On Monday, February 24, Families as Allies hosted its annual Community Partnership Celebration, bringing together families, partners, and community leaders to recognize outstanding contributions to supporting children and families in Mississippi. The event at BRAVO! in Jackson was an evening of reflection, gratitude, and inspiration. After an introduction by Board President George Stewart, he turned the podium over to Executive Director Joy Hogge, who gave an update on the organization’s work in 2024 and honored individuals who have significantly impacted the community.
Joy began by thanking Families as Allies’ board members, staff, and sponsors, emphasizing the organization’s mission: “We are families helping other families get what they need for their children.” She highlighted the critical role that lived experience plays in shaping effective advocacy and system change. She offered special recognition to the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities, CHAMP (Child Access to Mental Health and Psychiatry) and child psychiatry trainees, whose contributions have strengthened families and their abilities to navigate and influence systems in the state.
During her impact report, Joy shared key successes from the past year, including responding to hundreds of families in need, developing training for parents of infants diagnosed with hearing loss, and advancing harm reduction initiatives such as expanding access to Narcan. She also detailed Families as Allies’ involvement in special education advocacy, Medicaid advisory committees, and partnerships with community mental health centers, demonstrating the organization’s broad reach in improving services for children and families.
The celebration’s highlight was the presentation of four core value awards, each named in memory of a dedicated family partner. Joy presented the Helen Reddy Johnson Award for Valuing Every Child and Family to Callie Poole of the Systems Change Lab at Mississippi State University’s Social Science Research Institute. Families as Allies recognized Poole for her work ensuring that families are fully included in early childhood development initiatives, emphasizing that family partnership is about presence and active engagement.
Henry Moore, director of family-driven practice at Families as Allies, presented the Rusty Turner Excellence Award to Diana Autin, a national leader in family advocacy and special education reform. Autin, a passionate and lifelong advocate for social justice, reflected on the progress made over her lifetime and the ongoing need for accountability in protecting the rights of children and families. Her powerful words, “I’m not dead yet, I’m not done yet, and I’m not going back,” resonated deeply with the audience.
Joy presented the Joe Turlington Partnership Award to Drew Snyder, former Mississippi Division of Medicaid Executive Director, now serving at the national level. Snyder was honored for his openness to collaboration, willingness to engage in difficult conversations, and commitment to ensuring Medicaid services better support families. His wife, Camille, accepted the award on his behalf, sharing that the lived experiences of Mississippi families continue to shape his work in Washington, D.C.
Finally, Family Partner Coreaner Price presented the Tessie Schweitzer Accountability Award to GC Barnett, a senior staff attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center. Families as Allies recognized Barnett for his leadership in the Mississippi Special Education Coalition and his commitment to ensuring transparency and systemic improvements for children with disabilities. In his speech, Barnett emphasized the importance of personal, collective, and long-term accountability, inspiring attendees to continue pushing for justice and meaningful change.
The evening concluded with Joy’s heartfelt call to action: “Go forth and conquer.” Families as Allies is committed to supporting families, strengthening systems, and holding institutions accountable. As the organization looks ahead, it continues to be driven by the belief that when families stand together, there is nothing they cannot achieve.
