9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Interpreting Service
Spanish & Haitian Creole will be available
Virtual
Parent & Youth Conference
Saturday, March 22, 2025
TENDER STEPS OF NEW YORK, INC.
“Embrace, Empower
&
Embody”
“Embrace, Empower & Embody”
QR CODE FOR THIS POWERPOINT
TENDER STEPS OF NEW YORK, INC.
Welcome:
Evelyn Bautista-Miller
Founder & President
“Embrace, Empower & Embody”
Dr. Ritza Santiago- Chair
Evelyn Bautista-Miller- Co-Chair
John O’Neill- Committee Member
Dr. Sagrario Rudecindo-O’Neill- Committee Member
Technical Support
Tanitra Partivit
&
Evenide Fanfan-Vilcean- TSONY Board Member Consultant
“Embrace, Empower & Embody”
TENDER STEPS OF NEW YORK, INC.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER, PANELISTS
&
WORKSHOP
PRESENTERS’ BIOSINC.
Virtual
Parent & Youth Conference
March 22, 2025
9- 12 p.m.
“Embrace, Empower & Embody”
Evelyn Bautista-Miller
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT OF
TENDER STEPS OF NEW YORK, INC.
Evelyn Bautista-Miller is a testament to the transformative power of dedicated social work driven by a deep commitment to serving New York’s most vulnerable populations. A bilingual (Spanish) Certified Master Social Worker and a distinguished PhD Candidate in Social Welfare at the CUNY Graduate Center, her career spans over two decades of experience. Her journey is a compelling narrative of academic excellence, professional dedication, and impactful community leadership, particularly within immigrant communities.
Evelyn Bautista-Miller's career is dedicated to serving diverse communities and advocating for equitable systems. Bridging research and practice, she now supports immigrant students and families as a district social worker within the East Ramapo Central School District while pursuing her doctorate, drawing on her diverse experience as a supervisor in a foster care agency, a preschool director, and a charter high school administrator. Her work addresses systemic challenges, ensuring access to critical resources, and reflects her deep understanding of the link between individual needs and systemic change.
Her dedication to nurturing the next generation of social workers is evident in her previous role as an adjunct lecturer at the Columbia University School of Social Work. Her SIFI (Seminar in Field Instruction) certification underscores her expertise in guiding and mentoring aspiring social work professionals.
Her commitment to community service is exemplified by her founding of Tender Steps of New York, Inc. (TSONY, Inc.), a non-profit organization dedicated to advocacy, education, and revitalizing family values in Rockland County and New York City.
Dr. Ritza Santiago
CHAIR & TSONY BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Ritza Santiago, comes to Tender Steps of New York as a professional and leader with many years of experience in the non-profit sector that includes Human Resources, job development, program management, career counseling, college admissions and education. Dr. Santiago is an active researcher-previously, focusing on first-year college students and their decision-making to attend college and how it was impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings summarized that college students were encouraged and supported to go onto college from childhood and the pandemic did not alter their goals. It was also highlighted that students lack options when it comes to plans after high school. Dr. Santiago also sits on the Board of the Gap Year Association and is the Chair of the Research Committee. Dr. Santiago is passionate about students planning for their future, as young as middle school, and pushes students to really research their interests and explore their possibilities after high school. From her experience, going back to her early days working with the youth and families of NYC, she's found that decisions are not made by one person, but collectively from the whole support system. Dr. Santiago comes to Tender Steps of New York to help where necessary and serve her community.
Evenide Fanfan-Vilcean
TSONY BOARD MEMBER CONSULTANT
Evenide FanFan-Vilcean, an educator for 30 years. She holds an
NJDOE issued certificate in Educational Leadership. As the holder of this certificate, she works as a
District Supervisor of Instructional Technology & Career-Technical Education. In this challenging role, Evenide is able to create programs that will inspire under-represented subgroups such as girls/women
and other minority groups to pursue careers and technology and engineering. As a Haitian immigrant
who emigrated from Haiti at the age of 9 years old with her siblings, Evenide has known first hand the
cultural shifts that can occur to immigrant families due to social & economic hardship as well as language
barriers. Working to support families through Tender Steps of New York will afford her opportunities
to serve the surrounding communities of Rockland County.
Dr. Sagrario Rudecindo-O’Neill
Keynote & Workshop Presenter
Dr. Sagrario Rudecindo-O’Neill is the Beacon City School District's Assistant Curriculum and Student Support Superintendent. She has been a principal, assistant principal, and bilingual special education teacher in urban and suburban school districts. She serves on several equity advisory committees at the school and county levels.
