AACY Caregiving Youth Institute Conference 2025 | Speakers
Biographies of the speakers at the AACY Caregiving Youth Institute Conference
November 13, 2025 | Safe Schools Institute, 1790 Spanish River Blvd, Boca Raton, FL | 8 AM – 3 PM
Julia Belkowitz, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Dr. Belkowitz received her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Michigan and her medical degree at Jefferson Medical College. She completed her pediatric internship and residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital, and she is currently an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (UMMSM). At UMMSM, Dr. Belkowitz serves as the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Her other responsibilities also include serving as an advisor for students completing their public health capstone experiences. Dr. Belkowitz works to raise awareness about the issue of Caregiving Youth through mentorship of trainees, advocacy and research.
Omarion Calloway
Former Caregiving Youth
My name is Omarion Calloway, and my story begins in Montgomery, Alabama. Long before I stepped onto the campus of New York University, where I now study Film & Television, my life was shaped by what I carried at home. I cared for my grandmother, my uncle, and my younger brother while my mom worked long hours to keep us going. Balancing school and caregiving was never easy. There were days I walked into class exhausted, worrying if things were okay at home, and nights when the weight of it all felt heavier than my own age. Like so many caregiving youth, I often felt unseen, torn between being young and being responsible for everyone else.
From that struggle, I created More Than Survival: A Guideline for Young Caregivers, a resource I wished I had during those years.
Today, I hold on to one hope: that together, we can change the story for Caregiving Youth and make sure no young person ever feels unseen, unsupported, or alone. I look forward to the many ways that together we can make a difference in the lives of many of our nation’s Caregiving Youth.
Nadine Roberts Cornish, CSA
Author, Speaker, Caregiver Coach
Nadine Roberts Cornish is a Certified Senior Advisor, Gerontologist, Author, National Speaker, and Chief Care Strategist dedicated to uplifting and empowering caregivers. For more than 18 years, she has guided caregivers nationwide toward resilience, balance, and joy through her work as founder of The Caregiver’s Guardian (TCG).
A passionate advocate for radical self-care, Nadine has led educational symposiums, church-based workshops, and corporate wellness programs across the country. She is the author of Tears In My Gumbo: The Caregiver’s Recipe for Resilience and Prayers In My Gumbo: The Caregiver’s Recipe for Peace, both widely used in universities and faith communities.
Her advocacy now extends to youth caregivers through the Colorado Alliance for Caregiving Youth (CACY), the nonprofit she founded to raise awareness and build support for young people caring for ill, aging, or disabled family members. A proud New Orleans native, Nadine continues to inspire caregivers through her new podcast, Caregiving Gumbo – It’s a Hot Mess.
Brian Duke, MHA, MBE, FCPP
Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging
Brian Duke is a former family caregiver, consultant, and advisor dedicated to improving the lives and care of older adults and their caregivers at the national, state, and local levels. He served as System Director of Senior Services with Main Line Health, leading population health strategies, and was appointed by Governor Tom Corbett as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging.
Brian served on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee on Family Caregiving for Older Adults, which produced the landmark Families Caring for an Aging America report. He has consulted with the U.S. Administration on Aging and the AARP Foundation to establish statewide caregiving coalitions in 10 states and authored the Caregiver Coalitions Advocacy Guide: Uniting Voices, Building Community with the National Alliance for Caregiving.
He currently serves as Co-Chair of the National Advisory Council for the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY).
Ann Faraone, EdD
Director of Education Services, AACY
With over four decades of experience in the field of education, Ann Faraone, EdD, began her career as a teacher in NYC. She has also been the Program Director for the NYS Department of Education, Assistant Dean of the Graduate School of Education & Human Services at St. John’s University, and as a Principal in NY & FL.
When the School District of Palm Beach County created the Department of Student Intervention Services to provide programs and support for the most vulnerable students, Ann was appointed as Director.
This extra level of support targeted homeless, foster, Caregiving Youth, pregnant/parenting teens, and those in the juvenile justice and/or the alternative education system.
Ann continues advocating for the most vulnerable youth through consulting on educational issues for national and local non-profits, school districts & parent organizations.
