Eileen Goff, Executive Director of hip and former LEAD student
Evelyn Valdez, now a mentor for the Central Region.

Wesley Brooks, LEAD graduate along with LEAD coordinators
Ohmny Romero and Sherlock Washington

LEAD Coordinators and Program Administrator
(L to R) Ohmny Romero, Joe Ruffalo, Holly Westefeld,
Ryan Stevens, Jerilyn Higgins, Sherlock Washington and Maria Valentin

hip’s Italian Fiesta Dinner Dance
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Fort Lee Recreation Center

Eileen Goff, Executive Director Welcoming Guests

Attendees dancing the “Cha, Cha Slide” with DJ- Gary Norton At hip’s Italian Fiesta Dinner Dance

Eileen Goff (second from right), of Fort Lee, Executive Director of Heightened Independence and Progress (hip) attended the organization’s annual meeting at the Meadowlands Plaza Hotel in Secaucus on November13th. (hip) consists of Centers for Independent Living that provide services for persons with disabilities in Bergen and Hudson Counties. Also pictured (from left to right) Helen Marshall, President (hip) Board of Trustees, Kathy Wood, Director (hip) Hudson County, Goff, and James Weisman Esq. of the United Spinal Association, the evening’s featured speaker.

Heightened Independence and Progress (hip) member Austin Epstein of Bergenfield (front row center, in Yankee Cap) and Michael Augustowicz of Dumont (front row, end right) attended the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training held at the Bergen County Fire Academy in Mahwah on November 7th. The eight week CERT course teaches persons with disabilities How to respond to different types of emergencies. The training was co-sponsored by Heightened Independence and Progress (hip), a Center for Independent Living, in Hackensack, that provides services to people with disabilities in Bergen County, in collaboration with the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management, the Bergen County Division of Disability Services and Spectrum for Living.

Joan Bermingham of Teaneck, a board member of Heightened Independence and Progress (hip), is shown the proper way to use a fire extinguisher as part of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training held at the Bergen County Fire Academy in Mahwah on November 7th. The eight week CERT course teaches persons with disabilities How to respond to different types of emergencies. The training was co-sponsored by Heightened Independence and Progress (hip), a Center for Independent Living, in Hackensack, that provides services to people with disabilities in Bergen County, in collaboration with the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management, the Bergen County Division of Disability Services and Spectrum for Living.