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YWCA honors local women June 2
The following is a press release from YWCA Malden:
The YWCA Malden will host its 19th Annual Tribute to Women on Wednesday evening, June 2 at Anthony’s Restaurant, 105 Canal St. Five women and one teen will be honored at the event for demonstrating that “Success Has Many Faces.”
Social hour begins at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. This year’s guest speaker is Joan Wallace- Benjamin, President & CEO The Home For Little Wanderers. Gladys Rivera Rogers is chairperson of the event.
Here is a look at the honorees:
Caryn Gray
A caring daughter, a devoted mother, and a proud grandmother, Ms. Gray is motivated by the love and support of her family. A nurse by profession, Ms. Gray is Board Certified in Occupational Health and in Disability Management. While working full time and parenting two daughters, she also found time to serve as a parent advisor to the Pope John High School racial diversity awareness club, a Girl Scout volunteer leader, and a Past President of the Glenwood School PTA. She also mentored recent RN graduates at both the former Malden Hospital and Melrose Wakefield Hospital. She has been a Board member of the YWCA Malden for over 15 years, serving as Past President, Past Treasurer, Past Secretary, and Past and Current Vice President. She also headed committees for Strategic Planning, Racial Justice, and Housing.
In her current position at Raytheon’s Integrated Defense Systems, she is noted for her strong organizational and communication skills. Through her attention to detail, problem solving and follow through skills, Ms. Gray used these abilities as head of the YWCA Malden’s Housing Committee to create improvements that make the Willcox Hall Residency Program a viable component of the YWCA Malden organization. She has also mentored teens in the YWCA’s Teen Program.
In 2006, the YWCA Malden was invited to attend the Racial Justice Conference in Birmingham, Alabama. She immediately understood the significance of this conference to the YWCA’s mission. To raise funds so that as many staff and volunteers from Malden could attend, Ms. Gray donated proceeds from a raffle that she had won and organized a fundraising event, a Salsa Party. This was a life change experience: “Over 300 like minded women gathered together with a single purpose—the elimination of racism. The power, energy, dedication, and commitment to make a difference at that conference will be something I will never forget and will inspire me always. Sometimes there can be positive change that can benefit mankind—one person at a time.”
Deborah Fallon
Deborah Fallon, a Malden Councillor at Large and lifelong Malden resident, is a community activist who is dedicated to making a difference. A victim of domestic violence, she found the courage, commitment, and determination to not only change her life but affect positive change in her community as well. Ms. Fallon works diligently to bring the voices, ideas and talents of the people of Malden to government.
In 1996, Ms. Fallon founded the non-profit organization, Portal to Hope (PTH) to help other crime victims achieve justice and safety. PTH provides comprehensive services to people whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking crimes. Over the last fourteen years, PTH has expanded its services to Malden, Everett, Lynn, Medford and Winthrop. PTH provides crisis intervention and emergency shelter, legal aid and advocacy for victims, youth programs and neighborhood support groups.
Understanding that education is the key to ending violence, she has been involved with numerous violence prevention trainings and free public educational events. Her primary concern has been in aiding youth, specifically girls in their late teens and early twenties who are fleeing violent circumstances. Erin’s Project, a youth initiative, was established to offer a safe haven and give the young women a chance to rebuild their lives, continue their education, and gain skills to achieve financial and emotional independence. She is also involved with EVAPorate Violence, a grassroots level program that emphasizes “no tolerance for abuse.” In 2007, Deborah was named the winner of the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund. Deborah has also been honored by the Zion Church Ministries and was one of 100 Massachusetts residents honored for Boston’s Millennium Honors Initiative; 100 Portraits of Massachusetts leaders.
The eldest daughter of former Mayor of Malden, Judge Thomas Fallon and his wife Janice, she learned the importance of community activism at an early age. She is a member Zonta, Friends of the Malden Public Library, Malden Access TV and the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary Post 639. For her work in supporting veterans, she received the George Washington Honor Medal given by the Freedom Foundation and in 2010, she was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Service Recognition Award for her leadership and activism in promoting equality.
