January/February 2023 #AWorksCares
AWorks Bi-Monthly
The Latest News & Events Happening @AWorks
January/February 2023
Greetings!
We Dedicate this Issue of Our Newsletter to the Memory of
Nilka I. Alvarez-Rodriguez
Nilka I. Alvarez-Rodriguez was born in Puerto Rico in 1951 and came to New York with her family when she was ten years old. Hers is the story of resilience, perseverance, and the ability to dream big.

Although she grew up in a poor section of Brooklyn, by the time she met and married Richard Rodriguez in 1992, she had already begun to make her mark on the world as the Empowerment Program Coordinator at WIN (Women in Need) in New York.
Nilka I. Alvarez-Rodriguez
When she and Richard moved to Lawrence, MA, it did not take her long to become active in her new community. She worked as the Client Services Manager at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, became the Program Director at the State Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and satisfied her passion for educating young people by becoming an adjunct faculty member of Merrimack College in North Andover.

But her crowning achievement was being the first Latina to be elected to the Lawrence City Council where she served an unprecedented five terms!

Those who knew her intimately and others who had the good fortune to be in contact with her describe her as having been patient, helpful, caring, and respectful. She always greeted people with a smile, she never brushed off anyone, and never appeared to be in a hurry when someone wanted to talk with her. She was also very caring and compassionate when it came to the disabled population in the Greater Lawrence Community.
Nilka and Asperger Works
The first people from our team with whom Nilka had contact were Daniel and Lisa Rajczyk. Through them, she learned about Asperger's Syndrome and our naissant Lawrencian nonprofit. She made it her business to ensure that AWorks would be noticed in the City because she believed that what we were trying to accomplish had merit and importance. Due to her championing our cause, AWorks was honored by the Lawrence City Council through a City Proclamation on August 11, 2015 .

Now, sadly, we must say goodbye to our friend. She leaves behind her husband of thirty-one years, two sons, a daughter-in-law, and two beautiful granddaughters.

She also leaves behind those of us who were recipient of her affections and care.
Asperger Works sends its heartfelt condolences to Richard and the rest of Nilka's family. We hope that they are bolstered by the knowledge of how well-loved Nilka was in the community that she chose to call home.
COVID visited members of our organization in late December and lingered on for part of January hindering our plans for some activities. Then February arrived. And just when we thought we could go back to life as we knew it, tragedy struck. Nilka Alvarez-Rodriguez, wife of AWorks Advisor Richard Rodriguez passed away quite unexpetedly.
Covid-19 Resources

AWorks is committed to providing the Community with valuable information on the COVID-19 Pandemic and resources for Aspie Families.

Visit our Website to read up on articles and resources. 

#AworksCares

My mask protect you and your mask protects me
"My mask protects you and your mask protects me."
Image: 123RF/Nataliya Okhapkina
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Asperger Works, Inc.
48 Marshland Street
Haverhill, MA 01830

For past newsletters, please check out https://aspergerworks.org/aworks-news/