Diane Rosenthal, Executive Director at Student Advocacy, Inc. in Westchester, NY, is the epitome of servant leadership. Beginning her career as a middle school teacher, she moved from the classroom into the nonprofit world, leading the New York Public Library’s adult literacy program which served over 1000 students per year. Diane’s leadership helped shape the social and literacy skills needed for students to achieve independence and self-sufficiency. She remained in adult literacy for many years, leading Literacy Volunteers of Stamford, CT, which was ranked among the top 10% of volunteer-based programs nationally. A true visionary, she created programs and wrote grants that would significantly benefit the adult learner community. She also facilitated a successful merger with a larger non-profit program that resulted in more resources and programming to serve the needs of their clients.

Diane currently leads Student Advocacy, an organization that provides legal representation and counsel on education related matters for families with children who have special needs due to disabilities or other challenges. Their services are free for families with limited resources.. Diane’s impact and leadership have been powerful over the decades of her career. She has made a significant difference in helping families, children, and youth in the areas of literacy, workforce development, and assistance for those facing challenges with the educational system.

Student Advocacy will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Overcoming the Odds Awards Celebration on May 14th at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill, Tarrytown, NY, where they will honor students who have faced challenges, yet made education and giving back to others their priority.

Bonnie Solivan is a proud “Nuyorican”. This word refers to someone who has been raised in New York with deep ancestry and cultural traditions from the island of Puerto Rico. As a child of missionaries, she has lived in South and Central America, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and various boroughs in NYC, and her now in her current home in CT. Growing up, her family focused on education and learning, but she struggled with a learning disability not discovered and diagnosed until her freshman year in college. She describes living through shame, embarrassment, and bullying during her grade school years. Now, she is working on her fourth Master’s Degree and there seems to be no end in sight!

In addition, to her career as an Instructional Designer and Educational Technology Coordinator at a community college, she is building a passion project, “Threads of Resilience”. This project is focused on honoring her beloved and proud roots as a Latina and building awareness of the Hispanic/Latino community across the world.

Valerie Wilson was the first person in her family to attend college and she knows how important this was for her career path. As a certified professional Career Coach and Resume Expert, she is committed to helping young and experienced professionals. Her experience in higher education working with undergraduate and graduate students truly helps soon-to-be graduates and job seekers focus on their goals for career next steps and Valerie is there to coach them on their journey. Working with immigrant or first generation American students has its own set of unique challenges but Valerie sees potential in everyone and is quick to offer guidance and useful advice.

As an entrepreneur, she is passionate about her private practice, Career Coaching by Valerie, where she impacts professionals at all levels. She is engaging and warm, and knows how to empower people to pull out the very best they can offer a potential employer.

Flor De Hoyos is Latina from Puerto Rico who is a force to be reckoned with. Her career has been focused on advocacy and support to adult learners, children and their families, and it’s her personal experience that is the underlying tool to her professional effectiveness. Flor’s ability to connect and empathize with families in her district is the key to the overall success in her current role.

After moving to the eastern section of Connecticut at age 12 and struggling to transition to a new school, she struggled with English as her second language and adapting to a new culture was challenging.

She shares her educational journey from a vocational high school to Johnson & Wales for a culinary program, getting inspired and moving into programs for Human Services and Social Work, and now on her way to earning her Ph.D in Educational Leadership. The road has been long and challenging but as an incredible role model to her daughters, and impacting so many people around her, her success is deeply rooted in gratitude and faith.

Luisa Viladas, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of Southern CT, grew up surrounded by books so it’s no accident that she leads a literacy program. With extensive career experience in non-profit development, she has tutored ESL adult learners with as strong focus on grammar. Bringing her experience to a new level, she is overseeing this small but mighty program located in Milford, CT where they serve adult students focused on improving literacy skills and English as a Second Language learners. Their agency is settled among many diverse families living in their communities, with approximately 53 native languages and over 15,000 adults without a high school diploma. They prepare learners with basic literacy, English as a Second Language, voting for the first time, getting a driver’s license and other essential credentials that lead to an independent and sustainable life.

