Conference & Production Specialist

chemene@affcny.org | 646.688.4321

Chemene officially joined the Coalition team in May 2021 the Conference and Production Specialist. She began her journey with the Coalition in 2018 when she volunteered to be a roaming reporter for the The 29th Annual AFFCNY Conference in Albany.  She interviewed presenters, speakers and attendees to ensure that the adoption and foster care community were provided with as many resources as possible through social media.  Chemene continued her role as the reporter, virtually, for The 32nd Annual AFFCNY Conference to educate and grow the adoption and foster care community support.

In 2019, Chemene joined the Advisory Board, as well as the Development Committee and Resources and Toolkit Subcommittee to broaden her education and help expand resources to families of NYS. 

Chemene has written articles on various topics about adoption which have been featured on America Adopts & GaywithKids.  As a member of the NACAC parent leadership network and RESOLVE National Infertility Organization, she is able to further her abilities to support families across the country. Over the years Chemene has met many friends in the adoption industry and encouraged other families to educate themselves.  In an interview with the playwright, Suzanne Bachner while on the Marshstream – Solo Arts Heal presentation of The Good Adoptee in July 2020, Long Island Adoptive Families support group was graciously mentioned (48:15) for their support.

Chemene received her Provisional Family Peer Advocate (FPA) Credential in June 2020 from Families Together of New York State. She recognizes that this credential is important in helping support families with children and teens with trauma backgrounds.  

Chemene began her production journey after graduating with a B.A. in Communications with a concentration in Television Production and minor in Theatre Arts, from Hofstra University in 1998.  She moved out to Los Angeles that same year and for the next nine years worked in the entertainment business. During that time, she worked on many independent productions, working with high profile talents such as Kevin Smith, Stan Lee, Mark Hamill, William Shatner, Sid Caesar, Jonathan Winters, and many more. 

Chemene has been the leader of Long Island Adoptive Families since 2008. LIAF was formerly an adoption journey support group for those transitioning from infertility to adoption.  It has grown and evolved to become a group that helps to educate adoptive and foster families with the help of like minded people and professionals. LIAF also provides a community for members’ children by hosting activities throughout the year for the kids/teens to get together and grow up with other families like theirs. 

Chemene Vizzi lives on Long Island with her husband and two sons (one was adopted as a newborn). 

Connect with Chemene on any of the communities below and find her on the AFFCNY.Network!