The Boggs Center (NJ UCEDD/LEND) Celebrates Graduation of New Jersey Partners in Policymaking Class of 2018-2019
June 17, 2019
|
The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities hosted a graduation ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of the New Jersey Partners in Policymaking Class of 2018-2019.
New Jersey Partners in Policymaking is a leadership development and advocacy education program for adults with developmental disabilities and family members available through The Boggs Center with funding from the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities. This year's graduates included 10 self-advocates and 15 family members prepared to work toward meaningful change in our state.
Colleen McLaughlin, The Boggs Center's Associate Director and Partners Project Director, welcomed graduates and invited guests, and provided an introduction to the New Jersey Partners in Policymaking program. Deborah M. Spitalnik, PhD, Executive Director of The Boggs Center, delivered messages of inspiration, hope, and a charge to action as part of the event. Commissioner Carole Johnson brought greetings from the New Jersey Department of Human Services, and the impact of the Partners program was addressed in remarks by Mercedes Witowsky, Executive Director of the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) and Paul Blaustein, NJCDD Chair. Through panel presentations, this year's graduates shared what they learned in the program and their plans for advocacy after graduation.
To learn more about this year's graduates, their experiences over the past 8 months, and the impact of the Partners program, view the "Program Takeaways" video featuring the New Jersey Partners in Policymaking Class of 2018-2019.
Congratulations to the New Jersey Partners in Policymaking Class of 2018-2019:
|
Joyce Afriyie |
Meredith Flinn |
Jeannie Lopez |
Janet Tavarez |
|
Veronica Alizo |
Christopher Gagliardi |
Kailas Rangachar |
Marie Torres Perez |
|
Edna Antonian |
Jenna Karch |
Crystal Reynolds |
Lisa Weissbach-Efrat |
|
Kayla Baylor |
Hyun Kim |
Crystal Rogers |
Lily Yip |
|
Ana Cabàn Vander-Woude |
Pamela King |
Andrea Schmidt |
|
|
Robert Dazlich |
Bryan Krantz |
Lynda Shanahan |
|
|
David Ferrell |
Jessica Lax |
Nicholas Taubenslaug |
|
