Join us on Thursday, April 15, from 5 PM -6 PM as we honor our April 2021 outstanding communicator, Carolina Gonzalez, for helping seniors sign up for the COVID-Vaccine. We will also be celebrating our National Chapter, AWC 112 Years of Women Empowerment.

Carolina Gonzalez is a mother of three and a middle school STEAM and Entrepreneurship teacher. She is a graduate of Lynn University’s College of International Communication. In December of 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, it became clear that the appointment booking systems in place would not provide equitable access to the seniors who intended to use them. At this time, she began connecting with seniors to secure highly sought-after COVID-19 vaccine appointments. In January of 2021, while searching for information to assist others, she joined and then was invited to serve as a moderator for the Facebook group, “South Florida-COVID-19 Vaccination Information.”

Gonzalez serves as one of several moderators and volunteers who pour hours of their own time. Her efforts continued throughout all stages and eligibility groups of the vaccine rollout. She continued to connect individuals to confirmed appointments and shifted her efforts to share real-time, up-to-date vaccine opportunities and verified information on the Facebook group. In February of 2021, she began curating up-to-date statewide vaccine appointment information via a live document, State of Florida COVID-19 Vaccination Information, circulated widely throughout the state. Mia Russo Stern, Jenn Greenberg, Kimberly Merchant, and fellow volunteers supported this effort. The live document has been updated and maintained to reflect the most up-to-date statewide opportunities organized by the county. On March 10th, 2021, Gonzalez hosted a Facebook Live event to share tips on using the live document to determine eligibility and where to go. Throughout her volunteer effort, she has made meaningful connections with and partnered with local community leaders to connect hundreds of individuals to various South Florida pop-up vaccination events. Presently, she continues to work alongside like-minded volunteers who work to continuously break down barriers individuals may face in the process of securing a COVID-19 vaccine.

Here is your chance to meet her!