Christie Gray

Born and raised in the North End of Bridgeport, Christie became a young mother to her son, Jocquiz, at fourteen; is a loving parent to her stepdaughter, Destiny; and devoted partner of 30 years to her fiancé, Randy. A 1993 graduate of Bassick High School, Christie has attained certifications in Medical Billing and CNA and furthered her studies at Housatonic Community College. She is currently enrolled at Springfield College in Massachusetts, where she studies Human Services. She has been employed in the Medical and Human Services fields for over 23 years, including her role as a Team Leader at Sema4 in Stamford when it was acquired by the state of CT in 2018. Christie faced incarceration multiple times for fraud-related crimes, and when she finally took the steps necessary to change her life – including the people, places, and things that had the potential to cause her to regress – she experienced a renewed commitment to better living and walking side-by-side with others endeavoring to do the same. Her renewed passion for living life well and to the fullest were affirmed when Christie began attending Hang Time in 2018 and Her Time soon thereafter, and this is when and where meaningful change truly began to make their impact, clearing the path for her to become the Program Manager for Her Time in 2022 and a CHOICES Mentor in 2023. The setbacks and adversity associated with justice involvement are what compel Christie to extend herself to strangers and friends alike, as she strives to offer the same grace and opportunity that she has successfully incorporated into her daily life. In addition to her roles with the Hang Time family, Christie is employed by Community Life Solutions as a Case Manager, and volunteers with the Bridgeport Rescue Mission and as a Mentor with Juvenile Probation. Building connections, building resilience, and building bridges are the motivations that keep Christie grounded and grateful and unwilling to turn away when she can jump in to offer just the right helping hand that so many of us need.