Orlando Central - Issue #3 (May 2024)

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OFM_Superwomen_0524FINAL_CEN.qxp_DEPT 4 / 11 / 24 4 : 26 PM Page 2 Woman Of The Year 2024 LASHEA REAVES Founder and Executive Director , 8 Cents in a Jar eaves was just 14 years old when her Rmother died due to hospital negligence , leaving her father a single parent of four daughters . After a malpractice lawsuit , the family received a large settlement . However , it was all gone in fewer than 24 months and the family was living below poverty and on public assistance . In 2002 , Reaves enrolled at Florida A & M University . At the end of her freshman year , she became a single mother and eventually homeless , sleeping on the couches of colle - giate friends . While struggling to raise her daughter , she adopted her younger sister , due to her father’s admittance into hos - pice . He died the next year . In 2005 , Reaves , a college student and domestic violence survivor struggling to provide for and later managed relationships with investment advisors reaching assets her family , took a third job at Hancock Bank as a teller . With encourage - of more than $ 3 billion while working at Charles Schwab , “ all because I ment from her boss , Reaves “ decided to stop limiting myself to debt and an created a financial plan as a teenager . ” In 2016 , Reaves founded 8 Cents in impoverished mindset and to open myself up to learning how to manage a Jar Inc . , an award - winning nonprofit that helps create opportunities for my personal finances and create a life I wanted to live . ” Reaves graduated students in marginalized communities to achieve intergenerational cum laude in 2007 with a bachelor’s in business management and a minor mobility through financial education . Reaves says the organization “ repre - in economics . After graduation , she purchased her first home . “ For the first sents a new beginning for students to save money and eradicate the cycle time in my life , I was no longer a recipient of public assistance , ” she says . of generational poverty . ” She advanced her career in financial services as an assistant vice president required a collaboration with Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Florida , a non - LINDSEY PHILLIPS profit organization dedicated to assisting the National Director of Customer most vulnerable individuals in our communi - Experience & Engagement , ties . Initially joining as a part - time behavior Devereux Advanced Behavioral analyst to establish the partnership , she Health Florida eventually transitioned to a full - time clinician role . Over the course of 25 years , she has held ith nearly three decades of experience in various positions at Devereux , with the past Wbehavioral health care , Phillips began her 10 years dedicated to fostering partnerships career working with individuals with autism and designing tailored programs for individ - and developmental disabilities while pur - uals with special requirements . According to suing her undergraduate degree at the Uni - Phillips , the most rewarding aspect of her job versity of Central Florida . During her graduate is “ to ensure access to care for those who studies at UCF , Phillips was given the chance need it most , and to work with people who to contribute to the creation of a ground - share a common goal of helping children and breaking program for preschool students strengthening families . ” with autism in Central Florida . This endeavor ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM | may 2024 | ORLANDO FAMILY | 31

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OFM_Superwomen_0524FINAL_CEN.qxp_DEPT 4 / 11 / 24 4 : 26 PM Page 3 N E M BETH SCHUMACHER , CHRISTINE GOULD O W & STACIE RESNICK R Members , Warriors on Water E arriors on Water , Orlando’s sole dragon boat team com - P Wprising breast cancer survivors , was established 15 years ago . U Breast cancer survivors Schumacher , Gould and Resnik credit S WOW for aiding them in overcoming the challenges of their ill - ness . “ We are there when our sisters need us with an under - standing it is impossible to have unless you have stared death in the face as we have , ” Resnik says . Each woman is at a different stage in her cancer journey , and participating in this sport has helped them regain a sense of normalcy through camaraderie , support and increased physical activity . Schumacher notes , “ Many women have never been athletes and have been amazed at how competitive they are . ” Gould adds , “ As a nonprofit group we do a lot of fundraising to keep our boat ‘ afloat , ’ socially get together individually and as a team , but most importantly give back to the community as much as we can . ” As the team grows in both numbers and skills , their aspirations expand as well , with their sights set on competing in the 2026 IBCPC Dragon Boat Fes - tival in Lac du Borget , France . JOCELYN PICHARDO , MD Vice President and Chief Medical Officer , Community Health Centers Inc . r . Pichardo obtained her Dmedical degree from San Juan Bautista School of Medicine in Puerto Rico and completed her premedical education at the University of Puerto Rico . With over 25 years of experience in pri - mary care , she has focused on addressing the needs of uninsured and underinsured JAN EDWARDS patients in various commu - nity settings . She has been a part of Community Health Founder and President , Paving the Way Foundation Centers since 2015 . Before ollowing a profound trip to Ethiopia where she learned of human trafficking assuming the role of chief Fand exploitation , Edwards felt compelled to take action against these often - medical officer , Dr . Pichardo silent crimes . Upon returning home , Edwards began researching and discov - held the position of chief of ered that Florida has “ the third - highest number of calls to the national traf - quality , overseeing quality ficking hotline , behind California and Texas . ” So Edwards founded Paving the improvement and assurance Way Foundation , which over the past seven years has educated more than functions within the organi - 30,000 children and adults from Miami to Washington , D.C . , Arizona and South zation . Dr . Pichardo is an Dakota . Edwards has helped pass legislation at the state level and is working active member of the Amer - to pass federal legislation to keep kids safe online and to raise national aware - ican Academy of Family Physicians and serves on the board of the Physicians ness about this horrific crime . In 2017 , Edwards wrote , co - directed and pro - Society of Central Florida . As to what initially attracted her to the world of duced the award - winning film Trapped in the Trade , which “ shines a light on medicine , Dr . Pichardo says , “ I’ve always been passionate about helping others how children are easily and intentionally recruited into the world of sex traf - and making a meaningful impact . Health care provides a unique opportunity to ficking . ” Of the work her foundation does , Edwards says , “ Our programs do directly improve people’s lives by improving their health , which is what drew more than educate about human trafficking and online exploitation ; they me in . The combination of scientific advancement and the chance to contribute empower youth to take action , save lives by creating connections , and inter - to the well - being of others is incredibly inspiring to me . ” rupt the ‘ bystander ’ effect . ” 32 ORLANDO FAMILY | may 2024 | ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM

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