Carlene Fonseca

About Carlene Fonseca

Carlene Fonseca is a trailblazing millennial, survivor, and mental health and recovery community advocate with over 15 years of unique personal and professional experiences. As a first-generation Cape Verdean American, Carlene believes that education, mental health wellness, financial empowerment, and self-advocacy are the keys to healing and living a happier life. She is the CEO of The Greatest You Consulting, where she empowers individuals to center wellness and healing in their lives through innovative workshops, public speaking, and a wellness product line.In November 2023, Carlene took on the role of Statewide Director for the Rhode Island Afterschool Network, bringing her expertise and passion for youth and community development to the forefront. Additionally, Carlene spent four years on the Central Falls City Council, demonstrating her commitment to public service and community advocacy. She continues to educate and inspire as a faculty member at College Unbound, where she supports non-traditional adult learners.Carlene holds a Bachelor’s degree in Government from Georgetown University and a Master’s degree in Criminology from The George Washington University. A lifelong learner, she is also a certified Social Emotional Learning facilitator and yoga instructor, bringing a trauma-informed lens to all her work.Her professional endeavors are just one aspect of who she is; Carlene takes pride in living her life as a true embodiment of healing, wellness, and community. She’s also vocal about rejecting the hustle culture that glorifies overwork and burnout, advocating instead for a balanced and intentional approach to work and life. She believes that true success is found in well-being, not in constantly chasing achievements or external validation. Carlene is a devoted mother to her five-year-old daughter Reyna. She is passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, both physically and emotionally, and enjoys listening to podcasts and staying active at the gym. As a survivor of childhood and adult trauma, Carlene is dedicated to empowering others in her community to become their best selves, living a life rooted in wellness and recovery.Connect with Carlene to learn more about her journey, her work, and her unwavering commitment to creating a healthier, more empowered world for all.

Experience

1. Core Instructional Faculty

   College Unbound

   Aug 2021 — Present · Providence, RI, US

   College Unbound\'s mission is to reinvent the higher education experience for underserved adult learners, using a student-driven model of rigorous and engaged scholarship.

Education

• Providence College School of Business

  Master of Business Administration - MBA

• Georgetown University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), American Government and Politics (United States)

  2007 — 2011

• The George Washington University

  Master of Arts (M.A.), Criminology

  2011 — 2013

• Breathe For Change

  Digital 200-hour Wellness, SEL and Yoga Teacher Training