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 | Carola Otero Bracco, Executive Director of Neighbors Link, has a strong personal connection to the Neighbors Link mission of strengthening the whole community through the healthy integration of immigrants. As a first generation American born of immigrant parents from Bolivia, Carola |
understands the challenges that accompany the immigrant experience in America and is dedicated to inspiring healthy integration in the community. Carola is bilingual and bicultural and is driven by her passion for empowering immigrant families and advocating for personal growth through education and economic development.
During Carola’s tenure, Neighbors Link has become a leader in designing, implementing and directing community-based, bilingual educational and cultural awareness training programs. Furthermore, with her guidance and leadership, the organization has grown to include three community centers, the largest immigration legal practice in the mid-Hudson Valley and programming that serves immigrants in 150 towns across 28 counties in New York. Before becoming Executive Director of Neighbors Link in April of 2004, Carola spent 12 years of her career gaining experience in financial management with General Electric Corporation, Ford Motor Company and Time Warner. She holds an MBA from Duke University and currently serves as the Board Chair for the New York Immigration Coalition. She previously served on the board of Northern Westchester Hospital, the National Council for Workforce Education and Nonprofit Westchester. Carola is recognized as an expert on immigration issues and has received numerous awards and recognitions. Recently, she was recognized by Governor Kathy Hochul during Hispanic Heritage Month, was selected as a New York Senate District 40 Woman of Distinction by Senator Peter Harckham and was selected for City & State’s Westchester Power 100 list. Providing leadership and vision for Neighbors Link is something Carola sees as her life’s work and she often says it is a privilege to be in her position as executive director. |
| We are honored to recognize Marisa Swift as a recipient of the Nonprofit Changemaker Award for her exceptional leadership in expanding educational opportunity and helping young people build pathways to college, meaningful careers, and long-term |
economic mobility. As Senior Director of Operations at Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE), Marisa has built and strengthened the operational and data systems that enable more than 2,000 students each year to receive consistent, individualized support and ensure that no student falls through the cracks. Her collaborative leadership brings together Yonkers Public Schools and community partners to address barriers to student success while giving YPIE the tools to measure outcomes, continually strengthen its programs, and expand its reach. The results are powerful: YPIE graduates earn bachelor’s degrees within six years at a rate 18 percentage points higher than similar peers, while 88.3% of the Class of 2025 enrolled in college and 92.3% of the Class of 2024 persisted into their second year. We commend Marisa for demonstrating that transformative leadership is not only about delivering programs—it is also about building the strong, thoughtful infrastructure that allows opportunity to reach thousands of young people and creates the foundation for their future success. Join us in celebrating a leader whose work behind the scenes is helping open doors to opportunity and economic mobility for the next generation.
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| We are proud to honor Environmental Leaders of Color (ELOC) as the recipient of the Small Nonprofit Changemaker Award for its extraordinary commitment to empowering the next generation of environmental leaders. Through innovative STEM, technology, and civic engagement |
programming, ELOC equips young people of color with the knowledge, skills, and voice to confront environmental challenges that disproportionately impact their communities. Rather than simply teaching students about these inequities, ELOC empowers them to become part of the solution—designing campaigns, gathering real-world data, engaging residents, and helping shape public awareness and action. In just five years, ELOC has created a powerful pipeline connecting underserved youth to environmental science, technology, civic leadership, and the green economy. We celebrate ELOC for demonstrating what is possible when young people are given the tools and opportunity to lead meaningful change in their own communities. Join us in celebrating a remarkable organization that is preparing the next generation to lead the way toward healthier, more equitable communities. |
 | We are proud to recognize Carver Center as a recipient of the Nonprofit Changemaker Award for its exceptional work creating pathways to opportunity and helping individuals and families throughout Port Chester thrive. |
A vital anchor in the community, Carver Center brings together food access, education, workforce development, youth mentorship, and family support in a comprehensive model that empowers people while preserving dignity and choice. From its innovative Carver Market to after-school enrichment, scholarships, workforce programs, and family services, Carver Center provides the resources and opportunities that help community members realize their potential and build brighter futures. Its remarkable impact—including more than 700,000 pounds of food distributed, 708 children enrolled in after-school programs, 72 teens placed in paid employment, and nearly $900,000 in financial aid secured alongside students in the past year—reflects the power of its community-centered approach. We celebrate Carver Center for strengthening generations of Port Chester families and demonstrating how a deeply rooted nonprofit can create lasting opportunity, resilience, and positive change across an entire community. Join us in celebrating an organization whose deep community roots are creating meaningful and lasting impact across generations.
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