Cambridge Community Safety Department  Team

The City of Cambridge’s Community Safety Department (CSD) provides residents with an alternative crisis response that prioritizes issues of mental and behavioral health in some of the city’s most vulnerable communities. The staff has extensive experience in social work, mental health counseling, developmental psychology, emergency medical services, and other areas. 

Meet the members of your Community Safety Department:

Marie Mathieu, LICSW, Director, has spent her 20-year career working in various systems. Marie prioritizes person-centered approaches and community partnerships in all her work, seeing herself as a catalyst for systemic change. Daring to imagine a world where there are no barriers to people accessing needed resources and supports. As a person with lived experience, Marie is a fierce advocate for holistic mental wellness approaches. She strives to break systemic silos and stigmas by working collaboratively across city departments and agencies. She works tirelessly to foster and nurture relationships with anyone who will take the time to connect with her. She leads with humility and always listens before she speaks, respecting the perspective that everyone brings to a situation. Marie’s goals never change regardless of who she is connecting with: firstly preserving human dignity while always centering trauma informed CARE. 

Patty Contente, LICSW, Assistant Director of Clinical Services, has worked in community mental health for 30+ years. She has played a leadership role in program development and collaboration with stakeholders and has successfully implemented programs to address overdose response, suicide prevention and jail diversion. Patty is an experienced trainer and is certified in a number of national programs including: Blue Courage, Resiliency Advantage, Recovery Coach Academy, Mental Health First Aid and most recently Trauma Informed Care for the Criminal Justice System.  

Van Diep, LICSW, Assistant Director of Clinical Services, has 10 years of experience in community-based mental health, supporting individuals living with chronic mental health conditions in achieving their full potential and personal success. Van leads by example and has collaborated with both internal and external stakeholders to develop effective systems that address the needs of vulnerable populations.

Vanessa Ashtin, Administrative Coordinator, raised in Revere, Massachusetts, Vanessa holds a bachelor’s degree in English from UMass Boston. She began her professional journey in hospitality, including time as an assistant pastry chef in a prominent South End restaurant. She later pivoted into administrative work, where she now applies her attention to detail and communication skills in the education and healthcare fields.

Meet the CARE Team:

Donald Adams, CARE Responder, was born and raised in Springfield, MA and brings with him multiple years of high acuity 911 response expertise as an EMT. Donald has significant experience in hospital settings, coordinating with doctors and nursing staff working in critical care. Donald also has developed and possesses a wide range of skills suited for CARE's response to mental health crises and quality of life concerns for vulnerable populations.

Jeffrey Alger, CARE Responder, grew up in Hopedale, Massachusetts, and brings nearly two decades of experience in public safety and emergency response. A certified Massachusetts EMT, he has built his career on a strong foundation of service, professionalism, and the ability to remain composed in high-pressure situations. His diverse background includes roles as an EMT, firefighter, and 911 dispatcher, providing him with a comprehensive perspective on emergency operations—from frontline response to critical communications. This well-rounded experience allows him to approach public safety with both practical expertise and a deep understanding of coordinated emergency systems.

Kellie Foxx-Gonzalez, LCSW, CARE Clinician, is dedicated to supporting the Cambridge community using a person-centered, trauma-informed and psychodynamic approach. They earned their bachelor’s degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies at Columbia University and their master's in social work at Boston College. Prior to joining the Cambridge Safety Department, she has worked extensively in mobile crisis response and intimate partner violence prevention and response.  

Matthew Gomes, CARE Clinician, majored in Psychology at Florida State University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling at U-Mass Boston. Prior to joining the Cambridge Community Safety Department, he worked as a Research Assistant in the Flavell Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, where he looked at serotonin-signaling to understand how neural circuits sustain behaviors. In addition to a background in neuropsychological research, he has experience as a hotline crisis counselor and lead social justice and advocacy-based community organizations.  

Dimitri Virgile, CARE Responder, was raised in Medford, MA and holds a bachelor's degree from Sacred Heart University in Health Sciences and a master’s degree in biomedical sciences from Quinnipiac University. He started his professional career working as an EMT-Field Training Officer for 7 years and has experience working in hospital and primary care settings.

Izamar Rivera-Diaz, MSW, CARE Clinician, holds dual master's degrees in social work and human sexuality. She brings over a decade of experience supporting individuals with complex behavioral and medical health needs in community-based settings. As a bilingual clinician, she specializes in crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and coordinated wraparound services. Izamar is committed to advancing equity, harm reduction and culturally responsive practices that promote dignity and meaningful connection within the community.

Mirna Mejia, LICSW, CARE Clinician, is a licensed independent clinical social worker with experience in community based mental health, crisis response, and person-centered practice, with a strong focus on dignity, accountability and relational safety. She has worked across clinical and community settings supporting individuals and families navigating complex emotional and systemic challenges. Mirna also serves as an adjunct professor, supporting graduate-level students in developing sound clinical judgement and reflective, ethical practice. Guided by humility and purpose, she is committed to collaborative approaches that promote stabilization and community well-being. 

For more information about the Community Safety Department, please visit https://www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/communitysafety, email info@cambridgesafety.org or call (617) 349-7200.