Meet Our Team.
Our team brings together educators, advocates, artists, wellness professionals, coaches, consultants and community leaders who share one purpose: helping children, families and communities thrive.
Experience from across the community.
The Hartford Parent Trust connects families with professionals whose experience reaches beyond a single field. Together, our team supports education, advocacy, wellness, creative development, family engagement, workforce readiness and community opportunity.
Creating opportunities to grow.
Khaiim Kelly
Hartford-based artist, educator and cultural leader using Hip-Hop, poetry and creative education to inspire young people, strengthen communities and develop emerging artists.
Read Khaiim’s Bio
Khaiim Kelly, professionally known as Khaiim the RapOet and Self Suffice, is a Hartford-based hip-hop artist, poet, educator, performer and community cultural leader whose work uses music, poetry, creativity and education to inspire young people and strengthen communities.
Khaiim has built a career that combines Hip-Hop culture, spoken word, education, entrepreneurship and community engagement. Through performances, workshops, residencies, lectures and mentorship, he encourages youth and emerging artists to develop their creative voices while building confidence, leadership skills and pathways toward personal and professional success.
His artistic career has included performances and collaborations alongside nationally and internationally recognized artists and cultural figures. His work has connected him with artists ranging from Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Alice Walker to Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist Common, while his independent music has reached national audiences.
Khaiim has also played an important role in Hartford’s educational and cultural community. He has worked with colleges, schools, libraries, community organizations, festivals, artists and young people to demonstrate how Hip-Hop can serve as a tool for education, literacy, self-expression, entrepreneurship, cultural understanding and positive youth development.
He has been a community partner and contributor to Trinity College’s International Hip Hop Festival, helping connect Hartford residents and students with artists, educators, activists and scholars from around the world.
Recognizing his contributions to Hartford’s cultural landscape, Khaiim has also been identified as Hartford’s inaugural Hip-Hop Troubadour, bringing Hip-Hop into the city’s broader tradition of public arts, poetry, music and cultural storytelling.
Through his work, Khaiim demonstrates that Hip-Hop is more than entertainment—it can be a vehicle for learning, leadership, creativity, economic opportunity and community transformation.
Jerrell Starling
Certified personal trainer, athletic coach and community advocate combining fitness, mentorship and social-emotional learning to build confidence, discipline and healthier lives.
Read Jerrell’s Bio
Jerrell Starling is a Hartford-based master fitness professional, certified personal trainer, athletic coach, social-emotional learning instructor and community advocate. He is the founder of Heroes in Training, a fitness and youth-development business that uses physical activity, mentoring and positive coaching to help participants develop strength, confidence, discipline and emotional well-being.
As a NASM-certified personal trainer, Jerrell provides individual and group fitness sessions designed for different abilities, experience levels and wellness goals. His training incorporates cardiovascular conditioning, strength development, boxing, functional movement, athletic conditioning and motivational support.
Jerrell is also an experienced boxing, basketball and football coach. His approach extends beyond physical fitness by emphasizing accountability, teamwork, resilience, self-confidence and healthy decision-making.
His professional background includes human services, community advocacy, social-emotional learning and program support. This experience enables him to understand the social and emotional factors that influence health, motivation and a person’s ability to maintain a healthier lifestyle.
Instagram · @jstarfitctKnowledge families can rely on.
Our team combines professional expertise with a community-centered approach to advocacy, education, family support, program development and wellness.
Walter
Culinary team member supporting food, family and community-centered programming.
T. Roberts
Supporting parents and families as they navigate education, advocacy and services for children with diverse learning needs.
Sophia Taylor Edwards
Providing family-centered education, guidance and social-service support to help parents and children access resources and opportunities.
Kim Gauthier
Supporting organizations through program development, strategic planning, grant writing and capacity-building initiatives.
Charese
Bringing a holistic approach to health and wellness that supports individuals and families in strengthening their overall well-being.
Creativity belongs in community.
Our Artists in Residence help create spaces where music, artistic expression, education and community connection can come together.
Victoria Isabella White
Supporting music education, creative programming and community-centered artistic experiences as an Artist in Residence and program leader.
Minetta White
Supporting arts programming, music education and creative community engagement as an Artist in Residence and member of the Music Education & Community Programs team.
Supporting the whole child, the whole family and the whole community.
Every member of our team brings a different set of skills, experiences and perspectives to the work. Together, we create stronger connections between families, education, wellness, opportunity, culture and community.