Growing up in White Plains provided me with many opportunities — and one special opportunity was the White Plains Youth Bureau. I started attending the Youth Bureau at eleven years old. It was located a few blocks from my house and one of a very few places my mom would allow me to go. Frank Williams was my youth counselor. He held weekly meetings with my peers and I and taught us invaluable lessons. My first job at the age of fourteen was through the Youth Bureau. I was placed at the YWCA Little Sister’s Camp. Little did I know that later in my life I would become the director of the Little Sister’s program as well as the Director of Youth and Family Services at the YWCA.

After attending Fordham University and majoring in Education and Child Psychology, I returned to work at the youth Bureau. I was the Educational Coordinator of the Saturday Academy program, the Camp Director of the Bits N Pieces Day Camp as well as other positions throughout the after-school programs. It gave me joy to be able to come back and work along side Frank, the very person who showed me the importance of investing time and love in children.

After working in various educational settings and nonprofits, I launched my online life coaching business, named ‘A Mom’s Movement’. ‘A Mom’s Movement’ is dedicated to working with other mothers as they navigate the education system and extracurricular activities for their children. I will forever be grateful to the second family I gained through the White Plains Youth Bureau.