Sponsors and exhibitors

Our partners and sponsors play a vital role in supporting the work Massachusetts PTA does for children. The entities listed below have pledged significant commitments to Massachusetts PTA.

Our highest level of corporate commitment, our Sponsors make an annual investment in Massachusetts which helps provide key programs and services We are especially grateful for their support and invite you to learn more about each of them. If you would like to join us as a sponsor or exhibitor information can be found here.

Platinum Sponsor

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Gold Sponsor

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Silver Sponsor

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Copper Sponsor

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Bronze Sponsor

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Patron Sponsor

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Patron Sponsor

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Vendors with Tables at Event

With Massachusetts Teachers Association’s (MTA) major sponsorship and partnership, MA PTA is providing a full year of statewide, compressive health, safety and wellness programming. Healthy Living for Everyone: A Unified Voice includes four virtual and hybrid events throughout 2023 – 2024 addressing health specific needs and concerns in our Massachusetts communities including healthcare equity and access, food insecurity and nutrition, mental health and wellness, and physical fitness and heart health.

Early Bird Price: $30.00 per person before October 15, 2023 (promo code EARLYBIRD)

Standard Registration: $35.00 per person until November 3, 2023

Day of Registration: $40.00 per person on November 4, 2023

The all-inclusive registration fee includes:

• Continental Breakfast
• Keynote Session
• Your choice of the 8 Breakout sessions (two strands of 4 sessions)
• Luncheon with expert panel discussion
• Open networking
• Free self-parking

Don’t miss the opportunity to:

• Get Healthy Ideas to use at School and Home
• Be inspired by Healthy Thinkers
• Learn new ways to make your Family, School, and Community Healthy

MEET THE PRESENTERS

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Keynote Speaker

Dr. Safdar Medina

Adolescent Substance Use: Screening, Prevention, and Treatment

Safdar Medina is the Pediatric Director at Tri River Heatlh Center in Uxbridge and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UMassChan Medical School. He currently serves as the school physician for the Northborough/Southborough School District. He is Medical Consultant for the School Health Unit at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. He was awarded a grant by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2008 to work with community partners on teen substance use prevention. He treats youth who struggle with mental health conditions and addiction, including providing medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.

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Senator Sal DiDomenico

Massachusetts State Senator

Working Together to Advocate for Healthy Communities Where All Children Can Flourish

Senator Sal DiDomenico has proudly served as State Senator for the Middlesex and Suffolk District of Massachusetts since May of 2010.  He represents a diverse district that includes the communities of Charlestown, Chelsea, Everett, and parts of Cambridge. Throughout his tenure in the Massachusetts Senate, Sal has remained committed to enhancing the lives of his constituents and residents across the Commonwealth.

Since his election to the Senate, Senator DiDomenico has been a vocal advocate of ensuring high quality and accessible early education and care for children in the Commonwealth, tackling environmental injustice, improving economic opportunities for working families, fighting food insecurity in our communities, increasing public education funding, and providing world-class healthcare for all children and their families in Massachusetts.

Senator DiDomenico currently serves as Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate, Chair of the Senate Committee on Bills in the Third Reading and Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Education.  He holds a position in Senate President Karen Spilka’s leadership team, joining a select group of members chosen for their ability to lead and their commitment to advancing important issues for the Commonwealth. He also serves as a member of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, Senate Committee on Steering and Policy, Senate Committee on Personnel and Administration, and the Joint Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs.

During his time in the State Senate, Senator DiDomenico has filed several pieces of landmark legislation that have been signed into law focusing on issues of community development, education, children’s health, economic development, human and social services, food insecurity, and public safety.  Senator DiDomenico has also been recognized by over sixty organizations for his advocacy in the Legislature and was one of only 22 legislators throughout the United States to be selected as a 2015 Early Learning Fellow and as a 2020 Maternal and Child Health Fellow by the National Conference of State Legislators.

Prior to his election to the State Senate, Sal began his work in public service by holding four terms as an Everett City Councilor and serving as President of the Everett City Council, as well as Chief of Staff to former State Senator Anthony Galluccio.   Before entering state government, he spent twelve years working in the hospitality industry at Sonesta International Hotels and Marriott International.

