Anastasia Royal, MA

Independent Health Foundation

Ana leads the development team at the Independent Health Foundation (IHF). As part of her work she oversees their Growing Up Strong program, an initiative focused on helping families and pediatricians meet the development needs of children ages 0-5. In the past four years, she has worked to expand HealthySteps into six additional primary care centers across the Buffalo region. She enjoys connecting people and different organizations to build systems that support health equity in Western New York. Foremost to her beliefs, Ana measures her approach to improving a community’s health only after considering an individual’s lived experiences.

Prior to joining the IHF team, Ana worked on a variety of childhood focused community health programs and specialized in sustainable capacity building, a set of skills she gained while serving in the United States Peace Corps. Working as Rural Health Volunteer she supported the Ministries of Health and Education of her host country in monitoring and encouraging the healthy development of young children through mobile clinics and primary schools. After her Peace Corps service, she went on to intern at the International Institute of Buffalo, working as a medical advocate for new refugee arrivals. Her efforts focused on connecting new families to needed services by acquainting them with medical systems and addressing cultural barriers.

As a mom of three young children, Ana believes deeply in the importance of supporting young families and fostering environments where all children can thrive. She has a Public Health degree from The College at Brockport, and a Master of Medical Anthropology from the University at Buffalo.

Dr. Liz Izakson

Docs for Tots/Help Me Grow Long Island

Dr. Isakson is a dedicated pediatrician and public health practitioner with over 20 years of experience. She completed her general pediatrics training at the Children's Hospital of New York, where she was Chief Resident, and earned her medical degree from the University of Connecticut Medical School. She has served as the Executive Director of Docs for Tots for the past decade, where she leads efforts to promote practices, policies, and investments that support the healthy development of children aged 0 to 5. In her role, Dr. Isakson creates vital connections between doctors, policymakers, early childhood practitioners, and other key stakeholders to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Dr. Isakson is driven by a deep passion for early childhood systems integration, stemming from her firsthand experience with the consequences of an underfunded and misaligned system on families with young children. Her commitment to this cause is reflected in her numerous publications spanning early care and education, health, and family economic security.

Dr. Isakson’s standout achievements include her work over the past two years to incorporate the Learn the Signs. Act Early. (LTSAE) campaign across five Help Me Grow systems in New York. Additionally, her advocacy at the state level has successfully integrated LTSAE into key early childhood initiatives like the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) and the Preschool Development Grant B5.

Janice Jenosheck

Niagara County EIO

Janice Jenosheck is the Director of the Niagara County Children with Special Needs (CWSN) Program, where she also serves as the Early Intervention Official (EIO) for Niagara County. Janice has held this role since January 2023 and has been an integral part of the CWSN administrative team since 2012.

As Director and EIO, Janice has diligently explored various service model options within existing programs and identified community supports and collaborators to meet the needs of young children in Niagara County. This includes working with Early Intervention (EI) providers to offer over 20 Parent/Child groups to families within the past year.

In addition to her role in CWSN, Janice brings seven years of experience working with children and adults through the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). She has a lifelong commitment to supporting individuals with developmental delays and disabilities, actively enhancing collaborations and opportunities for children and families throughout Niagara County.

Racheal Charlow

Healthy Steps

Racheal Charlow is a LMSW who runs the Healthy Steps Program at Main Pediatrics, a medium-sized private urban pediatric practice. She focuses on ages 0-5, primarily 0-3, by providing patients with point-of-care access to socio-emotional and developmental support as well as community linkages.

Racheal is diligent in making Early childhood development and Infant Mental Health an integrated part of the pediatric team. With Racheal's moment-to-moment involvement, the team is able to address the mother-baby dyad, infant mental health, developmental screenings, maternal depression, behavior concerns, and social determinants of health.

