VOICES February Newsletter

VOICES February Newsletter

/ 4 February 2026 /
Voices Newsletter
 

Dear Families and Friends,

This month, we are focusing on building communities and interpersonal support systems that promote resilience. If you missed last month’s presentation, we hope you will join us for the second in our three-part webinar, Resilience in Practice: Tools for Healing and Renewal presented by Ali W. Rothrock. In addition, our resident mindfulness guru, Meg Rooney, has provided a 10-minute Mindful Moment Meditation entitled, “Creating Systems to Support Personal Wellbeing.”

Dr. David Prezant, Chief Medical Director of the FDNY will join us to provide updates on 9/11 Health Impacts. The WTC Health Program Clinical Centers provide critical medical and mental health treatment for over 100,000 responders and survivors who are suffering from 9/11-related illness. Dr. Prezant will be talking about the FDNY Responder Program.

February is associated with matters of the heart. On Valentine’s Day we often reflect on those we love and also the important people in our lives who are no longer with us. With that in mind, we are highlighting two individuals from our Author Series - Bonnie McEneaney McNamara, author of Messages: Signs, Visits and Premonitions from Loved Ones Lost on 9/11 and Fred Guttenberg, author of Find the Helpers.

Although the northeast is covered in snow, we are looking forward to spring. Mark your calendars for April 17th to attend VOICES Annual Building Bridges Luncheon! As we reflect on the upcoming 25th Anniversary of 9/11, we are recognizing two Stewards of Memory – former CEO and President of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and world-renowned historian James Young. Registration opens soon!

As always, our staff is available if we can be of assistance. Contact us at support [at] voicescenter.org (support[at]voicescenter[dot]org) or call our office at 203-966-3911.

With warm regards,
Mary Fetchet & the VOICES Team

 
 
Update on 9/11 Health Impacts
 
Update on 9/11 Health Impacts
FDNY Responder Program
 
Presented by: Dr. David Prezant, MD
 
Tuesday, February 24th - 3:00pm EST
 
 
Join us for an informative conversation with Dr. David Prezant, Chief Medical Director of the FDNY and VOICES Executive Director, Mary Fetchet. On 9/11, Dr. Prezant was taking care of FDNY firefighters and EMS rescue workers at the WTC site, and was present during the collapse and its aftermath. Dr. Prezant will provide an update on the FDNY Responder Program.
 
 
Resilience in Practice
 
Resilience in Practice
Resilient Families
 
Presented by: Ali W. Rothrock, MAHS CTR
 
Wednesday, February 25th - 7:00pm EST
 
 
Join us for the second in a three-part series providing tools to build resilience. The presentation will focus on Resilient Families: Strength in Connection. Resilience doesn’t just live in individuals - it’s woven into the fabric of families and communities. This session explores how connection can help us withstand and heal from trauma. Recovery happens not only in individuals but in the spaces between us.
 
 
VOICES Building Bridges Luncheon
 
VOICES Building Bridges Luncheon
Honoring Stewards of Memory
 
The Country Club of New Canaan
95 Country Club Rd, New Canaan, CT
 
Save the Date
 
Friday, April 17th, 2026
 
Mark your calendars to attend VOICES Building Bridges Luncheon that will be held on Friday, April 17th at the Country Club of New Canaan. In recognition of the upcoming 25th Anniversary of 9/11, the theme of the luncheon is Honoring Stewards of Memory. We are proud to recognize two individuals who were instrumental in the creation of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum - Alice Greenwald, former CEO and President at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and James Young, world-renowned historian and preserver of memory. Registration coming soon!
 
Questions? Contact Sarah Green at info [at] voicescenter.org (info[at]voicescenter[dot]org).
 
 
 
VOICES of September 11th Stories from 9/11 to Today
 
VOICES of September 11th® – Stories from 9/11 to Today
 
This month, we are sharing the stories of two remarkable individuals who participated in VOICES Meet the Author series. They each experienced a personal connection to 9/11, and through their gift as authors demonstrate resilience in the face of tragedy.
 
Bonnie McEneaney McNamara
 
VOICES Board Chair, Bonnie McEneaney McNamara lost her husband, Eamon McEneaney in the September 11 attacks, an experience that profoundly shaped her life and work. Bonnie has served on VOICES Board Chair since 2017, after serving on the board for many years. She has led the organization with compassion and a personal understanding of grief and resilience.
 
