Our Staff
Development Staff
Emily Wolfe, Executive Director
Bernadine Silvers, Community Engagement Consultant
Charlie McMonigle, Controller
Emily Rivera, Compliance Specialist/Resident Service Coordinator
Rebecca Connor, Development Associate
Sonsharae Owens, Community Planning & Outreach Coordinator/Youth Internship Supervisor
Emily Wolfe
Executive Director
860-952-4807
ewolfe [at] sheldonoak [dot] org
Emily has served as Executive Director since 2017, and previously served as Deputy Director since 2001.
Emily also has served as the Project Manager for many of SOC's developments, including 4-40 Vine St (major renovation of 74 historic units), North End Gateway (new construction of 57 workforce units), and Rice Heights (44 new single family homes for low- and moderate-income home-buyers).
Before joining Sheldon Oak Central, Emily worked as a nursing home social worker and a university research grants administrator.
Executive Director
860-952-4807
ewolfe [at] sheldonoak [dot] org
Emily has served as Executive Director since 2017, and previously served as Deputy Director since 2001.
Emily also has served as the Project Manager for many of SOC's developments, including 4-40 Vine St (major renovation of 74 historic units), North End Gateway (new construction of 57 workforce units), and Rice Heights (44 new single family homes for low- and moderate-income home-buyers).
Before joining Sheldon Oak Central, Emily worked as a nursing home social worker and a university research grants administrator.
Bernadine Silvers
Community Engagement Consultant
bsilvers [at] sheldonoak [dot] org
Bernadine Silvers was a founder of the Coalition to Strengthen Sheldon-Charter Oak Neighborhood (CSS/CON), which advocated for the interests of community residents and helped Sheldon Oak Central acquire and redevelop MLK Apartments, Twin Acres and Sheldon Oak Cooperative. She led CSS/CON’s growth into one of the most effective of the city’s Neighborhood Revitalization Zones (NRZ’s), successfully pushing for the redevelopment of the Hartford Housing Authority’s Dutch Point project into a mixed-income community home-ownership and rental community. CSS/CON also helped ensure that residents had a voice in the design of the Convention Center and were hired to work on the construction of the entire waterfront development.
Ms. Silvers has been a strong voice for Hartford residents as a founder of Hartford 2000, the city-wide coalition of Neighborhood Revitalization Zones. She has served on the board of many organizations, including Riverfront Recapture, the MetroHartford Alliance, the City’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, and Sheldon Oak Central, and she is a member of the Hartford Redevelopment Agency.
Community Engagement Consultant
bsilvers [at] sheldonoak [dot] org
Bernadine Silvers was a founder of the Coalition to Strengthen Sheldon-Charter Oak Neighborhood (CSS/CON), which advocated for the interests of community residents and helped Sheldon Oak Central acquire and redevelop MLK Apartments, Twin Acres and Sheldon Oak Cooperative. She led CSS/CON’s growth into one of the most effective of the city’s Neighborhood Revitalization Zones (NRZ’s), successfully pushing for the redevelopment of the Hartford Housing Authority’s Dutch Point project into a mixed-income community home-ownership and rental community. CSS/CON also helped ensure that residents had a voice in the design of the Convention Center and were hired to work on the construction of the entire waterfront development.
Ms. Silvers has been a strong voice for Hartford residents as a founder of Hartford 2000, the city-wide coalition of Neighborhood Revitalization Zones. She has served on the board of many organizations, including Riverfront Recapture, the MetroHartford Alliance, the City’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, and Sheldon Oak Central, and she is a member of the Hartford Redevelopment Agency.
Charlie McMonigle
Controller
860-246-0229 x 16
cmcmonigle [at] sheldonoak [dot] org
Charlie McMonigle, CPA, has served as Controller for Sheldon Oak Central since 2001. He oversees all financial policies, procedures, and controls; develops budgets for SOC properties; and monitors their monthly financials. Charlie also monitors SOC’s compliance with grant and contract expenditures and reporting requirements and prepares financial statements for SOC management and its Board of Directors. He has served on the boards of the Coalition to Strengthen the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood (CSS/CON), Capital Region Education Council, Chrysalis Center, and Rocky Hill Board of Education.
