member of the CT Equity Now; the Board Chair of Booker T. Washington Academy; an affiliate member of New Haven Rising; the Director of Evangelism for the New England Conference; Dean of the Hartford District Studies; Cultural Ambassador of Yale Center for Clinical Investigation; a Board Member of Bridges of Hope; and the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Pastor K. was drawn to DESK because its mission fits into his calling. He believes that all people should have equal access to food, health, and community resources. As a board member, he aspires to uphold the mission and vision of DESK and make a positive contribution to the many services and projects currently in the works.