Tayrin Torres
Being the Change Connections Profiles typically include a brief summary of the subject’s job duties, but with Senior Executive Assistant Tayrin Torres, that “brief summary” could easily spill over to a second — or third — page. Tayrin reports to the Senior Director of Business Development and the Vice President of Community Development. Her responsibilities include the following: calendar management, scheduling and preparation for meetings and interviews, department correspondence, meeting minutes, staff travel arrangements, food orders for agency events, processing of invoices and check requests, supply orders, translation services, general administrative duties, and that all-inclusive “other duties as requested”. Tayrin’s work days are busy, but outside of Evergreen she has taken on a whole host of additional responsibilities as founder and CEO of Dear Tayrin, Inc., an organization dedicated to raising awareness of sexual abuse and empowering victims. A “My passion is being an advocate for victims of sexual abuse. At the age of 5, I was a victim of sexual abuse. About 5 years ago I decided to come forward publicly with what happened to me as a child. Speaking about my truth led to the birth of Dear Tayrin.” A In those 5 years, Tayrin and Dear Tayrin, Inc. have achieved a lot, including local and national speaking engagements, social media, advocacy, fundraising events, panel discussions, and awareness events. “My mission is to be a voice for those who feel unable to speak for themselves,” says Tayrin. “My story is exactly that — my story — however, many others suffer in silence, looking for ways to break free. Through Dear Tayrin I can help victims of sexual abuse or assault heal, one day at a time.” A As much as Tayrin and Dear Tayrin,
Inc. have accomplished, there is still more work to do for victims of sexual abuse and assault. According to the CDC, 1 in 4 females and 1 in 6 males are sexually abused or assaulted before they reach the age of 18. “The biggest need I see in our community, and around the world, is the need to let victims know they are supported,” says Tayrin. “This means making sure they know they are not alone, they are loved, it was not their fault, and what happened does not define them. For years I suffered in silence, with only a handful of people who knew. As a child this was very confusing to me. It harmed my heart, mind and soul.” A The response to Dear Tayrin has been incredible. Tayrin has inspired people from all over the world to come forward and share their own stories, in letters, emails, or in person, which, as Tayrin notes, is the first step forward in the healing process. She also has an important message for Evergreen staff. “We are in this fight together,” she says. “This isn’t limited to children, it happens to adults and seniors. Sexual abuse isn’t choosy about gender, race, or age. Even though it’s hard to talk about, your voice matters. I recently saw Spotlight, a movie which highlights sexual abuse within the Catholic Diocese in Boston. One character said “it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to abuse one.” That quote affected me, because it’s the truth. If we want to raise children to be everything they aspire to be, then we must also advocate for them. The toughest battles are won when a community comes together. April is Sexual Abuse/Assault Awareness Month. Find a way to make a difference in your family’s life, within our community, or even nationally. As Gandhi said, “be the change you want to see in the world.”
“the toughest battles are won when a community comes together”
I’d like to learn how to circular breathe (for a musical instrument). It’s really hard to do! (Liz Ann-Miller) l I’ve always wanted to learn how to weld. (Rob Baird) l Languages: American Sign Language and Spanish. (Margie Hunter) l I would like to learn an instrument, but I ain’t got time for that. (Sean Tulumello) l I’d like to be able to make stained glass. (Stephanie Vroman-Goodrich) l
I’d love to learn Spanish to help our clients more! I would also like to take a kickboxing class, and be certified to teach Zumba.
(Heather Maloney) l I’d love to learn sign language, and I will eventually, because I feel it would be a great thing to know and open the door to help more people. (Debora Johnson)
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Spanish, Arabic, Italian and French. (Cord Stone)
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I’d love to learn
the tuba. It seems like a neat instrument and its sound makes me happy. (Sal Sciandra) l I want to learn how to fly a plane and skydive. I suppose I should learn the skydiving first. (Jakob Willoughby) l I try to learn something new every day! (Susan Buck) l
I would love to learn Spanish, does anyone want to tutor? (Andon Ticco) l How to whistle. (Matthew Sydor) l I want to learn
Hebrew. (Jacob Marsh) l I would like to learn Japanese. It’s such a unique language and culture. (Jeffery Santiago) l I’d love to learn home remodeling and construction. (Sheryl Campbell-Julien) l I’d love to learn to speak Spanish, but based on how poorly high school classes went I’ll probably stick to English. (Grant Rogers) l German and Dutch are on my docket of languages to learn, now that my Spanish is at a level of proficiency where I can communicate effectively in a business setting (though I’m always trying to improve and don’t think I will ever stop learning the intricacies of Spanish OR English! I’m a language nerd!) I also want to get better at driving manual-transmission vehicles (so if Donald Trump is elected president I can pack up and move to the UK without having to make that adjustment and having to learn how to drive on the left at the same time!). (Kyle Botsford) l How to bake the perfect pie crust. (Ellen Kaminsky) l Language: Polish. Skill: how to incubate and hatch tortoise eggs! (Lindsay Zasada)
There’s $500 for you in Evergreen’s Employee Referral Program. Refer a qualified friend for an open position, and if they’re hired you’ll get $100 after they complete thirty days. You’ll get another $150 after they complete six months, and another $250 after they complete one year at Evergreen. $........ Tell your friend to write your name on their application $........ Fill out the Employee Referral Form, and return it to HR $........ Sit back and wait for that money tornado!