This past year, Racheal has also been able to add lactation support to families at the office. Inspired by her personal breastfeeding journey, she has been working to become a certified lactation consultant. Being able to educate and guide breastfeeding mothers and families during the most vulnerable period has been very exciting and rewarding as well as an asset to Main Pediatrics.

Racheal has also provided support to new Healthy Steps programs developing through the Western New York area, helping them to best utilize the supports from Zero to Three and to address the challenges of developing a new model.

Dr. Sarah Ventre

University at Buffalo

Dr. Ventre is a general pediatrician and Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University at Buffalo. She serves as Interim Division Chief of Ambulatory General Pediatrics for UBMD General Pediatrics, Associate Program Director of Advocacy for the UB Pediatric Residency Program, medical co-director for the Buffalo Public School District, and director of the WNY Children’s Environmental Health Center.

Dr. Ventre is passionate about community-based solutions to health inequities in pediatrics. She has successfully developed numerous collaborative partnerships between her pediatric practice and community-based organizations, addressing social determinants of health such as food insecurity, inadequate housing, and diaper needs. She strives to develop public health solutions that are both meaningful to families and feasible in clinical settings.

Emily Friedan, M.D.

Retired Pediatrician

Emily was a general pediatrician in Buffalo, NY for almost 40 years. Her priority has always been providing high quality primary pediatric care to the urban community. Her passions are prevention, community and addressing the challenges and nurturing the promise of young families. At Main Pediatrics she, with Dr. Dina Spiropoulos, launched the first Healthy Steps program in Western New York. It is now going on its 10th year and serves as a model for others starting in the region. With the help of Help Me Grow and Healthy Steps, Main Pediatrics was an early adopter of point of care electronic ASQ’s (among other screenings). As a retiree, Dr. Friedan hopes to continue to advocate for young families and their well-being.

Patricia Kurst

Neighborhood Health Center/Reach Out & Read

Patricia Kurst, CPNP, is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Neighborhood Health Center, a Federally Qualified Community Health Center in Buffalo, NY
Tricia's entire career has been dedicated to providing the best possible pediatric primary care for at-risk children and in implementing evidence based practices that truly make a difference in the lives of children. She is a devoted advocate for children spending her time in practice, but also extending herself into the public sphere, connecting pediatrics to the larger community, working collaboratively with community based organizations for the betterment of all children.

Trica serves as Medical Director of Reach Out and Read Upstate NY, an evidence based pediatric practice early literacy initiative and Practice Champion of HealthySteps, a team based model of pediatric primary care that promotes the health, well-being and school readiness of babies and toddlers, with an emphasis on families living in low-income communities.
Tricia describes herself as passionate and quietly determined.

Cheryl W. Manney

Program Director, King Urban Life Center, ParentChild+Program

Cheryl Williams Manney serves as the Program Director for the King Urban Life Center.
Presently, Cheryl’s work centers around children and families from 18 months old to eighth grade, leading King Urban Life Center’s ParentChildPlus, S.T.E.A.M Team after-school program, Summer Camp, and community Family Fun Fridays—all free programming. With compassion, socioemotional support, and a prioritization of education, Cheryl empowers families to “Expect More, Do More, and Achieve More,” reminding them, “You don’t have to end where you started.

Gerald Smith

Assistant Director of Operations, PEDALS-Higher Education

Gerald Smith is the PEDALS Assistant Director of Operations. He brings over 20 years of diverse experience in the field as a preschool teacher, child care center director, quality improvement mentor, professional development trainer, CDA PD specialist, and adjunct professor. For more than a decade, Gerald has been training and supporting a wide variety of early childhood organizations with the implementation of ASQ screening programs, including both the screening tools and the online platform. These include childcare centers, school districts, pediatric offices, home visiting programs, and higher ed. institutions, among others.

