Monica Morales is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning PIX11 News investigative reporter for the weekday evening newscasts at 5:45 p.m. She also hosts a TV show called “Monica Makes It Happen.”

In 2024, her show won an Emmy Award for “Community Service.” Morales is renowned and beloved throughout New York City for making connections that positively change lives.

Since 2016, Morales has personally visited over 250 New York City housing developments, helped to ensure the repair of hundreds of homes and secured transfers to safe homes for dozens of families. Thanks to a series of her stories, she helped save a Bronx pantry set to close.

Morales is very active in the Hispanic Community. In 2024, she was elected to New York’s National Academy of Arts and Sciences Board of Governors. She was awarded the 100 Hispanic Women Community Service Award, received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Freedom for her advocacy in immigrant communities and was named one of El Diario Nueva York’s Latina of Distinction for her work in the Hispanic community. She also serves on the board of Casa de las Américas at LaGuardia Community College and the Advisory Council of Ellis Island Honors Society.

Since Morales first came to New York City as a reporter on WNBC 4 in 2004, her broadcasting career has taken her throughout the country, from WNBC in New York City, WFXT-FOX25 in Boston, WTVJ-NBC6 in Miami and WDJT-CBS in Milwaukee. 

Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis returned to Hostos Community College as President in August 2020 after serving as President of Naugatuck Valley Community College for twelve years. She also previously served as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Hostos from 2002-2008. 

President Cocco De Filippis has overseen an impressive array of programs and initiatives including a successful Middle States Evaluation to maintain the college’s accreditation; the creation of a new five-year Strategic Plan for 2023-2028; the awarding of a $15 million grant from the MacKenzie Scott Foundation, the largest charitable donation in Hostos history; the opening of a new Hostos Research Center; the college’s selection as a top ten finalist for the 2023 Aspen Community College Prize; successfully lobbied Congress for millions of dollars in Congressionally Directed Spending to support student programming; and receiving recognition from the U.S. Department of Education as one of just six recipients in its first-ever Postsecondary Success Recognition Program.

Dr. Cocco De Filippis holds a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature, an M. Phil in Spanish Literature from the Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York, an M.A. in Spanish Literature and a B.A. summa cum laude in Spanish and English literatures from Queens College, CUNY. A published author and literary critic, she is recognized internationally as a pioneer in the field of Dominican women studies and Dominican authors in the U.S. In 2016, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in the Humanities by the University of Santo Domingo (UASD), the oldest university in the Americas, in recognition of her contributions to Dominican, Caribbean and Dominican Diaspora literatures.

Dr. Cocco De Filippis has served on the board of multiple educational and community organizations, as well as Commissioner for the New England Commission for Higher Education.

Sharlene came to the YMCA of Greater New York in 2002 as Membership Coordinator of the Jamaica YMCA and in 2004 became Membership/Communications Director for the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA. Under her leadership memberships grew from 800 members to 6,500 members in five years. She implemented member involvement to drive quality service and increased retention by motivating staff to develop and build relationships with members. She maintained a positive net variance annually in the budget despite downward trends in the economy. Sharlene’s leadership at the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA has brought forth tremendous growth and expansion of YMCA services to the Bedford- Stuyvesant community.

In 2010 Sharlene Brown became Executive Director of the Bronx YMCA, now known as the Castle Hill YMCA and in this role she oversees the daily operations of the Castle Hill YMCA, works closely with the Board of Managers, develops and strengthens community wide relationships with donors plus various service organizations, and supports the Castle Hill YMCA’s strategic goals. Sharlene manages and oversees a $5 million budget at the Castle Hill branch, which includes three swimming pools, a fitness studio, fitness center, and the Munch Center. She provides additional oversight to over 200 staff, 5 Y-After Schools, a Community School, and a Senior Center.

Sharlene holds a BS in Organizational Management and a MS in Organizational Leadership from Nyack College. She is also a graduate of the YMCA of Greater New York’s, Executive Leadership Institute. Sharlene is a recipient of the 2010 Black Achievers in Industry Award, 2010 Congressional Records by the House of Representatives, 2013 African American Heritage Month/Leadership Award, Awarded one of 25 Bronx Influential Women in the Bronx in 2013, an honoree at the 2017 Gender Fairness Committee 12th Judicial District Women’s History Month, the recipient of the 2019 Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors Community Leadership Award. 2020 Bronx Triangle, Inc. Award – Honoring Phenomenal Women, 2022 Bronx Power Women Honoree and 2022 Hero of the Harbor Award from Waterfront Alliance.

Sharlene is married to Hon. Eugene Oliver Jr. and the proud mother of three children and six grandchildren