Each year, we use our Cathryn A. Riley Leadership Fund Scholarship to give one member of the child care/after school community a scholarship to Leadership Westchester (LW), Volunteer New York's nine-month leadership program. This helps prepare our early care and education leaders for more visible and significant public roles, and gives us a way to share the impact of the child care community's critical work with emerging leaders from all over the county. Following a rigorous selection process, Dawn Meyerski, Executive Director of the Mt. Kisco Child Care Center, was chosen for her leadership of an outstanding child care program, and her commitment to advocacy on behalf of children, families and the child care industry.
"In a crazy busy world, I have enjoyed the opportunity to slow down and listen to and share with others from many different business sectors," said Dawn. "I am eager to continue this journey as we begin the exploration of our own leadership styles and work toward determining what our impact will be for the future."
The Cathryn Riley Leadership Fund is named for a program coordinator at the Child Care Council who lost her life in a tragic car accident at the age of 45. Designed to promote leadership and innovation in the field of early childhood and school age care, we hope to honor Cate's contributions as a teacher, mentor and leader. Scholarship recipients are chosen by the Fund's Executive Committee: Child Care Council Executive Director Kathy Halas, former Child Care Council Executive Director Lottie Harris, Westchester Community College Early Childhood Education Professor Mary Lou Sgro, and Dr. Pat Amanna, formerly the Director fo the Children's Center at Purchase College.
"I am so glad that Dawn was selected for Leadership Westchester," said Lottie Harris. "She will be an excellent participant on behalf of the child care community. Leadership Westchester is an outstanding program that has been training leaders in a variety of fields for many years. Not only does the individual benefit but the entire group becomes aware of many different professions and what each one contributes to the community as a whole."
The Leadership Westchester program kicked off on October 19th with an opening retreat, and will continue with full and half day sessions through June 2022. We look forward to following along with Dawn's LW journey and celebrating her graduation in the spring!