Emily Oaks

Lead Data Strategist, Help Me Grow WNY, CCNY

Emily is part of CCNY, Inc.’s Evaluation and Analytics team. She has over 15 years of experience working in the non-profit sector, providing direct service to clients as well as developing and implementing complex programs with community members and partners to achieve results. Emily has created and maintained program evaluation, quality assurance, and staff evaluation metrics for nonprofits in a variety of sectors, including health care, education, and social support networks. She is involved with CCNY within the capacity of data analysis, visualization, communication, and warehouse maintenance.

Connie Desmarais

Blue Skies Consultation and Former Director of HMG WNY

Connie is a highly regarded consultant known for her exceptional ability to forge connections and leverage her extensive experience across diverse projects. With a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and over 35 years in the human services field, Connie has been instrumental in the launch and establishment of several evidence-based programs and projects in the Western New York area. Her expertise spans maternal and child health, mental health, and home visiting programs, with a particular focus on developing outreach and marketing strategies.

Currently, Connie’s work involves consulting on System of Care contracts in 2 different rural county communities focused on assisting them in improving their strategies and promoting and enhancing their responses and prevention strategies for maternal and early child health and mental health needs. This work has primarily focused on helping people move from knowing to doing with strategies such as identifying training, coaching, and technical assistance needs, promoting engagement for both service providers and community members, determining client/family needs, providing support resources, and collaborating with service providers on multidisciplinary teams.

Connie’s work is deeply influenced by her personal experiences as a mother/stepmother to six fantastic individuals and a grandmother to six children, with one more on the way. This role keeps her attuned to the contemporary challenges faced by parents and enriches her professional perspective. As a longtime resident and service provider in rural communities, Connie understands the complexities and frustrations associated with finding and accessing services, both personally and professionally.

Her approach to consulting is guided by core values of collaboration, diversity, empathy, and growth and learning. Connie is known for her energetic and entertaining personality, her empathetic approach, and her genuine connection with people from a wide range of backgrounds. Described as both goofy and respectful, she brings a unique blend of warmth and professionalism to her work.

Jaclyn Bleich

Branch Manager, Onondaga County Public Libraries

Jaclyn Bleich is the Branch Manager for the Onondaga County Public Libraries, where she has worked since 2015. Initially a Children’s Librarian, Jaclyn spent years helping families discover the library’s free resources. For the past two years, she has managed the White Branch Library located in the Northside City of Syracuse, leading her team while building key community partnerships to expand access to vital services. Her initiatives include seasonal Community Health Fairs, a Blood Pressure Cuff Program, and a Food Access Program. Known for her compassion and drive to help others, Jaclyn focuses on creating lasting, impactful connections in her community.

Summer Merrick

Director of Help Me Grow Onondaga

Summer Merrick serves as the Director of Help Me Grow Onondaga for the Early Childhood Alliance, a community coalition focused on improving the quality of life for children under five and their families in Onondaga County. With a background in special education and literacy, she brings an understanding of early childhood relational health. Summer is deeply committed to bridging gaps in accessing resources and ensuring families are connected to essential services. Using local data, Summer and her team identified a need for emergency access to diapers and formula, working with the CNY Diaper Bank to create an emergency diaper bank at Help Me Grow Onondaga. She then partnered with the United Way of CNY to utilize their Ride United program, enabling these basic needs items to be sent directly to families in need. Recognizing the crucial role parents play in a child's development, she advocates for initiatives that empower and educate caregivers.

As a mother of two, she is passionate about working with parents to empower them in making education come alive for their children. When she’s not advocating for the well-being and development of young children, you can find Summer buying even more plants and building botanical Lego sets.

Dr. Lynnette Haley O’Stewart

Head Start/Early Head Start |Niagara Falls City School District Community Education Center

Lynnette Haley O’Stewart, Ph.D. is currently the School Administrator for the Niagara Falls City School Districts Community Education Center, a multi-purpose building serving the District community from cradle to career. She is also the District’s Head Start Director overseeing the Head Start/Early Head Start grant for the city of Niagara Falls since it was awarded to the District in September 2021.

