About
The Poughkeepsie Mothers Project (PMP) is a community organization that supports self-determination for women and mothers through the integration of conventional women’s healthcare with alternative and complementary healthcare, health and parenting education, peer support, and connections to community resources. PMP provides these services in the Poughkeepsie area for a historically disenfranchised, uninsured and immigrant population of women.
Before Covid-19, we had six programs that brought women together for for education and support. These were: Prenatal Education, a Mother's Support Group, the Expressive Art Program, the Peer Education Program, Women's Health Packages, and the Nutrition Program. Each of our initiatives focused on a unique aspect of motherhood and women's health, and provided personal health education, peer support, and connections to community resources, allowing for emotional growth and increased awareness of maternal/child care.
Our six programs supported and encouraged self-determination for women. Our programs were based on personal relationships, building trust and self-confidence among our volunteers and client population. Women and mothers are supported in developing self-care and parenting skills, and provided with tools and resources for self-development. The development of trusting relationships allows us to understand and address each woman's social determinants of health, which are critical components of health and parenting outcomes.
Our Mission
Poughkeepsie Mothers Project supports self-determination for mothers through education, wellness, and community support; because mothers are creating the future of our world.
Our Vision
We envision a community where women have the resources and knowledge to determine their own and their families' health outcomes. A revolutionary, community-based healthcare system, based on trusting relationships between providers and patients/clients.
In this community, women of all races, income levels, and places of origin will have equal opportunities for health and happiness.
We seek to develop this vision through education, wellness, and connections to community resources, in the context of community healthcare.
Meet the Team
Team Members
Kay Bishop
Founder
Kay has been dreaming about this project for many years because she believes that women and women's health are literally creating the future of the world. She has worked as a midwife for twenty years. She loves spending time with her family, gardening, crocheting, and making soup.
Adelina Aragon
Peer Educator
Adelina is a mother of two, a peer educator for the Mothers Project for four years, and a volunteer community educator and organizer for many years. She loves spending time with her family, helping mothers, and giving back to the Poughkeepsie community.
Gia Vazquez
Community Advisor
Gia Vazquez is a mom of an 18 year old daughter. She has been a community advisor and prenatal/postpartum educator for Poughkeepsie Mothers Project for 13 years. She is bilingual in Spanish and English, and so has been instrumental in involving Spanish speaking mothers in the programs. Gia loves spending time with her family. She also loves helping people in the community, especially with immigration and related challenges.
Ari Torres Rosado
Co-Founder
Ari is a co-founder of the Mothers Project as well as a phlebotomist and certified medical assistant. She is driven by her passion to help mothers everywhere get the support they deserve. In her free time, she loves reading, hanging with family, and cooking. She believes this group offers so much to woman in all walks of life, and she is excited to see it grow!
Randi Chalfin
Art Director
Randi is a co-founder of the Mothers Project, and loves helping new mothers discover the joy in motherhood. She is an artist and educator with a certificate from Adelphi University in Expressive Art Therapy. Her passions include art activism and working with inner city women and children. She is currently working on community based expressive art projects and art exhibitions created by the women involved.
Lula Allen
AAUW Sponsor
Bridgetlee Goldstein
Peer Educator
Lula is a founding member of the Mothers Project and Co-chair of the AAUW Mothers Project Community Initiative. Her work as chair of the AAUW Writers Tea has raised funds to support the Mothers Project for many years. When she has time off from running a business and volunteering, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, birding, gardening, exercising and yoga.
Bridgetlee is a mom of two, a peer educator for Mothers Project for five years, and is a healthcare peer educator and care manager. She enjoys coffee, cooking, and adventures with her kids. Her passion in life is helping others. Her ping-pong ball in a balloon demonstration of the mechanisms of labor in childbirth is the highlight of the prenatal classes!
Deanna Tuttle
Project Manager/Peer Educator
Deanna is serving as an AmeriCorps member at Sun River Health in Poughkeepsie. Having recently graduated from the University of Vermont, she wanted to work in her hometown to combat disparities in maternal health. Deanna is passionate about empowering women and in her free time she enjoys gardening, traveling, and reading.
Kimberly Peters
Peer Educator
Kimberly Peters is a Christian creative who is passionate about advocacy, wellness and wholeness. A graduate of Binghamton University, she got involved with the Mother Project after attending the mothers group meetings in 2017. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, design and empowering others. She is the mother of one and is happily married to her best friend.
Scott Groffman
Consultant
Scott has been part of the Mothers Project for three years, helping with administration and long-term planning. Scott enjoys holistic systems thinking, and works elsewhere as a farmer and writer.
Setse Bush
Community Fellow
Setse has been part of the Mother's Project since 2017 working as a project manager. She is a Vassar College graduate, a doula, and is passionate about women's healthcare and health equity.
Aidan Zola
Community Fellow
Aidan is a Vassar alum interested in women’s public health policy. She loves writing, baking, and getting out to explore the Hudson Valley. She’s excited to be a part of the team!
Erin Reese
Project Manager/Peer Educator
Erin is a Susquehanna University alum serving as a National Health Corps member partnering with Sun River Health. She loves promoting health and wellness, serving individuals in need, running, cooking, and baking. After her service with the National Health Corps she plans to attend medical school and become a physician in rural and medically underserved areas.
We want to give a special thanks to all of our past volunteers and interns! We couldn't have accomplished all we have without you!