Magdalena Andreozzi
Founder
Founder
Magdalena Andreozzi, CHWC, is a grandmother, entrepreneur and founder of Grands Flourish, Inc., Rhode Island’s only 501c3 non-profit organization that provides supports and services for grandparents raising grandchildren impacted by substance use disorder and other traumas.
Andreozzi’ s world changed forever back in 2015 when she became her granddaughter’s primary care giver. It happened suddenly, leaving her with no time to prepare her home or arrange for childcare. On top of all of this, she found herself trying to navigate the complex child welfare system and coping with an adult offspring’s addiction. Driven by the challenges she faced, Magdalena started Grands Flourish, which helps other grandparents navigate the challenging journeys that she and her grandchild faced. “There is power in having the information you need. Together with love, it’s what helps our grandfamilies succeed.”
Prior to founding Grands Flourish, Andreozzi was the Head Diva and CEO of The Event Diva, LLC, which provided corporate event planning and fundraising services to high-end clients and savvy brides. You can find Andreozzi’ s designs and events featured in Brides Magazine. She has also been quoted by The Boston Globe, Frugal Brides Have No Worries, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, and the Providence Business News called her “The eyes and ears of the industry.”
Andreozzi graduated magna cum laude from Providence College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and is a member of Eta Lamda Honor Society. Additionally, she acquired her Management Certificate from Brown University and fast-tracked at Wellcoaches School of Coaching, a Harvard Affiliate, becoming a certified Health & Wellness Coach. She also holds professional credentials as a Nationally Certified Phlebotomist specializing in drug specimen collections.
Magdalena lives in Rhode Island with her granddaughter and her son. They enjoy gardening, Girl Scout adventures, baking cookies and spending time with friends and family.
Arlene McNulty
Chair
Geoff Shoos, Esq.
Vice Chair
Geoff Shoos
We are very happy to have Attorney Geoffrey A. Schoos on our team as our Vice Chair. Mr. Shoos brings a unique combination of legal, educational, and business knowledge to our organization. He has been instrumental in aiding numerous non-profit agencies to attain IRS charitable status, developed governance policy documents, and established remote, pro bono, legal service programs in 10 Rhode Island communities that serve low income and underserved clients
As a political campaign manager and public policy analyst, Geoff has managed and coordinated several campaigns for the Rhode Island State Senate as well as serving as the Chairperson of the Democratic Senate District Committee.
Highlights of Geoff’s community and civic involvement include:
- Incorporator and President of RI Center for Law and Public Policy where he worked to provideservices to low- and modest-income individuals and families, encompassing a wide range of civil law issues ranging from housing issues to end of-life planning.
- Senior Case Law Editor at Lexis-Nexis Corporation in Dayton, OH
- Community Organizer with Cranston Community Action Program with a focus on housing, education, youth-oriented programing, fair housing advocacy, health referrals, and elder programs.
- Past Chairperson of the Board of Directors & Legal Counselat Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership
- Senior Legal Advisor to the Institute’s Advisory Board at Institute for Addiction Recovery At Rhode Island College
- Board Director and Legal Counsel for Rhode Island Communities for Addiction Recovery
- Past Chair of the Board of Directors for Men United Rhode Island
- Board Chair for Rhode Island Medical Legal Partnership
CERTIFICATIONS
- Discrimination Prevention/Diversity Training, MCAD Certified
- Disability Discrimination Training, MCAD Certified
- Discrimination Prevention Training Program, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, Boston, MA
- Certification, Secondary Social Studies, State of Rhode Island
Tonya McCallum
Founding Member
Tonya McCallum – Treasurer
We are privileged to have Tonya Tavares McCallum join the Founding Board of Directors of Grands Flourish as Treasurer. She holds a BS in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island and an MS in Behavioral and Social Science Intervention from Brown University. Her dedication and commitment are evident in her numerous accomplishments in the field of Addiction Studies in addressing opioid use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery. She has worked in the following positions:
Assistant Project Director at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University School of Public Health Opioid Response Network.
Assistant with The Opioid Response Network, created to support efforts in addressing opioid use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery, and is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Project Director of the Motivational Interviewing Health Disparities Research Lab at Northeastern University.
Tonya’s current research interests include opioid use disorders, alcohol use disorders, and other addictions; implementation of evidence-based practices; situational adaptation, coping styles, and resiliency; social determinants of health behaviors, including acculturate stress and discrimination; under-served populations, particularly justice-involved individuals, and enhancing minority participation in treatment and research.
Tonya and her husband live life to its fullest with their daughter.
Lori Dorsey
RI State Liaison
Lori Dorsey – Rhode Island State Liason
We are honored to have Lori Dorsey, LICSW, LCDCS on our board. She joins Grands Flourish as the RI State Liaison for Grandparents. She is a person with more than 31 years in recovery. She and her husband had legal guardianship and raised their granddaughter for many years due to the opioid crisis’ effects on their family. She still maintains a close relationship with her.
In addition to her busy private counseling practice she is a tireless advocate, volunteer and advisor to many organizations in the behavior health and recovery communities. Lori has worked with the RI Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals for the past 17 years as Sr. Public Health Promotion Specialist.
Lori’s accomplished are numerous and include the following:
Clinical and Recovery Supports Services Coordinator for RI ATR III, prioritized adults involved in the criminal justice system.
Clinical Coordinator for the RI Adult Drug Court and a Drug Court Team member
Rhode Island Women’s Services Network Coordinator for NASADAD Women’s Treatment Network
Holds a treatment seat on the RI Certification Board for Chemical Dependency Professionals
RI Women’s Health Council member
Lead Care Coordinator for the RI Juvenile Drug Court
Program Coordinator of an ACT Team
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Psychiatric Inpatient and Housing/Case Program Management Abuse Disorders
New England Regional Representative under the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, (NASADAD)
2009 Social Worker of the Year in Addictions Award by NASW
2011 Presidents Award from the RI Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependence
2017 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhode Island Rally for Recovery Committee
2018 Women’s Services Network Leadership Achievement Award by the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
In her free time Lori enjoys photographing rainbows and spending time with her husband and grandchildren.
Joharlen Carvajal
Secretary
Joharlen Carajal – Secretary
We are excited to have Joharlen Carvajal join the Founding Board of Directors of Grands Flourish as Secretary and Bi-lingual Liaison. Her tireless passion for social services and advocacy has allowed her to provide many communities with supports children and families involved in Rhode Island Child Welfare system. She holds a BA in Psychology from Rhode Island College and has worked as:
- Dean of Student Culture at Charette Charter High School, Providence, RI.
- Bi-lingual Family Support Specialist at Foster Forward, East Providence, RI.
- RI Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA Volunteer) for children living in foster care.
- Nationally Certified facilitator of the TIPS MAPP; (Trauma-Informed Partnering For Safety Permanence-Model Approach To Partnerships In Parenting)
Joharlen has worked tirelessly to support the Latino populations in de-stigmatizing mental health within her own community as well as other underserved populations. She adores decorating her new home and creating authentic Latino dining experiences enjoyed by both family and friends.
Lindagay Palazzi
Gabby Bianco
Digital Media Intern
Grands Flourish welcomes Gabby Bianco to the organization as our Digital Media Intern. Gabby is a rising senior at Brown University where she studies Literary Arts. She is currently working on updating our website and putting together our first digital magazine! She has previously worked as an intern with the Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival and has experience volunteering with the Brown University student organization, Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, running, and traveling (when there is not a pandemic of course).