Patrick Administration Honors Members of the Department of Developmental Services’ Urban Youth Collaborative Program

Honorees include 54 from the Northeastern Massachusetts region

BOSTON — The Patrick Administration honored members of the Department of Developmental Services’ Urban Youth Collaborative Program (UYCP) at a celebration and awards ceremony at the State House yesterday. More than 210 interns, including 54 from the Northeastern Massachusetts region, have been assisting in the care of individuals with developmental disabilities at state-operated programs and developmental centers across the state this summer.

The Urban Youth Collaborative Program, now in its 18th year, introduces young adults to the field of human services, helps build an experienced workforce for the future, and supports efforts to reduce the stigma associated with disabilities.

The program complements Governor Deval Patrick’s ongoing commitment to promoting dignity and independence for people with disabilities. In June, the Governor celebrated the renaming of the Department of Developmental Services, which had been known as the Department of Mental Retardation. The Department’s new name offers respect for people with intellectual disabilities and better reflects the broad range of services and supports offered by the agency.

"The Department of Developmental Services is proud to sponsor the Urban Youth Collaborative Program, which enriches the lives of both the student interns and the individuals we support and serve," said DDS Commissioner Elin Howe. "Our ultimate goal is to encourage young adults to consider careers working with people with developmental disabilities."

In addition to recognizing all of the program participants, DDS presented awards at yesterday’s State House event. Lucia Franceschi of Westford, who has been interning for LifeLinks in Lowell, was honored with the Steven E. Collins Leadership for her many outstanding contributions to the Urban Youth Collaborative Program. Ms. Franceschi plans to enroll at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she intends to study communications disorders.

The 54 student interns from the Northeastern Massachusetts area were:

Erica Amidio, Groveland
Carling Audette, Newbury
Jessica Barany, Bradford
Emmanuel Begon, Peabody
Josiah Bote, Bradford
Shantel Cruz, Haverhill
Joseph Fedullo, Middleton
Lauren Fiore, Peabody
Lucia Franceschi, Westford
Thomas Geras Jr., Beverly
Chovy In, Lowell
Nicole Janvier, Peabody
Broderick Lincoln, Lynn
Stacey Louis, Malden
Jonathan McDonough, Dracut
Jason McNiff, Peabody
Katherine Morse, Beverly
Michael Nazzaro, Boxford
Myles Nickola, Lynn
Ada Ortiz, Lowell
Elizabeth Pena, Billerica
Katie Ruccolo, Topsfield
Abraham Sannoh, Lowell
Niki Sodt, Chelmsford
Gregory Stemn, Lowell
Carolina Cruz Vidal, Methuen
Jeremy Weiner, Groveland

Benjamin Anderson, Laconia, NH
Mugasha Bagonza, Haverhill
Robert Barry, Methuen
Gregory Bevins, Peabody
Coral Carraro, Danvers
Brian Dougherty, Billerica
Noelia Figuero, Haverhill
Ashley Fowler, Hampton, NH
Adam Gallant, Rowley
Judith Gitahi, Lowell
Lauris Jackson, Lowell
Robert Lemoine, Saugus
Alex Logan, Haverhill
Kim Maloney, Newbury
Jessica McKenna, Rowley
Courtney Moore, Topsfield
Victoria Mutebi, Malden
Heather Nelson, Boxford
Mary Njorge, Lowell
Angela Pavelka, Dracut
Irene Rios, Lowell
Antoine Salvador, Lynn
Benjamin Simmers, Haverhill
Christopher Spadafora, Saugus
Kaleigh Tobin, Boxford
Matthew Weinburgh, Groveland
Alexandra Zambino, Methuen

The UYCP began in Boston in June 1992, as a collaborative effort with Madison Park High School and Bay Cove Human Services with the goal of interesting young adults from diverse backgrounds in careers in human services. The program has since expanded to 15 Massachusetts communities, with interns placed at state-operated programs, developmental centers and non-profit organizations across the Commonwealth in full-time summer jobs providing support to individuals with intellectual disabilities. Some locations have partnered with local colleges to offer course credit to interns for participating in the program. Since its inception, almost 3,000 interns have taken part in the UYCP, with almost half continuing on to pursue careers in human services.

"The enrichment our Urban Youth Collaborative interns and our consumers gain from spending time together is one of the strengths of this program," said Jerry Scott, Director of the Urban Youth Collaborative Program.

About the Department of Developmental Services

The Department of Developmental Services is dedicated to creating, in partnership with others, innovative and genuine opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to participate fully and meaningfully in, and contribute to, their communities as valued members.

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