Senator DiDomenico is a graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School and earned his B.A. in Business Administration from Boston College. Sal and his wife Tricia, a special education teacher, reside in Everett with their two sons, Matthew and Sal, and their dog Buddy.

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Cecily Goulange

PTA State Field Ambassador

PTA Connected: Take Charge of Your Digital Life

National PTA has selected Cecily to serve in this role for National PTA and is praised for being a

“passionate communicator & community builder. Building relationships and helping people reach their potential is a hallmark of her career and personal life. She is the president of Farmington River Elementary where she has led YOY growth in membership, developed critical partnerships within the administration and staff, and championed programs that build community within the school district.”

Cecily is part of a pilot group of volunteers to help us raise visibility of our PTA Connected programs and resources.

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Kimm Topping (they/them)

Supporting the Well-Being of LGBTQIA+ Youth and Families

Kimm Topping, Ed.M. (they/them/theirs) is an educator, writer, historian, and community organizer. They are the founder of Lavender Education, a national education program focused on celebrating LGBTQIA+ history, education, and youth leadership. From founding the first GSA in their hometown as a young person to now mentoring youth leaders and supporting educators, Kimm has always been passionate about building the confidence of others to lead social change.

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Mysha Kuhlmann

Building Bridges: The Art and Science of Connecting with Adolescents

Mysha Kuhlmann is a licensed and nationally certified school psychologist with twenty years of experience in public, charter, and independent schools. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Youth and Community Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, her Master of Arts in Special Education from Loyola Marymount University, and her Ed.S in school psychology from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. She spent ten years in elementary and middle school classrooms as a special education and English teacher before becoming a school psychologist. Mysha has delivered multiple presentations to public school districts, the New England Positive Behavior Support Forum, and at Thayer Academy. Presentation topics have included adolescent development, social and emotional learning, and supporting students with mental health and behavioral needs.

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Marissa Carty

Saving Lives With Mental Health Literacy Education

Marissa Carty is the Program Development & Marketing Manager for Mental Health Collaborative. At MHC, she develops and researches mental health education programs in addition to grant writing & fundraising, graphic design & marketing, and overseeing program implementation. She holds a BA in Psychology from Boston University, where she was a Kilachand Honors Scholar. She is currently a part-time MSW Candidate at the BU School of Social Work and a student in Metrowest Nonprofit Network’s 2023 Certificate in Nonprofit Management program. Marissa is passionate about bringing mental health education to all.

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Liam Riley

Accessibility and Belonging in Schools and Fitness

Liam Riley is currently a Senior Program Leader for the Northeast team of Booster Enterprises. Previously, he was a Patient Safety and Wellness Attendent at Concord Hospital in Concord, NH and a Deerfield, NH Parks and Rec employee for 7 years. He graduated from Siena College in 2021 with majors in Psychology and Education. For several years, he has worked with children ages 5-17 in various contexts with a variety of needs, accommodations, and backgrounds that had to be seen, acknowledged, and taken into account in order to provide excellent experiences and care for all.

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Judith Crocker

Supporting the Whole Child: Putting Local Wellness Policies into Practice

Judith Crocker is the Statewide Coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program, promoting sustainable student transportation among schools, municipalities, and community organizations around the Commonwealth. Judith uses her healthcare, education, and business background to bridge the gap between health and transportation by developing policy and curriculum, evaluating the school-based built environment, and in developing strategic planning. Judith is a long-time advocate of active transportation, public health and school policy, and public education.

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Nicole Good

Supporting the Whole Child: Putting Local Wellness Policies into Practice

Nicole Good is a School Wellness Specialist at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office for Food and Nutrition Programs, and works to support and advance wellness initiatives for

Massachusetts students, schools, and communities. Nicole participated as a fellow in the Rennie Center’s Massachusetts Education Policy Fellowship and has presented on wellness to School Committees, Superintendents and School Business Officials. Nicole is a firm believer in the importance of policy work that supports the whole child.