Loretta C. Kemp
Deputy Director of Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. for the past 11 years, Loretta Kemp has worked as the Human Resources director, mentor to program directors, and liaison to many community groups such as Medford Health Matters, Everett Walks and Talks and Cyber Café @Malden Square. Her counsel, wisdom, and advocacy have inspired and created many new programs including the Individual Development Asset Program that combines financial literacy classes with matched savings programs, and the Tri City Workforce Development Task Force. In addition, she has lent her skill and talents in establishing health initiatives and scholarships for low income residents.
Ms. Kemp began her professional career in Pittsburgh, PA as an educator teaching Russian and French. Loretta felt that one of her greatest challenges was convincing inner-city high school students that they could indeed learn another language other than English. Loretta later worked at Opportunities Industrialization Center, a national grassroots manpower training organization, developing employment opportunities for low income residents advancing from English instructor to Director of Operations. At the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Loretta worked as a research associate on a lead poisoning project. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
Her civic and community work reflects her values in a proud African American history and struggle for educational excellence, justice and equality. She served as the Chairperson of the Youth Fair Chance Community Resources Advisory Board with the goal of helping young people through academic tutoring, computer training, school to work opportunities and safe recreation. She formed the African American Centers for Advanced Studies Council that brought together gifted African American high school students from across the city of Pittsburgh to address their educational, social and adolescent developmental needs.
She serves, along with her husband Jesse, as a founding member of Cornerstone Ministries, Inc., a non profit organization created to address the spiritual, cultural, and social needs of the sons and daughters of the African Diaspora who have been drawn to the Cambridge and Greater Boston area.
Diana Makhlouf
Diana Makhlouf, Director of Malden’s Early Education and Learning Program, is the champion of the teen parent program in Malden. She has creatively maintained the program within the school system working collaboratively with school officials, guidance counselors, and high school staff. Her efforts have ensured community wide support of teen parenting issues. She has worked diligently to integrate the teen parent program into the Preschool Program and to upgrade the curriculum to meet 21st century and early childhood education objectives. She also mentored and supported the need for the teen parents to become better advocates for themselves and their families. She joined with Malden guidance counselors, Healthy Malden, and Cambridge Health Alliance to develop a peer – pregnancy prevention program that targeted middle school students and focused the curriculum on safe and healthy choices.
Director of the Pre-K Program, Ms. Makhlouf won a Massachusetts Universal Pre-K (UPK) grant. The goal was to build and develop trust and enhance relationship building which is a critical component in early childhood education. In addition, with United Way funding, she implemented The Mind in the Making, a curriculum to enhance the UPK programs. She also developed internship opportunities for students of Malden High School interested in pursuing a career in early childhood education.
She is Chair of the Teen Parenting Task Force, Board Member of the Mass Alliance on Teen Parenting, and member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Wife of Sam Makhlouf and mother of Peter, and Ferris. She received her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois and is presently pursuing her Masters in Education at the University of Massachusetts.
Lucille Spadafora
Lucille Spadafora, a lifelong Malden resident, is known to many as the voice of compassion and aide at a family’s saddest moments – the loss of a loved one. As co-owner of A.J. Spadafora Funeral home, she has been the guide and support for countless mourners struggling to cope with profound devastation and grief. A self made business woman, she is quick to point out that her sharp business skills are often by instinct and strong determination. She is known for absolute trust and confidentiality, a personal touch and total reliability with every situation no matter the circumstance.
A graduate of Malden High School and Melrose Beauty Academy, she began her first venture into the world of business by opening her own hairdressing shop. She also worked at the Spadafora Funeral Home doing hairdressing and makeup and later expanded her services to other funeral homes. Lucille has been an active member of Kiwanis since 1996, As a Board member, she has been actively involved in many committee projects including the Holiday Basket distribution in which meals, toys, games and clothing are given to about 60 families in need. She has participated in the Amerige Park Clean Up, the Family Fun Day, Helmet Distribution, Art Auctions, Pasta and Comedy Night and the Halloween Costume Distribution for the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Unit. She is also a former Board member for the Malden YWCA and successfully co- chaired the Tribute to Women for two years. She has also been involved with fundraisers for St. Jude, and Malden Ward 2 and Bread of Life.
