Patrick-Murray Administration Honors Members of the Department of Developmental Services' Urban Youth Collaborative Program
Young leaders recognized at State House for commitment to individuals with developmental disabilities
"I'm very proud of the Urban Youth Collaborative Program and its impact on both the student interns who participate, and the individuals served," said Governor Deval Patrick. "As these young people complete their internships, we hope that they will carry with them a passion for service and will consider pursuing careers in this important field."
The UYCP, now in its 20th 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 developmental disabilities. DDS manages Urban Youth Collaborative internship programs in Boston, Cambridge/Somerville, Fall River, New Bedford, Fitchburg/Leominster, Lawrence, Lowell, Quincy, Brockton, Springfield/Westfield, Holyoke/Chicopee, Worcester and the Central/Western region of the state.
"The Urban Youth Collaborative Program is designed to encourage a diverse group of talented young people to consider careers in the human service field," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. JudyAnn Bigby. "Through this more than 200 interns had the opportunity to have meaningful experiences with people with developmental disabilities and foster their own commitment to public service."
"Today we honor and thank the participants of the Urban Youth Collaborative Program, who have spent their summer caring for and getting to know people with developmental disabilities across the state," said DDS Commissioner Elin Howe. "They have shown commitment and dedication to this important work and made meaningful contributions to the people they serve. Our hope is that they have learned as much from our consumers as our consumers have learned from them."
In addition to recognizing all of this year's program participants, DDS presented five special awards during today's ceremony. The recipient of the Steven E. Collins Leadership Award was Amanda Dean of Foxboro. This year's recipients of the Current Service Award were Kimberly Champagne of S. Attleboro, Tierney Marceau of Norton and Jeff Hammond of Brockton. The Paulette Anjorin Community Service Award was awarded to the Wrentham Development Center.
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 statewide, 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 following interns participated in the 2011 Urban Youth Collaborative Program:
Metro Boston
Kathiana Abraham, Hyde Park
Keyona Bell, Arlington
Edmondson Britton, Lawrence, Randolph
Jaimie Chang, Boston
Natalie Crist, Everett
Vasthi Desroches, Mattapan
Jesseca Dottin-McKie, Roxbury
Eufrasio Dylan, Medford
Anna Dziechowski, Brighton
Pierre Etienne, Medford
Tristan Hardy, Winchester
Taylor Hill, Braintree
Olasha Lewis, Dorchester
Yoely Lugo, Boston
Jauquet Michael, Roxbury Crossing
Marie Rigaud, Mattapan
Jeremy Rosario, Malden
Eleanore Saintis, Boston
Greg Thompson, Winchester
Deshawn Townsend, Roslindale
Anvy Tran, Dorchester
Mark Vicker, Jr., Dorchester
Jamel Williamson, Dorchester
Sean Wilson, Weymouth
Western Massachusetts
John Areche, Westfield
Michelle Atiemo, Pittsfield
Luis Burgos, Westfield
Lora Cortis, Westfield
Shawn Douglas, Springfield
Kyle Duggan, Westfield
Stacey Elander, Westfield
Kelly Gallo, Westfield
Karen Gates, Belchertown
Valerie Goly, Pittsfield
Samantha Hahn, Hadley
Erica Hunter, Hadley
Caitlyn Liberty, Westfield
Mary Miemiec, Westfield
Tyler Morisette, East Longmeadow
Kelsey Poole, Westfield
David Raffelock, Springfield
Sara Reyome, Westfield
Julia Wagner, Westfield
Sarah Walachy, Westfield
Lauren Weiner, Feeding Hills
Central Massachusetts
Prince Acquaye, Worcester
Freda Agyemang, Worcester
Toni Ambrogio, Whitinsville
Paige Bailey, Auburn
Ethan Berube, Westminster
Steve Black, Shrewsbury
