School Wellness

Jasmine Filkov supports the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities grant by collaborating with worksites, communities, and early childhood education providers to increase access to healthy, affordable foods. She promotes the adoption of food standards and policies that promote physical activity and nutrition as part of a healthy daily routine.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Sports Studies, with minors in nutrition and sociology, and a Master of Science in Health Service Administration from D’Youville College. She currently serves as the Community Wellness Coordinator at Healthy Community Alliance, where she also works on a Community Health Coaching grant.

In her free time, Jasmine loves to bake, read and spend time with her family and dog, Thor. 

Sarah Whiteway provides training and technical assistance for the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities Grant. She implements plans and forms committees that increase physical activity, create more access to healthy foods and improve the overall wellness of schools and districts.

Sarah earned her Bachelor’s in Biology and Graduate diploma from the School of the Environment at McGill University in Montreal. She later earned her Master’s in Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies from Concordia University, also in Montreal. She has served as a research assistant, tutor, instructor and teaching assistant before joining our team.

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time in nature, camping, hiking, swimming in the summer and skiing and skating in the winter. 

Laura Corrin is very excited to dig in and utilize her background and work experience as a Creating Healthy Schools and Communities Educator. Her role at Cornell Cooperative Extension is to assist businesses, community centers and early childhood education centers in Lackawanna and Cheektowaga in a free program to create healthier environments through nutrition and physical education for staff, community members and young children. She hopes to implement sustainable changes to policies and culture around improving nutrition and physical activity in work sites, community and education centers.

Laura's professional background is in nutrition and wellness education. Most recently, she worked closely with low income and food insecure communities in and around New York City to provide nutrition and wellness education to both children and adults. Laura successfully created a well-received and affordable after school program called HEALTHY KIDS CLUB offering these services and more.  She also worked closely with NYC employees through a city initiative called WORK Well NYC and for various nonprofit organizations like, City Harvest, Fan4Kids and Red Hook Arts Project.

Creating a healthier lifestyle is a passion for Laura. A passion that she has woven into her personal and family life as well as her work. When she's not working, she enjoys playing pickleball, taking nature hikes, cooking delicious meals, traveling with her family, and socializing with her favorite people and her dog, Moon. 

Latifah Giles serves as a community liaison working under two grants focused on reducing the risk of STI’s and HIV. She facilitates a sexual health class for students to promote safer sex practices and healthy relationships. In addition to this, Latifah works as a coordinator over the “Leaving or Legacy” program, a youth led organization that encourages peer to peer sexual health education.

Latifah’s career has been spent supporting members of our community through education, personal and professional development, and now, with Erie 1 BOCES, providing sexual health education. Outside of work, Latifah serves as a member of the WNY Equity and Disproportionality Committee. 

Tatiana Royster educates youth on the importance of sexual health and healthy relationships. Through strong community partnerships, she serves as an advocate for youth and works to establish and maintain diverse, equitable safe spaces in classrooms and communities.

She joined the team in 2022 after spending more than five years in youth advocacy and education.

Outside of work Tatiana enjoys cheering on the Bills and being a dog mom to her Labradoodle named Woof.