Controller
860-246-0229 x 16
cmcmonigle [at] sheldonoak [dot] org
Charlie McMonigle, CPA, has served as Controller for Sheldon Oak Central since 2001. He oversees all financial policies, procedures, and controls; develops budgets for SOC properties; and monitors their monthly financials. Charlie also monitors SOC’s compliance with grant and contract expenditures and reporting requirements and prepares financial statements for SOC management and its Board of Directors. He has served on the boards of the Coalition to Strengthen the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood (CSS/CON), Capital Region Education Council, Chrysalis Center, and Rocky Hill Board of Education.
Emily Rivera
Compliance Specialist/Resident Service Coordinator
erivera [at] sheldonoak [dot] org
Emily Rivera joined Sheldon Oak in 2001 as Administrative Assistant and then became Resident Services Coordinator. She is responsible for meeting and event arrangements and providing support to other office staff.
As Resident Services Coordinator she also serves as liaison between the Residents, Management Company and Owners and provides support to a diverse group of residents, mainly family & youth, living in affordable housing sites. Emily is bilingual and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Springfield College. Emily is a Hartford native.
Compliance Specialist/Resident Service Coordinator
erivera [at] sheldonoak [dot] org
Emily Rivera joined Sheldon Oak in 2001 as Administrative Assistant and then became Resident Services Coordinator. She is responsible for meeting and event arrangements and providing support to other office staff.
As Resident Services Coordinator she also serves as liaison between the Residents, Management Company and Owners and provides support to a diverse group of residents, mainly family & youth, living in affordable housing sites. Emily is bilingual and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Springfield College. Emily is a Hartford native.
Rebecca Connor
Development Associate
rconnor [at] sheldonoak [dot] org
Rebecca Connor joined the Sheldon Oak staff in October 2020. Her work focuses on communications and development, including research and data collection; writing and editing; grant writing; graphic design; maintaining the organization's website and social media; and assisting with the financing applications and presentations for the developments in SOC’s pipeline. Rebecca has worked in communications and development for a variety of nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Louisiana, including 10 years as a freelance writer and consultant.
Development Associate
rconnor [at] sheldonoak [dot] org
Rebecca Connor joined the Sheldon Oak staff in October 2020. Her work focuses on communications and development, including research and data collection; writing and editing; grant writing; graphic design; maintaining the organization's website and social media; and assisting with the financing applications and presentations for the developments in SOC’s pipeline. Rebecca has worked in communications and development for a variety of nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Louisiana, including 10 years as a freelance writer and consultant.
Sonsharae Owens
Community Planning & Outreach Coordinator/Youth Internship Supervisor
sowens [at] sheldonoak [dot] org
Sonsharae Owens joined Sheldon Oak in May 2021 as Community Planning & Outreach Coordinator, an AmeriCorps service position. Sonsharae leads the development and cultivation of three community gardens, including two on SOC’s properties in the North End. She recruits volunteers and manages a team of youth interns who work in the gardens, participate in educational workshops, and perform community service. Sonsharae plans, publicizes, and organizes events and activities for SOC residents and the larger community.
Sonsharae’s work with Sheldon Oak is an outgrowth of her work with Summer of Solutions, a grassroots nonprofit, where she started as a youth intern and worked her way up to Executive Director. Sonsharae is a Hartford native.
Community Planning & Outreach Coordinator/Youth Internship Supervisor
sowens [at] sheldonoak [dot] org
Sonsharae Owens joined Sheldon Oak in May 2021 as Community Planning & Outreach Coordinator, an AmeriCorps service position. Sonsharae leads the development and cultivation of three community gardens, including two on SOC’s properties in the North End. She recruits volunteers and manages a team of youth interns who work in the gardens, participate in educational workshops, and perform community service. Sonsharae plans, publicizes, and organizes events and activities for SOC residents and the larger community.
Sonsharae’s work with Sheldon Oak is an outgrowth of her work with Summer of Solutions, a grassroots nonprofit, where she started as a youth intern and worked her way up to Executive Director. Sonsharae is a Hartford native.
