Project: Bright Lights Nominations are now Closed

Mrs. Gardner is one of the brightest lights I have had the pleasure of working with for over 32 years. Chris has a way of creating  mutual respect with every child who enters her room. Her love of the outdoors and her appreciation for nature make her the best teacher for outdoor play experiences and her classroom always allows endless opportunities for discovery and imaginations to take over. She can easily become a character in a book and you somehow never want the story to end. Chris is a light that will continue to shine bright at New Day Children’s Center.

Nominated by Megan Dyer/ Director / New Day Children’s Center

Lindsey recently joined our Healthy Families program, coming to us after working for the last seven years with women with children or who were pregnant and were also involved in treatment for substance use.  During the last two months, Lindsey has spent many hours shifting gears a little bit to learn and understand the Healthy Families model, which uses an infant mental health approach that is relationship-focused, strengths-based, culturally respectful, and anchored to the parallel process. She has also started partnering with caregivers to help them create safe, nurturing, and healthy environments for their children to thrive in!  Lindsey’s calm, curious, and reflective demeanor will ensure her BRIGHT LIGHT continues to shine in our program, with the families and children we support, and throughout our community!

Nominated by Joe Pate / Healthy Families Jefferson County

Arline’s passion in 2020 sparked creative action to meet family needs. She made zoom visits FUN!  Arline cooked meals with families, promoted hobbies, supported restructuring of family roles due to unemployment – and took lots of pictures!!! Arline made activity bags and as a 1-woman parade, drove from home to home.  Arline exclaimed how exciting it was to see her families outside waiting for her with smiles on their faces, jumping up and down upon her arrival! Arline delivered food boxes, diapers and formula to families unable to get necessities.  Arline embraces families first promoting happy and healthy families.  FAMILIES LOVE ARLINE!!!

Nominated by Margaret Gokey / HF Program Supervisor

When Michelle Cash walks into a room and smiles, everyone’s day is transformed. Michelle has been shining her brilliant light into the lives of the infants and toddlers of NYS farm working families for more than 29 beautiful years. She exudes tenderness, calm, and a sense of purpose. She understands intuitively what every child needs to feel safe and loved. She provides continuity and reliability in a time filled with uncertainty. Michelle is deeply admired by staff, trusted by parents, and adored by children. With Michelle, children know they will be enveloped in the bright light of acceptance and joy.

Nominated by Susan Dingee/Director of Development / Agri-Business Child Development

Stephanie has been with our Healthy Families program since 2017, beginning as a home visitor and now as the program supervisor. Along with supervising five Family Specialists, she continues to support several families she began partnering with in 2017. Before joining Healthy Families, Stephanie worked for over seventeen years in a daycare as an early childhood educator.  Along with her roles as Supervisor and Home Visitor, Stephanie is a Certified Lactation Counselor, Certified Car Seat Technician, and Certified CPR/First Aid instructor. If that doesn’t keep her busy enough during the workday, she participates in many hours of training and professional development opportunities focused on early life adversities, trauma, infant mental health, family support, supervision, and various other topics.  Stephanie is a BRIGHT LIGHT to our program, our agency, the families and children we support, and our community!

Nominated by Joe Pate, Program Manager, Healthy Families Jefferson County

 

Karen has been with our Healthy Families program since 2017 as a Family Specialist home visitor. However, she has been supporting children and families for over thirty years! Karen partners with nearly twenty families, providing in-home support to caregivers during regular visits. The Healthy Families model uses an infant mental health approach in which services are relationship-focused, strengths-based, culturally respectful, and anchored to the parallel process. Karen is also a Certified Lactation Counselor. Karen’s belief in providing a strong, healthy, and nurturing foundation for children is evident by the reliable, consistent support she provides to the caregivers she partners with. Karen is a BRIGHT LIGHT to our program, the families and children we support, and our community!

Nominated by Joe Pate, Program Manager, Healthy Families Jefferson County

Ali has been with our Healthy Families program since the summer of 2020. She started her Healthy Families work in 2014 with a program in Rhode Island and then in Georgia. The Healthy Families model uses an infant mental health approach that is relationship-focused, strengths-based, culturally respectful, and anchored to the parallel process. When we hear that a family is interested in the partnership we can offer, Ali begins a conversation with them to learn more about their family and what they want for their children. Ali is a Certified Lactation Counselor and also works as a breastfeeding and parenting educator for our local Cornell Cooperative Extension. Ali’s eagerness to ensure children have a healthy foundation makes her a BRIGHT LIGHT to our program, the families and children we support, and our community!

