Honoree Laudy Burgos, LCSW-R, right, front row, is joined by Carolyn Hutson, LCSW-R, left, and Debra Jaunai. Back row, from left: Emma Sollars, LCSW, Christine Hamilton, Elisa Gordon, LMSW, Emilia Leon, LCSW, and Sheldon Lewin, LCSW
Laudy Burgos, LCSW-R, Associate Director, Department of Social Work Services at The Mount Sinai Hospital, was honored as the Social Work Advocate of the Year at the 22nd Annual Leadership Awards by the Latino Social Work Coalition and Scholarship Fund. The event was held at Terrace in the Park in Queens on Friday, October 28.
Ms. Burgos has been instrumental to diversity initiatives as chair of the Social Work Anti-Racism and Inclusion Initiative (SWARI) at The Mount Sinai Hospital. She also contributed a chapter to the book Latinx in Social Work-Stories that Heal, Inspire and Connect Communities.
SWARI is dedicated to honoring and celebrating diversity throughout the Mount Sinai Health System by providing information and education, and stimulating dialogue among colleagues.
Among those attending the event were leaders and team members from the Department of Social Work Services at The Mount Sinai Hospital, including Sheldon Lewin, LCSW, MBA, Vice President of Social Work Services. Social work leaders, business professionals, community leaders, and elected officials also attended.
The Coalition’s annual scholarship gala was created to raise funds to provide financial assistance to Latino social work students and to celebrate the accomplishments of leaders in social work. Since the annual gala’s inception, the Coalition has given more than $900,000 in scholarships (in partnership with the schools of social work) to deserving minority students.
This year, the Coalition continues to award more scholarships as well as provide more educational and essential programs to diverse communities. Mount Sinai Health System was a sponsor along with other large health care systems based in New York City.