Staff

QUEST Coordinator

JUAN FONSECA TAPIA

Pronouns: He/Him/His/El

Juan Fonseca Tapia is a senior at Western Connecticut State University, studying Sociology-Anthropology. He also serves in the United States Air Force Reserves as an Aerospace Medical Technician.

Juan grew up in Mexico and migrated to the United States in 2012. He graduated from Danbury High School and he received several different scholarships from organizations such as the Latino Fund Scholarship, the Rotary Club of Danbury, the Kiwanis Club Foundation of Greater Danbury, and the Women’s Club of Danbury/New Fairfield. His passion for social justice and social change is reflected in his actions and commitment to serving his community. He has advocated and fought for the rights of undocumented immigrants in Connecticut and the country. Juan has been an active student at Western Connecticut State University, and he is currently a member of the UndocuAlly Taskforce at his university, which advocates for undocumented students on campus.

Juan does not consider himself an activist because he says that he is a gay Mexican Immigrant, and he does not have any other option than to fight for underserved and underrepresented communities.

Juan’s goal is to attend law school to eventually work with policymakers, taking an intersectional approach to law and policymaking. Policy and laws rooted in an intersectional ideology can help break the racial and gender inequalities that affect the LGBTQ community as well as Black & Brown people, and Immigrants.

He looks forward to working with the QUEST team to create partnerships with members and organizations at the local, state and national level to support and uplift the LGBTQ community.  

Executive Committee

All members of the Executive Board are volunteers with personal and professional experience in advocacy work and LGBTQ-centered advocacy work

Chris Rempfer

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Chris Rempfer is an Assistant Professor of English at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury—a college that educates, encourages, and serves 22 cities and towns from Waterbury to Danbury and the Litchfield Hills.

Chris grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut and, upon graduating with a BA in English and Economics from Connecticut College in New London, headed to New York City where he worked as an actor, singer, composer, and writer for 20 years. Chris’ affinity for writing led him to the City College of New York, where he earned his Master of Fine Arts in English & Creative Writing in 2010. Since then, he has taught at City College, Quinnipiac University, in the international summer program at Yale University, and became part of the full time English faculty at NVCC in fall of 2016. At Naugatuck Valley Community College, Chris serves as Coordinator for the Liberal Arts & Sciences Degree program, is co-chair of the faculty professional development organization—Center for Teaching, Vice President of the NVCC Faculty Senate, as well as co-chair of the NVCC LGBTQ Pride Alliance Club and the Creative Writing Club.

Chris is grateful for being lifted up by the strong, resolute shoulders of LGBTQ individuals and supporters who have come before him and hopes to provide the same strong, resolute shoulders for those who will follow.

Lynn Discenza

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Lynn Discenza is a founding member and current president of the Waterbury PFLAG Chapter; a member of Stonewall Speakers; a Co-Leader of Open Hearts LGBT ministry at St. Patricks–St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church; Co-Facilitator of the Ridgefield CT LGBTQ+ Youth Support Group; and a member of the greater New York City LGBT Inter-parish Collaborative. She identifies as transgender, pansexual and has three biological children and a foster son.  She is president of an aerospace design company located in Middlebury.

Deb Kelleher

deb

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Deb is the founder of Annie C. Courtney Foundation in Waterbury. Deb manages a regional community coalition of foster care agencies and concerned community members which she has done for over 12 years. She is a proud adoptive mother of 3 boys adopted through the CT foster care system. Deb’s passion is helping older youth, particularly LGBTQ youth,  find and maintain permanent connections. Deb has served as a board member for other CT community organizations and local commissions and enjoys giving back to the community

Charneil bush

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Charneil is a longtime Waterbury resident and was one of the original members of QUEST. As a former foster youth and current foster parent, Charneil is passionate about youth development and creating environments where they can thrive. To that end, Charneil is currently working as a high school college and career counselor. He was a mentor and volunteer for True Colors, Inc and currently facilitates a peer group for LGBTQ+ people of color at the Triangle Community Center.

He currently serves as president of the Board of Directors at the Annie C. Courtney Foundation, a an agency that serves foster and adoptive families. Charneil holds a degree in human services and forensic psychology and is currently completing a masters degree in criminal justice at the University of Bridgeport.

Lindsey Marr

Lindsey Marr is a Connecticut native who has had an interest in healthcare since her teenage years. During her undergraduate training, she worked as a CNA in a nursing home before transitioning into her nursing career at Danbury and Yale New Haven Hospitals. She practiced in a number of different specialties, including home care, cardiology, neurology, emergency medicine, and intensive care. During grad school, she became involved in her community as the co-chair of the New Milford Substance Abuse Prevention Council. After completing grad school, she began her advanced career at Staywell Health Center in early 2017 where she is a primary care provider with a special focus on infectious diseases and the LGBTQ community. She serves on the Executive Committee for QUEST and volunteers for The Pride in the Hills Fund. She enjoys traveling and practices ballet once weekly at a local studio.