Nominated by Joe Pate, Program Manager, Healthy Families Jefferson County

Christina Bazinet is the Licensed Practical Nurse for Bornhava, a specialized early childhood program for children with developmental disabilities. Christina is a very caring and kind professional, ready for any medical emergency, remaining calm and nurturing for each child. She slowly approaches each child with soft and compassionate words to better understand what that child may need. She advocates for all children, and trains staff about any medical needs. She shows extensive knowledge on recent guidance and regulations during this pandemic. Her confidence, knowledge, and positive attitude has definitely been a Bright Light to work alongside every day.

Nominated by Ann Lindemann-Czajka/Bornhava

Michele has been a home visitor with our Healthy Families program since the summer of 2020. However, she has been supporting children and families for many years! Before joining us, Michele was most recently a Master Teacher and Family Advocate with the local Head Start program. In her role, Michele partners with families to provide in-home support during regular visits. The Healthy Families model uses an infant mental health approach that is relationship-focused, strengths-based, culturally respectful, and anchored to the parallel process. Michele has a passion for helping families and children, which is evident in the relationships she develops with them and her desire to learn more. Michele is a BRIGHT LIGHT to our program, the families and children we support, and our community!

Nominated by Joe Pate, Program Manager, Healthy Families Jefferson County

I want to nominate Jessica Barna, she is a Parent Coach that I supervise at the Power of Two, Jessica currently works with foster and community families implementing the ABC Program (Attachment & Bio-Behavioral Catch Up) which is a program that helps Caregivers and their children have a better bond with each other. Jessica has made a difference in the lives of all the families she has worked with, she has shown Caregivers how to be more nurturing, follow a child’s lead and how to avoid frightening behaviors. Jessica has been more than a Parent Coach to her families, she is that person that advocates for her Caregivers feel like their voices aren’t heard, she is the support that her families need when they feel like they have no where to turn and is the light at the end of the tunnel for her families. The families that Jessica has worked with only have kind words to say about her, families have said that Jessica has made a change in their lives for the better and are grateful for that time they spent with Jessica — whether it was an in person or virtual session, Jessica has made a difference and a positive impact in her families lives! Jessica aims to be the best she can be in her role as a Parent Coach, she is the most caring, kind & loving person you will ever meet. Jessica honestly loves and enjoys the work she does, she always gives her families a 100%. I’m honored to know Jessica, work closely with her but also call her my friend — Jessica is definitely a Bright Light in every child’s life she has worked with… It is my pleasure to nominate Jessica Barna as a Bright Light!

Nominated by Lisa Carmona/Program Supervisor – Power of Two   05-11-2021

Donna has been in the EC field for 30 years. She started in Head Start as an Ed Coordinator, moved up to Head Start Director and then to Director of EC SERVICES at The Guidance Center in 2006. She has developed and expanded the EC department and was essential to establishing TGCW’s CREATIVE LEARNING CENTER in 2014. The CREATIVE LEARNING CENTER is a PYRAMID MODEL based integrated childcare center/school. Donna also has been pivotal in obtaining multiple grants for the EC department, creating our award-winning FOUNDATIONS IN FEELINGS Mental Health Consultation program. This program was recognized by the Westchester NASW and NY STATE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH as Program of the Year and What’s Great in Our State in 2017.  Donna has worked tirelessly on behalf of young children, participating in multiple committees in Westchester County and NY State. She has provided trainings on various topics in Early Childhood all over the Hudson Valley, is a Pyramid Model cadre level trainer and has been active in The Resilience Project in Westchester.  Most importantly, Donna has dedicated herself to the vision of inclusion, equity, social- emotional learning and emotionally responsive practice for the 15 years I have known her. She has inspired and mentored staff. Her name is synonymous with Early Childhood in Westchester County. She is indefatigable. 100 words is not enough so I will finish by requesting you recognize her extraordinary work! Thank you.

Nominated by Iva Jenkins/Director of EC Behavioural Health Services, The Guidance Center of Westchester

Jasmine Edwards is a Board Certified Music Therapist and Licensed Creative Arts Therapist who currently is the Creative Arts Therapy Coordinator at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital where she supports young children in hospital care. Prior to this role, Jasmine served as music therapist in the NICU, where she brought joy, catharsis, comfort and connection to the newest members of our world and their families. I worked with Jasmine at JBFCS, where she served as a music therapist in infant and toddler classrooms around Brooklyn. In addition to her clinical work, Jasmine is also an adjunct faculty member at NYU where she is dedicated to creating space for more people of color into the arts therapy field. Jasmine is so full of passion, compassion, and love for what she does. I have witnessed first hand her ability to connect with young children and be a vehicle toward healing. I cannot think of a more deserving human to nominate for Project Bright Lights.

