Patrick-Murray Administration Recognizes Young Leaders for Their Commitment to Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

BOSTON — The Patrick-Murray Administration today honored participants in the Department of Developmental Services' (DDS) Urban Youth Collaborative Program (UYCP). More than 200 young people were recognized at the State House event for their participation in the UYCP this summer, working with individuals with developmental disabilities at state-operated programs and at developmental centers throughout the state.

“I am impressed by the efforts of these amazing young leaders through the Urban Youth Collaborative Program,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “Their commitment to serving the people of the Commonwealth makes them incredible role models for the next generation.”

"The commitment and dedication of all of these young people has meant meaningful connections for the Urban Youth Collaborative interns and DDS consumers alike,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby. “I am very proud of the Department for its continued success with program.”

The UYCP, now in its 21st 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.

”Today we honor and thank the participants of the Urban Youth Collaborative Program, who have spent their summer working directly with people with developmental disabilities across the state," said DDS Commissioner Elin Howe.

In addition to recognizing all of this year's program participants, DDS presented three special awards during today's ceremony:

• The Steven E. Collins Leadership Award was presented to Jesse Hayston of Quincy;
• The Current Service Award was given to Camille Serelus of Methuen and Amanda Granfield of Billerica; and
• The Paulette Anjorin Community Service Award was awarded to Nicholas D’Aluisio, director of the Wrentham Development Center.

The UYCP began in Boston in June 1992 as a collaborative effort between Madison Park High School and Bay Cove Human Services, with the goal of attracting young adults from diverse backgrounds to 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 employers have partnered with local colleges to offer course credit to interns participating in the program. Since its inception, more than 3,200 interns have taken part in the UYCP, with nearly half choosing to pursue careers in human services.

The following interns participated in the 2012 Urban Youth Collaborative Program (regions and towns included):

Metro Boston

• Adedolapo Abioye, Boston
• Peter Blain, Dorchester
• Ernst Sherley Blanc, Dorchester
• Kasey Childs, Malden
• Delmy Depaz, Roslindale
• William Deprado, Malden
• Vasthi Desroches, Mattapan
• Givona Dietz, Boston
• Dylan Eufrasio, Medford
• Kevin Germain, West Roxbury
• Dean Graham, Boston
• Taylor Hill, Braintree
• Yoely Lugo, Boston
• Aneisha Malcolm, Medford
• Ann Mutebi, Malden
• Kimberly Nguyen, Hyde Park
• Kharl Pierre, Cambridge
• Tiana M. Serrano, Boston
• Anvy Tran, Boston

Western Massachusetts

• Luis Burgos, Westfield
• Christina Carbone, Westfield
• Briana Carbone, Westfield
• Anthony Carbone, Westfield
• Yadira Garcia, Springfield
• Targie Gervais, Springfield
• Matthew Harwoodstone, Florence
• Emily Kravetz, Holyoke
• Jonathan LaMagdelaine, Holyoke
• Alex Lederman, Springfield
• Caitlin Liberty, Westfield
• Elizabeth Moller, Westfield
• Tyler Morissette, East Longmeadow
• Daniela Osorio, Holyoke
• Ana Pasterczyk, Westfield
• Kelsey Poole, Westfield
• Lauren Weiner, Feeding Hills
• Chris Woods, Westfield

Central Massachusetts

• Emmanualla Agyemang, Worcester
• Freda Agyemang, Worcester
• Paige Bailey, Auburn
• Casey Caron, North Brookfield
• Davmarie Casiano, Worcester
• Carissa Couture, Grafton
• Kaytlin David, Athol
• Brendan Doyle, Worcester
• Nana Dwira, Worcester
• Elizabeth Ellsworth, Oxford
• Eric Fay, Worcester
• Alisha Gannon, Fitchburg
• Maria Gentilucci, Millbury
• Makayla Henriquez, Worcester
• Alyssa Holden, Athol
• Davontay Jacobs, Worcester
• John Jakaitis, Worcester
• Cory Johnson, Phillipston
• Joshua Jordan, Worcester
• Cynthia Kyei-Akomeah, Worcester
• Justin LaFrenier, Warwick
• Elizabeth Myshrall, Worcester
• Jenna Rantala, Leominster
• Kevin Rigopoulos, Athol
• Allissa Rivera, Leominster
• Veronica Safavaah, Worcester
• Ian Schopf, Whitinsville
• Daniel Seco, Royalston
• Kyle Shays, Auburn
• Amanda Siciliano, Leominster
• Alexandra Simonovitch, Spencer
• Alyssa Smith, Worcester
• Trevor Stock, Grafton
• Matt Tomiaolo, Grafton
• Mathew Tucker, Marlboro
• Lindsey Vivlamore, Worcester
• Emily Yost, Fitchburg

