Date/Time
Date(s) - March 16 - June 21
12:00 am
Categories
Project:Bright Lights has concluded for 2021. Sponsored by the New York State Association for Infant Mental Health, it recognized people who are bright lights in the lives of young children. The 2022 Project Bright Lights will be opening on March 13th – the start of Daylight Savings Time. If you know someone who is making a difference in the life of a young child, regarding their mental or physical health, self-esteem or overall care and well-being, please nominate them for Project Bright Lights.
Listed below are the amazing 2021 Bright Lights and their amazing tributes.
All nominees were made aware of their nomination and approved it to be featured on the NYS-AIMH website (link to homepage) and other social media. There was no limit to how many people one person can nominate, so there were several duplicate nominations. Read the tributes below to see the bright lights – we know you will admire their focus, feel their warmth and support their shine.
NYS-AIHM is a non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen and promote social and emotional well-being for all children between the ages of 0-5 in New York State.
Nominees –Â Be inspired

Young, Siri
Mental Health & Disabilities Services Manager, Schoharie County Child Development Council

McDaniel, Bernadette
HealthySteps National Ambassador, HealthySteps Specialist, Project LAUNCH Coordinator at Ellis Medical Group
Gardner, Christina
Lead Teacher/ New Day Children's Center
Nominated by Megan Dyer/ Director / New Day Children’s Center
Morrow, Lindsey
Family Specialist, Healthy Families Jefferson County
Nominated by Joe Pate / Healthy Families Jefferson County
Joy, Arlene
FSS HF Home Visitor
Nominated by Margaret Gokey / HF Program Supervisor
Cash, Michelle
Infant Room Teacher / Agri-Business Child Development
Nominated by Susan Dingee/Director of Development / Agri-Business Child Development
Gillette, Stephanie
Program Supervisor, Healthy Families Jefferson County
Nominated by Joe Pate, Program Manager, Healthy Families Jefferson County
Greene, Karen
Family Specialist, Healthy Families Jefferson County
Nominated by Joe Pate, Program Manager, Healthy Families Jefferson County
Larisa, Ali
Family Specialist, Healthy Families Jefferson County
Nominated by Joe Pate, Program Manager, Healthy Families Jefferson County
Bazinet, Christina
LPN at Bornhava – Specialized Pre-School
Nominated by Ann Lindemann-Czajka/Bornhava
Morgenstern, Michele
Family Specialist, Healthy Families Jefferson County
Nominated by Joe Pate, Program Manager, Healthy Families Jefferson County
Barna, Jessica
Parent Coach/ Power of TwoÂ
Nominated by Lisa Carmona/Program Supervisor – Power of Two  05-11-2021
Morrison, Donna
Deputy Executive Director, TGCW
Nominated by Iva Jenkins/Director of EC Behavioural Health Services, The Guidance Center of Westchester
Edwards, Jasmine
Creative Arts Therapy Coordinator
Nominated by Steffany Nichols/co-worker – 04/21/2021
Fitzgibbons, Sarah
SPCC
 Nominated by SPCC Colleagues “on behalf of babies”– 04/21/2021
Correa, Annmarie
Program Manager-Healthy Families
Nominated by LuAnne Brown/CEO/Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network – 04/19/2021
Bourdon, Tracy
Tender Hearts Daycare
Nominated by Sara Bourdon/Daughter – 04/19/2021
Apuzzie, Denzel
Child Care Aide/Safe Horizon's Emergency Domestic Violence Shelters
Nominated by Caitlin Bango/Supervising Social Worker, Safe Horizon – Lotus House -04-12-2021Â
Lantigua, Altagracia
Little Treasures Daycare
 De parte de todos nosotros en el equipo de EHS-CCP de Grand Street Settlement, nos gustarĂa reconocer todos los esfuerzos a los que Altagracia Lantigua se ha comprometido para brindar experiencias de aprendizaje de calidad. Estamos muy orgullosos de sus logros y de la forma en que continĂşan siendo una fuente de fortaleza para sus familias. Que tu luz continĂşe brillando sobre todos los niños.
Nominated by Gabriela Torres / Grand Street Settlement – 03/30/2021
Cespedes, Adela
Learning Together with Love
De parte de todos nosotros en el equipo de EHS-CCP de Grand Street Settlement, nos gustarĂa reconocer todos los esfuerzos a los que Adela Cespedes se ha comprometido para brindar experiencias de aprendizaje de calidad. Estamos muy orgullosos de sus logros y de la forma en que continĂşan siendo una fuente de fortaleza para sus familias. Que tu luz continĂşe brillando sobre todos los niños.
Nominated by Gabriela Torres / Grand Street Settlement – 03/30/2021
Naula, Sonia
Solesita Daycare
 De parte de todos nosotros en el equipo de EHS-CCP de Grand Street Settlement, nos gustarĂa reconocer todos los esfuerzos a los que Sonia Naula se ha comprometido para brindar experiencias de aprendizaje de calidad. Estamos muy orgullosos de sus logros y de la forma en que continĂşan siendo una fuente de fortaleza para sus familias. Que tu luz continĂşe brillando sobre todos los niños.