Nominated by Steffany Nichols/co-worker – 04/21/2021

 

We are tremendously proud to nominate our colleague, Sarah Fitzgibbons, as a Bright Light in the lives of children in our state and throughout the country. Sarah’s passion for infants and children isn’t just part of her job, but is so clearly her life’s work. In all of her work and relationships, she stays tethered to a deep belief in parallel process and the ways in which children and their families will be impacted. We want to shout from the rooftops about the breadth and depth of IMH competency and capacity building she has spearheaded in Rochester! Sarah, thank you for working so hard and generating change for children and families in our community and beyond!

 Nominated by SPCC Colleagues “on behalf of babies”– 04/21/2021

Annmarie Correa has worked at Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network for over 20 years and has been the Program Manager of Healthy Families NY program for 15 years. She currently manages the largest Healthy Families Program in NYS with a caseload of 420 families. The program provides free home based parenting to pregnant and parenting mothers based on an evidence based curriculum until the child is 5 years old. The program focuses on parenting, child development , prevention of child abuse and neglect and developing self sufficiency in the mothers. Annmarie manages a staff of 35 and is known as an intelligent , compassionate leader. Her experience with the program makes her an often sought out expert from other programs in the State. Annmarie continually produces excellent outcomes in her program including prenatal care and postpartum visit compliance, immunizations, lead screening and well child visits. She is committed to the early development of children and the strengthening of families and should definitely be considered a Bright Light !

Nominated by LuAnne Brown/CEO/Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network – 04/19/2021

Tracy has been working with young children for the majority of her life. She is going on 14 years of owning her own home daycare. She loves children and will do anything for them without questions. She teaches the kids so much at a young age from how to spell their names to how to read. Tracy is my Mom and my hero, I could only wish to be like her.

Nominated by Sara Bourdon/Daughter – 04/19/2021

Denzel Apuzzie, a Child Care Aide at one of Safe Horizon’s emergency domestic violence shelters, is a Bright Light for children impacted by trauma. During the past two years in this role he has impacted over 220 children. Through his dedication and positive attitude, Denzel has supported children during some of their most vulnerable moments. Denzel offers them a safe, inviting space to play and learn. Once a child spends time with Denzel they cannot wait to return. He has organized pizza parties, holiday events, park outings, and educational activities to engage families with children of all ages. He is also a resource to their parents, offering relevant information to navigate school, daycare, etc. Denzel is a team player and valuable member of the staff who is well deserving of this award.

Nominated by Caitlin Bango/Supervising Social Worker, Safe Horizon – Lotus House -04-12-2021 

On behalf of all of us on the Grand Street Settlement EHS-CCP team, we would like to acknowledge all the efforts Altagracia Lantigua has committed to providing quality learning experiences. We are very proud of their accomplishments and how they continue to be a source of strength for their families. May your light continue to shine on all children.

 De parte de todos nosotros en el equipo de EHS-CCP de Grand Street Settlement, nos gustaría 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 continúan siendo una fuente de fortaleza para sus familias. Que tu luz continúe brillando sobre todos los niños.

Nominated by Gabriela Torres / Grand Street Settlement – 03/30/2021

 

On behalf of all of us on the Grand Street Settlement EHS-CCP team, we would like to acknowledge all the efforts Adela Cespedes has committed to providing quality learning experiences. We are very proud of their accomplishments and how they continue to be a source of strength for their families. May your light continue to shine on all children.

De parte de todos nosotros en el equipo de EHS-CCP de Grand Street Settlement, nos gustaría 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 continúan siendo una fuente de fortaleza para sus familias. Que tu luz continúe brillando sobre todos los niños.

Nominated by Gabriela Torres / Grand Street Settlement – 03/30/2021

On behalf of all of us on the Grand Street Settlement EHS-CCP team, we would like to acknowledge all the efforts that Sonia Naula has committed to providing quality learning experiences. We are very proud of their accomplishments and how they continue to be a source of strength for their families. May your light continue to shine on all children.

