About us

CTCN has worked with hundreds of people to train and implement the philosophy and strategies of Kingian Nonviolence across racial, social, economic and generational divides.

The Connecticut Center for Nonviolence (CTCN) fosters conflict reconciliation and coalition building through the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. Using a proactive approach, CTCN utilizes a comprehensive nonviolence curriculum developed by legendary Civil Rights Leader, Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr., a key strategist for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Over the past seventeen years, CTCN has introduced more than 10,000 citizens and civic leaders to Kingian Nonviolence, tailoring its programs to suit various groups. The center focuses on building sustainable partnerships to ensure the ongoing growth of nonviolent practices.

Leadership

Our leadership model is rooted in Kingian principles, emphasizing shared leadership. While we have an Executive Director and a Board of Directors, we extend our approach by collaborating with trusted leaders whose voices resonate in the communities we serve. This inclusive process fosters productivity as we listen to one another, setting intentions and making decisions together. By honoring collective leadership, we strive to create a more impactful and responsive organization.

Victoria Christgau

Founder | Executive Director | Senior Trainer

Victoria Christgau is the Founder and Executive Director of the Connecticut Center for Nonviolence (CTCN) and a leading figure in the development of arts-integrated Kingian Nonviolence education for people of all ages. With over 35 years of experience, she has dedicated her life to promoting social justice working with people across lines of difference to foster a culture of peace.

Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr.

Honorary Board Chair

Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr. is our Honorary Board Chair. He is a Legendary Civil Rights Leader and world authority on Kingian Nonviolence. Dr. LaFayette served as a strategist and organizer during the civil rights movement. He co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and in 1968 he was appointed to be the National Director of the Poor People’s Campaign by, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Meet the TEAM

Pastor James Lane

Senior Trainer | Advisor | Curriculum Development

Pastor Lane is a Senior Trainer, Advisor, and Curriculum Development Specialist, and Community Activist. A former Executive Director of multiple nonprofit organizations andco-founder of Northend Church of Christ in Hartford, CT. His diverse roles reflect a strong dedication to fostering positive change and empowering others.

Victoria Christgau

Founder | Executive Director | Senior Trainer

Pastor John Lewis

Director of Police and Community Engagement | Senior Trainer

Director of Police and Community Engagement, Senior Trainer, Advisor and Activist, Pastor of Christ New Testament Church in New Haven, CT

Sonya Green

Board Chair | Trainer

Sonya Green is our Board Chair and is an extraordinary individual, dedicated to both personal growth and uplifting the communities she serves. Her work as a certified Kingian Trainer and Chaplain at Connecticut Children’s Hospital, alongside her role as a Bridge Minister at Asylum Hill Congregational Church, showcases a deep commitment to compassion, service, and nonviolence. Her ability to inspire others through talks and workshops is a testament to her ability to connect with people on a profound level and encourage them to strive for the greater good.

Gabriel Boyd

Senior Youth Trainer

Gabriel is a dedicated youth development specialist and trainer. Gabriel is a dynamic entrepreneur, owning the 881 Grab & Go restaurant in Hartford, CT. With a Bachelor of Science in Social Relations from Cheyney University, he has extensive experience working with at-risk youth and coordinating youth services in Hartford.

Shanna T. Melton

Teaching Artist / Trainer

Shanna is a multifaceted Poet, Painter, Arts Educator, Host, Curator, and Historical Preservationist. She was honored as a Connecticut Art Hero by the CT Office of the Arts in 2018 and received the Arts and Cultural Empowerment Award from the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County the same year. As a Kingian Certified Teaching Artist, Shanna collaborates with CTCN as an artist in residence and takes on various assignments, using her artistic talents to inspire and educate others.

Khaiim Kelly

Teaching Artist | Trainer

Khaiim, known as RapOet, is an influential artist and educator in the hip-hop and spoken word community. He gained recognition through his dynamic performances and was first introduced to broader audiences by the iconic Talib Kweli. Khaiim is recognized as the U.S.’s first Hip-Hop Troubadour.

Warren Hardy

Vice-Chair, Board of Directors | Trainer

Founder and CEO of H.Y.P.E. (Helping Young/Your People Evolve), he’s been at the forefront of efforts to address violence and systemic change for over two decades.

Melinda Alcosser

Founding Board Member | Trainer

Melinda is the co-founder of the Connecticut Experiential Learning Center (CELC), which operated as an experiential middle school for fourteen years. Now, as the founder of With Heart Travel, she is dedicated to crafting meaningful and memorable experiences for people of all ages. A certified Kingian Nonviolence trainer, Melinda incorporates the six principles into all her endeavors, ensuring that her work promotes peace and understanding with every interaction. Melinda’s dedication to our Center has a proven track record of introducing Kingian Nonviolence to hundreds of people through her world travels.