Pranay Gadikota
Caregiving Youth
Pranay Gadikota is a high school senior and caregiver for his great-grandmother, who lives with Lewy Body Dementia. His experience caring for her inspired him to advocate for youth caregivers, volunteer in hospice, and share research on caregiver burden at international conferences. He is passionate about music, research, and community service, and looks forward to making a difference in the lives of many of the states, and even nation’s, Caregiving Youth by working with AACY.
School Information:
• Buchholz High School, Gainesville, FL
Felicia Goldstein, J.D.
District Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Lois Frankel
Felicia Goldstein serves as District Director for Congresswoman Lois Frankel, where she oversees community engagement, constituent services, and district operations. With over two decades of experience in public service and legislative affairs, Felicia has built a distinguished career fostering collaboration among elected officials, community leaders, and the media to advance key initiatives across South Florida.
Prior to her current role, she served as District Director for Congressman Ron Klein and Business and Community Liaison for Congressman Ted Deutch. Her professional expertise spans advocacy, public speaking, management, and legislative analysis, with a proven ability to build consensus among diverse constituencies.
Felicia holds a Juris Doctorate in Family Law from the City University of New York and continues to be a respected voice in leadership, policy, and community relations.
Amoy Gordon, MSW, LCSW
Director of the Caregiving Youth Project
As an experienced Social Worker, MSW, LCSW, Amoy has worked at AACY for over eight years where she has impacted the lives of many caregiving youths and their families. She started as a Family Specialist working directly with caregiving youth and their families; she was promoted from within to become a Team Leader and then the Caregiving Youth Project Director where she has oversight of all local services. Amoy is a “people person” and has a passion for helping others. During her leisure time she enjoys outdoor activities and spending quality time with her sons.
Leah Hellwege
Senior Coordinator, Programs for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Leah serves as the Senior Coordinator, Programs for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation where she provides administrative support to the Hidden Helpers Coalition, facilitates caregiver workshops and resources, and helps to maintain the vital work done through the Campaign for Inclusive Care. Prior to this role, Leah was the Programs Intern at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.
Leah graduated from Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT with a degree in Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in Public Health. She comes from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and now resides in Washington, DC.
Dr. Jessica Luckhardt
Research Data Analyst with the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN)
Dr. Jessica Luckhardt is a Research Data Analyst with the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN), where she transforms complex data into meaningful insights that inform policy and strengthen the systems supporting military families. Her work ensures methodological rigor and coherence across MFAN’s national research initiatives, helping translate findings into actionable understanding of military family well-being.
Before joining MFAN, Jessica was a university professor in the social sciences. Her career also includes more than 15 years in education and national service with organizations such as City Year Detroit, Teach for America, and AmeriCorps–St. Louis. She holds a Master’s in English and a Ph.D. in Human Science. Her research interests include civic service, cultural humility, and the use of data to advance equity and well-being within military communities.
Mary Claire Mucenic, Ph.D., NCSP
Director of Behavioral and Mental Health, School District of Palm Beach County (Fla.)
Dr. Mucenic is the Director of Behavioral and Mental Health for the School District of Palm Beach County, Florida. Prior to this appointment, she served the Broward County Public School District as the Director of Exceptional Student Education and Support Services.
Dr. Mucenic is a nationally certified and licensed school psychologist. She has served on several university, State, and community organizational boards including the Executive Advisory Board for Barry University’s School of Education and the Board of the Florida Association of Support Services Administrators. She has taught as an adjunct professor for Barry University in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Andreas School of Business, and the Adrian Dominican School of Education.
Her current professional focus is mental health and wellness, positive psychology, and resiliency in youth. Dr. Mucenic is the proud mother of two grown children and a strong child advocate. She enjoys mentoring young professionals and developing future leaders.
Elizabeth (Betsy) Olson
Professor of Geography and Environment, Global Studies, UNC Chapel Hill
Interim Director, Institute for the Arts and Humanities, Professor of Geography and Environment, Global Studies, UNC Chapel Hill
Dr. Elizabeth Olson is Interim Director of the Institute for the Arts and Humanities, Professor of Geography and the Environment and Professor of Global Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where they focus on methods, theory, and the intersections of care, ethics, and youth. They have held multiple leadership roles at UNC–Chapel Hill and at in the School of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh.
Dr. Olson is Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Caregiving Youth Research Collaborative, a national consortium of U.S. researchers and Chair of the AAG Climate Action Task Force. Their collaborative, interdisciplinary scholarship—often developed with practitioners, artists, and scholars—has been funded by the National Science Foundation, PCORI, ESRC-AHRC (UK), EU Horizons, and UNC’s Institute for Arts and Humanities.