 De parte de todos nosotros en el equipo de EHS-CCP de Grand Street Settlement, nos gustaría 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 continúan siendo una fuente de fortaleza para sus familias. Que tu luz continúe brillando sobre todos los niños.

Nominated by Gabriela Torres / Grand Street Settlement – 03/30/2021

Lolly has been with the Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) for over 10 years in the child welfare program as a therapist. She is an exceptional clinician with incredible expertise in play therapy. During her time at WIHD, she has taken on children (ages 2 and up) with significant trauma histories and mental health needs. She has the ability to connect with and develop trusting relationships with children who have had extreme difficulty with this in the past. Furthermore, she has been able to assist these children in improving their social/emotional health and wellness. She also makes herself available as a resource to foster parents to help them understand the impact of trauma on childhood development/behavior and to provide parenting support/strategies. During the pandemic, she has gone above and beyond in terms of engaging children remotely and working with families collaboratively. We at WIHD feel so fortunate to have the ability to work with someone with her extraordinary abilities.

Nominated by Ashley Mosgrove and Linda Fettmann/WIHD- 03/16/2021

Megan always goes out of her way to put children first, with a smile on her face, no matter how her day is going or what personal stress she is under. She has gone above and beyond being a speech pathologist to make sure that children and families have the mental health support, academic support, and physical resources they need. She establishes personal connections with each child she works with, and it is easy to see how each child benefits just from knowing her. There is nothing Megan wouldn’t do to help a child. She accepts children as they are, while working with them to become the best versions of themselves. There is no doubt that she leaves lasting positive impacts on the lives of the children she works with – whether it be in person or remotely!

Nominated by Angela Harvey/Co-worker/Peer – 03/29/2021

Megan Smith and the staff at SPCC work tirelessly on behalf of the children. Whether it’s teaching/training and reflective supervision, or promoting/ advocating for our children, in addition to providing therapy themselves. They are all bright lights to me and have enhanced the work that I am able to do with my providers!

Nominated by Shaka Bedgood/Licensor/NYS –03/29/2021

Everyone from the EHS-CCP Team at Grand Street Settlement would like to express their gratitude for all your years of dedication in providing early learning and care experiences to the Brooklyn community. Your love and incredible drive to provide children with nurturing, exciting learning environments is one of a kind. May you continue to shine your bright light on every young child’s life.

Nominated by Gabriela Torres / Grand Street Settlement – 03/30/2021

In 2020, during one of the most difficult points in the pandemic, SPCC’s Mary Ellen Institute trainers had the honor of working together with the early childhood center staff and leadership at Ibero exploring what matters most to the social emotional health of very young children and their families. During the 7 weeks of Infant Mental Health training MEI trainers facilitated, we continually experienced joy and inspiration as we witnessed the depth of genuine care and commitment that shone through so brightly. Each person there, inspired by the leadership of Ida Perez and their desire to meet the children’s needs for nurturing, care, connection and love (as well as fun and nutrition!), offered the very same to us each time we came together. And we felt it on zoom! It may be that the lingo of Infant Mental Health was new to some in this amazing group of child care professionals, however, the practice of it was clearly not. We thank each of you for your service to the social emotional health of very young children. Our community is, and the children of Ibero are, better for it.

Nominated by Bonnie Allen/SPCC – 04/05/2021

Andrea is an exceptional human being who has an open heart and always makes time for those around her. Andrea is an Early Childhood Champion, and for many years, her work within the NYC Child Welfare system affected the quality of services our families received. She organized a unique workgroup of interested staff from each division who then diligently composed a white paper which then led to the agency to have Early Childhood Clinical Consultants in each of our borough offices. Andrea’s work created an increased awareness of Infant Mental Health throughout the agency. We are grateful for her legacy, as are our families with little ones.

Nominated by Nancy Chapman/Senior Mental Health Advisor/ACS – 04/05/2021

Even if Julie did not create Immigrant Families Together, I would be nominating her as a Bright Light as a mom in her community.  But, Julie saw the need a few years ago for a then grass roots movement to unite the young families who were separated at the US border. Julie almost single-handedly raised the bond money, arranged for mom’s travel and was personally present for the unification. There is now a network of angels doing this work which currently includes offering a continuum of services for the physical and mental health of the young children and their parents. There is barely a moment that Julie is not personally involved in an aspect of the process, – including visiting the children’s camps at the Border and visiting the adult detention centers through the United States. Her healing hand and her heart have been instrumental in keeping a spirit of love alive for these individuals and the volunteers who serve.

