The Center was founded by Steve Wessler in 1999. Wessler is an attorney and former lawyer with the Maine Attorney General. He also headed the Maine Civil Rights Unit. As Chief of the Civil Rights Unit, Wessler became acutely aware of the pressing need for preventative action against hate crimes. He founded the Center with a primary goal of creating programs which would interrupt the social conditions which allow the use of degrading language and harassment to escalate to violence and hate crimes.
For bios of the CPHV staff, please click the links to the left.
Stephen L. Wessler, Executive Director, 207.228.8152
Dr. Lelia L. De Andrade, Associate Director, 207.228.8308
Nicole Manganelli, Coordinator of Curriculum Development, 207.228.8428
Jasa Porciello, Coordinator of Development & Finance, 207.780.4837
Laura Randall, Financial Assistant
Jesse Zimmerman, Administrative Assistant
