Project Bright Lights
The 2022 Project Bright Lights is closed for nominations .
Read the inspiring tributes below – a wide variety of professional and personal stories!
2022 Project Bright Lights Honor Roll
Thank you to everyone who made donations to
NYS-AIMH in honor of Project Bright Lights nominees
A donation to honor
Allison Gonyo was made by
Allison Gonyo was made by
A donation to honor
Lisa Marie Lyckland was made by
Lisa Marie Lyckland was made by
A donation to honor
Lana Wolcott was made by
Lana Wolcott was made by
A donation to honor
Angela Mattice was made by
Angela Mattice was made by
A donation to honor
Priscilla Hernandez was made by
Priscilla Hernandez was made by
A donation to honor
Debbie Cummings Kupka of SPCC
was made by
Debbie Cummings Kupka of SPCC
was made by
a donation to honor
Wendy Bender was made by
Wendy Bender was made by
A donation to honor
Melissa Conners was made by
Melissa Conners was made by
A donation to honor
Friends at NYS Council on Children and Families
was made by
Friends at NYS Council on Children and Families
was made by
A donation to honor an outstanding youth
was made by
was made by
A donation to honor
Valyn Reed was made by
Valyn Reed was made by
A donation to honor
Rochester Childfirst Network staff
has been made by
Rochester Childfirst Network staff
has been made by
a donation to honor
Jody Manly has been made by
Jody Manly has been made by
A donation to honor
Anowara Aman
was made by
Anowara Aman
was made by
A donation to honor
Gisella Curioso-Vilchez
was made by
Gisella Curioso-Vilchez
was made by
Project Bright Lights recognizes people who are bright lights in the lives of young children.
Nominations have closed for 2022. The amazing tributes below are posted for you to read, admire and be inspired!
Amazing Bright Lights and their amazing tributes.
Read the 2022 tributes below to see the bright lights – we know you will admire their focus, feel their warmth and support their shine.
Aman, Anowara
Mothers for Advocacy & Awareness (MAA)
Anowara Aman is a Mental Health Advocate and a Parent Educator. Her USA-based non-profit MAA, helps south Asian mothers overcome cultural and language barriers.
Apuzzie, Denzel
Child Care Aide/Safe Horizon's Emergency Domestic Violence Shelters
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.
Astuto, Antoinette
Visitation Specialist
Not only is Antoinette kind and compassionate in her work with children, she also supports her colleagues, in ways both practical and caring
Barna, Jessica
Parent Coach/ Power of Two
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.
Bazinet, Christina
LPN at Bornhava - Specialized Pre-School
Christina is a very caring and kind professional, ready for any medical emergency, remaining calm and nurturing for each child. She advocates for all children, and trains staff about any medical needs
Beale-Gleason, Amy
LCSW-R
Amy has been a bright light in the lives of countless infants, young children and their families, as well as the people she has supervised and mentored over the years
Bender, Wendy
Executive Director
Wendy has led NYS-AIMH from a small part-time organization offering memberships and the Endorsement into becoming a professional organization that offers a variety of services to its members
Bourdon, Tracy
Tender Hearts Daycare
Tracy has been working with young children for the majority of her life. She teaches the kids so much at a young age.
Cash, Michelle
Infant Room Teacher / Agri-Business Child Development
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
Cespedes, Adela
Learning Together with Love
We would like to acknowledge all the efforts Adela Cespedes has committed to providing quality learning experiences. Nos gustaría reconocer todos los esfuerzos a los que Adela Cespedes se ha comprome
Cohen-Johnson, AMichelle
Rochester Childfirst Network
AMichelle is a Bright Light for every child, parent and staff member she encounters.
Conners, Melissa
Home Visitor Program Supervisor/Healthy Families/BHSN
Missy is a very special woman, she cares deeply for all children and new families, especially the ones living in her community .
Correa, Annmarie
Program Manager-Healthy Families
Annmarie continually produces excellent outcomes in her program including prenatal care and postpartum visit compliance, immunizations, lead screening and well child visits.
Cummings Kupka, Debbie
Visitation Specialist - SPCC
Debbie demonstrates caring and kindness for the families she works with. She strives to create a safe space during foster care visitation for young children.
Curioso-Vilchez, Gisella
Bilingual Spanish/English SLP
Gisella’s personal mission is to promote literature and encouraging reading activities in the Latino community, and to foster better parent-child interaction. Gisella continues working in Early Inte
DelGiudice, Rebecca
Infant Toddler Mental Health Consultant
Rebecca's light shines from within and brightens the world. Not only is she conscientious and caring but she is passionate about the work she does to help young children
DeVoe, Courtney
Education and Disabilities Specialist/Early Head Start
Courtney can brighten up anyone's day. Whether she is greeting them at the door, playing with them in the classroom or if you stop by her office, you will leave feeling better.
Edwards, Jasmine
Creative Arts Therapy Coordinator
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.
Elliott, Leah
SPCC Family Trauma Intervention Program
Leah is a champion for children everywhere. She inspires everyone around her to slow down, be curious, and lead with empathy and compassion.
Escorbores, Yanery
Hope of the Future Daycare
We would like to acknowledge all the efforts that Yanery Escorbores has committed to providing quality learning experiences.
Fitzgibbons, Carol
Mom, Teacher, Mentor, Grandma
Carol Fitzgibbons has been a personal and professional bright light in young children's lives for many years!
