JWB Director Cited for Community Spirit

April Putzulu, director of strategic communications at the Juvenile Welfare Board, has been honored with the “Spirit of Community” award by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women.

Putzulu is the only Tampa Bay honoree of 11 women across the state who were recognized by the commission during a June 28 ceremony in Orlando.

The Commission’s award spotlights Putzulu’s 36 years of service to Florida’s children and families and her passion for developing creative prevention programs and campaigns—many of which remain in existence today, according to a press release.

Putzulu’s career has centered on children and youth; first as a probation officer with the Department of Juvenile Justice and later with Operation PAR leading substance prevention programs, which resulted in two National Safe & Drug Free Schools designations. She led efforts to create the Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco, and partnered with the media on feature stories, including the viral piece by Tampa Bay Times’ Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Lane DeGregory about 16-year-old Davion who wanted “someone, anyone” to adopt him.

Putzulu is currently leading a new birth-to-three campaign, Turbo Babies, fueled by JWB, to support parents and caregivers as their child’s first and best teachers. Turbo Babies represents the rapid pace at which children birth to three develop and grow and shares everyday activities caregivers can use to encourage early connections and nurture a baby’s drive to learn.

View the article as originally published at https://www.tbnweekly.com/pinellas_county/article_8d36dbca-2017-11ee-8402-1b9bd5e2c8c3.html