Dr. Arthur Romano

Senior Advisor | Trainer

Dr. Romano is an Assistant Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at George Mason University. Serving as Senior Advisor to the Center, Dr. Romano is the author of the book Racial Justice and Nonviolence Education and Building the Beloved Community One Block at a Time, published by Routledge Press, chronicling the work of Connecticut Center for Nonviolence in the state.

Dr. Lisa Worth Huber

Senior Advisor | Trainer

Dr. Lisa Worth Huber is a prominent leader in peace education, currently serving as President of the National Peace Academy. She is actively involved with the Global Peace Education Network (G-PEN), collaborating with UNESCO, and serves on the Advisory Council for the Connecticut Center for Nonviolence, where she mentors teaching artists pursuing certification in Kingian Nonviolence and supports the Executive Director in strategic processes.

Dr. Jacob Werblow

Senior Advisor | Evaluation and Research

Dr. Jacob Werblow is a faculty member at Central Connecticut State University, where he specializes in research related to school equity and effectiveness, dual language immersion, and parent engagement. In 2019-2020, he served as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies and Kyoto University, and again in 2025 serving as a U.S. Fullbright Scholar, at the University of Malaga in Spain, enriching his perspective on educational practices and cross-cultural engagement.

Richard Tarlaian

Senior Trainer | Advisor

Richard Tarlaian is a Senior Kingian Trainer and Advisor with the Connecticut Center for Nonviolence, and Senior Trainer Nationally and Internationally with LaFayette & Associates and the Nonviolence Center in Providence, RI.

Debby DeGuire

CTCN Board Secretary | Senior Trainer in Early Childhood Education

Debby is a veteran Montessori educator with over thirty years of experience in early childhood education. As a certified Kingian Trainer, she integrates the Principles of Nonviolence into her classroom and actively shares these practices with both teachers and parents. Her commitment to fostering a peaceful and nurturing learning environment reflects her dedication to holistic education.

Cherell Banks

Trainer | Guest Presenter

Cherell Banks is a passionate community organizer and advocate with a rich background in youth justice, nonviolence, and community empowerment. She has been deeply committed to Hartford and has worked across multiple initiatives to uplift marginalized voices and create systemic change

Board of Directors

Debbie Helck

Treasurer

Debbie serves as the Treasurer of the Board and is a retired Speech and Language Therapist. As a founding member of CTCN, she has previously held the position of Board President for three terms. A Certified Kingian Nonviolence Trainer, Debbie is dedicated to supporting young people in their pursuit of peace. Her tireless volunteer efforts have been instrumental in maintaining the fiscal health of CTCN, reflecting her deep commitment to the organization’s mission and the well-being of the community.

Sonya Green

Board Chair

Warren Hardy

Vice Chair

Founder and CEO of H.Y.P.E. (Helping Young/Your People Evolve), he’s been at the forefront of efforts to address violence and systemic change for over two decades. Warren Hardy is our Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and is a dedicated youth development professional and street mediator. As the founder and CEO of H.Y.P.E. (Helping Young People Evolve), he leads efforts to address violence often stepping in as a first responder. He has delivered hundreds of talks and facilitated workshops across New England and internationally, sharing his expertise and commitment to youth empowerment and community peace.

Melinda Alcosser

Founding Board Member

Debby DeGuire

Founding Board Secretary

Debby DeGuire is a founding board member and currently serves as CTCN Board Secretary. A veteran Montessori educator with 40 years of experience in early childhood education, her curriculum for elementary-age children fosters a sense of social responsibility and community. As a Certified Kingian Nonviolence Trainer, Debby has empowered students to embody the principles of nonviolence, offering them both a moral compass and practical tools for engaging in the world with kindness, integrity, and respect for diversity. Debby’s educational approach underscores the interconnectedness of social justice, environmental stewardship, and personal responsibility. Montessori education’s core respect for the Earth, nurturing individual growth, and fostering community—align seamlessly with the principles of Kingian Nonviolence, creating a holistic learning experience that empowers children to be agents of positive change.

