Women In Human Services Hall of Fame

 The human services workforce is 81% women.  In March, we honor some of the women providing critical services across New York.  We must invest in women like these to ensure nonprofits can recruit and retain quality staff, and so our communities value our leaders!

View 2019’s honorees here.

Strong Nonprofits Leadership Award, 2020
Child Care Council, Inc.

Barbara-Ann Mattle, this years Strong Nonprofits Leadership Award honoree, started with Child Care Council, Inc. in 1983 with a budget of $20,000. She developed, managed and currently directs all operations for this nonprofit corporation, providing early childhood education, child care referral services, Repurpose and More Store, professional and children’s library, NYS Family and School Age Child Care Program Registration and inspection services, NYS Legally Exempt Child Care Enrollment and inspection, facilitates the Region II (Monroe, Wayne, Livingston, Steuben, Schuyler, Seneca Ontario, Yates and Chemung County NYS regional Infant/Toddler Resource center, NYS Child Care health consulting services, Education services, child care center design services and USDA Child and Adult Food Program sponsorship, Special Needs Services Multi Lingual Team, VROOM project of the Bezos Foundation, and the NYS Pyramid Model Program. She graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Business Adminstration and Finance and an A.A.S. in Education. She holds a Child Care Certificate from St. John’s College, as well as a Certificate in Child Care Center Facility Design from Harvard and Tufts.

VISIONS Services for the Blind

Holly Bonner, MPA, MSW, MAPCC, CASAC is an award-winning mental health professional, professor, writer, poet and the creator of Blind Motherhood, LLC. Ms. Bonner holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY), a master’s in social work from Columbia University, and a Masters in Pastoral Care and Counseling (MPCC) from New York Theological Seminary (NYTS). She is currently a candidate for her Doctorate in Ministry at NYTS where she is focusing on disability, spiritual awareness, and accessibility issues relating to faith-based institutions. After losing her eyesight in 2012, Ms. Bonner developed her website, www.blindmotherhood.com. Blind Motherhood’s mission is to demonstrate members of the blind and visually impaired community can parent safely, independently and effectively. Ms. Bonner currently serves as an undergraduate psychology/social development professor at MCNY and a professor of civic engagement professor at Wagner College. She is the Staten Island Borough Coordinator for VISIONS, a non-profit rehabilitation and social service organization whose purpose is to develop and implement programs to assist blind and visually impaired people of all ages to lead independent and active lives. In April 2019, Mayor Bill DeBlasio appointed Holly as a Commissioner for Civic Engagement, representing Staten Island. Ms. Bonner’s role in this new commission is to bring a faith-based and social justice perspective to help enhance civic participation, promote civic trust, and strengthen democracy in New York City. Holly resides in West Brighton with her husband, Detective Joseph Bonner, and two daughters, Nuala, age 7 and Aoife, age 5.

SCO Family of Services

Christina Calabrese oversees the training and professional development needs of SCO’s diverse workforce. As Vice President, of Learning and Development, she is responsible for developing methods to build capacity and competency of 4,000 staff; create professional development opportunities; ensure compliance with training requirements of regulatory agencies and coordinate a Learning Governance Council. She manages SCO’s Center for Professional Development (CPD) the agency’s central training department; oversees the agency’s knowledge management system and works closely with executive leadership to advance professional development for program staff and ensure they are in compliance with required training. With over 10 years of clinical experience in mental health and developmental disabilities in FL and NC, Christina joined SCO in 2013 as Assistant Director of Training and Staff Development and was soon promoted to CPD Director before being named VP in 2017. During her tenure, Christina and her team have broadened the scope of training and professional education at SCO — producing yearly conferences, developing workshops to address the professional development needs of all levels of SCO staff; including a Direct Support Professional Series (DSPS), Casework Workshops, Clinical Continuing Education, and a Manager’s Workshop Series; as well as creating a quarterly training for newly hired/promoted supervisors; and the roll-out of agency-wide LGBTQ and Care Management training. Christina is a graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Florida School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, and is completing her doctoral dissertation.

Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey

Celina has worked in the human services sector for more than two decades. In her role of Director of Day Services for Goodwill NYNJ, she’s helped thousands of people with developmental disabilities, including both Intellectual Disabilities and / or Autism Spectrum Disorders, achieve greater independence in their lives or enter the workforce. In 2014, when Goodwill NYNJ closed its sheltered work center, Celina and her team helped more than 100 individuals with developmental disabilities transition to jobs in the community. Celina developed the appropriate programing to methodically integrate these individuals with developmental disabilities to the community. The closing of Goodwill NYNJ work center also meant that hundreds of individuals with disabilities began working in small businesses and corporations alike, helping employers hire a more diverse workforce that reflects their customers. NYS OPWDD viewed the Prevocational Services model Goodwill NYNJ developed for this purpose, as a best practices model to develop its Community Prevocational Services guidelines and regulations. With the closing of the sheltered work center, Day Services placements increased over 20% since launching this new community employment strategy six years ago. During the same period, Day Services has expanded by increasing revenue over $1.2 million, allowing Goodwill NYNJ to expand programming to provide more services to residents with developmental disabilities across NYC. Currently, Celina’s team provides services for 215 people with Intellectual Disabilities and / or Autism Spectrum Disorders. Goodwill NYNJ provided training, placement, on-the-job, and retention services for nearly 30,000 people, including 9,000 individuals with disabilities.

Lifetime Assistance, Inc.

Colleen has had lifelong experiences supporting people with disabilities. She worked at a school program prior to coming to Lifetime Assistance in 1988. Ever since that time, Colleen has worked daily to support people with the highest level of disability and medical needs. She is not only kind but is constantly in motion meeting the needs of all of those she supports. She is constantly thinking of meaningful and creative opportunities to engage the people she supports. Most of the time, this involves physical assistance, and Colleen always does this with a smile on her face and determined for the person to enjoy their experience. She is truly devoted to them and their families. Families trust that Colleen is responsible for their loved one’s well-being, that they are in good hands. The people Colleen supports think the world of her. Very few of those she supports can use their words and communicate in a traditional way. However, their faces speak volumes. They trust her and know that she will never let them down. Colleen is a fierce advocate. For as kind as Colleen is, she will work diligently to assure the people she supports are receiving the best possible services, even if this means possibly “ruffling some feathers.” If she sees that something needs to be done, she is always willing to do it herself, making her an amazing role model to all. She is a selfless professional and has made a significant difference in the lives of all of those she has supported for over 30 years. She is also a devoted mother of two young men.

COFCCA

Mary Jane is an exceptional advocate for human services, who in her position as Director of Information, Research, and Accountability at Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA) is constantly working with human service agencies to better understand their needs and assist COFCCA in presenting them to their government funding partners. She is amazing in her ability to negotiate win-win partnerships for both sides to work together and achieve the best outcomes for the children and families of New York. In addition to her work with organizations, she regularly takes part in government advocacy events to assist and petition lawmakers to make the best decisions for New York children and families. In addition to her work at COFCCA, Mary Jane has been an instructor for CUNY Hunter College Silberman School of Social Work and was previously the MIS Director at a large New York human services agency. Mary Jane is a Licensed Master Social Worker, with a Columbia University Graduate School of Business certificate in non-profit leadership. Mary Jane is also active at her church and in the Order of the Eastern Star as additional ways to serve her community.

Office of Children and Family Services

Peggy Dewar has been advocating for New York Children and Families for over 30 years. In her current role as Assistant Regional Director at NYS OCFS CWCS she works closely with local districts to ensure they provide the best resources and oversight to the service providers in the counties of Duchess, Orange, Putnam, Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester. Prior to her current position, Peggy worked closely with human service providers throughout the region to implement quality Bridges to Health Healthcare to the children served and as a Congregate Care Manager. Every agency that has ever worked with her, speaks of how much help she provided, how much she cares and how focused she is on providing the best human services has to offer. Peggy has worked for New York State as a Daycare License, as the Manager of a Medical Center, and as a Child Protective Service Worker for New York City at every turn helping the children and families of New York with their human service needs. Peggy also volunteers at her church in her spare time as part of her continued dedication to human services.

