The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center announces that Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham, JD, has recently been elected Chair of its Board of Directors. Ms. Zolezzi-Wyndham joined the Board in 2008 and became its Vice-Chair in 2013, and has served on a number of committees including the Finance, By-Laws & Nominating, Quality Care and Advancement Committees. She brings with her a vast knowledge of community health centers and has been the driving force in bringing the medical legal partnership model to central Massachusetts.
Ms. Zolezzi-Wyndham worked at Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts for over seven years before the program joined with Western Massachusetts Legal Services to form Community Legal Aid in 2011. From 2002-2004, she was an attorney in the benefits unit, handling welfare matters, employment issues, and MassHealth cases. In 2004 Valerie received the Innovations in Legal Services Award in recognition of her vision in creating the Family Advocates of Central Massachusetts, LACCM’s medical-legal collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
From 2004-2007, Ms. Zolezzi-Wyndham was the Regional Training Director at the Center for Legal Aid Education, a Boston-based organization that provides continuing education and training to equal justice attorneys and staff across the country.
In her position as Director of Training and Professional Development from 2007-2011, Ms. Zolezzi-Wyndham planned, provided and coordinated training and professional development for all staff. She also oversees CLA’s Family Advocates of Central Massachusetts program.
Ms. Zolezzi-Wyndham’s community involvement includes working for the protection of women’s rights, including health, homelessness, violence, and food insecurity.
Ms. Zolezzi-Wyndham is a graduate of Boston College and received her JD from Boston University School of Law. She is fluent in Spanish and French.
