Building One Community's 10th Annual Colloquium
Join B1C for a night of intellectual discussion around the topic of:
"Roadblocks & Rising Paths: Charting Immigrant Mobility in Connecticut"
September 16th, 2025
5:30 - 7:00 PM
Wine, Hors D’oeuvres, & Silent Auction
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Moderated discussion on Migration Policy Institute's (MPI) soon-to-be launched report and Q&A.
The Village
4 Star Point, Stamford, CT 06902
Reserve your spot now; seating is limited.
R.S.V.P. by August 29, 2025
We look forward to this special event, which serves as an opportunity to connect over our shared interest in advancing the successful integration of immigrants and their families.
Meet Our Participants
Mirellise Vazquez, our moderator, is the Vice President of Investment at The Connecticut Project, where she leads philanthropic strategy, stakeholder engagement, and grantmaking efforts. She brings over 20 years of experience in policy, advocacy, and philanthropy across the public and nonprofit sectors. Previously, she served as Executive Director of the Tauck Family Foundation and held leadership roles in several international nonprofits. Mirellise began her career at the U.S. Department of Labor, focusing on international child labor and education programs. She was a longtime B1C board member, including serving as board vice-chair.
Julia Gelatt is the Associate Director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute, where she focuses on the U.S. legal immigration system, demographic trends, and immigration policy. She previously conducted research on immigrant access to public benefits and youth trafficking at the Urban Institute. Dr. Gelatt holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Princeton University.
Sen. Ceci Maher, Connecticut State Senator, elected in 2022, represents the 26th Senate District, covering Weston, Westport, Wilton, Redding, and parts of Ridgefield, Darien, New Canaan, and Stamford. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from Columbia University and has worked with children in psychiatric care and led local nonprofits. As executive director of Person-to-Person, she expanded services to support over 25,000 people annually across lower Fairfield County. Ceci has been the State Senate Chair of the Children's Committee for the past three years.
David Cingari is the Culinary Director at Cingari Family Markets and a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, with over 40 years of experience in food trends, menu development, and recipe creation. He has been featured in publications such as Entrepreneur Magazine, Stamford Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. An active community supporter, David regularly contributes his expertise to local philanthropic events and serves on the boards of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce, the Stamford Hospital Foundation, and the First County Bank Corporation.
Sponsorships*
Visionary Sponsor $10,000+ - Includes 10 Tickets
Ambassador Sponsor $5,000 - Includes 8 Tickets
Champion Sponsor $2,500 - Includes 6 Tickets
Ally Sponsor $1,000 - Includes 4 Tickets
Friend Sponsor $500 - Includes 2 Tickets
*All sponsors will receive special mention on the Building One Community website and at the event. To be listed as a sponsor on event materials, confirmation of sponsorship must be received by August 29th.
Individual Tickets
$125
For more information contact [email protected] or call 203-674-8585 ext. 142.

