Courtney McNally Parkerson

Courtney is a Director with The Connecticut Project where she works with partners, grantees, and community members to understand the lived experiences of our neighbors and collaborates to generate meaningful individual outcomes and systemic change.

Prior to joining The Connecticut Project, Courtney managed a portfolio of early childhood policy initiatives at Bank Street College of Education. She also held leadership roles in the New York City Department of Education. Courtney lives with her husband and three children in Essex, Connecticut.

Why do you do the work?

Our collective lives are undermined when some of our neighbors are denied opportunity. I am deeply motivated to confront these inequities. I focus on education and early childhood because I believe that everyone should have access to the experiences and resources that enable them to recognize their full potential.

What are some specific places or things you love in Connecticut?

I live along the Connecticut River and am awed by the migration of birds we are so fortunate to witness. The bald eagles migrate from frozen waters up north in February and March. Springtime marks the arrival of several of my favorite songbirds. The best is the tree swallow migration in late summer. Thick clouds twist and turn together in unison through an unspoken common choreography. I am so inspired by these annual pilgrimages of survival.