Dr. Lynnette Haley O’Stewart has an extensive educational background that spans thirty-five years, encompassing nearly all areas of early childhood. She has held the positions of preschool and Head Start teacher, Head Start center director, early childhood education specialist/consultant, professor, administrator, as well as advisor and trainer for the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program.

From its inception in September of 2010, Lynnette served as the director of Niagara University’s Niagara County Early Child Care Quality Improvement Project. The Niagara County Early Child Care Quality Improvement Project (QIP), an initiative launched by Niagara University in 2010 to enhance early childhood development, was cited for excellence in a comprehensive study released July 16, 2018 that assessed the needs of early childhood education in Western New York. The $350,000 study, commissioned by a group of 25 foundations and organizations known collectively as Liftoff, listed the Niagara QIP as one of six exemplary programs that are doing the most to serve the region’s youngest residents and their families.

Lynnette earned a Ph.D. in Leadership and Policy from Niagara University and she holds permanent New York State Certification’s as Teacher (PreK-Grade 6) and School Administrator/Supervisor (SAS). She has been a dynamic conference presenter at the regional, state, and national level.

Mark Laurrie

Superintendent of Niagara Falls City School District

Mark Laurrie has dedicated his professional life to education. In a career spanning over four decades, he taught elementary and special education and served as assistant principal of two schools, principal of two schools, chief educational administrator of Niagara Falls High School, and deputy superintendent. Since 2016, he has been the superintendent of the Niagara Falls City School District.

Mr. Laurrie continues to receive accolades for service and leadership from organizations throughout our region. The Niagara USA Chamber recognized him as Businessperson of the Year for 2023. Among his many honors are the Police Athletic League Sportsperson of the Decade, Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope Service to Community Award and Difference Maker Award, Kiwanis Leadership Award, the Excellence in Literacy Award for North America from the Reading Recovery Community, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Leadership Niagara, the Spirit Award from the Niagara Falls Boys and Girls Club, Educator of the Year from Niagara University, and the New York State Dr. Gerald E.DeMauro Award for utilizing data-driven practices to improve student achievement. In October 2023, Mr. Laurrie was commissioned as the civilian representative to the 914 Air Commander Reserve station.

Mr. Laurrie also remains active in several charitable and community organizations. He is the current board president of both Destination Niagara USA and the United Way of Niagara. He also serves as the vice president of Junior Achievement of Western New York and sits on the boards of directors of the Mental Health Association of Western New York, the Francis Center, Niagara Falls Education Foundation, Niagara County Opioid Task Force, Niagara Falls Health Equity Task Force, Kiwanis Club of Niagara, Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital Cardiac Cath Lab Committee, Health Association of Niagara County Inc. Advisory Committee, the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, Leadership Niagara, the Western New York Council of Character Counts and the Rotary Club of Niagara County Central and Niagara Falls USA, and the American Heart Association National Superintendents Council for Healthy Student Outcomes.

Mr. Laurrie holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Niagara University. He earned a master's degree in special and elementary education from the State University College at Buffalo and a master's degree in administration and supervision from Niagara University.

Christina Fecio

Education Consultant

With 25 years of diverse, practical experience in organizational leadership and education, Christina comfortably wears many hats, including speaker, writer, and strategist. As an Educational Consultant and Chair of the WNY Behavioral Collaborative, Christina provides customized professional development solutions, ranging from in-service training workshops and keynote speeches to year-long coaching and mentoring programs.

Ann Kinney

Help Me Grow WNY

With a Master’s Degree in Education and experience as an Early Learning Educator, Ann started her career in Maryland in 2005 as a 2nd Grade (and later 4th Grade) Teacher. Professional and educational experience led her to pursue an opportunity as a Director of a local childcare center, where she fostered her love of connecting with families and providing early, nurturing experiences for children.

