Changemakers Photographs by Nikki Hausherr
F
or the past few years, a group of daring young Latina women from Westchester County, New York, have embarked on the yearlong Changemakers Program to learn the fundamental value of civic engagement and leadership development. The result is a cohort of visionary women who are poised to be the leaders of a vibrant future for all of us. Drawn from the Tarrytown, Ossining and Peekskill School Districts — guided by the vision of Dr. Joanne Marien and Dr. Ray Sanchez, and led by the wildly talented educators Dr. Madeline Diamond and Zaira Barajas — these inspiring women spend the better part of a year learning the essential elements of positive social
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change and personal growth. The program culminates with a public exhibition where participants declare the impact they want to have in their communities. As part of the program, they also agree to join an awe-inspiring personal development adventure where they experience the raw beauty of Utah’s Dinosaur National Monument on a four-day river rafting trip through the majestic Gates of Lodore Canyon, on our country’s mighty Green River. What’s ahead is a glimpse into the joy and transformation they experience by venturing outside of their comfort zones and into a Changemaker’s mindset.