Meet the 2010 Allies in Prevention Awards Special Guests
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Carmen Nazario, Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Carmen Nazario is an Assistant Professor at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, where she teaches Social Policy and coordinates the Social Work Practicum at the School of Social Work. Nazario has vast experience in public service with a focus on improving services to children and families within the United States and around the world, dating back to 1968. From January 2003 – December 2008, she served as Administrator of the Administration for Children and Families for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, where she led an agency of 4,000 staff with a budget of over $220 million. Prior to that, she served as the Senior Resident Investigator for the Jordan Poverty Alleviation Program, where she developed and implemented a national poverty reduction strategy for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and advised leaders in the nation on the delivery of social services. During the Clinton Administration, she first served as Associate Commissioner for Child Care in the Administration on Children, Youth and Families and later became the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Nazario joined the Clinton Administration after serving as Secretary of Health and Social Services for the state of Delaware from 1993-1997, and, prior to that, she was the Director of Social Services in Norfolk, Virginia and Loudon County, Virginia. Nazario has held a number of national leadership roles, including Vice President of the Board of Directors of the American Public Welfare Association, President of the National Council of Local Public Welfare Administrators and Secretary of the National Council of State Human Service Administrators. Nazario is from Bayamon, Puerto Rico. She received a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Sociology from the University of Puerto Rico in 1967, and was awarded her Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work in 1973.
AWARDS PRESENTER
Craig Melvin, News4 Anchor, NBC4
Craig Melvin anchors the weekend editions of News4 at 6 and News4 at 11. He also is a host for Daily Connection and serves as a general assignment reporter during the week.
Melvin’s journalism career began when he was named an Our Generation reporter while still attending his Columbia, South Carolina high school. His report on innovative teaching earned him an award from the Associated Press. Melvin is one of the youngest ever to receive such recognition. After completing college at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC, Melvin returned to Columbia and to WIS as a photographer and producer. Within a few years, he was anchoring the evening news, earning and EMMY award and “Best Anchor” recognition from the South Carolina’s Broadcaster’s Association. In addition to anchoring at WIS, Melvin was recognized for his in-depth reporting on issues such as homelessness, gangs, and education. His coverage of a dangerous prison hostage standoff was also widely acclaimed.
Melvin enjoys mentoring young people and contributing his time to organizations devoted to developing young minds. Melvin lives in Northwest, Washington.