A New York Times bestselling author, Bonnie published Messages: Signs, Visits and Premonitions from Loved Ones Lost on 9/11 in 2010. The book is a deeply reflective exploration of the quiet power of memory—how it shapes who we are, keeps us connected to those we loved, and continues to guide us long after loss. Learn more.
 
Fred Guttenberg
 
February 14th marks the 8th Anniversary of the horrific shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in which Fred Guttenberg’s daughter, Jaime, was murdered. In the years since that devastating loss, Fred has become a leading national advocate for gun violence prevention, channeling his grief into action while honoring Jaime’s life and legacy.
 
Sadly, Fred’s brother, Dr. Michael Guttenberg, who served as Deputy Medical Director of the FDNY died in 2017 of 9/11-related illness. Fred has a long-standing relationship with VOICES, in our shared mission to support those impacted by tragedy. His book, Find the Helpers, reflects his journey—offering a deeply personal account of loss while highlighting the people and communities that sustain us in the aftermath of trauma. Learn more.
 
 
 
Funding Crisis Averted: Congress Secures the Future of the WTC Health Program
 
Funding Crisis Averted: Congress Secures the Future of the WTC Health Program
 
The 9/11 Community is ecstatic that Congress has passed a budget bill that fully funds the World Trade Center Health Program, averting devastating cuts to care. This victory reflects years of unwavering efforts led by John Feal with the FealGood Foundation, Ben Chevat with Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, and a team of 9/11 advocates including responders, survivors, attorneys, and unions who made countless trips to Washington, DC. The funding ensures that the over 100,000 responders and survivors enrolled in the WTCHP and those diagnosed in the future, will receive treatment they need and deserve.
 
We are profoundly grateful for the bipartisan Congressional leaders that made this possible, including Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, Congressman Andrew Garbarino, Speaker Mike Johnson, and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, along with Congressmen Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Dan Goldman, (D-NY) Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Nick LaLota (R-NY), along with other members of the New York delegation.
 
 
 
 
Mental Health Focus
 
February is National Cancer Prevention Month, a time to spread awareness and hope, celebrate the strides medical science is making and honor the resilience of individuals with cancer who are still fighting. Over 100,000 responders and survivors are currently in treatment for one or more 9/11 related conditions, including over 100 types of cancer.
 
The month emphasizes the importance of early detection, education, and access to care which is especially relevant for those exposed to toxins in the aftermath of 9/11. If you or someone you know responded in the days and months after 9/11, or lived, worked or went to school in the area, we encourage you to enroll in the WTC Health Program. Learn more.
 
 
Encore Presentation
Helping the Helper
 
Presented by: Carolina Bautista-Vélez
 
Carolina explores the importance of caring for those who support others.
 
Video   |   Podcast
 
Helping the Helper
 
 
Mindful Moment Meditation
 
Creating Systems to Support Our Personal Well-Being
 
Join us for Creating Systems to Support Our Personal Well-Being, a meditation presented by the talented certified yoga instructor, Meg Rooney.
 
 
Mindful Moment Meditation
 
 
Peer Support Groups
 
VOICES provides monthly virtual and in-person support groups, providing a welcoming opportunity to discuss shared experiences and resources to build resilience. Our groups are facilitated by our professional staff. Are you interested in joining our support groups or have a suggestion for a new group? Click here.
 
Peer Support Groups
Survivors (1st Wednesday, Virtual)
Wednesday, March 4th
12:00pm to 1:30pm EST
 
Survivors (2nd Wednesday, Virtual)
Wednesday, February 11th
12:00pm to 1:30pm EST
 
Survivors (3rd Wednesday, Virtual)
Wednesday, February 18th
12:00pm to 1:30pm EST
Victims' Family Members (Virtual)
Tuesday, February 10th
12:00pm to 1:30pm EST
 
Responders (Virtual)
Tuesday, February 17th
12:00pm to 1:30pm EST
 
Next Generation (Virtual)
Tuesday, March 3rd
9:30am to 11:00am
 
Parents Helping Parents (In-Person)
Wednesday, February 18th
9:30am to 11:00am
 
 
Preparedness Awareness
 
Preparing for an emergency begins at home and is vitally important in all aspects of our lives.
 
This month we are featuring:
Community Care in Cold Weather
 
 
Preparedness Awareness