She wants to encourage other women to become business owners and serves as a role model of empowerment to today‘s young woman. Lucille is the devoted mother of Anthony (co owner of A.J. Spadafora Funeral Home) and Michele and grandmother of Amanda, Jaclyn, Nico and Gianna.
Kesha Bertrand (teen honoree)
Kesha Bertrand is a rising star. A senior at Malden High School, she is known as a leader and role model amongst her peers. Some of her greatest contributions to her school and community have come in the area of the arts. In her junior year, she served as an officer and is now the President of the Fine Arts Club. She has trained in studio production and was awarded the Malden Access Television Best Production Crew 2009 – Teen Ambassadors. In addition, she has produced numerous shows around healthy lifestyles for teens for the benefit of the Malden community.
Ms. Bertrand does not miss an opportunity to learn something new. She attended programs, workshops and leadership seminars at the Harvard Graduate School of Education gaining expertise in debate, poetry, negotiation and mediation. She also received training at Tufts University on Robotics and immediately put that training to use working with young children after-school. For the past two years, she has served as a teen ambassador for the Malden YMCA where she designs and teaches programs in science and technology for local elementary school students. She was an officer at Youth Court and received training in restorative justice for juvenile offenders, learning techniques that are designed to heal the harm done to victims and communities as a result of criminal acts, while holding offenders accountable for their action.
Despite a full schedule, she always finds time to give back. She volunteers at Bread of Life where once a week she organizes and distributes groceries for veterans and the homeless. In addition, she finds time to sing in the Malden High School Concert Choir. In her earlier years at Malden High, she participated in Field Hockey and Junior Varsity Winter Cheerleading. She is the daughter of Paulette Etienne and Jean Bertrand and sister of Giovannie. She will be attending Regis College in the fall.
For more information about the event and tickets, contact YWCA Malden at (781) 322-3760.
The YWCA Malden will host its 19th Annual Tribute to Women on Wednesday evening, June 2 at Anthony’s Restaurant, 105 Canal St. Five women and one teen will be honored at the event for demonstrating that “Success Has Many Faces.”
Social hour begins at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. This year’s guest speaker is Joan Wallace- Benjamin, President & CEO The Home For Little Wanderers. Gladys Rivera Rogers is chairperson of the event.
Here is a look at the honorees:
Caryn Gray
A caring daughter, a devoted mother, and a proud grandmother, Ms. Gray is motivated by the love and support of her family. A nurse by profession, Ms. Gray is Board Certified in Occupational Health and in Disability Management. While working full time and parenting two daughters, she also found time to serve as a parent advisor to the Pope John High School racial diversity awareness club, a Girl Scout volunteer leader, and a Past President of the Glenwood School PTA. She also mentored recent RN graduates at both the former Malden Hospital and Melrose Wakefield Hospital. She has been a Board member of the YWCA Malden for over 15 years, serving as Past President, Past Treasurer, Past Secretary, and Past and Current Vice President. She also headed committees for Strategic Planning, Racial Justice, and Housing.
In her current position at Raytheon’s Integrated Defense Systems, she is noted for her strong organizational and communication skills. Through her attention to detail, problem solving and follow through skills, Ms. Gray used these abilities as head of the YWCA Malden’s Housing Committee to create improvements that make the Willcox Hall Residency Program a viable component of the YWCA Malden organization. She has also mentored teens in the YWCA’s Teen Program.
In 2006, the YWCA Malden was invited to attend the Racial Justice Conference in Birmingham, Alabama. She immediately understood the significance of this conference to the YWCA’s mission. To raise funds so that as many staff and volunteers from Malden could attend, Ms. Gray donated proceeds from a raffle that she had won and organized a fundraising event, a Salsa Party. This was a life change experience: “Over 300 like minded women gathered together with a single purpose—the elimination of racism. The power, energy, dedication, and commitment to make a difference at that conference will be something I will never forget and will inspire me always. Sometimes there can be positive change that can benefit mankind—one person at a time.”
