Board of Directors
Ella Auchincloss
Board President
Ella Davila Auchincloss is responsible for the development of new lines of work for the Rippel Foundation and its flagship initiative, ReThink Health, focused on how regional leaders can drive equitable health and well-being. Since 2011, she has spearheaded ReThink Health’s action-learning projects around how to engage residents in issues concerning the health and well-being of their community. She provides leadership development, strategic support and coaching for teams and coalitions in the population health and health care sector. Ella holds a Master’s in Theological Studies from the Harvard Divinity School and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Babson College.
In 2010, Ella was awarded a community fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School to study Leadership and Community Organizing with Marshall Ganz. In 2015, Ella was awarded the Barbara C Harris Award for Social Justice by the Episcopal City Mission in Boston, MA for her commitment to equipping community leaders to do the work of justice. She and her husband, Tom, relocated to Middletown, Rhode Island in 2016. They have two, young-adult sons and a beloved Cairn Terrier. She was born and raised in Texas to a proud family of Mexican-Americans and Spaniards.
Bari Freeman
Board Vice President
Bari Freeman is the founder and executive director of Bike Newport - the bicycle advocacy organization that works to create the conditions that lead to more people biking more often, and to ensure that bicycling is a viable, safe and comfortable primary choice for transportation and recreation. Prior to Bike Newport, Bari has a long history in nonprofit management and communications working with national organizations including Planned Parenthood Federation, the ACLU, and Americans for Fairness in Lending to build collaborations and to optimize resources. At Bike Newport, Bari facilitates productive collaboration with the city, schools, police department and businesses. Bari currently serves on the state’s Transportation Advisory Committee and Highway Safety Planning Committee, the City of Newport’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, the Newport HEZ Green and Urban Spaces Group, the Newport HEZ Transportation Work Group, and the Board of Conexion Latina Newport. She is a graduate of Princeton University with a degree in Anthropology.
Mary EllenMendonca
Treasurer
Mary Ellen is a Senior Program Cost and Control Analyst for Northrop Grumman with over thirty years of Business Management Experience. In her role as a Program Cost and Control Analyst she interfaces with program managers, functional management and business managers to provide financial support and analysis. She has a vast amount of knowledge in setting up cost control systems to monitor and control costs and schedules.
Lori Turner
Secretary
Lori Turner is the Program and Marketing Director for Newport Partnership for Families (NPFF). NPFF has over 45 members who work together to strengthen families and enhance the quality of life in Newport. In her role, Lori is responsible for communication and marketing oversight of NPFF initiatives and connecting partners to resources. Previously, Lori spent nine years in South Texas serving as a camp and retreat administrator managing financial accounts in addition to marketing and communications. Lori holds a Bachelor’s in Social Work from James Madison University and a Master’s in Education from Rhode Island College. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and spending time at the beach. As an Aquidneck Island native, Lori is happy to be back in the area and is proud to be a Board of Director member of Conexion Latina Newport.
Juan Carlos Payero
Board Member
Juan Carlos Payero comes to CLN as the Deputy Director of Legislative and Constituent Affairs at the RI Executive Office of Health & Human Services (EOHHS). Prior to joining state government, Juan Carlos served as the Newport Director for Social Enterprise Greenhouse, where he was first introduced to the CLN team, its mission, and vision for a more equitable community. He holds a B.A. in Government and Politics from St. John’s University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Baruch College, City University of New York (CUNY). Juan Carlos is also active in the greater community and serves as Vice-Chairperson on the Portsmouth School Committee, and is the Master of St. John's Lodge No.1.
Annell Vidal
Board Member
Annell is the Manager of Immigration Advocacy at Sojourner House. She assists clients in preparing and filing U.S. non-immigrant visa petitions and applications for naturalization, permanent residence, and adjustments of status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Annell is partially accredited to practice Immigration Law by the Department of Justice, allowing her to represent clients before USCIS. Annell also works with the HIV and housing team. She earned her B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in international relations from the New York State University, at Buffalo.