Northeastern Massachusetts

• Michelle Aroko, Salem
• Joe Barbuzzi, Salem
• Deanna Baumert, Merrimac
• Lauren Battistelli, Beverly
• Monique Bleau, Nahant
• Alicia Calos, North Reading
• Michelove Cajuste, Lynn
• Mackenzie Carpenter, Peabody
• Nicole Cataldo, Middleton
• Maylissa Charmant, Burlington
• Jaydiris Delossantos, Lynn
• Fadjah Desforges, Haverhill
• Corey Donahue, Lynn
• Alex Dzwil, Boxford
• Andressa Ferreira, Bradford
• Elizabeth Francis, Lawrence
• Adam Gallant, Rowley
• Alexander Glover, Lynn
• Nicole Glover, Lynn
• Amanda Granfield, Billerica
• Tristan Hardy, Winchester
• Chris Leone, Lynn
• Scott Levine, Peabody
• Eric McDonald, Groveland
• Jessica McFadden, Amesbury
• Courtney Moore, Topsfield
• Nicholas Moore, Topsfield
• Cameron Mulvey, Lynn
• Staisy Ngare, Lowell
• Rebecca Pierre, Woburn
• Daniel Pho, Chelmsford
• Anthony Rieser, Billerica
• James Riordan, Topsfield
• Miosoty Rosario, Salem
• Katie Ruccolo, Topsfield
• Antoine Salvador, Lynn
• Jennifer Samaro, Salem
• Camile Serelus, Methuen
• Conor Sullivan, Lynnfield
• Gregory Thompson, Winchester
• Demetri Underwood, Lynn
• Jeremy Weiner, Groveland
• Julia Weiner, Groveland
• Kristen Westaway, Methuen
• Joshua Williams, Newburyport

Southeastern Massachusetts

• Diana Abraham, Brockton
• Janice Acosta
• Jessica Alphonse
• Corey Allison, Taunton
• Aderico Alves, Brockton
• Wade Bernier, Lakeville
• Molly Brennan, Quincy
• Chris Briody, Taunton
• Marcel Burgo, New Bedford
• Altagracia Caceres, New Bedford
• Rebecca Cavallari, Plainville
• Allison Carvalho, Taunton
• Earl Cenat, Randolph
• Joshua Cenat, Randolph
• Kimberly Champagne, Norfolk
• Tiequon Conceicao, New Bedford
• Erica Costa, Somerset
• Emily Curley, Taunton
• Amy Demoranville, Lakeville
• Zachary Engstrom, Berkley
• Jamael Freitas, Brockton
• Gia Min Gao, Quincy
• Olivia Gbale, Franklin
• Jeff Gomes, Brockton
• Jerome Hardy, New Bedford
• Michael Jauquet, E. Walpole
• Miguel Johnson, New Bedford
• Victoria Jusme, Norton
• Paul Kariuki, Brockton
• Phiroth Khourn, Fall River
• Sonja Knowles, Assonet
• Kevin Lafferty, Berkley
• Sherisse Mayala, Brockton
• Molly McCarthy, Quincy
• Jessica McCurry, Somerset
• Janelle McDonald, Lakeville
• Maiuca Monteiro, Brockton
• Mbom Ngu, Taunton
• Craig Norton, Walpole
• Kelly O’Connell, Taunton
• Ryan Page, Taunton
• Pheaktra Sambun, Fall River
• Tina Sambun, Fall River
• Jerene Simmons, Brockton
• Dean Tanner, Franklin
• Kelly Thompson, Berkley
• Lasbat Waheed, Norton

Rhode Island

• Seaniah Bellah, Pawtucket
• Beaulah Bloe, N. Providence
• Michael Cardoso, Central Falls
• Thomas Chea, Providence
• Emel Curtis, Pawtucket
• Nahlone Gbaye, Providence
• Jessie Govin, Lincoln
• Elton Holt, Providence
• Martin Lakpor, Pawtucket
• Heather Lefaivre, Cumberland
• Jessica Lopes, Pawtucket
• Anita Ogio, Providnce
• Felicia Townsend, Providence
• Waitta Vainga, Pawtucket

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