November 25, 2024
For immediate release
Media contact: Cara Scarola Hansen
Center for Child Counseling Public Relations Counsel
cara@yourmissionmarketing.com
Gratitude Gathering Honors Individuals Profoundly Impacting Children in Palm Beach County
Center for Child Counseling celebrated Dr. Barbara Cox Gerlock, Julie Fisher Cummings, and Justice Barbara Pariente for mitigating ACEs and trauma.
Center for Child Counseling hosted its Gratitude Gathering 2024 on Thursday, November 14 at the Mollie Wilmot Center in West Palm Beach. The event honored distinguished individuals– Dr. Barbara Cox Gerlock, Julie Fisher Cummings, and Justice Barbara Pariente–who are making a profound impact on the lives of children through their passion and tireless dedication to advancing understanding and action to mitigate the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma.
The Center celebrated its shared commitment with the community of fostering resiliency in children. Emceed by Eddie Stephens–board certified marital and family attorney, author, lecturer, and community leader–the event was an inspiring evening with renowned speakers, personal stories of transformation, and the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share the passion for creating positive change.
Center for Child Counseling CEO Renée Layman opened the evening expressing her gratitude for the incredible women being honored and for being “surrounded by the collective power of people making a difference at a time when it could not be more important to the children and families that we serve.”
Dr. Cox Gerlock received the Jane Robinson Child Advocacy Award, named after the founder of Center for Child Counseling who passionately dedicated her professional career to promoting infant and early childhood mental health. The award recognizes a passionate advocate who works to promote child resilience, safety, and mental health.
“Her passion and impact, rooted in her lived experiences, exemplify true advocacy for youth,” stated Stephens in his introduction of Cox Gerlock as the honoree.
Cox Gerlock explained her path to working with children was based on her personal experience: having several people in her early childhood and adolescence who helped her navigate to adulthood and who “provided many of the essentials my family was not able to provide.”
In her early career with teaching, Cox Gerlock encountered “trauma of the first order:” eight students in her class who lost a sibling in a fire at a local community center and then two eighth-grade students who were pregnant.
“I needed to learn how to support them and give them support similar to the support I received.
Realizing there was only so much I could do when working with one child at a time, I embarked on a career making the youth-serving systems more responsive to the needs of youth. An integration of education, behavioral health, and justice systems has been my focus,” she shared.
Cox Gerlock is a dedicated advocate for youth. Over her 60-year career, she started as a teacher and advanced to a school counselor and administrator–developing programs for at-risk and marginalized youth, especially those facing behavioral health and substance use challenges. Cox Gerlock’s leadership extends to numerous community roles, including: chair of Palm Beach County Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Health and Human Services; chair of the Behavioral Health Committee for the Re-Entry Project; consultant for Palm Beach County School District; and chair for Circuit 15 Juvenile Advisory Board for eight years.
Fisher Cummings received the Child Protector Award for being a significant champion for children’s safety and mental health. Moving forward, this award will be called the Julie Fisher Cummings Child Protector Award.
According to Fisher Cummings:
I believe we are responsible for ensuring that all children in our country have the resources they need to succeed. Each child, regardless of their background or circumstances, deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. They did not choose the conditions into which they were born, but they do represent our hope for a brighter future. Investing in our children means investing in the fabric of our communities. When we provide access to quality education, healthcare, and supportive services, we are not just helping individuals; we are nurturing a generation that will lead us toward a more equitable and prosperous society.
Fisher Cummings presently serves as the Chair of the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation. Her work bridges academia, public service, and policy reform. She has dedicated more than 40 years to civic leadership, locally and nationally, through her positions at the Corporation for National and Community Service, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, The Promise Fund, The Lord’s Place, UPENN, and the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. Fisher Cummings is a visionary philanthropist and advocate for women and children. She has championed organizations and issues through the Lovelight Fund to empower young women and promote social change. Her work to empower youth extends to higher education through the Fisher Cummings Washington Fellows Program at Columbia School of Social Work, supporting nearly 40 emerging leaders in social policy. As Executive Producer of I Am Jane Doe, Fisher Cummings spotlighted child sex trafficking–catalyzing groundbreaking legislation and public action. A mentor with Palm Beach Philanthropy Tank and a supporter of the Center for Child Counseling’s Fighting ACEs Initiative, her impact resonates nationally and locally.
Justice Pariente was recognized with the Judge Ron Alvarez Resiliency Award for being a trailblazer in the legal profession who advocates for a fuller understanding of the science of adversity in the context of the law–making our legal system more compassionate and equitable for vulnerable children and families.
In her acceptance speech, Pariente expressed how meaningful this award is since it is named after Alvarez with whom she practiced law for several years before he became a judge. She shared her deep respect for how Alvarez spent his judicial life devoted to helping children in need.
Pariente emphasized the importance of championing the work of children and families and applauded Layman and Center for Child Counseling for the work they do to “raise awareness of these issues in Palm Beach County…more than ever it’s important to focus on our own community and how we can make a difference right here.”
Justice Pariente, the 77th Justice of the Florida Supreme Court and its second female appointee has been a relentless advocate for children and families. While on the Court, she authored hundreds of opinions and championed improvements in how courts address family and children’s cases. As the Court’s representative to Florida’s Children’s Cabinet, she advanced early childhood education and fostered collaboration between schools and the judiciary. Known for her unwavering commitment to change, Pariente’s impact extends beyond her distinguished career. In retirement, she continues to inspire as a devoted advocate for children and a role model across generations in Florida. She has been instrumental in her support of the Center for Child Counseling and its fight against adverse childhood experiences through the organization’s Lead the Fight series of events.
The messages of the evening echoed Layman’s encouraging words: “Please find your place in this work that we’re doing, this fight of fighting ACEs–adverse childhood experiences and trauma–and building HOPE, healthy outcomes from positive childhood experiences…it’s so important. We need to surround our kids with a circle of love, safety, security, and hope.”
For more information on the Center for Child Counseling and its work with children and families in Palm Beach County, visit: centerforchildcounseling.org.
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