Nominated by Nancy Chapman/Senior Mental Health Advisor/ACS – 04/05/2021

AMichelle is a Bright Light for every child, parent and staff member she encounters. Children and co-workers gravitate towards AMichelle with her bright disposition and never-ending smile. All children benefit from being in AMichelle’s care. She takes notice of every child and provides additional support to the children and families who need “a little extra.” AMichelle is a master at teaching children appropriate behavior in a nurturing way that addresses and respects both the child’s feelings and the family’s wishes. AMichelle willingly works with parents to support their every need including: parenting, behavior modification and accessing resources within the community. She has been THE Bright Light for so many during a challenging year.

Nominated by Meredith Moore/Rochester Childfirst Network   03/31/2021

I am nominating my daughter Amy – who ,along with her husband Asa , are raising their first born son in Alaska – in COVID times without the benefit of friends and family to help. Raising children is a tough job but all the more difficult in our current pandemic. Amy has continued to amaze me with her positive attitude with her newborn son Arlo ,now almost a year old. Working full time and raising a new baby for the first time is challenging in the best of times but is especially so these days. Proud grandad.

Nominated by Charles Bender – 03/31/2021

Ashley Snyder has worked for SPCC since 2018, and has been a bright light in the lives of so many children and families through her various roles. Ashley first role at the agency was as the clerk at the front desk of our visitation center. She helped children and grownups alike feel comfortable, secure, and cared about before and after visits. In her current role as the administrative assistant for the Mary Ellen Institute, our IECMH training and consultation program, Ashley’s big heart, attentiveness, and collaborative spirit makes it possible for hundreds of professionals to get IECMH training, reflective supervision, and consultation each year. This impacts 1,000s of infants and young children in our community. She many never see the faces of those children, and they likely will never know her name but she is truly is a bright light in the lives of so many. SPCC’s Mary Ellen Institute and the Rochester community are lucky to have Ashley as an IEMCH champion and partner!

Nominated by Sarah Fitzgibbons, Megan Smith, and the whole Mary Ellen Institute team/SPCC – 03/30/2021

My mother, Carol Fitzgibbons has been a personal and professional bright light in young children’s lives for many years! She supported an environment full of love, care, creativity, play, reading, service to others, security, and new adventures when my sister and I were young. She made sure the house was full of glitter, books, healthy food (to my sister’s and my chagrin at times!), and a whole lot of music. As a young adult, I lovingly referred to her as Marmee, as she has the same spirit as Louise May Alcott’s beloved matriarch. My mom was a teacher for 30 years, beginning in special education, and then teaching kindergarten and 1st grade, with a specialty for integrated classrooms. If you have a parent who’s a teacher, you quickly learn that they are grocery store celebrities; no shopping trip is complete without at least one former or current student wanting to say hi. My mother was no exception, and she loved connecting with her young students as they grew up over the years! She generously has taken on the job of caring for my children two days per week since 2012 in the role of grandma. It’s great to see her in her element with them, offering similar activities, adventures, fun, reading, and music from my childhood (she seems to have relaxed her health food standards though- those lucky ducks!). This past pandemic school year has brought my mom out of teacher retirement, spending two days a week helping her 5th grade and 1st grade grandsons navigate online learning. We are also so lucky to have her in our lives!

Nominated by Sarah Fitzgibbons/SPCC – 03/30/2021

On behalf of all of us on the Grand Street Settlement EHS-CCP team, we would like to acknowledge all the efforts that Yanery Escorbores has committed to providing quality learning experiences. We are very proud of their accomplishments and how they continue to be a source of strength for their families. May your light continue to shine on all children.

De parte de todos nosotros en el equipo de EHS-CCP de Grand Street Settlement, nos gustaría 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 continúan siendo una fuente de fortaleza para sus familias. Que tu luz continúe brillando sobre todos los niños.

Nominated by Gabriela Torres / Grand Street Settlement – 03/30/2021

On behalf of all of us on the Grand Street Settlement EHS-CCP team, we would like to acknowledge all the efforts that Alexandra Rivera has committed to providing quality learning experiences. We are very proud of their accomplishments and how they continue to be a source of strength for their families. May your light continue to shine on all children.

De parte de todos nosotros en el equipo de EHS-CCP de Grand Street Settlement, nos gustaría 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 continúan siendo una fuente de fortaleza para sus familias. Que tu luz continúe brillando sobre todos los niños.

