New Futures Honors 2022 Award Winners at 25th Annual Recognition Event
CONCORD, N.H.—New Futures is pleased to announce the 2022 award and scholarship recipients who are all doing their part to build a healthy New Hampshire. The recipients were during the New Futures 25th Awards Celebration, which streamed virtually on Thursday.
“This year’s award winners are true champions for health policy in New Hampshire,” said New Futures president Michele Merritt. “We are honored to celebrate their achievements, and we look forward to ongoing partnerships with these amazing individuals and the organizations they represent.”
Awards
Legislator of the Year: Rep. Kim Rice
The Legislator of the Year Award is given to a lawmaker who demonstrates a deep understanding of, and commitment to, New Futures’ key issues and works with us to advance our goal of building a healthy New Hampshire.
Representative Kim Rice is a champion for children in the Granite State. In 2022, she heroically worked to stall HB 1431, the so-called "parental bill of rights" legislation. Her efforts created an opening for advocates to work with lawmakers to kill this harmful legislation.
As chair of the Children and Family Law Committee and through her four terms in the House representing Hillsborough District 37, she worked on policy that supports juvenile courts, children's behavioral health, and all New Hampshire children and families.
Jennifer Wierwille Norton Advocacy in Action Award: Dr. Chapman and the Residents from Boyle Community Pediatrics Program at Dartmouth Children's
This award recognizes extraordinary advocacy efforts and sustained leadership of an individual in the field of addiction to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
Through New Futures’ partnership with Dr. Chapman and the Boyle Community Pediatrics Program, residents learn how to engage in the legislative process. They then take those skills to the State House, where they meet with legislators, testify on bills, and convene with the Governor to discuss pediatric policy priorities such as gun violence prevention and paid family leave. As pediatricians working directly with children and their families every day, policymakers value their firsthand experiences.
These efforts have aided in several children’s health policy wins over the last few years including the passage of Tobacco 21 and the defeat of several anti-public health bills.
Scholarships
Madeline Demuele Behavioral Health Scholarship: Keith Howard, Hope for NH Recovery
Started in 2014, this award is in memory of Madeline Demeule, former President and CEO of Hope for NH Recovery, and is given to an individual or group that does remarkable work in the field of behavioral health.
Keith used to be homeless due to a series of bad breaks, misunderstandings and a belief that life required a chemical solution. For the last 15 years, thanks to a program of recovery, he’s managed life without help from any drugs. As Executive Director for Manchester's Hope for NH Recovery, Keith was instrumental in the success of an overnight warming center for homeless individuals that kept people alive and helped many enter treatment.
In addition to this work, Keith serves as the recovery representative of the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs and on the Board of Catholic Medical Center’s Healthcare for the Homeless program.
Health and Wellness Scholarship: Alyssa Antman, Public Affairs Organizing Manager at Planned Parenthood NH Action Fund/Planned Parenthood Northern New England
This award is given to an individual or group who has demonstrated delivery of direct services within a health and/or wellness field in the state of New Hampshire.
Alyssa is a tireless champion for LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights through her work as the Public Affairs Organizing Manager at Planned Parenthood NH Action Fund.
In 2021, she served as a panelist on New Futures’ LGBTQ+ health equality panel, and helped organize this summer’s Abortion Day of Action.
Alyssa has a background in social work and public health and is dedicated to protecting expanding access to affordable care in the state of New Hampshire.
Kids Count Scholarship: Pat Carroll, Children’s Unlimited Family Resource Center
This award acknowledges an individual or group that has demonstrated leadership and significant service to the delivery of services among children and youth in New Hampshire aimed at improving their health and wellness.
Pat Carroll has been an educational advocate for Carroll County for the past five years, working with families and advocating for the educational needs of children within the community. Prior to her work in Carroll County, she was a volunteer educational advocate for parent information center for over 15 years in southern New Hampshire.
In addition to her position in educational advocacy, she has coached a special Olympics team and was an LNA in Stratford County.
About New Futures
New Futures is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocates, educates and collaborates to improve the health and wellness of all New Hampshire residents through policy change.
