Michele Barricelli – Program Lead: Cooking
Michele Barricelli has been in the food business since graduating from Plattsburgh State (NY) University in 1982 with a Food Science/Nutrition degree. Having the opportunity to volunteer for the National Charity League for the early SPHERE cooking classes got her involved and excited to help weekly, along with her daughter Nola. Along with co lead Lauren Radigan, she has been able to share her love of food and cooking with the members who inspire her every week. Working at Baldor Specialty Foods, a specialty food and produce company in New York City, Michele has the opportunity to bring interesting gourmet items for all of the members to share and incorporate them into the weekly menus. Michele is encouraged and enlightened by the members and their growth as “chefs” with their weekly participation and their suggestions for future menus!
Arlene Bozzuto Litt – Program Lead: Bingo and Walking Club
Arlene has resided in Ridgefield for over 20 years and is an employee of Ridgefield Public Schools, where she was recently honored with an award as Paraeducator of the Year. Arlene currently volunteers as a program lead for both Bingo and Walking Club. In addition she occasionally hosts programs where SPHERE members can give back to the community. Arlene is both a volunteer and a parent of a SPHERE member. Rachel, her daughter participates in many Sphere programs. Rachel has found a supportive community in Sphere and has had the opportunity to shine and grow through Sphere programming. Arlene, her husband Mike, and her son Jacob all contribute to Sphere programming and also all volunteer for Ridgefield Special Olympics. Arlene has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Connecticut and has many years experience working with underserved populations, including individuals returning to community life after living in state institutions, dually diagnosed individuals in a group home setting, women completing life’s skills programming in a halfway house, and families in transition.
In her free time, Arlene enjoys time spent with family and friends. She loves swimming, walking, bowling, theatre, baking, and crafting. Arlene is grateful to SPHERE for providing meaningful programming that enriches the lives of individuals and provides for a welcoming community in which members are made to feel important and valued.
Caitlin Granucci – Program Lead: SPHERE Squad
Caitlin Granucci is a secondary special education teacher. Years ago, alongside her mom and sister she started volunteering at SPHERE’S gala. She has been an active volunteer for the last two years. She co-leads Sphere Squad with Neil and enjoys being involved with the dynamic group planning events. Caitlin also works on SPHERE Talks, our new series of educational workshops. Caitlin has the firsthand pleasure of experiencing the creativity and joyfulness of the members.
Wendy Gannon Lionetti – Program Lead: Jewelry
Wendy Gannon Lionetti is a self-taught jewelry-making artist, after being introduced to beading by a friend in the 1990s. Wendy began volunteering with the SPHERE art program and not long after, began meeting casually with one member, introducing her to beading. These gatherings evolved to weekly meetings with more members attending, and eventually to a larger group in a formal program. Wendy enjoys the dynamics of the group and is “constantly impressed with the gifts that each SPHERE member contributes to the group and the organization as a whole—I can’t think of a better way to spend my Tuesday nights!”
Megan Marden – Program Lead: Art Class
Artist and arts educator Megan Marden received an M.F.A. in painting from Western Connecticut State University in 2012. She exhibits her paintings regularly, including recent solo exhibitions in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and recent group exhibitions in New York and Pennsylvania.
She teaches courses in drawing, painting, and art history at Naugatuck Valley Community College and Post University. When she’s not painting, she enjoys working in her vegetable garden and playing with her dog, Foghorn.
Emily Pambianchi – Program Lead: Communication and Social Media
Emily is the Founder and CEO of Social Graces Communications, a strategic communications company that works for small businesses and nonprofits with unique stories and strong core values.
Born and raised in Ridgefield, Connecticut, Emily attended public school and graduated from Ridgefield High School. The community held a special piece of Emily’s heart as she grew up.
In 2002, Emily moved to Philadelphia to study at Saint Joseph’s University, where she earned her B.A. in English and French, and continued her education to receive a M.A. in Writing Studies in 2007.
Ultimately, Emily’s love for her family brought her back to town and to begin her first career at Ridgefield Academy, where she taught for seven years. She also began to volunteer for SPHERE. That passion to work and advocate adults with disabilities led to an exciting new career at The Prospector Theater. The skills she learned, transferred to spending a year developing a communications strategy for Pamby Motors Inc., then ultimately opening her own company in 2018.
Emily’s aunt, Grace, has been a member of SPHERE since 2007, and her mother, Betsy, joined that year as a volunteer. Emily received the Ridgefield Arts Council “Behind the Scenes” Award in 2010.
Lauren Radigan – Program Lead: Cooking
Lauren Radigan has a passion for people and food! After moving to Ridgefield with her family in 2014 after twenty years in New York City, she found the adjustment from city to country life to be a bit challenging to say the least. She and her daughter, who was in the fourth grade at the time, were invited to SPHERE’s Thursday night music class. That changed everything!
Lauren brings her skills from her culinary background from the Institute of Culinary Education (2002) and her Communications Degree from Fordham University to SPHERE’s Cooking Class every week. When she’s not at cooking, she’s a foodie and a cheesemonger at 109 Cheese and Wine in Ridgefield, CT or running her and her husband’s business Damn Good Cocktails LLC.