She is one of 64 educators statewide on the Graduation Measures Blue Ribbon Commission for the New York State Education Department. Sagrario has presented her work on DEI and Response to Intervention at the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) annual conferences and at Teachers’ College Reimagining Education Equity Summer Institute. Personally, Sagrario was born and raised in the Highbridge section of the Bronx. She is a proud daughter of an immigrant mother from the Dominican Republic.
John O’Neill
Committee & TSONY Board Member
John O'Neill, I am honored and appreciative of this opportunity to continue to serve the community. My career as a public servant includes my role as a Personnel/HR Director for the Department of Education where I had the privilege to process, collaborate, advise, support and learn from incredible educators. The majority of my tenure in this position was in Community School District 6, which at one point served the largest population of bilingual students in the state. I was also able to partner, during my time in district 6, with community organizations such as the Children’s Aid Society.
It has been inspiring for me to have worked with caregivers of so many different titles and positions who truly are committed to helping others. A significant number of educators I collaborated with and supported have risen to positions that have enabled them to have an important impact on a global scale. These educators have become Community Organization Leaders, School Building Leaders, Deputy Superintendents, Superintendents, the last NYC Chancellor, the current NYC Chancellor, out of state educational leaders, NY State Educational leaders and policy makers. After my retirement from the Department of Education, I completed a 3 year term as a school board member for the Washingtonville Central School District. Personally, I was born and raised in the Inwood section of Manhattan by an immigrant mother from Cuba. My wife and I will be celebrating 20 years of marriage. I have two children and 7 grandchildren. I am truly humbled and blessed to have an opportunity to support an organization that truly seeks to be caregivers to the community.
Honorable George Hoehmann
Workshop Presenter
George Hoehmann, a lifelong resident of Clarkstown, has served as Clarkstown Supervisor since January 2016. Prior to that, George served as a member of the Town Council and twenty-one years in not-for profit agencies serving the most vulnerable in our community including as the Executive Director of BRIDGES, (Formerly RILC) a Rockland County based non-profit focused on helping those with disabilities.
Since taking office as Supervisor, George has brought innovation and fiscal discipline to the town, providing taxpayers and residents with more transparency and accountability.
In addition, George Hoehmann has worked to ensure responsible development throughout the town, strengthening Clarkstown’s zoning laws and code enforcement and purchasing at-risk properties to preserve the character of our community. An environmentalist, George has worked to improve Clarkstown’s parks, including preserving open space and creating new recreational opportunities for residents.
George, a graduate of Clarkstown South High School, and his wife Catherine, reside in Nanuet, where they raised their three children Ashleen, Thomas and Ciara.
Alex Cabraie
PANELIST
Alex Cabraie is an entrepreneurial force to be reckoned with, ever in search of his next business venture. At an early age, Mr. Cabraie knew he wanted to make his mark in the business world. He was invited into Binghamton University’s School of Management
where he graduated with a degree in Management Finance and served as President of The Bert Mitchell Minority Management Organization. With many offers of employment to consider, Mr. Cabraie went on to work for PriceWaterHouseCoopers. However, building his own business was his true passion. Three short years after graduation Mr. Cabraie purchased his first investment property, and in 2003, just one year later, opened his first Planet Wings franchise. Today, he owns and operates three Planet Wings restaurants. Based on his passion for the restaurant business and keen aptitude for store operations, Mr. Cabraie created Wings, Burgers and Beyond in 2009. The restaurant was so successful he was able to flip it in just one year.
Throughout his diverse career, Mr. Cabraie has worked as a benefits executive for Hewitt Associates and Towers Watson, while continuing to pursue his entrepreneurial endeavors. He has invested in numerous properties as a single investor, and as a member of real estate groups. Today, Mr. Cabraie is actively seeking real estate investment opportunities. Mr. Cabraie is proud of the work he is currently doing as CEO of Success In Motion 4 U, an employee wellness company dedicated to the health and wellness of grade school teachers across New York State.
Mr. Cabraie was born and raised in Nyack, New York. He continues to reside in Rockland County with his loving wife, where they are devoted parents to their beautiful daughter and handsome son. He has served as a board member of the Rockland Negro Scholarship Fund where he worked tirelessly to raise almost One Hundred Thousand Dollars during his three year tenure. Mr. Cabraie makes regular financial contributions and food donations to various community organizations, and also serves as a board member of the Nyack Center which provides before and after school programs for children. Mr. Cabraie’s entrepreneurial success and community work earned him the high distinction of Rockland County’s 40 Under 40 Award. He is currently focused on seeking solutions to Rockland’s infrastructure challenges as a member of Leadership Rockland’s Class of 2018. He was recently honored by Poinsettia Chapter No.76, and also by The NAACP. Mr. Cabraie is committed to the adage “lifting as we climb.”
