Erin Bates, Deputy Director of Operations, McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center
Erin Bates graduated from Le Moyne College in 2010 with a BA in Sociology. Following college, she began working at the Children’s Consortium, where she worked with families focusing on early literacy and parenting skills. Erin similarly spent some time in the Foster Care field as a Homefinder, where she maintained, recruited, trained, and certified foster homes.
In 2013, Erin became part of the Onondaga County Safe Harbor initiative with McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center. Erin provided direct service to clients and awareness education within the community on sex trafficking and exploitation.
In December 2016, Erin became the Anti Trafficking Program Coordinator. She continued to provide direct service while she maintained data and reporting, as well as supervising advocates. She also continued to provide trafficking education to service providers, community members, and youth.
In 2018, Erin became the Director of Advocacy with McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center. She supervised all advocates providing service under McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center, coordinated case management meetings and reviewed data, and continued to complete reports. She assisted with maintaining education efforts around trafficking within the community.
Currently, Erin is the Deputy Director of Operations at McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center, where she oversees programming, assists with coordinating day-to-day case operations, data collection, and completes mandatory reports to funding sources. Erin also continues to provide training on both trafficking and the Center, while assisting in grant writing and policy updates for the agency.
Elisa Morales, The New Abolitionists
Once upon a time, Elisa Morales was a victim of domestic & sexual violence that suffered in silence most her life. Today, she is a proud survivor with a strong voice to raise awareness and advocate for others that are experiencing violence and abuse. She believes that some of the most beautiful things emerge from the ugliest situations and that she is proof that there is help and hope. She shares her survivor story to inspire others to seek assistance to break the cycle of violence in their life. She’s also advocated hard for New York State to include pet companions in orders of protection in domestic violence cases.
Elisa is an abolitionist combatting modern day slavery locally, nationally, and internationally. In 2013 she was selected to be one of the first abolitionists to be part of the New York New Abolitionists campaign (www.thenewabolitionists.com). In 2018 she was honored with the Harriet Tubman National Freedom Award in recognition for her dedicated efforts to end human trafficking, exemplary leadership, and decades of community service. Fighting trafficking—one person at a time—she moves mountains when someone’s freedom is at stake.
She is a social justice and human rights activist that believes that even one voice can make a difference in the world. She refuses to be part of the silent majority when injustice occurs. She joins her voice with others for legislative awareness and change. She has joined, formed, or led delegations for vital causes that benefit people, animals, and the environment. In 2021 in celebration of Women’s History Month, she was honored by the Syracuse, Onondaga, NAACP with the Social Justice and Human Rights Activist award.
Elisa was born in Lorain, OH to parents that immigrated to New York from Puerto Rico who inspired her profound pride in being Puerto Rican and American. Her parents moved to Syracuse, NY where they raised her and her older sister. Elisa attended the Syracuse City School District from grade school through high school graduation. She attended college in the Salt City as well. She raised her two lovely daughters, Salina & Elisa, in Syracuse, NY. Her daughters and their partners reside in the CNY area. She has one grandson, Leo who gives her a good reason to take a break sometimes just to play.
Her Latino/Hispanic/Latinx roots run deep in her, and she has dedicated endless time and energy into cultural causes, education, events, affairs, and organizations serving the Latino community. Since 2017, she has served as the Executive Director of the Spanish Action League on Onondaga County, Inc. also known as La Liga. La Liga is a comprehensive human service agency that serves 5 counties. La Liga has been a cornerstone in the community for 55 years of which Elisa has a 50-year relationship with the agency. She’s worn many La Liga hats: client, volunteer, Board member, staff, and now Executive Director.
When Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, Elisa immediately organized disaster relief efforts through an initiative she founded in partnership with La Liga, “Unidos Puerto Rico” (United Puerto Rico). The community near and far donated time, money, and emergency items that were delivered directly into the hands of those on the island affected by the apocalyptic humanitarian crisis. Under her leadership, La Liga has served thousands of hurricane evacuees that have left the island and now call Central New York home. Her efforts were recognized by Governor Andrew Cuomo. She was appointed by Governor Cuomo to the New York Stands with Puerto Rico: Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Puerto Rico committee. It’s an honor that is near and dear to her heart and she will continue to work hard to help her Puerto Rican brothers and sisters on the island and in New York State. In 2023, Elisa was a Hispanic Heritage Month awardee from Senator John W. Mannion.
She is a proud volunteer at heart and donates time and energy to various organizations, causes and projects. In 2018, a volunteer opportunity of a lifetime made a dream come true for her. Elisa has been a New York State Fair goer and fan since she was a child. She remembers walking through the Fair wondering where are the empanadas, the rice and beans, and the Salsa music. Other than her family, no one else was speaking her native language of Spanish. As she grew up she wanted to be involved in the Fair specifically to change that. As an adult, her dream to be a part of the Fair from a cultural perspective continued and she advocated to the Fair Director at town meetings. She was thrilled that he was always open and positive about a dedicated Latino area at the Fair. She was hopeful and then it happened, Latino Village at the New York State Fair was born, and she is the Superintendent. It’s a privilege to share the beauty of Latino/Hispanic/Latinx culture with Fair goers with the best in cultural foods, goods, and entertainment. Every year, Latino Village grows, and she feels fortunate to be part of something so special. Elisa believes that hard work pays off and dreams do come true, and she will always inspire others to never give up on their dreams.