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Sarah Littmann

Director of Food and Nutrition for Triton Regional School District

Supporting the Whole Child: Putting Local Wellness Policies into Practice

Sarah Littmann, MS, RD is the director of food and nutrition for Triton Regional School District. She is also the nutrition education coordinator and cooking facilitator for Kid’s Test Kitchen. She is a registered dietitian with a passion for nutrition education and student wellness.

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McCawley Bercy

Louis D. Brown Peace Institute

Peace Play in Urban Settings

MarcCawley Bercy (MC) serves as the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute’s (LDBPI) Community Outreach Coordinator. He is originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, but lived most of his life in Brockton, Massachusetts. He works with the Training and Technical Assistance and Consulting (TTAC) team of the LDBPI to build and strengthen relationships with community partners by creating space where organizational interests converge. He also helps to coordinate all community engagement requests forwarded to the organization and assure they are appropriately staffed. MarcCawley received his degree in Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from Bridgewater State University in 2023. He has also had the privilege of conducting undergraduate research in Bridgewater State’s United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a summer intern and later serving as a peer mentor for the program. He has interned with other non-profit agencies in Brockton and Boston, such as the Coalition for Social Justice, the United Nations Association of Greater Boston, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro South and volunteered with Action for Equity in Four Corners, Dorchester. As a former College for Social Innovation Fellow, MC served as a Network and Advocacy Peace Fellow intern and was mentored by Danielle Bennett and Pace McConkie Jr. The tangible impact of the work, the foundations on which the LDBPI built its mission and vision as well as the values which guided day-to-day interaction with survivors and staff pushed MC to apply for available positions at the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. His goal is to form partnerships that foster the objectives of the organization while supporting the mission of the different teams within the organization and to assure that the work of the LDBPI is known across the Commonwealth. He will play the role of Community Outreach Coordinator to make it possible.

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SYMPOSIUM Sessions

Keynote Address

Dr. Safdar Medina

Adolescent Substance Use: Screening, Prevention, and Treatment

Adolescent Substance Use is a major public health concern. Use of nicotine products, cannabis products, and alcohol, continue to be prevalent among teens. Some go on to use other drugs, including opioids. Screening and prevention are key. Treatment options exist, including motivational interviewing and medication. This presentation will provide an overview of recent trends and discuss strategies to help parents and educators.

Dr. Safdar Medina is the Pediatric Director at Tri River Heatlh Center in Uxbridge and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UMassChan Medical School. He currently serves as the school physician for the Northborough/Southborough School District. He is Medical Consultant for the School Health Unit at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. He was awarded a grant by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2008 to work with community partners on teen substance use prevention. He treats youth who struggle with mental health conditions and addiction, including providing medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.

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Breakout Sessions 1:

Supporting the Well-Being of LGBTQIA+ Youth and Families

Kimm Topping

Join Kimm Topping for an interactive and engaging program about supporting LGBTQIA+ students and families in and outside of the school building. Across the country, LGBTQIA+ students consistently experience higher rates of mental health challenges and rates of suicide, but this can be interrupted with the help of supportive adults and improved school and community climates. Participants will learn how they can truly be a support.

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Building Bridges: The Art and Science of Connecting with Adolescents

Mysha Kuhlmann

This presentation will offer five foundational principles to support and encourage meaningful relationships between adults and adolescents. We will explore the science behind belonging, consider how our facial expressions may or may not represent our feelings and thoughts, learn ways to build social skills, and dive into the often-overlooked realm of adolescent boys. Participants will walk away with clear and actionable strategies to support their engagement with adolescents in schools, the community, and at home.

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Supporting the Whole Child: Putting Local Wellness Policies into Practice

Nicole Good, Judith Crocker & Sarah Littmann

Investing time in school wellness helps students thrive in the classroom and community. While many Massachusetts schools have a Local Wellness Policy, putting policy into practice can be challenging. Join Massachusetts’ Safe Routes to School, DESE’s School Wellness Specialist, and Triton Regional Schools as they dive into best policy practices around nutrition, physical education, and active transportation.

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Peace Play in Urban Settings

Louis D. Brown Peace Institute

Peace play is a form of sandtray therapy where individuals are encouraged to reflect on their own strengths and struggles without using words. The workshop we will be providing is a hands on healing modality based on sand tray world play therapy and the use of miniatures. This is a culturally relevant modality that offers an alternative to traditional talk therapy. We will be going through a Peace play session, explain the clinical side, how our organization has adapted it and an experiential section where participants try on the process.

