Northern Dutchess Community Coalition (NDCC) Welcomes Dora Celestino as Coalition Coordinator

Red Hook, NY (April 7, 2022) – Expanding its community leadership and impact, the Northern Dutchess Community Coalition
(NDCC) recently appointed Dora Celestino as coalition coordinator. In this role, she will be responsible for the management of program goals, objectives and activities, and will work collaboratively with volunteer coalition members and community partners to maximize participation in programs and activities that promote a substance-free lifestyle for local youth.

“We could not have chosen a better person for this role,” said Crissy Groenewegen, agency director at the Council on Addiction Prevention and Education (CAPE), which oversees NDCC’s activities. “Dora first started as a volunteer with CAPE’s Teen Driving – A Family Affair
program, and quickly became engaged with the organization’s prevention-focused mission and work with youth. This lends well with her strong love for our community and dedication to making it better for all who call it home. Plus, her extensive management experience makes her the ideal choice to continue running NDCC at the highest level.”

Prior to joining NDCC, Celestino honed her skills as an operations manager at a Level 1 Trauma Hospital in Westchester County. Outside of the office, Dora volunteers with several different organizations including as an ambassador for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and as a coach for a Special Olympics team.

Celestino holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Human Services and Business Administration from Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth, Florida. She has received numerous awards across her field including the CARE Award for Compassion and Outstanding Character and Cross Country’s Best of the Best in Healthcare Presidents Award. She currently resides in Poughkeepsie, New York with her husband of 31 years and three children.

About the Northern Dutchess Community Coalition (NDCC)

Founded in 2009 by a group of concerned community members and volunteers in response to increased reports of risky behaviors by local youth, including substance abuse and underage drinking, the Northern Dutchess Community Coalition (NDCC) began offering educational forums, trainings and town halls to raise awareness around these issues. It has since expanded its mission to address the changing landscape by directly informing youth of the dangers of vaping and marijuana use, while promoting positive mental health choices.

In late 2019, working under the guidance of the Council on Addiction Prevention and Education of Dutchess County (CAPE), the NDCC was awarded a five-year, Federal Drug Free Communities Grant, governed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). With the support of this grant, the NDCC is expanding its outreach within Northern Dutchess communities, including Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Millbrook, Pine Plains, Webutuck, Amenia, Northeast, Millerton, Tivoli, Milan, Clinton and Hyde Park.

For more information on the NDCC, or to learn how to get involved, head to Facebook.