The Urban Assembly

Lindsey Dixon is a high-impact nonprofit leader with deep expertise in K-12 education, workforce development, and program design. She currently leads the Urban Assembly’s “future of work” focused team as the Director of Career Readiness, supporting a network of 24 career-themed public middle and high schools in New York City. She is also the co-founder of the PD Fund, a small but growing pay-it-forward not-for-profit that provides funding for under-resourced students to pay for postsecondary training tuition, housing, and childcare costs. She formerly served as Senior Director of Academics & Innovative Learning for Year Up, a national workforce development nonprofit serving opportunity youth. Lindsey is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, former Bronx high school teacher, nonprofit founder, and doctoral student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her major is educational leadership and learning design with a focus on educational equity and socioeconomic mobility. Lindsey and her wife are longtime Brooklyn residents.

Center for Community Alternatives

Jacqueline Gonzalez is a lifelong resident of Syracuse and an SCSD graduate. She has been working with youth for over 25 years in case management, prevention and education in Onondaga County. She is a member of various committees at area agencies and community groups including Spanish Action League, Planned Parenthood of CNY, Shonnard St Boys and Girls Club, Near Westside Initiative and has worked at different capacities with the Syracuse University Latina Sorority. She is currently the Project Director for the After-School Alternatives Program and Violence Prevention Training Program at Center for Community Alternatives (CCA). In this role Jackie oversees the implementation of both programs which work with at risk youth and the communities they reside in. Jackie is also an avid animal lover and often volunteers for the SPCA.

Project Renewal

Etta Graham has committed her career to working with individuals struggling with homelessness, addiction, mental illness and criminal justice involvement. She has spent the last 25 years at Project Renewal, initially leading a case management team and for the last 20 years, as Shelter Director for the Fort Washington shelter — a 200 bed shelter for homeless men with mental illness. Etta manages a large team and serves as an informal mentor and source of inspiration to many across Project Renewal. She holds master’s degrees in science & Education and in Divinity. She is a certified Rehabilitation Counselor.

Lutheran Social Services of New York

Sasha Hill is currently the Director of Information Technology for Lutheran Social Services of New York and has worked for the organization for an over three-and-a-half years. Prior to coming to Lutheran Social Services of New York, she worked in Information Technology at both Leake and Watts Services, Inc. and The Children’s Village. During her tenure at LSSNY, she has worked tirelessly to keep the number of helpdesk tickets at a minimum, while implementing new technologies and constantly looking for ways to innovate and make the environment more user friendly. She is a technically gifted hard-working individual who always goes above and beyond to make sure that the organization she works for has the best technical ability to serve their clients. Sasha is an expert on Office 365, and Cisco Meraki Networking Technology. She has a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the New York Institute of Technology - Old Westbury.

Eden II Programs

Dr. Hopkins is currently the Deputy Executive Director of the Eden II Programs. She is a graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton and holds a doctorate in neuropsychology from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Dr. Hopkins has worked for thirty years to provide excellent services for people with autism spectrum disorders through the Eden II Programs, whose 700 caring and talented employees provide supports to hundreds of children and adults each day. Her roles within the agency have changed over time, ranging from provision of direct care and teaching to her current role supporting the leadership of several departments, including psychological services, human resources, information technology, quality assurance, and employee training and development. In addition to her work with the Eden II Programs, Dr. Hopkins is an adjunct assistant professor for the Department of Early Childhood Education/Art Education at Brooklyn College, and serves on the board of the Staten Island Opportunities Alliance, an organization focused on strengthening organizations and services for individuals with disabilities on Staten Island.

