Please join Families as Allies for our Community Partnership Celebration on Monday, February 24, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at BRAVO! Italian Restaurant. Tickets and sponsorships are still available.
During the celebration, we will honor and recognize the outstanding people and organizations that exemplify our four core values: Every Child and Family, Excellence, Partnership and Accountability. We explain each of our core values on our office walls as a daily reminder of their importance. We are delighted to share this year’s honorees with you.
Valuing Every Child and Family states: “We will not judge or blame you, and we will stand with you if you feel judged or blamed by others.” We give this award in Helen Reddy Johnson’s memory, an exceptional woman in our organization. She was a much-beloved board member who advocated with families for their children and to make things better for all children.
This year, we honor Callie Poole, Systems Change Lab Project Manager at Mississippi State University’s Social Sciences Research Institute, with the Helen Reddy Johnson “Valuing Every Child and Family” Award for how much she has partnered with families in all of her work with the Early Childhood Development Coalition, especially how thoughtfully she has onboarded families to committees. She is also a relentless champion for family-driven practice with providers.
Excellence states: “We hold ourselves to the highest standards in what we do. We expect the systems that serve our children to do the same.” The award honors the memory of Rusty Turner, an employment attorney who exemplified Families as Allies’ vision that all children can reach their potential and be successful. He donated many hours of legal work to Families as Allies to help our policies and procedures support the organization in the best way possible. He was very devoted to high standards and excellence.
This year, the Rusty Turner Excellence Award goes to Diana Autin, a passionate parent and accomplished attorney who serves in several national roles, including Co-Director of Family Engagement and Leadership in Systems of Care (FELSC) and Co-Director of NE-PACT/Region A Parent TA Center. She receives this award for her outstanding technical assistance in special education, bringing together legal and family-run organizations in Mississippi in a special education coalition to support families.
Partnership states: “We will work in partnership with you and whoever you tell us is important to your family.” We named this award in memory of Jo Turlington. Jo was a licensed clinical social worker and a dearly loved friend and colleague to many. This award honors her kind and selfless life and the many partnerships she forged throughout her life, especially with families.
This year, we honor Drew Snyder, former Executive Director of the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, with the Jo Turlington Partnership Award for his years-long partnership with Families as Allies during and before he directed Medicaid. This blog we wrote when Drew left his position captures the spirit of our partnership with Drew. We are grateful to him.
Accountability states: “We will be open and honest with you about our organization and help you get information from the systems that serve your child.” This award honors the memory of our much-beloved founder, Tessie Schweitzer. Tessie was fearless in holding systems accountable and a tireless advocate at the Capitol.
We honor G.C. Barnett, Senior Staff Attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center, with the Tessie Schweitzer Accountability Award for his ongoing leadership on the Special Education Coalition and for listening to family-run organizations and families to ensure his work is accountable and family-driven legislative advocacy, particularly his work on House Bill 1222 in the 2023 legislative session.
Again, the date is Monday, February 24, for our 11th Annual Community Partnership Celebration at 5:00 p.m. Please help us celebrate these remarkable award recipients and all we can accomplish as we work together for our children.
