Meet the Q Plus Team
Mel Cordner
(they/them)
Executive Director & Founder
HI! I'm Mel (they/them), and I'm the Director (and Founder!) of Q Plus. I oversee all of our programs and do a lot of the behind-the-scenes work to keep things running smoothly while we build and expand! You can find me at our in-person events, GSA visits and meetups, online open mics, and Online Support & Discussion Group; I'll sometimes be at Thursday game nights too!
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Kira Edic
(they/them)
Administrative Coordinator
Bio coming soon!
Norm Lebron
(he/him)
Community Coordinator
Norm is a state certified CHW (Community Health Worker) who has spent the past several years working around CT engaging populations for HIV/STI testing, syringe exchange, Narcan education and distribution, and dispensing complete, wholistic sexual health education! He is now happy to be helping the Q Plus team as the Community Coordinator!
Josh Chandler
(he/him)
Content Coordinator
Keana
(she/they)
Facilitator
Keana is a queer afro-latinx non-binary mental health worker and advocate. They have spent the last five years working in Residential Case Management and LGBTQ+ youth services. They are a plant-medicine advocate, disability justice advocate and spiritualist.
Cassie
(she/her)
Facilitator
Hi! My name is Cassie (she/her) and I am an intern. I am currently a senior at the University of St. Joseph pursuing a degree in social work and psychology! I will be working with the team to expand our GSA outreach around teh state! When I'm not at school or working you can find me at a concert somewhere (pre/post covid of course!)
Hi! I'm Josh and my pronouns are he/him/his. I'm part of the founding Q Plus team and as the Content Coordinator, I manage the Q Plus social media pages. Make sure to follow us on our Youth Instagram, Youth Facebook, Adult Supporter Instagram, and Adult Supporter Facebook pages for updates on activities, resources, and more!
Yoda
(she/her)
Facilitator
Hi, I'm Yoda! I use she/her pronouns, and I am currently a Master of Social Work candidate at USJ. I'm coming in as a new intern with the Q+ Team, and I am glad to be a part of this journey with you all. When I am not at school or working, I usually spend a lot of time with my dog and cat. I like to say this is their world, I'm just glad to be a part of it!
RJ
(they/them)
Facilitator
Cade
(he/xe)
Facilitator
Hi! I'm Cade, and I use he/him and xe/xem/xyr pronouns! I'm part of the social support team and I run Q+'s Tabletop Roleplaying Game night on the first Thursday of the month! When I'm not running games for Q+, I can be found playing Dungeons and Dragons, hiking, and listening to podcasts!
Maxwell
(he/him)
Youth Leadership Team
Arden
(she/they)
Youth Leadership Team
Meilani
(she/her)
Youth Leadership Team
Hello wonderful humans! My name is Maxwell, I use he/him pronouns. I am currently a senior at Metropolitan Business Academy. I have joined the Q+ Team as a Youth Team Member! Being apart of a system of change is something important to me, and I canbt wait to help create positive change in the LGBTQ+ community (specifically the Q+ space!)
Hey! My name is Meilani and I use she/her pronouns. I am a part of the Q+ Youth Leadership Team. My favorite hobby is writing and being in my backyard, enjoying nature at its finest.
Hi, I'm Arden, one of the members of the Youth Leadership Team, and I have a particular passion for math, emotional narratives, and music! I mainly help plan and run game nights, support groups, and discussion nights.
Ace Ricker
(he/him)
Board Member
Ace Ricker has been an educator and advocate for over fifteen years. He has worked with a wide variety of organizations, religious forums, and non-profits, and has delivered diversity and inclusion workshops and materials on topics like suicide prevention, LGBTQ+ awareness, safer sex, rape culture and sexism, religion and spirituality and more.
Roberto Vargas
(he/him)
Board Member
Roberto Vargas, MSHSV (he/him/his) is a behavioral health professional who lives and works in Hartford. He has been working in the field of human services since 2012. He's provided direct clinical and case management services for local agenices such as AIDS Connecticut, Charter Oak Health Center, Chrysalis, Community Partners in Action and Community Health Resources on Albany Avenue.
Photo & Bio coming soon!