Advisory Council

Captain Charles Alphin
Senior Nonviolence Trainer, King Center, Atlanta GA; Retired Police Captain, St Louis Missouri

Kristina Baldwin Director of The City of Hartford’s Families, Children and Youth Services

Gabriel Boyd
Youth Advocate; Senior Youth Trainer; Entrepreneur owner 881 Grab & Go Restaurant;
Certified Trainer for CTCN, Hartford, CT

Carolyn Burton
Executive Director of Lift Every Voice and Sing, Community Gospel Choir, Hartford, CT

L’Ana Burton
Certified Kingian Teaching Artist
Dancer/ Choreographer/ Performing Artist

Dr. Sarah Diamond
Founder of Diamond Consulting Services, West Hartford, CT

Amy Goldbas
Associate Director for Programming at Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools, Hartford, CT

Rosemarie Greco
Former Ex. Dir. Wisdom House, Conference and Retreat Center, Litchfield, CT

Dr. Daniel Hansen
Former Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, South Windsor, CT

Lisa Worth Huber
President, National Peace Academy

Lorenzo Jones
Executive Director, KATAL, Hartford, CT

Pastor James Lane

Founder/ Minister, Northend Church of Christ; Senior Trainer and Director of Curriculum Development for CTCN
Hartford, CT

Thomasina Levy
Certified Kingian Teaching Artist
Award winning Song Writer and Musician
Former Connecticut State Troubadour

Deacon Arthur Miller
Former Executive Director Office of Black Catholic Ministries, Archdioceses, Certified Trainer, Hartford, CT

John H. Motley
Principal, Motley Consulting

Dr. Lynn Pasquerella
President, American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU)

Salome Rahiem
Former Dean of the UConn School of Social Work, West Hartford, CT

Dr. Arthur Romano
Professor of Conflict Studies, George Mason University, Washington, DC

Richard Tarlaian
Senior Nonviolence Trainer: former Police Captain, Providence, RI

Dr. Jacob Werblow
Professor of Education, Central CT State University, New Britain, CT

Robin Wildman
Teacher, Founder of Nonviolence Schools, Rhode Island RI

Collaborators

We have collaborated with a diverse array of individuals, schools, colleges, police departments, agencies, arts groups, houses of worship, and nonprofit organizations across Connecticut and beyond to develop Kingian Nonviolence as a tool and practice for their constituents. This collective effort aims to empower communities by fostering understanding, promoting nonviolent practices, and building stronger, more resilient relationships.

Parnerships established since 2009:

Schools / Colleges / Universities

American Association of Colleges and Universities, Washington, DC
Burns Latino Studies Academy, Hartford, CT
Central CT State University- Office of Education, New Britain, CT
CELC Experiential Learning Center, Madison, CT
COOP Arts and Humanities, High School, New Haven, CT
Culinary Arts Academy, at Weaver High School, Hartford, CT
CREC (Capital Regional Educational Council) Schools, Hartford, CT
George Mason University- Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter School of Conflict Studies, Wash. DC
Hartford International University of Religion and Peace, Hartford, CT
Litchfield Montessori School, Litchfield, CT
Mount Holyoke College, Office of the President, South Hadley, MA
University of Connecticut- School of Social Work, West Hartford, CT
University of Hartford, Design Global Change, Hartford, CT
University of Minneapolis, Minnesota

Law Enforcement

Connecticut State Police, Meriden, CT
New Britain Police Department, New Britain, CT
New Haven Police Department, New Haven, CT
Yale University Police Department, New Haven, CT

Houses of Worship

Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Hartford, CT
Barnstable Association, MA Cape Cod
Christ New Testament Church, New Haven, CT
NorthEnd Church of Christ, Hartford, CT
ST Anthony’s Church, Litchfield, CT
Workman Memorial AME Zion Church

Arts Organizations

Arts for Learning, State of CT
CPTV, Hartford, CT
Connecticut Office of the Arts, Hartford, CT
CT Murals, Hartford, CT
Curtis Hanson, Fine Paintings, Cornwall, CT
Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Hartford, CT
New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT
Oddfellows Playhouse, Middletown, CT

Libraries

Hartford Public Library, Hartford, CT
Norfolk Library, Norfolk, CT

Community Groups / Organizations

Blue Hills Civic Association, Hartford, CT
Diamond Research Consultants
Glastonbury MLK Community Initiative, Glastonbury, CT
Institute of Municipal Policy and Research, U Conn, Hartford, CT
L.E.V.A.S. Community Gospel Choir, Hartford, CT
Mothers United Against Violence, Hartford, CT
Office of Youth, Family and Recreation, City of Hartford, CT
Our Piece of The Pie, Hartford, CT
Project Longevity, New Haven, CT
Wisdom House, Litchfield, CT
Wilson Gray YMCA