René Soto is a supremely talented artist: painter, singer and dancer. Moving to the United States from Guatemala over 14 years ago was a big life change but one that opened many doors for his creative expertise. After arriving in the U.S., he immersed himself in learning English and his writings and poetry were published on two separate occasions in an adult education newspaper. He was the founder and owner of René Soto Gallery which honored Latino artists. After closing its doors post-Covid, he began teaching again and engages artists, both young and older, in a variety of programs.

He was the mastermind behind the Latin Colors magazine and is still under production today and is under new management. He is a true visionary with deep hope for the future.

Season 3 is here!

Astrid Robitaille is passionate about adult learners and is a strong advocate for adult education programs across the nation. As a former 7th grade teacher, she transitioned into adult education

and never looked back. She has taught many subjects including courses preparing students for U.S. citizenship, the GED (high school diploma program) and English as a Second Language. As a trainer and assessment guru for adult education programs across the U.S., she is committed to providing excellent service to education programs and administrators all while keeping the adult learners as her top priority.

With adult education and other federally funded programs at risk, listen and learn how impactful this reality could be on our future generations, our workforce, local communities and our nation at large.

And learn from Astrid how one student's persistence, patience and sheer motivation finally paid off.

Alexandra Castro is an immigrant from Colombia that is an entrepreneurial trailblazer. Arriving to the U.S. was nothing short of a challenge but Alexandra was a chef with a plan. After running her family pizza restaurant in Colombia, she also managed a high-end restaurant in Montreal, which laid the foundational training and experience she needed to launch herself forward. Since returning to the U.S., she focuses on her culinary career and building her business. As the owner and founder of Everything Dough, LLC, she spends her time designing and making pizzas for weekly farmers markets, private catering events, special order sales, and of course, for private or corporate gatherings that truly pull a community together.

In addition to being a pizza chef, she is a proficient baker creating specialty baked goodies, teaching cooking classes for adults and youth, and creating content for her thriving social media platforms. While building her culinary empire she is equally as focused on creating new friendships and spending time with her loving husband and family.

Cynthia Alvarez is a first generation Mexican American who grew up in a multigenerational household and is deeply proud of her family history. She exudes gratitude for the choices and sacrifices her parents and grandparents made for their growing family. She talks intimately how her grandparents impacted her values and self-esteem and how her family is still influential to her life decisions.

As a young mother of a son, she is committed to raising him in a similar setting surrounded by multigenerational family members, along with her loving husband, Jesús.

Cynthia is an alumnae from Bentley University who quickly created a network of friends who were diverse and supportive and continue to be closely connected. Her collegiate experience helped form her position on diversity, equity and inclusion. Cynthia’s work post-graduation was immensely satisfying as she worked with adult learners learning English as a Second Language. Often the only team member who could speak fluently to students in their native language, building trust and easing their concerns, she created a safe haven where adult students knew they would be supported as she researched resources on their behalf. She is passionate about fostering safe communities for our immigrant neighbors, friends and loved ones.

Julie Faryniarz is the Executive Director for Greenwich Alliance for Education and has much to share about the fabulous initiatives and programs they have for the youth in Greenwich, CT.

Over the last 18 years they have worked collaboratively and in partnership with the Greenwich Public Schools and its teachers as the local education foundation to drive innovation, opportunity and access in learning to empower all students to achieve academic, personal and professional success. They fund innovation to elevate achievement and inclusion for all Greenwich public school students resulting in creativity and personalized learning. With programs like Tuning In To Music and their Reaching Out Grants available to teachers to utilize to expand learning opportunities to enhance their curriculum, they are a nonprofit to learn from! Their funding to implement the international AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) program in the Greenwich schools has made the possibility of college attainable to hundreds of students by teaching essential academic and executive functioning skills to close gaps and raise achievement. Julie and her AVID SUCCESS Program Director, Trish Rohr, have presented their work and programming for these first-gen college going students at AVID national conferences.

They are on the cusp of the 1 million dollar mark in college scholarship giving and are seeing full circle moments as alumni return to volunteer, donate and help current students leverage professional internship opportunities.

Greenwich Alliance for Education is a registered 501C3 and is reliant on funding to continue their impactful programs.