“I am eager to get to work with the LGBTQ Board, to bring Westchester County up to speed on the issues that matter to the LGBTQ communities," Latimer said on Thursday, May 31. "This dynamic group of people will be tasked with making recommendations about new legislation, services, programs, funding or anything else these advisors feel is appropriate.”
Chair of the LGBTQ Advisory Board Christopher Oldi said: “The Westchester County LGBTQ Advisory Board looks forward to working with the Latimer administration on ensuring that the needs of LGBTQ Westchester residents are being met throughout the County. The Advisory Board is committed to having open and honest conversations with the new administration in order to provide any advice, guidance or assistance that is requested of the Board. We thank the County Executive for his commitment to LGBTQ rights, and I appreciate being appointed to the Board.”
Newly appointed LGBTQ Advisory Board members are:
Nicholas Calabro of Eastchester is director of Integrated Care and Health Homes at Amida Care, a Health Insurance Agency in Manhattan. Calabro also is a nationally certified case manager for the Commission for Case Management, a New York State licensed clinical social worker and a state certified alcoholism and substance abuse counselor.
Noel D’Allacco-Ammirati of Bronxville is founder and president of Operation PROM, a not-for-profit organization that provides free prom dresses and tuxedos to students in need. D’Allacco-Ammirati is also an active volunteer for a number of Westchester County non-profit groups, including the Westchester County Diaper Bank and the Junior League of Central Westchester.
Nancy Dyer of Sleepy Hollow is a clinical social worker at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Harrison. Dyer also serves as a Senior Addiction Counsel at the outpatient clinic, treating both adults and adolescents with substance abuse and dependence, and co-occurring disorders.
Pastor Jim O’Hanlon of Byram, CT, is the pastor of St. Paul’s Church in Rye Brook. O’Hanlon is also an active member of Westchester United, which joins people of diverse faiths to address an array of important issues. O’Hanlon has been involved in the Evangelical Lutheran Church since 2000, and received a Master of Divinity as well as a Master of Sacred Theology.
Christopher Oldi of White Plains is the supervising attorney in the Yonkers office of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, supervising all staff attorneys and support staff. Oldi also is the creator of the LGBTQ Legal Project, a project that represents low income lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning individuals in areas such as discrimination, housing, government benefits and family law.
Joann Prinzivalli of White Plains is the state director and founder of the New York Transgender Rights Organization (NYTRO), which has long advocated for the rights of transgender people throughout New York State, focusing on state and local-level trans-inclusive legislation. Prinzivalli received her J.D. from Saint John’s University School of Law, and is currently the Chief Counselor at Insignia National Title Agency.
Michael Sabatino is a Yonkers City Councilman and the founding member of the Yonkers Committee for Smart Development, a volunteer organization which advocates for civic economic gain while maintaining respect for the natural environment, social history and varied culture. Sabatino also staffs semi-annual LGBT College Summits at the various colleges throughout Westchester County.
Danielle Shea of Pleasantville is a clinical social worker, and a former Administrative Investigator at HeartShare Human Services in Brooklyn. Shea conducted investigations into allegations of abuse, neglect, and mistreatment of adults with developmental disabilities. Shea also was responsible for training HeartShare staff in gender identity issues.
Rachel Simon of North Salem is the associate director of Multicultural Affairs & Diversity Programs, LGBTQQ coordinator, LGBTQA Center director and professor of Gender studies at Pace University. Simon advises student groups and trains campus departments to best serve LGBTQQAI students through one-on-one projects, programming and training.
Jim Stenerson of Yonkers, is the Executive Director of the Faculty Center for Innovating Teaching & Professional Development at Pace University. Stenerson is also co-advisor of the College’s Gay-Straight Alliance Student Organization, and previously served on the Board of Directors for SAGE, Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders.
Rob Hornak of Ossining is director of Internal Audit Operations at Mastercard. Hornak has long maintained a leadership role with the LGBT employee resource group at Mastercard, as well as at his previous places of employment, IBM, American Express and DTCC.
Dr. James Young of White Plains is a Social Sciences professor and Rainbow Alliance advisor at Monroe College in the Bronx. The Rainbow Alliance creates a supportive college community that is free of discrimination and harassment, and focuses on topics such as coming out, family, dating, how to deal with homophobia, study tips, organizing safe spaces and how to respond to sexism.
Sam Gomez-Despain of New Rochelle is a youth worker at the City of New Rochelle Youth Bureau. Gomez-Despain also is program director of a number of New Rochelle community groups including My Brother’s Keeper, Network Youth Leadership and the New Rochelle Youth Council.
Vincent Fields of White Plains is a member of Westchester Young Democrats, and treasurer of the LGBTQ Caucus Chair. Fields also is a board member of The Loft: LGBTQ Community Services Center, as well as a volunteer at Feeding Westchester.
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