Deborah Fallon
Deborah Fallon, a Malden Councillor at Large and lifelong Malden resident, is a community activist who is dedicated to making a difference. A victim of domestic violence, she found the courage, commitment, and determination to not only change her life but affect positive change in her community as well. Ms. Fallon works diligently to bring the voices, ideas and talents of the people of Malden to government.
In 1996, Ms. Fallon founded the non-profit organization, Portal to Hope (PTH) to help other crime victims achieve justice and safety. PTH provides comprehensive services to people whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking crimes. Over the last fourteen years, PTH has expanded its services to Malden, Everett, Lynn, Medford and Winthrop. PTH provides crisis intervention and emergency shelter, legal aid and advocacy for victims, youth programs and neighborhood support groups.
Understanding that education is the key to ending violence, she has been involved with numerous violence prevention trainings and free public educational events. Her primary concern has been in aiding youth, specifically girls in their late teens and early twenties who are fleeing violent circumstances. Erin’s Project, a youth initiative, was established to offer a safe haven and give the young women a chance to rebuild their lives, continue their education, and gain skills to achieve financial and emotional independence. She is also involved with EVAPorate Violence, a grassroots level program that emphasizes “no tolerance for abuse.” In 2007, Deborah was named the winner of the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund. Deborah has also been honored by the Zion Church Ministries and was one of 100 Massachusetts residents honored for Boston’s Millennium Honors Initiative; 100 Portraits of Massachusetts leaders.
The eldest daughter of former Mayor of Malden, Judge Thomas Fallon and his wife Janice, she learned the importance of community activism at an early age. She is a member Zonta, Friends of the Malden Public Library, Malden Access TV and the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary Post 639. For her work in supporting veterans, she received the George Washington Honor Medal given by the Freedom Foundation and in 2010, she was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Service Recognition Award for her leadership and activism in promoting equality.
Loretta C. Kemp
Deputy Director of Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. for the past 11 years, Loretta Kemp has worked as the Human Resources director, mentor to program directors, and liaison to many community groups such as Medford Health Matters, Everett Walks and Talks and Cyber Café @Malden Square. Her counsel, wisdom, and advocacy have inspired and created many new programs including the Individual Development Asset Program that combines financial literacy classes with matched savings programs, and the Tri City Workforce Development Task Force. In addition, she has lent her skill and talents in establishing health initiatives and scholarships for low income residents.
Ms. Kemp began her professional career in Pittsburgh, PA as an educator teaching Russian and French. Loretta felt that one of her greatest challenges was convincing inner-city high school students that they could indeed learn another language other than English. Loretta later worked at Opportunities Industrialization Center, a national grassroots manpower training organization, developing employment opportunities for low income residents advancing from English instructor to Director of Operations. At the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Loretta worked as a research associate on a lead poisoning project. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
Her civic and community work reflects her values in a proud African American history and struggle for educational excellence, justice and equality. She served as the Chairperson of the Youth Fair Chance Community Resources Advisory Board with the goal of helping young people through academic tutoring, computer training, school to work opportunities and safe recreation. She formed the African American Centers for Advanced Studies Council that brought together gifted African American high school students from across the city of Pittsburgh to address their educational, social and adolescent developmental needs.
She serves, along with her husband Jesse, as a founding member of Cornerstone Ministries, Inc., a non profit organization created to address the spiritual, cultural, and social needs of the sons and daughters of the African Diaspora who have been drawn to the Cambridge and Greater Boston area.
Diana Makhlouf
Diana Makhlouf, Director of Malden’s Early Education and Learning Program, is the champion of the teen parent program in Malden. She has creatively maintained the program within the school system working collaboratively with school officials, guidance counselors, and high school staff. Her efforts have ensured community wide support of teen parenting issues. She has worked diligently to integrate the teen parent program into the Preschool Program and to upgrade the curriculum to meet 21st century and early childhood education objectives. She also mentored and supported the need for the teen parents to become better advocates for themselves and their families. She joined with Malden guidance counselors, Healthy Malden, and Cambridge Health Alliance to develop a peer – pregnancy prevention program that targeted middle school students and focused the curriculum on safe and healthy choices.
