Giselli Veloz is a powerhouse. She is the senior program manager of parent engagement and recruitment for LIFT New York, a NYS forensic mental health counselor- limited permit- and holds a master’s degree in forensic psychology.
Raising her two sons, Gianni and Ryan, in her home borough of the Bronx, Veloz perfectly embodies the balance of an influential career with a deep commitment to family and community. These attributes earned her the inaugural “Rock Star Mom” honor at the National Mother’s Day Committee’s 48th Annual Outstanding Mother Awards. In a special collaboration, No Kid Hungry helped select Veloz for the award, with all proceeds from the ceremony supporting our mission to end childhood hunger.
Like many of the moms No Kid Hungry aims to support, Veloz’s path to success wasn’t easy. After her second son Ryan was born, Veloz balanced life as a single mother while returning to school. During this time, she experienced significant barriers to stable housing and food security.
While desperately seeking solutions on feeling defeated in many ways, she was introduced to LIFT at a time management workshop at school. LIFT, a national nonprofit organization, provides one-on-one coaching to parents of children ages eight and under helping them set and achieve goals around career, finance and education. As parents receive monthly coaching, they also receive cash infusions to provide some support as they work to accomplish their goals.
Veloz’s coach helped her define her goals, map out and the steps necessary to get there and celebrated her progress along the way. Even if it was just for an hour a month, Veloz’s coach encouraged her while helping her stay accountable to her responsibilities as a mother, student and, most importantly, herself.
"For me, as a mom, often there were times, just like many other moms, we ignore ourselves. It's almost as if we don't matter, we have a job to do, we have a role to accomplish, we have something to do, and it never stops,” she said. “And while those goals are set, you want to achieve those dreams, it was so important to remind myself that I matter, I exist, what do I need in order to be the mother I want to be for my children and in order to do meaningful work.”
After enrolling in LIFT’s coaching program, Veloz got the resources she needed to complete her associates, bachelors and her two masters degree while continuing to support her sons. Upon completion of the program, she ultimately landed a position as senior program manager at LIFT and is currently an adjunct lecturer at CUNY.
Veloz has carried the values and lessons LIFT taught her into her professional life. She views her students, LIFT members, and therapy clients holistically, ensuring they have the resources she once wished for.
Beyond her role at LIFT, she is a fierce advocate for justice system reform, leading initiatives to support vulnerable populations in the South Bronx. Veloz is an active participant of many coalitions, including The BLOC led by The Bronx Defenders, while she continues to grow her work in philanthropy and mental health services for justice-involved individuals.
By investing in leaders like Veloz, communities across the United States can dismantle the cycles of poverty that drive childhood hunger.
“I've come full circle,” she says. “I hope to continue to empower families, encourage families, invest in families so that they can also persevere, be resilient, and achieve their success and break cycles.”
Our Rock Star Mom continues to achieve her dreams by learning to prioritize her own well-being while helping others do the same. Her story is one of the many reasons why No Kid Hungry continues to prioritize these investments - because when moms do well, their children have access to the food they need to thrive.
Learn more about how No Kid Hungry is supporting moms to ensure their kids have access to food today, tomorrow and for generations.
