Advocate Testimonials

At six years old, Cordelia Dubois became New Futures’ youngest advocate. When a bill surfaced that would have banned social-emotional learning (SEL) in public schools, Cordelia decided to take action by testifying at a public hearing to explain the importance of SEL to kids like her. Showing legislators techniques like five-finger breathing skills to help her manage her feelings, her testimony helped lead representatives to defeat the bill. Cordelia’s testimony was covered on local news stations and captured the attention of CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning), which earned her a trip to Washington D.C. to talk to federal lawmakers about the importance of SEL.

Coos Coalition for Young Children and Families

The first time Airole Warden made the three-hour drive from the North Country to Concord, it was to testify in front of a Senate Committee on the child care crisis in Coos County. She had prepared six minutes worth of testimony - but the Committee told her she had only two minutes to speak. She decided to stick to the stories she heard repeatedly in the North Country - stories of child care centers forced to close because they couldn’t find staff. Stories of police chiefs searching for child care for two new officers he had hired - but who could not work without child care. Endless stories of nurses, dental hygienists, teachers, and prison workers whose families were on long waitlists for care. Since then, Airole has made repeated visits to Concord to advocate for solutions to New Hampshire’s child care crisis, attending information sessions and direct meetings with legislators, and becoming an expert voice for lawmakers on the child care crisis.

Owner, Hope 2 Freedom Recovery Homes

For Shawn Cannizzarro, advocacy is all about helping people get the help they need. In February 2023, Shawn traveled from Claremont to testify in support of Medicaid expansion. As a person in recovery and the owner of two recovery homes, Shawn knows just how critical health insurance is to those seeking treatment. “My friend was waiting on the list for a ‘free bed’ as they call it, and he overdosed and died before he got that bed. He didn’t have insurance.” Shawn’s credits his exceptional advocacy efforts to his relationship with New Futures, saying they help remind him when hearings are coming and provide gas cards to help offset the cost of traveling to and from Concord. “I think of New Futures as this great big organization, but I come here, and it’s just people helping people.”

Executive Director, Sunset Hill Educational Institute

For Carol Conforti-Adams, helping others is just what she does. She created Sunset Hill Educational Institute to provide holistic services and programs like health promotion, wellness education, career counseling, and life skills training to adults with physical disabilities and youth of all abilities. “I’ve always been an advocate,” said Carol, “But New Futures opened up a whole new door for me. There was a collaboration of agencies and organizations that put together a plan that would address the funding issues of all areas of people who need to have Medicaid in their lives. Many lawmakers don’t realize that Medicare only provides so much for people who are aging or have disabilities - it’s Medicaid is the only insurance that will provide for home care in people’s homes and apartments, and we need to realize that if we don’t have that kind of home care, that many individuals don’t have a quality of life or can’t get up and contribute to society or go to work.” Carol’s testimony was instrumental in achieving a $130 million state investment in Medicaid reimbursement rate increases.

In his day-to-day life, Brian advocates for everything – issues relating to substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery, children’s behavioral health, trauma prevention, mental health, education, reproductive rights, and survivors’ rights. Brian is the embodiment of advocacy in action, never shying away from a controversial issue. “New Futures does a great job supporting their advocates and keeping the momentum going in their advocacy journey. The legislation may pass, but it may not – the victory is that you won’t be alone.” Brian first connected with New Futures through a friend and has been advocating ever since, testifying at the State House, writing opinion pieces in local newspapers, and meeting with legislators to educate them on issues that Granite Staters are facing. “I am so grateful that New Futures has always supported my advocacy.”

Executive Director, Rochester Child Care Center

Reflecting on her collaboration with New Futures, Cora-Lynn said “My experience with New Futures has been life changing. I didn’t understand the power of advocacy until I saw it in action. New Futures is what helped save child care – without the work on child care by President Michele Merritt, Child and Family Policy Director Rebecca Woitkowski, and Community Engagement Coordinator Jillian Andrews Dubois, child care would not be where it is today.” Cora-Lynn recognizes that it’s okay to be scared to advocate for issues you care about, but New Futures will help you through it.

Heather Martin is a tireless advocate for moms and families in New Hampshire and across the nation. When Heather first began advocating with New Futures, she admired New Futures’ collaborative approach to solving problems through policy change. She felt welcomed by the advocacy team, and the first time she testified in front of legislators at the State House was a turning point in her advocacy journey. “I didn’t think that my story would make a difference until I testified,” Heather reflected. “I knew from that point on that my story, and then my voice, could make a difference.”

“New Futures spreads the right message,” Heather emphasized. “I want to spread it as well, especially with all of the bills that New Futures is standing up for.” To Heather, New Futures feels like a family – a supportive network that welcomes Granite Staters into advocacy and amplifies their personal voices. “Why wouldn’t I want to be a part of that?” Heather stated.