Casey Caron, North Brookfield
Jamie Conners, Monson
Amanda Crowe, Upton
Kaytlin David, Athol
Ashley Davis, Worcester
Rebecca DeCoteau, Leominster
Andrew DeKlerk, Worcester
Sara Diaz, Worcester
Aisha Donzo, Worcester
Nana Dwira, Worcester
Christopher Flores, Grafton
Tania Guzman, Worcester
Tyler Hartley, Gardner
Amanda Henderson, Dunstable
Yadira Hernandez, Worcester
Danielle Knight, Baldwinville
Cynthia Kyei-Akomeah, Worcester
Justin Lafrenier, Warwick
Jecelia Mitchell, Fitchburg
Kareem Nathan, Worcester
Katie O'Malley, Sterling
Emily Pacheco, Gardner
Kevin Rigopoulos, Athol
Kiarali Rivera, Worcester
Daniel Seco, Royalston
Alyssa Smith, Worcester
Trevor Stock, Grafton
Abigail Taylor, Worcester
Kylee Tidman, Townsend
Matthew Tomaiolo, Grafton
Matthew Tucker, Marlboro
Lindsey Vivlamore, Worcester
Sharday Walker, Worcester
Heidi Wehmeyer, Winchendon
Dennis Yiadom, Worcester
Southeastern Massachusetts
Marley Antoine, Brockton
Richy Antoine, Brockton
Sabrena Bailey, Brockton
Wade Bernier, Lakeville
Christopher Briody, E. Taunton
Tyler Browne, E. Taunton
Marcel Burgo, New Bedford
Earl Cenate, Randolph
Joshua Cenate, Randolph
Kimberly Champagne, S. Attleboro
Tiequon Conceicao, New Bedford
Emily Curley, Taunton
Kayla DaPonte, Taunton
Amy Demoranville, Lakeville
Joshua Drane, Lakeville
Lisa Flaherty, Brockton
Phillip Gay, Brockton
Olivia Gbale, Franklin
Claudine Grell, Brockton
Jeffrey Hammond, Brockton
Jennifer Hardy, New Bedford
Jacob Harnois, Taunton
Marissa Harnpukdipatina, Attleboro
Treya Hooban, Taunton
Phiroth Khourn, Fall River
Grace Koah, Brockton
Lilian Lima, Brockton
Tierney Marceau, Norton
Olivia McGlone, Dartmouth
J.J. Moise, Brockton
Cheryl Neufville, Brockton
Mbom Ngu, Taunton
Kelsey O'Connell, Taunton
Analin Sanchez, New Bedford
Sandra Smart, Taunton
Daphcar Terrane, Brockton
Northeastern Massachusetts
Angela, Addae, Chelmsford
Vincent Antwi, Lowell
Joseph Barbuzzi, Salem
John Baribeault, Newburyport
Samantha Baribeault, Newburyport
Robert Barry, Methuen
Brett Battistelli, Beverly
Deanna Baumert, Merrimac
Emmanuel Begon, Peabody
Jamal Beh, Lowell
Stephen Beliveau, Haverhill
Gregory Bevins, Peabody
Christopher Bonacorso, Swampscott
Julio Brito, Haverhill
Alexandra Canning, Newburyport
Mackenzie Carpenter, Peabody
Nicole Cataldo, Middleton
Alicia Charette, Billerica
Elsadig Elsadig, Lynn
Joseph Fedullo, Middleton
Lauren Fiore, Peabody
Joyce Fombah, Lowell
Adam Gallant, Rowley
Andrew Gauthier, Lowell
Judith Gitahi, Lowell
Alexander Glover, Lynn
Amanda Granfield, Billerica
Lisa Hannaford, Lynn
Lindsay Hursty, South Hamilton
Emily Janvier, Salem
Maria Kachinski, Peabody
Moijue Kaikai, Lowell
Festus Kromah, Lynn
Kevin Kunga, Lowell
Kelfala Lebbie, Lowell
Robert Lemoine, Saugus
Chris Leone, Lynn
Renee Malionek, Danvers
Mariela Mendez, Haverhill
Jillian Montuori, Chelmsford
Nicholas Moore, Topsfield
Cameron Mulvey, Lynn
Jennifer Mutunga, Lowell
Alison Nazzaro, Boxford
Michael Nazzaro, Boxford
Samantha Nelson, Salem
Victor Omenya, Dracut
Jason Orsini, Lynnfield
Aida Ortiz, Lowell
Marleni Paulino, Methuen
Michael Pennacchio, Peabody
Derek Pigulski, Peabody
Aoko Rachier, Dracut
Katie Ruccolo, Topsfield
Antoine Salvador, Lynn
Benjamin Sebuufu, Wenham
Thaina Serelus, Methuen
Benjamin Simmers, Methuen
Conor Sullivan, Lynnfield
Eden Sunday, Andover
Adam Tidcomb, Beverly
Matt Weinburgh, Bradford
Jeremy Weiner, Groveland
Julia Weiner, Groveland
Kristin Westaway, Methuen
Joanne Varnie, Lowell
Gabriel Yeboah, Lowell
Connecticut
Kenny McClure, Enfield
Brendan Ryan, Oxford
New Hampshire
Jenna Cassidy, Epping
Rhode Island
Oluwatosin Adewusi, E. Providence
Curtis Emel, Pawtucket
Elton Holt, Providence
Heather LaFaive, Cumberland
Vermont
Kayla Waryas, Chester
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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