Nominated by Gabriela Torres / Grand Street Settlement – 03/30/2021

On behalf of all of us on the Grand Street Settlement EHS-CCP team, we would like to acknowledge all the efforts that Tania Duchi has committed to providing quality learning experiences. We are very proud of their accomplishments and how they continue to be a source of strength for their families. May your light continue to shine on all children.

De parte de todos nosotros en el equipo de EHS-CCP de Grand Street Settlement, nos gustaría 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 continúan siendo una fuente de fortaleza para sus familias. Que tu luz continúe brillando sobre todos los niños.

Nominated by Gabriela Torres / Grand Street Settlement – 03/30/2021

As the Mental Health & Disabilities Services Manager at SCCDC (Head Start) in Cobleskill, Siri provides direct services and oversees programs related to the social-emotional well-being of the children, families and staff. Siri is also the Chair of the Schoharie County Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Team and spearheads efforts to both raise awareness in the community of the effects of trauma in young children’s lives, and provide training in trauma-informed care.

Nominated by Carol Morris / SUNY Cobleskill

Karen has been part of the Early Intervention Program in Schoharie County for over 25 years. She has been integral in shaping the program to specifically meet the needs of children and families in a rural setting. She has made a difference in the lives of countless children and is a role model for work that is family-centered and strength-based.

Nominated by Siri Young/SCCDC, Inc.

Laura is a phenomenal HealthySteps Specialist who goes (way) above and beyond her role on a daily basis. She is a huge asset to our community as she can coordinate people with ease, present up-to-date and current practices per NYS guidelines (across multiple agencies) and dovetail them with the AAP. She is an amazing support and resource to the children and families that she serves. Laura is a seasoned practitioner and her role in the community is vast. She is on multiple boards that are dedicated to advancing preventative care and practices in our region. She spends countless hours meeting with families and truly hearing what has happened in their lives – she recognizes that trauma is a real and toxic event that affects us all in some manner and she takes the time to listen, to hear, to validate and to support. She is an amazing advocate for children’s preventative care and for adult support services. Her voice is one that all can hear in order to meet the needs of those who are too afraid or just too little to use their own. She is a bright light in the lives of so many families, children, agency providers, colleagues, and in the lives of her friends and family – Laura deserves to be recognized for her skill, her ability to connect others, her passion, her strive to balance life and work and for her dedication.

Nominated by Christy Bezrutczyk/ HealthySteps Specialist, CLC at Mountainview Pediatrics

Solimar’s work in pediatric palliative care has touched the lives of countless families, giving them the tools to heal in light of unimaginable loss. She is a fearless advocate for her patients with an unstoppable passion for health equity. Children’s lives, however brief, are enriched by Solimar’s work.

Nominated by Elena Abascal/Nurse -3/16/2021

Yvette will stop at nothing to ensure that parents and children have everything they need and deserve. She makes room in her heart for every family she encounters, and she supports them from that place of love. During the pandemic, Yvette has only deepened her partnership with families. She has tirelessly sought out new resources and information, made over a thousand phone calls to families to check on their well-being, and sought out training in mental health first aid so she could walk alongside caregivers as they sought help during these challenging times. With every family she connects with a resource or caregiver that she serves as a lifeline to, Yvette is bringing light to a young child’s life.

Nominated by Adeline Medeiros/Bronx Borough Director / Power of Two

Mr. Vincent Randazzo has been a positive force in the reopening of our school district during the pandemic. He has kept staff and student mental health at the forefront of his decision-making process and provided continual support throughout this difficult time. Mr. Randazzo has listened with compassion when any member of the staff or community has come to him with concerns and has gone above and beyond to make our schools a safe place for students to come learn in person every day. His student-first philosophy and focus on teaching and learning in the midst of a difficult year for schools has been a comfort to all who work and learn in the Island Park School District.

Nominated by Alison Offerman-Celentano/Assistant Superintendent/Island Park UFSD  03-18-2021

Bernadette supports countless moms through their pregnancies with her invaluable counsel and mentoring — promoting physical health, mental health and environmental safety. Once their babies are born, with unlimited availability, Bernadette walks them through the early days, weeks, months and years of their little one’s life. Bernadette brings enthusiasm, affirmation and heartfelt caring to her position which is not just her job, but her passion. Bernadette’s lasting impact on the mental health outcomes of these infants is a model for excellence and a Bright Light of hope for our community.

 

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