Sonia's Bio
Sonia M. Toledo
Founder & CEO
sonia@dignityofchildren.com
Sonia’s Bio
For the past 25 years, Sonia M. Toledo has worked in the after-school field building quality programming for students in elementary through high school during their “out-of-school” time. Sonia spent her first 10 years as a hands-on director of Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, and Children’s Aid Society. She discovered that having an impact on young people’s sense of worth and self-confidence made a difference in their future successes. In 1995, she created a workshop for after-school staff focused on building children’s self-esteem. Her career in youth development took off, as she became more involved in training and advocacy on a state and a national level.
From conception to institutionalization, Sonia has contributed to the creation of grass-roots projects for not-for-profit organizations and public schools. As former President of the New York State School Age Care Coalition (NYSSACC), she spearheaded a strategic plan with the Board of Directors to bring the organization to the next level of institutionalization, creating statewide infrastructure to support building quality after-school programs and enhancing professionalism in the field. In 1998, she became a National Endorser for the National AfterSchool Association, assessing programs and recommending them for accreditation. Today she is still endorsing after-school programs with the Council on Accreditation.
During Sonia’s nine years at Child Care, Inc., she streamlined and upgraded the school-age department to deliver nationally recognized standards and best practices to thousands of program directors and staff members of after-school programs throughout New York City.
As a single mother of two sons, Sonia has faced the challenges of raising boys in New York City, and the experience has clarified and energized her passion for making a difference in the lives of whole families—not just children. Dignity of Children, Inc., was founded in 2008 with the vision of creating programs that would support families holistically. This vision acknowledges the fact that working with only a child still leaves a gap; children feel a more complete success when their families are included in programs. Therefore, Sonia’s approach is to educate adults, parents, caregivers, and teachers, helping them to create environments for children that will make them feel emotionally safe and develop their self-worth.
Career Achievements:
• Supported the first New York City nationally accredited Programs-Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. (CPC) P.S. 124 has become the first urban NYC accredited program as of February 8th 2011!
• Founder and CEO of Dignity of Children, Inc., established January 2008. This organization provides professional development services to after-school organizations and their personnel to enable them to meet the training requirements of the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) School Age Child Care (SACC) Regulation. It also offers consultation to Community Based Organizations (CBO) to help them create strong infrastructure for quality services and design programs to empower families.
• In August 2007, designed a curriculum and developed a structure for the Adult Literacy Program at Baychester Youth Council, Inc., in the Bronx, preparing more than 200 adults annually to earn their GEDs, get a better job, or continue their education.
• In October 2006, designed and implemented a Supplemental Educational Services (SES) program to tutor more than 150 elementary students in English Language Learners (ESL) at the Baychester Youth Council, Inc., in the Bronx.
• As President of the New York State School Age Care Coalition, responsible for organizational advancement, spearheaded a strategic plan for a statewide infrastructure to support after-school programs and enhance professionalism in the field. Served two terms from June 2001 to June 2005.
• For two years (2002–2004), led a working committee to develop and implement the New York State School Age Care Credential. Guided a statewide collaborative, with 14 statewide host organizations, to provide preparation coursework for more than 300 candidates; 245 professionals were successfully credentialed as of December 2004. Today, New York State is leading the country in providing a professional credential for after-school providers.
• Since 1998 traveled throughout the nation, and internationally, endorsing and evaluating after-school programs for quality service through the National Afterschool Association.
• In January 2003, designed a curriculum and developed a structure for Youth Works: the School Age Care Training Program. The program trains 19–21-year-olds in eight competency goals to demonstrate their understanding of child development and their knowledge of how to work with school age-children in after-school environments.