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Breakout Sessions 2:

Working Together to Advocate for Healthy Communities Where All Children Can Flourish

Senator Sal DiDomenico

We cannot do this work alone! This presentation will address how communities can come together as one for the health, safety and well being of our children. Senator DiDomenico will address advocacy work, collaboration and the process of building coalitions to bring communities together in support of all. Attendees will explore how to do it, when to do it and why we do it. None of us can do this work individually; we have to work as a team.

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Saving Lives With Mental Health Literacy Education

Marissa Carty

Mental Health Collaborative is a 501(c)3 dedicated to building resilient communities through mental health education & awareness. At this session, learn the basics of mental health literacy: decreasing stigma, understanding illnesses, promoting positive mental health, and accessing care. In addition to teaching you the core concepts of mental health literacy, we will review our evidence-based school programming, including our educator training, student curriculum, coaches training, and parent/caregiver training.

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PTA Connected: Take Charge of Your Digital Life

Cecily Goulange

Raising children can be fraught with challenges, especially in an evolving digital world. PTA Connected provides tools, workshops and support to help families in your community navigate raising children in the digital age. This presentation will highlight how families can work together to find balance and digital wellness through these free National PTA programs, as well as program help available across the state with our PTA Connected State Champion.

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Accessibility and Belonging in Schools and Fitness

Liam Riley and Karen DeRoche

This presentation delves into ideas, stories, and reflection involving how we can use our strengths and backgrounds to better cultivate a sense of inclusivity and affirmation of students across schools nationwide in academic and athletic contexts.

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Healthy Living for Everyone: A Unified Voice

With Massachusetts Teachers Association’s (MTA) major sponsorship and partnership, MA PTA is providing a full year of statewide, comprehensive health, safety and wellness programming. Healthy Living for Everyone: A Unified Voice includes four virtual and hybrid events throughout 2023 – 2024 addressing health specific needs and concerns in our Massachusetts communities including healthcare equity and access, food insecurity and nutrition, mental health and wellness, and physical fitness and heart health.

8:00 am – 9:00 am       Registration, Continental Breakfast and Vendor Exhibit

9:00 am – 10:00 am     Opening Remarks

• Jackie Coogan, Massachusetts PTA BOD, Chair of MA PTA Health Committee
• Jed Wartman, Thayer Academy Assistant Head of School for Student Engagement and Well-Being
• Yvonne Johnson, National PTA President
• Karen DeRoche, Massachusetts PTA President
• Dr. Safdar Medina, Keynote Speaker, Safdar Medina is the Pediatric Director at Tri River Health Center in Uxbridge at an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UMass Chan Medical School

10:00 am – 10:15 am Transition Break

10:15 am – 11:15 am Breakout Workshop Session 1

1. Supporting the Well-Being of LGBTQIA+ Youth and Families with Kimm Topping
2. Building Bridges: The Art and Science of Connecting with Adolescents with Mysha Kuhlmann
3. Supporting the Whole Child: Putting Local Wellness Policies into Practice with Judith Crocker, Nicole Good and Sarah Littmann
4. Peace Play in Urban Settings with the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute

11:15 am – 11:30 am Transition Break

11:30 am – 12:30 pm Breakout Workshop Session 2

1. Working Together to Advocate for Healthy Communities Where All Children Can Flourish with Senator Sal DiDomenico
2. Saving Lives With Mental Health Literacy Education with Marissa Carty
3. PTA Connected: Take Charge of Your Digital Life with Cecily Goulange
4. Accessibility and Belonging in Schools and Fitness with Liam Riley and Karen DeRoche

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm    Lunch with Discussion and Learning Panel with Audience Participation Forum:

Moderator, Senator Sal DiDomenico

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm      Networking with Participants, Vendors & Speakers

Don’t miss the opportunity to:

• Get Healthy Ideas to use at School and Home
• Be inspired by Healthy Thinkers
• Learn new ways to make your Family, School, and Community Healthy