Their research and mentorship explore care and caregiving, critical health geographies, youth and disability studies, and creative mixed methodologies that challenge and reimagine care economies and relationships.
Steve Osborn
Student Opportunity Officer at the Rhode Island Department of Education
Steve Osborn serves as the Student Opportunity Officer at the Rhode Island Department of Education, leading statewide efforts to reimagine high school. He spearheaded the adoption of Readiness-Based Graduation Requirements and launched the PrepareRI initiative in 2017. Under his leadership, Rhode Island has led the nation in AP score growth, more than doubled college credits earned through dual enrollment, and nearly tripled enrollment in career and technical education programs aligned with high-demand careers.
Steve also oversees the state’s charter schools, implementing strong accountability systems that helped Rhode Island achieve the highest-performing charter schools in the nation (CREDO, Stanford University, 2023). Before his work in Rhode Island, he served as Assistant Superintendent of Student Programs at the Louisiana Department of Education.
Jennifer Prescott, RN, MSN, CDP
Founder and Chief Operations Officer of Blue Water Homecare and Hospice
Jennifer Prescott, RN, MSN, CDP, is a visionary leader in senior care and healthcare operations dedicated to transforming how families navigate aging and end-of-life care. As Founder and Chief Operations Officer of Blue Water Homecare and Hospice, one of Central Texas’s leading senior care agencies, she brings nearly three decades of experience and a deep passion for compassionate, high-quality care.
A longtime Alzheimer’s Association board member and current President of the Capital Area Parkinson’s Society, Jennifer is also an Advisory Board Member for the American Association of Caregiving Youth, championing awareness and policy change for Caregiving Youth.
A graduate of Duke University (MSN, Healthcare Leadership) and the University of Delaware (BSN), Jennifer understands the challenges of the sandwich generation and shares her insights at conferences and community events. Outside of work, she enjoys Texas football, Duke basketball, baking, and time with family.
Milka Santos, BSW
AACY Community Educator
Milka Santos earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Florida State University and brings over four decades of experience in nonprofit leadership and community service. Her background includes work with at-risk and homeless youth, nursing home social services, and serving as an Assisted Living Administrator, CEO of the Parkinson Education Network, and Development Director for a private school.
She currently serves as the Community Educator for the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY), where she advocates for and raises awareness of the nation’s hidden population of Caregiving Youth. Milka also serves on the Keiser University Psychology Advisory Board and partners with the South University Partnership Program.
Outside of work, Milka enjoys collecting orchids with her husband and spending time with their 19-year-old daughter.
Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD
CEO & Founder, AACY
President of the American Association of Caregiving Youth, Connie was educated at Johns Hopkins and New York University, she obtained her PhD in 2004 from Lynn University to have a bigger voice for family caregivers. Connie never expected her doctoral research to uncover the high prevalence of family health situations and concomitant caregiving with detrimental academic effects upon children in Palm Beach County. Her broad background in healthcare and dedication to diminishing caregiver isolation and struggles led to the 1998 establishment of what is now the American Association for Caregiving Youth. It includes the Caregiving Youth Project, the first US program to support the hidden population of child caregivers. Her dream is for all family caregivers to be honored and respected but especially youth for their contributions to family and to society; no child in the US should have to drop out of school because he or she has to care for a family member.
In June of 2009, Connie was awarded a lifetime Ashoka Fellowship and in October 2009 she became one of 10 Purpose Prize winners, a national endeavor honoring persons over 60 years of age who initiated an innovative solution for social change. In September 2010 The Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association presented her with The Distinguished Alumna Award. In 2011 AACY won the Palm Beach County Medical Society’s Heroes in Medicine Award for Community Outreach and later that year Connie was named a Woman of Grace by Bethesda Hospital Foundation. During May 2012 she was named a CNN Hero and in September was one the Top Ten Heroes for 2012.
Check us out on social media.
It is especially helpful to comment on our posts on LinkedIn. When you comment on an AACY post – your comment will show up to others in your LinkedIn Network and potentially help us get additional volunteers, followers and donors. Even posting an emoji helps!
#CaregivingYouth #KidsAreCaregiversToo #YoungCarers #AwareTheyCare