Serino Hosts 10th Annual Women’s Networking Event

By Jennifer L. Warren

POUGHKEEPSIE – “Everyone has stories to tell, and when we tell them, we become more empowered.”

It’s the catalyst that ignited an event that pays tribute to that critical, bonding storytelling, allowing doors to open for both personal and professional growth. Specifically, it’s the narratives of females and the solid networks that can result from their sharing. Guided by this vision, Dutchess County Executive, Sue Serino, created the Women’s Networking Event in 2018. Starting off with a mingling segment, when women can share their stories in a more personal realm, the evening then shifts to the featured speaker’s segment, showcasing the remarkable tales of strength, perseverance, and resilience.

“This is a deeply empowering event; there is just something so special with women coming together,” said Serino. “The impact is not always loud; sometimes it’s quiet, but it’s always about showing up.”

Each one of the speakers not only has made indelible, transformative footprints on the countless “lives touched” by their presence and work, revealing their unwavering commitment to this year’s theme, but also continued to do that showing up, regardless of what life obstacles crossed their paths. Leading off was Renee Fillette-Miccio, PhD, and Executive Director of Dutchess Outreach Inc. An avid fighter for food justice within her community, Fillette-Miccio recalled her mother’s assessment of her as a child: way too sensitive and mouthy, attributes the daughter used to find her life purpose at age 15. Marveling at the adversities people endured and still continued to “show up,” Fillette-Miccio was inspired by those stories. Whether it was working with Autistic children, domestic abuse survivors at the Grace Smith House or Hudson River Housing, she saw the incredible sacrifices first-hand, absorbed the lessons and gave her all to making things better than she found them.

“Sometimes the hardest part of motherhood is letting go,” Fillette-Miccio recounted about some of the parenting situations she observed. “I try to see people and not through them and have learned there is always hope and never an end.” Reflecting further about her advocacy work, the woman who in 2003 founded the first new foster care agency licensed in New York State in over 30 years, serving high-risk youth in community-based group homes added, “Somewhere along the way, I learned it’s the people I work with are the ones who changed me; helping is about doing something with people, showing up.”

The next speaker, Micah Smith, also has been on a journey that embodies that showing up motif. Never intending to enter the finance realm, never mind the credit card one, where she herself struggled for years to extricate from an intricate web of costly purchases, Smith’s journey was further challenged by demons leading her to drink. A series of events led her to euphoric glimpses of success assisting people navigate the inbuilt traps of the credit card industry, and then came the real “epiphany.” Witnessing the transformative impact she could have on an individual client, along with the amazing love and support of her husband, Smith-who realized her calling was entrepreneurship in the credit card industry- made the decision to be sober on January 20, 2010, never looking back. Now, the President and Founder of Micah Abigail LLC, Smith is living her dream, educating and supporting clients toward financial freedom.

“There is a version of you that has to die before you can become the person you were meant to be,” Smith relayed to the attentive room full of guests. “My mission is not about changing a number on the screen, but helping to save lives, hold hands and be by people’s sides every step of the way.”

The final speaker, Fallon Meneses, knows every piece of what is involved in being there, supporting others. It’s what the Emergency Room Technician at Vassar Brothers Medical Center has had to continually display as both a mother and passionate mental health and rare disease advocate. From her daughter’s attempt at suicide to her son’s rare diagnosis of laryngeal cleft to the countless seemingly insurmountable realities she assists others with overcoming each day, Meneses’ life has been one devoted to selfless service.

“None of us gets to choose what life deals us, but we can choose how we respond to it,” said Meneses, who chooses to fight with patience, courage and kindness. “Hope begins with conversations which can save lives; you never know what someone is carrying, and hope is always there.”

Reflecting upon her family’s journey with finally getting a diagnosis for young Santiago, who is now doing much better, Meneses relayed how he serves as a reminder each and every day about that hope as well as the unwavering worth of fighting hard for what lies close to the heart. It’s a life’s passion not only dedicated to her family, but countless others.

“The greatest reward with my advocacy for suicide prevention has been families saying, ‘Thank you: I don’t feel so alone anymore;’ awareness matters,” affirmed Meneses. “Rare conditions- like the one my son has-deserve a voice, and awareness does not have to be heavy; it can just be hopeful.” She concluded, “Every painful chapter has taught me something about advocacy.”

Each person has a story worth telling. Sue Serino continues to ensure they are heard.