Founded and sponsored by NCADD (National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence), Alcohol Awareness Month was established in 1987 to help reduce the stigma associated with alcoholism. Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease, genetically predisposed and fatal if untreated. However, people can and do recover, and in fact, there are an estimated 20 million individuals and family members living lives in recovery! Alcohol Awareness Month provides a focused opportunity to increase awareness and understanding of alcoholism, its causes, effective treatment, and recovery by reaching out to the American public with information about alcohol, alcoholism and recovery. It is also an opportunity to decrease stigma and misunderstandings in order to dismantle barriers to treatment and recovery. This will in turn make it easier for those who suffer from this disease to seek help. NCADD’s national network of affiliates and supporting organizations across the country use Alcohol Awareness Month to address the issue through a broad range of media strategies, awareness campaigns, programs, and local events. An integral part of Alcohol Awareness Month is Alcohol-Free Weekend, which takes place on the first weekend of April. During Alcohol-Free Weekend, NCADD invites all Americans to engage in three alcohol-free days. Individuals or families who experience difficulty or discomfort during this 72-hour experiment are urged to contact local NCADD affiliates, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Al-Anon to learn more about alcoholism and its early symptoms.
“Dismiss whatever insults your soul”. — Walt Whitman (Jim Sheehan) A My brother and I used to take people on all sorts of crazy outdoor adventures. Sometimes things didn’t go as planned, and we’d get lost, or the weather would worsen, etc. My brother once said, “it’s only an adventure if you wish you were home in bed at least part of the time.” (Rob Baird) A “Nothing of me is original, I am the combined efforts of everyone I’ve ever known” — Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters (Sean Tulumello) A “What’s wrong with wanting more? If you can fly, then soar. With all there is why settle for just a piece of sky?” — Barbra Streisand as Yentl (Matthew Crehan Higgins) A “He who angers you conquers you” or “Don’t worry, be happy”. (Lisandra Rivera) A “Here is to strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them” or “She believed she could so she did” or “A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor” or “Empowered women empower women” or “Life begins outside your comfort zone”. (Heather Maloney) A If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. — Mark Twain (Debora Johnson) A “Do your thing. Do it unapologetically. Don’t be discouraged by criticism. You probably already know what they’re going to say. Pay no mind to the fear of failure. It’s far more valuable than success. Take ownership, take changes, and have fun. And no matter what, don’t ever stop doing your thing”. — Asher Roth, or “I freed a thousand slaves. I could have saved more if only they knew they were slaves”. (Cord Stone) A “What one man can invent another can discover.” — Sherlock Holmes (Sal Sciandra) A “I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘if this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.’” — Kurt Vonnegut (Ian Eastman) A “Life’s as kind as you let it be.” — Charles Bukowski, or “I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can’t see from the center.” — Kurt Vonnegut (Jakob Willoughby) A “We shall never know all the good that a simple smile will do”. — Mother Teresa, or “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door”. — Milton Berle (Susan Buck) A “The more relaxed you are, the better you are at everything: the better you are with your loved ones, the better you are with your enemies, the better you are at your job, the better you are with yourself.” — Bill Murray. (Andon Ticco) A “You’re killin me smalls”. (Matthew Sydor) A “Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.” — Albert Schweitzer (Jeffery Santiago) A “When I am able to resist the temptation to judge others, I can see them as teachers of forgiveness in my life, reminding me that I can only have peace of mind when I forgive rather than judge”. — Gerald Jampolsky (Sheryl CampbellJulien) A My favorite quote is (obviously) from Star Wars, but the words in this quote are grounded in reality. “Hatred only harms those who hold it. Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” — (Grant Rogers) A “The joy is in the journey” — (Lidia Kendrick) A “The opposite of talking isn’t listening. The opposite of talking is waiting.” — Fran Lebowitz (John Carocci) A “We could have saved the Earth, but we were too damn cheap.” — Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (Lindsay Zasada)
March was Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month, and in observance eye safety will be the topic for this column. Eye safety is an often-ignored aspect of personal adherence because of the social stigma that still exists around eyewear of any type, and, ironically, because it’s something you can’t see without a mirror. Most people think eye safety is only an issue in industrial or construction work environments, due to the risk of physical damage or exposure to chemical contaminates. However, a large segment of workplace eye injuries are due to prolonged strain and nondiagnosed eye health issues. The most obvious area of risk in terms of eye safety is anywhere a debris strike or biological/chemical splash-back could occur. It’s important to know where to locate proper PPE