The HOPE Program

Felicia Kavonne Jones, a.k.a.”Ms. Jay” to her colleagues and students, has been transforming lives through workforce readiness instruction at HOPE since 2012. Felicia joined HOPE with a strong background in workforce development, including experience at Goodwill Industries and The Culinary Tech/ Educational Training Institute. Her experience encompasses; 15 years in Workforce Development, 15 years in Corporate, 10 years of Retail Executive experience, 20 years of Global Community Outreach Service including a background as a performer. She utilizes these talents to drive professionalism, creativity, and confidence within the classroom. She holds a BS in Criminal Justice from John Jay College. In 2016, achieved the New York City Employment and Training Coalition Bonnie Potter Workforce Staff Award for her outstanding direct service. Felicia’s contribution to her students can be best described as: challenging, demanding, promoting excellence. She facilitates change through sound counsel, support and encouragement. “Felicia becomes the center of the universe for her classes, while at the same time opening the world to them by revealing step by step what they themselves have to offer as professionals, workers, people and citizens, and what they themselves very well may have not known they had to offer.”

St. Peter’s Hospital

Heather Keller MSN, RN, C-EFM, C-NIC is the Professional Practice and Nursing Research Specialist at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY. St. Peter’s Hospital is a member of Trinity Health, a national Catholic health system with an enduring legacy and a steadfast mission to be a transforming and healing presence within the communities served. She has 15 years’ experience in Neonatal and Maternal nursing, previously working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles and St. Peter’s NICU before becoming a Clinical Nurse Educator in the Women’s and Children’s Division. Heather holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing Education from the University of Phoenix. Heather has been a champion in promoting programs for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and recognizing the importance of the family unit in the rapidly changing landscape of health care. She has improved the quality of care for mothers with opioid use disorder and their newborns; implementing a program which utilizes the Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) Program to preserve the mother-baby dyad. Heather’s vision is to empower this often-marginalized population. She connects with women and communicates genuine caring and acceptance, while educating them on what to expect and how to care for their newborns. Through her work with this population she supports and builds confidence in these women. Heather was recently recognized in 2019 by the March of Dimes and awarded the Healthy Mom, Strong Babies Award for her work with this population.

St. John’s Residence for Boys

Violet Liverpool has worked at St. John’s Residence for Boys for 13 years. Before her work in Social Services she was a Beautician and referred to St. John’s by one of her clients. She decided to visit St. John’s and never looked back. She eventually became a Youth Development Counselor and then transitioned to Head Cook. Over time she became familiar with the Jewish Child Care Association and became a Foster Parent to a few boys from that agency. She also decided to become a permanent resource to some of the boys at St. John’s through adoption (she adopted one boy). All In all, she has fostered five boys while raising two biological boys of her own. She resides in Brooklyn and in her spare time enjoys, dancing, shopping and spending quality time with her three Foster sons as both her Biological sons are currently living on their own.

MercyFirst

Since 1983, McKelvey has served at MercyFirst in the capacities of Caseworker, Casework Supervisor, Program Director, Sr. Vice President of Foster Care and Adoption Services, and in 2011 was promoted to the position of Chief Program Officer providing administrative oversight and supervision for the full continuum of care provided by MercyFirst. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Providence College and her master’s degree in Social Work from Fordham University. She uses excellent case management and clinical skills to assist children and families with a history of trauma and crisis. Strong organizational and communication skills founded in Systems Theory, strengthened through the Sanctuary Model and dedicated to the core values of the social work profession. Extensive knowledge and experience in administering OCFS/ACS Policies and Procedures consistent with Best Practice Strategies. Membership and executive representation on various internal and external committees/affiliations designed to improve practice, communication and outcomes throughout the system. Instrumental role in agency accreditation with Council on Accreditation, Sanctuary Institute, American Psychological Association and with initiatives to promote program growth and development. Recent program development includes: Implementation of Evidence Based/Supported Models of Treatment and Practice; Continuum of Care to Unaccompanied Minors funded by The US Office of Refugee Resettlement; Raise the Age programming for Juvenile Delinquents sponsored by OCFS; developed first Youth Reception Center program in NYC in partnership with ACS and development of Care Management Services and Health Home enrollment for youth and families in response to Medicaid Redesign in NYS.

