Thursday, July 9, 2009

AU Celebrates Fourth Hispanic Graduation at Hartford Foundation

Advocacy Unlimited held its Fourth Hispanic Graduation at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving on Wednesday, July 8 from 2-4. The ceremony honored graduates of AU’s Advocacy Education class, a 14-week course for persons in recovery from psychiatric disabilities and/or co-occurring disorders.

2009 Hispanic Mi Casa Class

This class, taught entirely in Spanish at Mi Casa Family Services in Hartford, was funded as part of a multi-year grant from the Hartford Foundation to create a Hispanic Initiative that expands Advocacy Unlimited’s service to Greater Hartford’s Latino community.

Annette Deonarine, AU Director of Education and Latino Initiative and Pete Rosa, Program Officer, Hartford Foundation

The keynote speaker was Pete Rosa, Program Officer, Hartford Foundation. Other speakers included Jorge L. Rivera, Founder and Executive Director, Mi Casa Family Services and Thomas A. Kirk, Jr., Ph.D., DMHAS Commissioner.

Jorge L. Rivera, Founder and Executive Director, Mi Casa Family Services

Thomas A. Kirk, Jr., Ph.D., DMHAS Commissioner, addresses the graduates.

Commissioner Thomas A. Kirk, Jr., Ph.D. (center), John Sims,
President of AU's Board of Director and Dr. Karen A. Kangas, AU’s Executive Director

At the ceremony, John Sims, President of AU Board's of Directors, presented Commissioner Kirk with The Karen Kangas Excellency in Advocacy Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of mental health and substance use disorders.

AU would like to congratulate the graduates and especially recognize Annette Deonarine, Director of Education and the Latino Initiative, for successfully leading the class and for tremendous work and dedication to this class and to all her students.

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