In 2024, seven women looked at Hamden and the surrounding towns and saw both strength and a gap.
The strength was unmistakable; entrepreneurs, educators, clinicians, public servants, and creators powering families and local businesses every day. The gap was just as clear: a dedicated home for professional women to connect across industries, mentor the next generation, and turn ideas into measurable community impact.
Out of that vision, the Hamden Business & Professional Women’s Club—an affiliate of NANBPWC, Inc., was born. Its seven founders Cherice McNeil Edgehill, Nicole Macon, Jacqùese C. Patterson, Dr. Tajhma Burroughs, Florita Gillespie, Stephanie Paris-Cooper, and Shareese McLeod, each brought years of commitment to the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, translating national best practices into a local engine for empowerment.
Each founder brings a distinct lens: legal and clinical training, small-business savvy, education, public service, nonprofit leadership; but they share a single thesis: when women have structure, resources, and sisterhood, the entire community rises.
From Vision to Charter
The founders began organizing in 2024, laying the groundwork with one-on-one conversations across Hamden and surrounding towns. They mapped resources, identified barriers for women-owned businesses and young leaders, and drafted a plan rooted in the NANBPWC national program focus known as L.E.T.S. – Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Technology, and Service.
On July 1, 2025, the Hamden Club received its official charter, a milestone that affirmed both the rigor of the team’s preparation and the urgency of its mission. With the charter in hand, the founders set their sights on a public launch designed not merely to celebrate, but to invite the whole community into the work ahead. The Hamden Clubs Ribbon cutting Launch Celebration was held September 13, 2025 and included Hamden Mayor Lauren Garret, Hamden Fire Chief-Shelly Carter, Hamden Police Chief-Edward Page Reynolds, Hamden Superintendent of Schools-Gary Highsmith, Imam-Saladin Hasan, Senator Richard Blumenthal, and a broad circle of community partners who underscored the Club’s promise: local solutions powered by local leadership.
The Hamden Club’s inclusivity also sets it apart. Membership extends beyond professional women to include men, young adults, college students, and even those still discovering their career paths. Scholarships, leadership opportunities, and community programs ensure that everyone has a place and purpose.
Interested in joining, partnering, or supporting scholarships and programming?
Email Jacqùese C. Patterson, Marketing Director at info@thehamdenclub.org for membership details, sponsorship opportunities, and the upcoming event calendar.