YWCA Honors "Women of Distinction"

The following was submitted by Debbie Burke 

Four women and one organization will be recognized for their achievements during the 21st Annual Tribute to Women, sponsored by the YWCA Malden Center for Women and Families on Wednesday evening, June 6. The event will be held at Anthony’s Restaurant, 105 Canal St., starting with a social hour at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m.

This year’s honors—titled “Women of Distinction” will go to: Souad Akib, president of the American Association of Arab Women; Eileen Dern, R.N. director of Community Services for Hallmark Health; Karen Colon Hayes, community outreach manager for the City of Malden’ and Anielly Zeferino, teen honoree, who is a member of the 2012 graduating class at Malden High School.

In addition to the four honorees, the YWCA will also give an organizational award to The Immigrant Learning Center (ILC) of Malden. Founded by Diane Portnoy, who came to the United States at the age of 31/2 and who was inspired by her parents to work hard to give their children better lives, the ILC provides free English classes to immigrant and refugee adults.

Instead of having a keynote speaker at the event, students from the Wah Lum Academy will perform a traditional Lion Dance.  The lion is a symbol of power, wisdom and good fortune.  It is thought to bring happiness, longevity and good luck.  “We see this as a fitting way to open the program and celebrate our 2012 honorees,” noted Laureen Scibinico, YWCA Executive Director.

Here is some information about this year’s four honorees:

Souad Akib: A native of Morocco, Ms. Akib has been a member of the Malden community for more than 10 years and is the mother of two daughters. She is well known for her work at Citizens Bank. In her position as a personal banker, she has met many Arab families who were facing various difficulties and needed translation/interpretation services. In 2010, Ms. Akib who is fluent in Arabic, French, and English formed the American Association for Arab Women Corp (AAAW) where she serves as its Executive Director. This non-profit has a mission of “empowering Arab women to be leaders in their families and communities in an American society, through becoming knowledgeable on their rights, making informed decisions on issues, foster networks and opportunities, sustaining an organized community, learning the necessary communication skills, and overcoming cultural and language barriers. “

Eileen Dern: Ms. Dern, an RN, is the Director of Community Services for Hallmark Health System. In this role, she has responsibility for Hallmark Health’s Community Services, Community Benefits, Community Health Education, the North Suburban WIC (which covers four sites: Malden, Everett, Reading and Woburn), and the North Suburban Child and Family Resource Network in Melrose. Diane Farraher Smith, System Vice President for Hallmark Health, considers Ms. Dern “a consummate professional and a team player whose work and outreach is integral to Hallmark Health’s strategic direction as a community health care delivery of care system.”

Karen Colon Hayes: The Community Outreach Manager for Mayor Gary Christenson, Ms. Colon Hayes serves as liaison between the City and various non-profit, civic, and community organizations. She is spearheading the Summer Job Employment Program and is also revitalizing the Foundation for Advancement of Malden Education, Inc. (FAME). She will also use her position to strongly advocate for a city-wide Teen Center.

She boasts an extensive list of volunteer assignments including teaching courses at the Outward Bound program for at-risk teenagers, a City Year volunteer, and membership on the Bike-to-the-Sea, the Malden Community Arts Center Task Force, and most recently the Malden Cultural Council. She is is also a Girl Scout Troop Leader for Troop 71161 to which her three daughters belong.

Nine years ago, she and a group of neighbors founded the Friends of Oak Grove, Inc. (FOOGI). What started as a neighborhood association has, through her leadership, developed into a city wide entity that promotes community cohesiveness by sponsoring events focusing on health, education, entertainment, and improving and beautifying public areas in Malden.

Prior to her work with the Malden Mayor, she worked as a social worker at the Family Counseling and Guidance Center in Boston, where she coordinated appropriate care for patients and At Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center performed a wide variety of duties for the benefit of the Psychiatry Department.

Anielly Zeferino: When teen honoree Ms. Zeferino came to Malden several years ago from Brazil, she could not speak English. But now, she is a senior at Malden High School, class of 2012.

Motivated by her parents and her strong faith, she has pushed herself to never give up. She is a member of the High School Red Cross Club and has a strong commitment to her church through music and through its children’s department.

Her next challenge will be getting into college where she hopes to study music and science.