Prevent Child Abuse New York

Jenn O’Connor is Director of Policy and Advocacy for Prevent Child Abuse New York (PCANY), the only statewide nonprofit solely focused on preventing abuse and neglect. She is also Director of the NYS Home Visiting Coordination Initiative (HVCI). She previously served as NYS Director of Council for a Strong America, senior associate for the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, senior analyst for the National Governors Association, and director of legislative affairs and education for the National Conference of Insurance Legislators. In addition to a background in mental health, maternal and child health, health insurance, and education policy, she has several years of campaign and legislative experience. Jenn is immediate past co-chair of Winning Beginning New York, the State’s early learning coalition, and former public policy chair for the NY Association for the Education of Young Children and policy co-chair for the NYS Network for Youth Success. She was previously vice president of the board of PCANY. Jenn is also a co-convener of CapitalWomen, a grassroots organization dedicated to assuring equal opportunity to pursue education, employment, and participation in our civil society. The CapitalWomen political action committee has raised thousands of dollars to help elect progressive candidates. Her short fiction has been published in literary magazines such as Yellow Chair Review, Unbroken Journal, and Prime Number Magazine. Her essay on being a foster parent was first published by Motherwell Magazine and was recognized as a #BlogHer17 Voices of the Year Honoree. She lives in Albany with her daughter, Rose.

Women’s Prison Association

Rebecca Pak has called WPA home since stepping off the plane from Brisbane where she worked for one of Australia’s largest retailers. As the Director of Institutional Giving, Rebecca managed WPA’s portfolio of 40+ foundations and corporate partners from 2011 to 2018 and grew private fundraising revenue by 30%. In her new role as the Director of Donor Engagement, Rebecca aims to grow WPA’s community of individual donors and build relationships with businesses, inspiring them to partner with WPA to address the cycles of trauma, poverty, and incarceration that devastate women and families in New York City. When she’s not engaging with partners to identify opportunities for clients, you can find Rebecca leading an event or campaign with WPA’s junior board, the Emerging Philanthropists. She holds a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice from Griffith University. Rebecca a.k.a. Bek lives in Long Island City with her partner.

Graham Windham

Kristen Ragusa is an accomplished executive with 28+ years’ experience in residential services. Her creativity, sky-high personal standards, and devotion to kids, family and staff success has created an environment that has changed countless lives. Ms. Ragusa started her career at Green Chimneys Services in 1991, joined Graham Windham in 1997 as the special assistant to the vice president, and moved up the ranks to Vice President of the Graham School Campus. Ms. Ragusa has been an important leader at the Graham School for over 20 years. In 2002, she assumed leadership of the Cottage Teams as the Director of Residential Care. Since 2010, she has led the Family and Clinical teams in addition to Residential Care and, in 2016, she took over leadership of the entire Campus. Ms. Ragusa has been the force and glue behind so many of our Graham School practices, from the Bengals to Graham Prep, and has truly done whatever it takes to do right by kids and families.

Mental Health Association

Melissa Ramirez is the Deputy Director of the Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. (MHANYS). The mission of MHANYS is to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities by raising mental health awareness, ending stigma and discrimination, and promoting wellness and recovery. Melissa has worked diligently for the past 14 years to help MHANYS meet this mission. Ms. Ramirez joined MHANYS in 2006 as a Mental Health Advocate and Program Coordinator for its Mental Health Information Center; two years later, she was promoted to the leadership team. She oversees program operations, manages contracts and grants, writes proposals, and leads the IT, Content, and Administrative Teams. In 2010, she brought Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) to the agency and became a Certified MHFA Instructor. Melissa is passionate about normalizing conversations around mental health. She is a valuable member of the MHANYS team that has worked to increase mental health literacy and decrease stigma across NYS.