Now, Ann works as the Centralized Access Point Coordinator for Help Me Grow WNY, embedded at Parent Network of WNY. In this role, she helps parents and professionals better understand child development, works with caregivers to screen their children using the Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQs), and provides technical assistance and training around the ASQ Online system.

Justina Freedman

PEDALS Program

Justina Freedman brings 20-plus years of early childhood experience to the incredible team at PEDALS. Prior to PEDALS, she spent more than 12 years as an Early Childhood Specialist and Coach at Niagara University. Before that, my journey unfolded as a preschool teacher and child care director.
She has a true passion for working with children and early childhood professionals. Justina firmly believes that through purposeful and powerful relationship-based coaching, we have the capacity to significantly impact the lives of children. By nurturing these connections, we set the stage for children to grow into successful adults who will undoubtedly change the world someday!
Outside of work, she loves to spend time with her wonderful husband and amazing daughter as well as family and friends.

Sara Lamoreaux

QUALITYstarsNY

Sara Lamoreaux holds a Master’s degree in early childhood education and is certified to teach Pre-K—Grade 6. In 1999, she started her career in early childhood education at a Head Start program in Buffalo, NY. Sara was a Head Start teacher and then moved on to hold various management positions during her tenure with Head Start. She joined QUALITYstarsNY as a Quality Improvement Specialist in 2012. In 2013, she earned a Level 3 New York State Early Learning Trainers Credentialed, and has presented and trained early childhood educators at many local and state wide conferences. She also holds the NYSAEYC T-TAP Coaching Credential for Early Childhood Teachers and Leaders. She has been an adjunct professor since 2014 and is also a member of NAEYC.

Dr. Lynn Lubecki, Ed.D., MS Ed.

NYS Pyramid Model

Dr. Lynn M. Lubecki stands as a beacon of inspiration in the realm of Early Childhood Education. As a faculty member at Empire State University and a mentor, teacher, and researcher in the Education Department, she dedicates herself tirelessly to shaping the future of education with a deep commitment to equity and inclusion. As a part of an incredible team, her focus in on helping students access high-quality education experiences and in some cases, achieve initial certification in early childhood education. In her role as the NYS Pyramid Model Regional Coordinator, Dr. Lubecki supports professionals and programs across Western New York to implement the Pyramid Model with unwavering fidelity, promoting practices that ensure that every teacher, family, and child receives the support they deserve.

Her leadership is not only defined by her dedication but also by her transformational approach. Dr. Lubecki’s passion for collaboration and connection drives her to focus on practices that create lasting systems change, particularly those that impact children disproportionately. Her strategic vision and motivational presence have earned her recognition as one of the first recipients of the Pyramid Model Consortium’s Champion Award, highlighting her exceptional work in fostering community connections around the critical importance of social and emotional competence in young children. Dr. Lubecki is a sought-after expert, speaker, panelist, and facilitator on the local, state, and national stage.

Dr. Lubecki’s influence extends far beyond her immediate roles; she is an inspirational leader, a motivational speaker, and a strategic visionary who continues to make a profound difference in the lives of children, educators, and communities alike. She is also the mother of two and Nona of three beautiful grandchildren, all who inspire her to continue to make sure all children are loved and feel like they belong.

Dr. Lubecki is currently serving her community as:
Public Policy Chair on NY Association for the Education of Young Children
Board President for the Girl Scouts of Western New York
Board Member on the Rochester Rotary Charitable Trust Foundation

Dr. David Mattson

Daniel Kahikina Akaka Family Foundation

Dr. David Mattson is President of ‘Ohana100', the Daniel Kahikina Akaka Family Foundation (DKAFF), a role that allows him to merge his passion for community service with a commitment to education and cultural enrichment. Named in honor of his grandfather, the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka, DKAFF was founded in 2015 and operates in the spirit of Aloha—fostering connection, unconditional regard, and service.