Carrie Steindorf
Workshop Presenter
Carrie Steindorff, MA, has had a long career in public health education that includes working with schools, community groups, and coalitions. As a presenter, she has led many education sessions for students and adults on topics such as reproductive health, women’s health, Lyme Disease, Tai Chi for Health, and general wellness. She has worked at the Rockland County Department of Health for 30 years and is passionate about helping people of all ages make healthy choices that promote self-confidence and wellbeing.
Audy Bautista
Workshop Presenter
Audy Bautista
As Executive Vice President of Security Operations at Thrive Networks, a global technology provider, he provides strategic leadership in the cybersecurity domain, drawing on over 20 years of experience in Information Technology and cybersecurity management. Beyond his corporate role, he is dedicated to giving back to the community by mentoring cybersecurity professionals who are striving to advance their careers. A proud son of immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic, he grew up in the Bronx and is the father of three daughters.
For Spanish-speaking participants:
Los participantes de habla hispana que deseen escuchar la reunión interpretada en español deben marcar el siguiente número de conferencia:
1-720-843-2672
Código de acceso: 3705623
For Haitian Creole-speaking participants:
Patisipan ki pale kreyòl ayisyen ki vle tande rankont la entèprete an kreyòl ayisyen ta dwe konpoze nimewo konferans sa a:
1-720-843-2672
Kòd aksè: 6392352
Candice A. Whatley, Esq.
WORKSHOP PRESENTER
Candice A. Whatley, Esq. currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Legal Aid Society of Rockland County Children’s Rights Division where she oversees the Attorney for the Child program implementation and manages the division’s interdisciplinary team of attorneys, paralegal, and social worker. The Children’s Rights Division provides representation for children in abuse, neglect, delinquency, custody, family offense, and PINS proceedings. In 2020, Candice successfully established an Education & Community Advocacy Project within the Children’s Rights Division to ensure that all children have equal access to education. Prior to joining LASRC in September 2019, Candice was a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society Juvenile Rights Practice in the Bronx, NY for eleven years.
As an Attorney for the Child, Candice has litigated hundreds of cases through the various stages of family court legal proceedings and obtained favorable outcomes for clients. She has successfully argued before the appellate division for emergency stays of court orders, filed numerous motions and conducted extensive research on nuanced family court issues. She earned her Juris Doctor Degree from The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law in 2008 and her Bachelor of Art Degree in English, cum laude, from the State University of New York at Albany in 2005. While a law student, Candice worked with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia Juvenile Justice Program where she advocated for youth who were detained or committed to detention centers within the metropolitan area.
Candice is committed to serving the public interest and to promoting innovative solutions to effectuate social change. She has spent much of her educational and professional career working with organizations devoted to youth development and family advocacy and she has maintained strong ties to her local community. Currently, Candice serves as a co-chairperson of the Regional Racial Justice Advisory Committee to Continuums of Care in the Hudson Valley. She is a board member of her local NAACP chapter, the Rockland Negro Scholarship Fund and Leadership Rockland and she is an active member of numerous community organizations. Candice is committed to finding ways to nurture children’s talents, remove obstacles that stunt their growth, and encourage their long-term success.
Norma Nieves
WORKSHOP PRESENTER
Norma Nieves has worked for the Legal Aid Society as a paralegal for over 20 years. She finds immense fulfillment in working closely with people, offering support and solutions to their problems.
For Spanish-speaking participants:
Los participantes de habla hispana que deseen escuchar la reunión interpretada en español deben marcar el siguiente número de conferencia:
1-605-472-5156
Código de acceso: 5599813
For Haitian Creole-speaking participants:
Patisipan ki pale kreyòl ayisyen ki vle tande rankont la entèprete an kreyòl ayisyen ta dwe konpoze nimewo konferans sa a:
1-425-436-6360
Kòd aksè: 3452108
Detective Eugene Suarez
Workshop Presenter
Detective Eugene Suarez started career in 1994-present. Uniform Officer 1994-1995 for Village Woodridge. Undercover Officer with Orange County Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit from 1995-2000, Undercover and Uniform Officer, Village of Walden 1999-2000 Undercover Officer and Uniform Officer , Town of Newburgh Police 2000-2007 Uniform Officer and SWAT and Undercover Officer, Spring Valley Police Department 2007-2013 Undercover Officer and 2013-Present Detective.