YMCA of Binghamton/Broome County

Rebecca Rathmell is the Street Outreach Coordinator & Housing Advocate at the YWCA of Binghamton. Active within the local homeless services sector since 2007, she most recently served as CoC Coordinator for the Southern Tier Homeless Coalition and as co-chair for the Broome County Safe Housing Task Force. Rebecca previously conducted performance management of contracted services for Broome County’s Departments of Social Services and Mental Health and has held direct service, development, and program management roles within Adult Congregate Care Level 2 and Permanent Supportive Housing settings. Guided by a commitment to individual worth and the belief that the solution to homelessness is a home, Rebecca is a persistent and passionate advocate for increased access to housing for extremely low-income and vulnerable populations.

Children’s Aid

Angela Sharpe currently serves as the Program Director of the Adolescent Division-Hope Leadership Academy with Children’s Aid. Her passion is ensuring the success of teens in the community by providing counselling services and helping teens to discover their full potential Sharpe joined the Adolescent Division-Hope Leadership Academy with Children’s Aid in 2013, in the role of social worker at the after school program. In 2015, she was promoted to the position of Director and continues to work tirelessly to meet the many needs of the teens and families in the East Harlem community and beyond. Before joining Hope Leadership Academy, Sharpe began her education career in human services. Later she earned a Bachelors and Masters level degree in Social Work at Fordham University with a concentration in client-centered management. In 2007, Sharpe completed two consecutive years of internship with the Department of Education, working with Students in Temporary Housing. Sharpe is an active member of her community. In 2016, she joined the Kairos Torch ministry, and was a part of an amazing team of volunteers and leaders. In 2017, she shared her passion for women’s empowerment with her colleagues at Children’s Aid and launched the first annual Empowered Women Event in 2018. She partnered with colleagues and CBOs to create a platform for women of all ages in the East Harlem community. Having endured many difficult experiences in her life, Sharpe developed a desire to help people to discover the diamond buried in the rough of their life experiences. She believes that everything in life is perfectly orchestrated to guide us to becoming the best version of ourselves. Sharpe is committed to helping those who are hurting to find and nurture their hidden diamonds.

Abbott House

Suraiya Sheikh is the Chief Information Officer at Abbott House. In her 20 years at Abbott House she has worked to bring the best technology and data resources to enable the organization to provide superior services to their clients. She has played an essential role in the continued successful design and implementation of a secure and reliable network infrastructure across the Agency’s multiple offices and remote sites. Suraiya is also co-chair of the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA) Information Technology Committee. As co-chair she consistently advocates for all Agencies, big and small, to have a level playing field in technology, the best data available, and the resources and talent to provide the best quality services to their clients. She is both an advocate and a resource, as she is always willing to share her knowledge and assist those who need help. Mrs. Sheikh is also a Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) and a Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA). She has a wealth of knowledge regarding various information systems related to Human Services.

Center for Law & Social Justice, Medgar Evers College

Esmeralda Simmons is a civil rights and human rights attorney of Caribbean American heritage whose practice focuses on racial justice for people of African Descent in New York. Recently retired, she was the founding executive director of the Center for Law and Social Justice in Brooklyn and led that organization for 34 years. The Center is a community-based legal advocacy and research institution at Medgar Evers College of CUNY. During her illustrious career, Esmeralda served as the First Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights for New York State, and as a Civil Rights Attorney for the US Department of Education, a New York State Assistant Attorney General, a New York City Assistant Corporation Counsel, and as a law clerk to a federal judge. In addition, she has served on several major public boards in New York City government, including the NYC Board of Education and the NYC Districting Commission. She strongly believes in community service and has a history of activism in progressive political movements and electoral politics. Esmeralda also volunteers her skills and currently serves on the board of directors of UPROSE — a climate justice organization; the Council of Elders for African Cultural Heritage; and Little Sun People – an outstanding African-centered early childhood education center. In the recent past, she has served on several boards of national organizations: the Applied Research Center (now “Race Forward”); Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center; the Child Welfare Fund; and, the Poverty and Race Research Action Council (PRRAC). Esmeralda is a deeply spiritual woman who is a Yoruba priest. She resides in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn with her husband Lesly Jean-Jacques and is the grandmother of seven fantastic youth.

