Awards & Recognition

Alondra Bustos

Alondra Ibeth Bustos Garcia, is a dreamer and educator who has two published bilingual children’s books. Learning a New Language/ Aprendiendo un Lenguaje Nuevo (2021) & the Phoebe & Penny Series I (2023). She resides in California and has been in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) field for over a decade. She earned her degrees in Early Childhood Development. Along with many ECE philosophy certifications. Her hope is to create rich bilingual literacy for children, amongst other future professional written work that include poetry & blogs. She strives to empower children & Latinas from all over.

Jacquelyn Santiago Nazario

“Youth are my inspiration, and my deepest desire is to see them thrive in our communities.”

Jacquelyn Santiago Nazario is the Chief Executive Officer of COMPASS Youth Collaborative and a Human Relations Commissioner for the City of Hartford. As CEO, Jackie provides the vision for COMPASS and is responsible for aligning programming with the agency’s mission and long-term strategy.

Jackie has built a high-performance team to meet the needs of Hartford’s highest-risk youth. She supports the team by ensuring they have the resources they need to deliver impactful programming. Since becoming CEO in 2019, Jackie has secured more than $7 million in new funding for COMPASS.

Jackie is a champion for youth equity, a dynamic youth development trainer, and an advocate for youth at risk.
Jackie received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Trinity College in 2000 and her Master’s degree from Quinnipiac University’s School of Business in 2014. Jackie is a national trainer in youth development practices and 7 Executive Functions for providers, parents, and community-based organizations.

Currently, Jackie was appointed by Speaker of the house Matt Ritter to the State’s Commission on Gun Violence Prevention and Intervention. She serves as a member of the Governor’s Workforce Council on Youth Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She is advocating and creating awareness about the best practices needed to work with youth impacted by the juvenile justice system and violence.

A native of Lawrence, MA, Jackie had the same early experiences as many of the young people who inspire her today. An excellent student in public school, Jackie received a scholarship to attend a prep school where she struggled to maintain decent grades. “I failed. It was then that I realized the schools in Lawrence hadn’t prepared me well academically.” Jackie decided that if she were lucky enough to go on to college, she would do something to help children, their families, and schools. Pingree School prepared her for her career at Trinity College, and she wants to ensure others have the same opportunity. She believes that all youth given the needed resources and opportunities will thrive.

In 2015, Jackie was awarded the Hartford Business Journal’s “40 under 40” award and, in 2017, their “100 Women of Color” award. Other recognitions include Hartford’s “Champion for Youth and Leadership Development” award in 2018, the Urban League of Greater Hartford’s “Champion of Justice Award” in 2019, and Trinity College’s “50 for the Next 50 Award.”

Yoellie Iglesias

Known for a tireless work, and hands on approach, Yoellie Iglesias emigrated from Puerto Rico with her family to Waterbury, Connecticut at the age of 18 years old. In 1999, Yoellie earned a Bachelor of Social Science, in Human Services from Springfield College, Massachusetts, and then successfully completed her Master’s Degree of Science in Education from the University of Bridgeport in 2004. Family is Yoellie Iglesias’ foundation, and she considers her greatest supporters in life to be her husband Angel L. Arzola and Angel Gregorio, their child.

In 2011, Yoellie Iglesias founded Madre Latina Organization Inc. A non-profit organization that educates connects and empowers Latina mothers in Connecticut. With tremendous support from her family, her sister Luanelly Iglesias and the Board of Madre Latina Organization Inc., she has organized several events in the city of Waterbury, CT to reach the ultimate goal to connect and empower Latinas. Yoellie Iglesias is considered a “voice of the Latino community” in Waterbury, Connecticut. She has worked closely with many partners and has collaborated with private and non-private sectors to provide information and easy access to services to families in the community. She believes in the power of education, mentors many Latinas, and coaches them to lead successful lives by giving them the tools to take their own decisions.

For the past 11 years, Yoellie along with the Members of the Board of Directors of Madre Latina Organization have started and directed multiple projects and programs, which have connected Latino families with necessary resources. The philosophy that guides Yoellie Iglesias’s life is that “by helping a family they will become part of my family, who will protect and take care of my only son, Angel Gregorio. Yoellie has helped, supported, and mentored thousands of families in Connecticut, and has become a key part of their lives.

Yoellie has been recognized for her work in many ways. In 2011, the Rivera Memorial Foundation recognized her for “Leadership.” In 2012, she was awarded the “Woman of Action” award. In 2014, the Secretary of the State of Connecticut, Denis Merrill honored her for having developed “The Largest network of Latinas in Connecticut. ” In 2015, CT Parent Power recognized her and her husband Angel Arzola, for “A Life of Service.” In 2016, Yoellie was honored by the Latino de Oro for “Leadership and Advocacy in the Latino Community”. In 2017, the Dominican Club selected her to receive the “Leadership Award”. Among the many achievements, the greatest of them was to develop a network of collaborators in the city to support the Latino community.

Yoellie and her team have been working on cultivating Connecticut’s future leaders since 2019. Yoellie is counseling families and assisting Latino high school students with their college transition through the Young Representatives of Waterbury Program, hosted by Madre Latina Organization Inc. Furthermore, the program followed them until they had their college diploma. Yoellie believes that “we are raising future leaders.”

Tiffany Fernandez Morrissey

Tiffany Fernandez Morrissey is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 10 years experience in health system management, health policy consulting and large enterprise project management. Tiffany recognized a critical need in the industry to address gaps in communication and branding. It was this realization that prompted her to establish Monarc PR, a premier public relations firm committed to delivering personalized solutions to individuals and corporations. Prior to that role she spearheaded the development of a 60,000 square foot ambulatory medical care center for Bristol Health in Hartford County Connecticut. She received her Masters of Arts in Public Policy and Master of Public Health from Stony Brook University in Long Island NY.

A strong advocate for public health and women, Tiffany serves as Chair of Advocacy for the Connecticut Public Health Association. Formerly the Chair of the Women’s Forum for the CT Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Tiffany Fernandez Morrissey is honored to have been recognized as the 2018 recipient of the Connecticut Regent Early Careerist award and the Leadership/Mentorship award from the Connecticut Association of Healthcare Executives.

Tiffany resides in Cheshire CT with her husband and children.

Gladys Rivera