Fitzgibbons, Sarah
SPCC
Sarah’s passion for infants and children isn’t just part of her job, but is so clearly her life’s work.
Gardner, Christina
Lead Teacher/ New Day Children's Center
Mrs. Gardner is one of the brightest lights I have had the pleasure of working with for over 32 years. Her classroom always allows endless opportunities for discovery and imaginations to take over.
Gillette, Stephanie
Program Supervisor, Healthy Families Jefferson County
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
Gismervik, Amy
Working Mom
Amy has continued to amaze me with her positive attitude with her newborn son Arlo ,now almost a year old.
Goetz, Andrea
Chief Administrative Officer, Child & Family Division, Beacon Health Options
Andrea is an exceptional human being who has an open heart and always makes time for those around her.
Goralczyk, Meeghan
Moriah Central School/School Psychologist
Meeghan is a literal 'bright light' in the lives of young ones in her school. She is easy to talk to, open-minded, kind, and sensitive to their needs.
Greene, Karen
Family Specialist, Healthy Families Jefferson County
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.
Hobbs, Brenden
Society for the Protection and Care of Children
In his work with children and families, Brenden brings compassion and empathy to the encounter. He supports strong parent child relationships.
Joy, Arlene
FSS HF Home Visitor
Arline embraces families first promoting happy and healthy families. FAMILIES LOVE ARLINE!!!
Kliman, Sarah
Family Trauma Intervention Program/SPCC
Sarah provides reflective supervision that supports service providers. She also works with children and families who are dealing with deep and devastating trauma.
Lantigua, Altagracia
Little Treasures Daycare
We would like to acknowledge all the efforts Altagracia Lantigua has committed to providing quality learning experiences. Nos gustaría reconocer todos los esfuerzos a los que Altagracia Lantigua se h
Larisa, Ali
Family Specialist, Healthy Families Jefferson County
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!
Liquori, Laurisa
SPCC Therapeutic Visitation Program
Laurisa is a therapist working to support families working toward reunification with their children. She enables children to give voice to their thoughts
Lyckland, Lisa Marie
Artist
Lisa Marie uses her artistry to help support kids and parents whenever she can. At the onset of the pandemic, she showed up for her community through collecting donations made in exchange for upliftin
McDaniel, Bernadette
HealthySteps National Ambassador, HealthySteps Specialist, Project LAUNCH Coordinator at Ellis Medical Group
Bernadette supports countless moms through their pregnancies with her invaluable counsel and mentoring -- promoting physical health, mental health and environmental safety.
McGinnis, Megan
Speech Pathologist
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.
McGonigle, RobinAnn
Mindful Parenting Matters LLC
RobinAnn McGonigle is a professor of psychology at Adelphi University who created a number of courses which will enhance the field of children and families, especially those experiencing trauma. Rob
Morgenstern, Michele
Family Specialist, Healthy Families Jefferson County
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.
Morrison, Donna
Deputy Executive Director, TGCW
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
Morrow, Lindsey
Family Specialist, Healthy Families Jefferson County
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!
Murphy, Lolly
Social Worker/WIHD
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 p
Naula, Sonia
Solesita Daycare
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.
Perez, Ida
Ibero Early Childhood Services
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
Ramirez, Yudelka
Family Peer Advocate/Child Center of New York
Yudelka has walked alongside countless families to provide peer support. She is a beacon of hope to families with a child who has a new diagnosis as she walks them through the EI/CPSE systems from fir
Rivera, Alexandra
Narcisa Luz Del Saber Group
We would like to acknowledge all the efforts that Alexandra Rivera has committed to providing quality learning experiences
Rubenstein EdD, Bonnie
Department Chair, Warner School- University of Rochester
Dr. Rubenstein leads the Department of Counseling & Human Development. She is devoted to teaching and preparing future school and mental health counselors -
Samples, Deandre
Parent Coach/Power of Two
Deandre is an Infant/Toddler Coach who currently works with foster and community families implementing the ABC Program (Attachment & Bio-Behavioral Catch Up), a program that helps Caregivers
Schwietert Collazo, Julie
Cofounder and Director/Immigrant Families Together
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.
Scott, Christy
Director of Cobleskill Campus Child Care Center
Ms. Scott is a bright light to the center each and every day, welcoming families, engaging with children, coordinating staff and supervising both practicum and interns.
Smith, Megan
Society for the Protection and Care of Children – Rochester NY
Megan Smith and the staff at SPCC work tirelessly on behalf of the children.
Snyder, Ashley
Society for the Protection and Care of Children
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
Staff, Rochester Childfirst Network
Childcare services - 6 weeks to 12 years old
The staff at RCN has been such a bright light for our family the last few years. They greet us
with smiles, joy and patience and walk alongside us with calm curiosity.
Taylor, Martha
Wonderful World of Kids
Your love and incredible drive to provide children with nurturing, exciting learning environments is one of a kind.
Wolcott, Lana
Ibero American Action League. Inc
Lana has provided children, families and teachers coping strategies during some of the hardest and most challenging time in a child's life.
All nominees were made aware of their nomination and approved it to be featured on the NYS-AIMH website and other social media. There was no limit to how many people one person can nominate.
2021 “Everyday Magic”
Coloring Book
Featuring the 2021 Project: Bright Lights
Nominees and magical words from their tributes