DKAFF champions youth literacy through their flagship program, Aloha Books, which has gifted over 250,000 new books to children across New York, Hawaii, and beyond. Their GO!READ initiative brings volunteer readers into classrooms, and during the pandemic, they adapted by launching a YouTube channel that has reached hundreds of thousands of viewers globally. Their Pa series of children’s books shares Dr. Mattson’s grandfather’s values and the essence of Aloha with young readers. They also run an oral history series with cultural themes, educational scholarships, youth leadership camps, and teacher workshops, creating a comprehensive network of support and inspiration for our communities.

In addition to his role at DKAFF, Dr. Mattson bring over 20 years of experience as a Board Certified Radiation Oncologist and serves as an Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine. He currently directs the Gastrointestinal and Gynecological Programs in Radiation Medicine at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

One of Dr. Mattson’s grandfather’s guiding principles was to approach all things with Aloha. It’s a principle Dr. Mattson strives to embody in all aspects of his work—beginning with a connection, showing unconditional regard, and sharing that spirit to create meaningful impact.

As we gather today to explore the theme of ‘Rooted in Relationships,’ Dr. Mattson is excited to share how the principles of Aloha can deepen our connections and drive our collective mission forward. Together, let’s strengthen our relationships and work towards a more connected and supportive community.

Mahalo for being here.

Kim Stewart

HELP ME GROW WNY and pedals

Kim Stewart is a leader in the early childhood field with over 30 years of experience. As Director of Help Me Grow WNY and PEDALS, she has seamlessly woven these programs together to expand understanding of early childhood development, enhance caregiver practices, and strengthen family engagement and community planning. Her work is deeply influenced by her own family’s journey with Help Me Grow, where she supported her daughter in navigating the challenges of raising a child with unique developmental needs. Even as part of the early childhood community, her family would have struggled without the lifeline Help Me Grow provided. This experience gives Kim a vital perspective that now guides her mission to ensure all families have access to the resources they need.

Known for her warmth, optimism, and knack for finding joy even in the busiest of days, Kim’s leadership fosters connections, drives collective impact, and inspires lasting change in the early childhood world—always with a smile and a touch of kindness.

Antoine Johnson

National Fatherhood Initiative®

As Program Success Director for National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), Antoine Johnson raises awareness among human service organizations of the system of complementary services and resources NFI offers and provides training and technical assistance to NFI partners.

Antoine is an experienced human service professional with a passion for supporting father inclusion in human service organizations. He also has experience launching a grassroots fatherhood initiative. At NFI, he enjoys building relationships with practitioners and organization leaders to create father-inclusive ecosystems where children and communities can thrive.

Antoine received a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Human Services, concentrating in community and mental health, from the University at Buffalo, NY, and an Associate’s Degree in Humanities and Social Sciences from Niagara County Community College (Sanborn, NY). He is a husband and father of two young children.

Rachel P. Bonsignore

Liftoff Western New York

As Liftoff’s first Director, Rachel leads all aspects of Liftoff’s strategic and impact agendas. For the past 25 years, Rachel has prioritized community engagement and policy change advocacy to improve the lives of children and families in the region and has actively contributed to national, state, and regional alliances.

Before joining Liftoff, Rachel previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Director of Community Health Initiatives at The Children’s Agenda in Rochester, NY, where she worked on advancing effective policies and programs for the health, education, and success of children; in this role, Rachel directed Rochester’s Healthy Weight Leadership Council, a 3-year collective impact effort to accelerate progress in childhood obesity prevention in the Greater Rochester area.

Rachel is recognized by the American Heart Association’s Voices for Healthy Kids as a ‘National Mover and Shaker,’ she received the Rochester Business Journal’s ‘Forty Under 40’ award and is the recipient of Dickinson College’s 1783 Award for distinguished service and professional accomplishment. Rachel is a graduate of Dickinson College with a degree in Environmental Policy and completed a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from St. John Fisher University. Most proudly, Rachel has spent the past several years focusing on early childhood development in her own household with daughters Vivian (age 6) and Claire (age 3).