(Personal Protective Equipment) such as goggles, glasses, and face shields. It’s also important to know the location of any eyewash stations. All safety eyewear should be labeled “ANSI Z87” and be in good physical condition. You should also be mindful of the potential risk of eye infection, due to cross contamination between hands and the sensitive mucus membranes of the eyes. People don’t typically associate computerbased tasks with the risk for eye injuries. According to a recent study, 14% of work-related eye problems serious enough to require medical treatment were computer related. It has been named Computer Vision Syndrome, and is derived from constant screen usage, and/or improper positioning. To avoid issues, keep your computer at least 30 inches from your eyes, rest your
eyes between prolonged computer-based tasks (20 Minutes On, 5 Minutes Off). Eye drops, or even making sure to blink enough can help. Another important thing to remember is an annual eye exam, which can catch serious long-term issues like glaucoma or cataracts, changes in vision levels, or even an eye injury that one hasn’t noticed. Untreated vision problems can lead to potential trips or even auto accidents. They can also cause headaches, nausea, and other discomfort due to continued strain and overwork. Even if you wear eyeglasses, it’s important to have a regular check-up to keep your prescription current. Promote eye safety by familiarizing yourself, and reminding coworkers, of these tips and hopefully we’ll all look forward to a safe, bright future. Connections
Birthdays Jonelle Anderson........................... April 2 Rosemary Roche............................ April 3 Frances Frank................................. April 4 Laurie Matson................................ April 7 Dale Kingston................................. April 7 Treena Szuba.................................. April 9 Roy Golia........................................ April 10 Kelly Craig....................................... April 11 Nicole Dommer.............................. April 13 Shiloah Bostic................................. April 13 Renee Hartson............................... April 13 Bailey Fanning................................ April 14 Fallah Kassar................................... April 16 Maria Lotempio............................. April 17 Melissa Talbett............................... April 19 Elise Robinson................................ April 19 Kristen Rickey................................. April 19 Andrew Dirienzo............................ April 19 Giovanna Gasbarre........................ April 19 Cameron Schraufstetter................. April 21 Kimberly Harding........................... April 23 Marielena Camacho....................... April 25 Malha Zerouki................................ April 27 Max Crinnin.................................... April 29 Jamie Keuck.................................... April 29 Cherrelle King................................. April 30 Cathy Alvarez.................................. April 30
Anniversaries Brandon Josephs..............................1 year Anne Hartley Pfohl...........................1 year Andre Stokes.....................................1 year Julie Falk............................................2 years Kimberly Brown................................2 years Ian Schunk........................................2 years Katherine Kawa.................................3 years Michael Leel.....................................3 years Ashley Betz.......................................3 years James Sheehan.................................3 years Bennett Shepilov..............................4 years Jacquelyn Dixon................................4 years Michael Hamann..............................9 years Matthew John Pasquarella...............13 years Toni Hernandez................................20 years Your continued dedication and hard work are noticed and appreciated - Management Team
My Insight I wondered if I had an ego, I wondered all the time For I allowed people to misguide me, The beginning of my demise. I wondered if I had a voice, I wondered if I could speak, The true rhythm of my heart And my humble mentality I wondered if I had vision, I wondered if I had sight, I wondered where best would fit, My determination and my fight. I wondered if I could be seen I wondered if I could be heard I wondered what my place was here, on this ample earth Then a birth happened And I saw the light And I heard the voices And I gained sight My vision became clear My fight triumphant I entered this world with Purpose and no assumptions I was born for a cause I was born for a fight To bring awareness and care To a much needed plight So a soldier emerged From the womb of a queen To inform all the others Of the misheard and unseen I found my new home I found my new team Of other soldiers for the CAUSE Here @ EVERGREEN. by Tamika Cruz
Connections APRIL 2016 PUBLISHER/LAYOUT
John Carocci
COPY EDITOR
Martha Sawicki
CONTRIBUTORS
Melissa Delgado Jakob Willoughby Tamika Cruz
Connections is a monthly newsletter for employees of the Evergreen Association (that’s you). Send your story ideas, photos, or just a friendly hello to John Carocci.
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