Director of the Pre-K Program, Ms. Makhlouf won a Massachusetts Universal Pre-K (UPK) grant. The goal was to build and develop trust and enhance relationship building which is a critical component in early childhood education. In addition, with United Way funding, she implemented The Mind in the Making, a curriculum to enhance the UPK programs. She also developed internship opportunities for students of Malden High School interested in pursuing a career in early childhood education.
She is Chair of the Teen Parenting Task Force, Board Member of the Mass Alliance on Teen Parenting, and member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Wife of Sam Makhlouf and mother of Peter, and Ferris. She received her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois and is presently pursuing her Masters in Education at the University of Massachusetts.
Lucille Spadafora
Lucille Spadafora, a lifelong Malden resident, is known to many as the voice of compassion and aide at a family’s saddest moments – the loss of a loved one. As co-owner of A.J. Spadafora Funeral home, she has been the guide and support for countless mourners struggling to cope with profound devastation and grief. A self made business woman, she is quick to point out that her sharp business skills are often by instinct and strong determination. She is known for absolute trust and confidentiality, a personal touch and total reliability with every situation no matter the circumstance.
A graduate of Malden High School and Melrose Beauty Academy, she began her first venture into the world of business by opening her own hairdressing shop. She also worked at the Spadafora Funeral Home doing hairdressing and makeup and later expanded her services to other funeral homes. Lucille has been an active member of Kiwanis since 1996, As a Board member, she has been actively involved in many committee projects including the Holiday Basket distribution in which meals, toys, games and clothing are given to about 60 families in need. She has participated in the Amerige Park Clean Up, the Family Fun Day, Helmet Distribution, Art Auctions, Pasta and Comedy Night and the Halloween Costume Distribution for the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Unit. She is also a former Board member for the Malden YWCA and successfully co- chaired the Tribute to Women for two years. She has also been involved with fundraisers for St. Jude, and Malden Ward 2 and Bread of Life.
She wants to encourage other women to become business owners and serves as a role model of empowerment to today‘s young woman. Lucille is the devoted mother of Anthony (co owner of A.J. Spadafora Funeral Home) and Michele and grandmother of Amanda, Jaclyn, Nico and Gianna.
Kesha Bertrand (teen honoree)
Kesha Bertrand is a rising star. A senior at Malden High School, she is known as a leader and role model amongst her peers. Some of her greatest contributions to her school and community have come in the area of the arts. In her junior year, she served as an officer and is now the President of the Fine Arts Club. She has trained in studio production and was awarded the Malden Access Television Best Production Crew 2009 – Teen Ambassadors. In addition, she has produced numerous shows around healthy lifestyles for teens for the benefit of the Malden community.
Ms. Bertrand does not miss an opportunity to learn something new. She attended programs, workshops and leadership seminars at the Harvard Graduate School of Education gaining expertise in debate, poetry, negotiation and mediation. She also received training at Tufts University on Robotics and immediately put that training to use working with young children after-school. For the past two years, she has served as a teen ambassador for the Malden YMCA where she designs and teaches programs in science and technology for local elementary school students. She was an officer at Youth Court and received training in restorative justice for juvenile offenders, learning techniques that are designed to heal the harm done to victims and communities as a result of criminal acts, while holding offenders accountable for their action.
Despite a full schedule, she always finds time to give back. She volunteers at Bread of Life where once a week she organizes and distributes groceries for veterans and the homeless. In addition, she finds time to sing in the Malden High School Concert Choir. In her earlier years at Malden High, she participated in Field Hockey and Junior Varsity Winter Cheerleading. She is the daughter of Paulette Etienne and Jean Bertrand and sister of Giovannie. She will be attending Regis College in the fall.
For more information about the event and tickets, contact YWCA Malden at (781) 322-3760.
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