Northern Rivers

In 2009, at age 17, Tulani Spicer’s mother passed away. “I was homeless and hungry, and I had no direction in life,” she recalls, before finding salvation in a Northern Rivers Family of Services career development program in Schenectady, N.Y. “I finally had support, and it changed my life.” As part of the program, she pursued her education and secured an internship at a Northern Rivers residential facility. “The love and kindness I felt opened so many things up for me, and I knew I would make this my career. The people around me wanted me to be great, and I made it my goal to never stop learning and become a leader,” she says. Her internship led to a youth counselor position in one of the facility’s most challenging dorms, working with youth who exhibited sexual problem behaviors. For the next five years, Tulani was a rock of Northern Rivers residential programming, demonstrating a fierce commitment to youth in care and the power of learning. After a period of time off to recover from an injury, Spicer returned as a supervisor for the residence’s on-call unit—the team designated to respond to crisis situations involving youth in crisis. After a successful tenure with the on-call unit, Tulani realized her dream of becoming a dorm leader in 2018. “I’m where I always wanted to be,” she says. “I received love and kindness, and that’s what I share. Stay strong, keep pushing, and you’ll get there.”

The Children’s Village

Ms. Hazel Stoute came to The Children's Village in March of 1986 after seeing a listing in the New York Times employment section for work with children. She was inspired to "try" this work because of her own mother's involvement in community service and giving/selfless ways. Ms. Stoute became a Registered Medical Assistant prior to coming to Children’s Village and was looking to supplement her income with addition employment. Ms. Stoute’s plans were to remain at the agency not more than for two years. However, those plans changed when Ms. Stoute saw that this was worth a career change. In addition to working at the Childrens Village, Ms. Stoute worked as a Mental Health Worker at Phelps Hospital. Over three decades later, she remains on the frontline with the same commitment and love for children and families that she always has had. Ms. Stoute began on the night-shift in the Office of Mental Health licensed Residential Treatment Facility cottage on the Dobbs Ferry Campus. Her skills in responding to children and deescalating dangerous situations was quickly recognized and she was promoted to Cottage supervisor. Over the years, there have been many opportunities for Ms. Stoute to leave the frontline work, but she always chose to remain in the cottage. A place where she believes she is at her "best". We agree! Because of Ms. Stoute, multiple staff have been developed and promoted within The Children's Village. They remain a credit to her love of people and willingness to develop and promote others to become even greater. Ms. Stoute has served hundreds of teens and families. Many of whom have kept contact with her and have returned to visit as alumni and to serve as staff themselves. She is an example to us all.

NMIC

Ramona first became involved with NMIC and community organizing when NMIC organized a Tenant Association in her building. With an innate compassion for those around her and a fierce determination to fight on their behalf, Ramona naturally became a leader of her TA. From there, she then became the head of her local Block Association, and finally became an integral leader in Union Communal, a member-based organization established to address issues facing the community as a whole. Knowing the kind of passionate and dogged advocate Ramona is for the people in her community, in the late 1990s NMIC realized that they had to hire her as a community organizer. For the next two decades, Ramona has formed an essential part of the backbone of organizing at NMIC, helping to organize and serve as an advocate for dozens of buildings and tenant associations, and hundreds of tenants. Ramona’s story, beginning as a recipient of NMIC’s services who then became a critical part of providing those services to countless others, is the perfect example of the power of engaging people and giving the opportunities to fight for their own interests and those around them. Each day, she continues to make NMIC’s mission a reality: serving the needs of the community and preserving affordable housing within it.

Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow

Georgia Trim has 14 years of experience as an ESL instructor for adult literacy, education coordinator and director of literacy programs. Known for her student engagement skills she works to instill in adult students a sense of purpose and agency to propel their learning. In understanding their struggles with competing priorities she helps them to see the connection between their engagement, persistence and overall academic success. She has worked in adult literacy programs throughout New York State and is particularly focused on integrating technology into the adult classroom. In addition to 11 years with Opportunities for A Better Tomorrow, she has taught at CUNY and various community-based organizations.