Nominated by Gabriela Torres / Grand Street Settlement – 03/30/2021
Murphy, Lolly
Social Worker/WIHD
Nominated by Ashley Mosgrove and Linda Fettmann/WIHD- 03/16/2021
McGinnis, Megan
Speech Pathologist
Nominated by Angela Harvey/Co-worker/Peer – 03/29/2021
Smith, Megan
Society for the Protection and Care of Children – Rochester NY
Nominated by Shaka Bedgood/Licensor/NYS –03/29/2021
Taylor, Martha
Wonderful World of Kids
Nominated by Gabriela Torres / Grand Street Settlement – 03/30/2021
Perez, Ida
Ibero Early Childhood Services
Nominated by Bonnie Allen/SPCC – 04/05/2021
Goetz, Andrea
Chief Administrative Officer, Child & Family Division, Beacon Health Options
Nominated by Nancy Chapman/Senior Mental Health Advisor/ACS – 04/05/2021
Schwietert Collazo, Julie
Cofounder and Director/Immigrant Families Together
Nominated by Nancy Chapman/Senior Mental Health Advisor/ACS – 04/05/2021
Cohen-Johnson, AMichelle
Rochester Childfirst NetworkÂ
Nominated by Meredith Moore/Rochester Childfirst Network  03/31/2021
Gismervik, Amy
Working Mom
Nominated by Charles Bender – 03/31/2021
Snyder, Ashley
Society for the Protection and Care of Children
Nominated by Sarah Fitzgibbons, Megan Smith, and the whole Mary Ellen Institute team/SPCC – 03/30/2021
Fitzgibbons, Carol
Mom, Teacher, Mentor, Grandma
Nominated by Sarah Fitzgibbons/SPCC – 03/30/2021
Escorbores, Yanery
Hope of the Future Daycare
De parte de todos nosotros en el equipo de EHS-CCP de Grand Street Settlement, nos gustarĂa reconocer todos los esfuerzos a los que Yanery Escorbores se ha comprometido para brindar experiencias de aprendizaje de calidad. Estamos muy orgullosos de sus logros y de la forma en que continĂşan siendo una fuente de fortaleza para sus familias. Que tu luz continĂşe brillando sobre todos los niños.
Nominated by Gabriela Torres / Grand Street Settlement – 03/30/2021
Rivera, Alexandra
Narcisa Luz Del Saber Group
De parte de todos nosotros en el equipo de EHS-CCP de Grand Street Settlement, nos gustarĂa reconocer todos los esfuerzos a los que Alexandra Rivera se ha comprometido para brindar experiencias de aprendizaje de calidad. Estamos muy orgullosos de sus logros y de la forma en que continĂşan siendo una fuente de fortaleza para sus familias. Que tu luz continĂşe brillando sobre todos los niños.
Nominated by Gabriela Torres / Grand Street Settlement – 03/30/2021
Duchi, Tania
Tania's Dream of Love/Child Care Provider
De parte de todos nosotros en el equipo de EHS-CCP de Grand Street Settlement, nos gustarĂa reconocer todos los esfuerzos a los que Tania Duchi se ha comprometido para brindar experiencias de aprendizaje de calidad. Estamos muy orgullosos de sus logros y de la forma en que continĂşan siendo una fuente de fortaleza para sus familias. Que tu luz continĂşe brillando sobre todos los niños.
Nominated by Gabriela Torres / Grand Street Settlement – 03/30/2021
Young, Siri
Mental Health & Disabilities Services Manager, Schoharie County Child Development Council
Nominated by Carol Morris / SUNY Cobleskill
Simmons, Karen
Preschool Special Needs Coordinator, Schoharie County Dept of Health
Nominated by Siri Young/SCCDC, Inc.
Sigel, Laura
HealthySteps Specialist, CLC at Plattsburgh Primary Care Pediatrics
Nominated by Christy Bezrutczyk/ HealthySteps Specialist, CLC at Mountainview Pediatrics
Santiago-Warner, Solimar
LCSW/Neonatal Comfort Care Program
Nominated by Elena Abascal/Nurse -3/16/2021
Saccone, Yvette
Community Resource Specialist / Power of Two
Nominated by Adeline Medeiros/Bronx Borough Director / Power of Two
Randazzo, Mr. Vincent
Superintendent/Island Park UFSD
Nominated by Alison Offerman-Celentano/Assistant Superintendent/Island Park UFSDÂ 03-18-2021
McDaniel, Bernadette
HealthySteps National Ambassador, HealthySteps Specialist, Project LAUNCH Coordinator at Ellis Medical Group
Nominated by Jeanne Derwin/Co-worker – 3/17/2021
Bernadette thinks of the babies, toddlers, and families she sees in her pediatric primary care clinic as the most important people in the world. She listens to them, responds to their needs, advocates for them, and supports them; in return, they trust her. She is wholeheartedly committed to their well-being. Just the other day, Bernadette told me about a family who she helped reunite after one year in foster care. Every baby and toddler deserves a Bernadette in their life.
Nominated by Elizabeth Frenette/HealthySteps a Program of ZERO TO THREE -03/25/2021
Project Bright Lights Honor Roll
Thank you to everyone who made donations to NYS-AIHM in honor of Project Bright Lights nominees!