Yasmin Young Salutes Katelynn Barlow as WNY’s Hardest Working Woman

Katelynn is 20-years-old and in a Junior at Buffalo State, as a psychology major and a sociology minor. After school during the week, she works with the CAO at the Pratt Community Center with children from all over the city! Then on the weekends, she works at Billy Beez in the Galleria mall. She says, "I love kids so I don't mind being around them all the time. Also, in my free time, when I have some, I model. I've been modeling for about 3-years now and have done so locally and in other cities. Between both jobs, modeling, and the long school hours, I still find time to complete my assignments and hold a 2.9 GPA. I also took the police officer exam back in June and passed. I am currently in the process of completing the final steps involved in order to become a student in the police academy. If accepted, I will have to leave school in order to attend the academy. But, after a year or 2 of being in the field, I plan to go back to school and finish working on my Bachelor's then obtain my Master's!" Girl you have a lot going on, but it makes us proud! Keep up the good work!!

Jazzae graduated from Cheektowaga Central high school at the age of 16-year-old! She went on to receive her associates degree from Erie Community College in Dental Hygiene and currently works part time as a Dental Hygienist at a pediatric dental office! She is also a full time college student at Daemen College, on a academic scholarship. She says, "I am pursuing a Bachelors in Healthcare Administration and Masters in Public Health. On top of work and school, I am the Co-Director of Dynasty All-Stars Dance Team. I coach dance 3 days out the week to girls ages 5-18 years old. I am proud of all my accomplishments at just the young age of 21 years old and I continue to strive for greatness each and everyday. This is why I think I am WNY's Hardest working woman!" We agree! Congrats Jazzae!!

Nakesha is a single mom of two children, who works 3 jobs and graduated from school last May! She says, "Every thing I do is for my babies. Showing them nothing comes easy in life mommy works for everything she has. At 29-years-old, I'm established and happy." Keep up the great job!!

I believe I'm WNY's Hard Working Women of the week because I'm a go gotta and the perfect mother a child could have. With everything going on in my life and what I've went through I manage to keep going on and helping others as much as possible. I have 5 beautiful daughters and one of them is my guardian angel, and her twin sister is currently in children's hospital 3 months old and on her way home. While I go back and fourth to visit her and trained for her condition to come home, I work full time a xerox and part time at the boys and girls club at buffalo . I still manage to keep up with activities,outings,and parties with my other daughters who are 3, 4, and 7. Also I make sure my family, including their father, are the happiest on earth. I don't have much time for myself but I make sure others around me and that are connected to me are happy.

Tina is the mother of 3 children and grandmother of 5. She has fostered over 150 children and adopted 3 children, ages 16, 11, 8. She is currently a Buffalo Peacemaker and a non-profit organization name No More Tears. Tina says, "I'm very active in the community. I have love for my community and the youth . I'm always willing to help at anytime. Young people know I'm there for them. I work with homicide families and inner city Youth. And work another job." We salute you Tina, keep making our community a better place!

"God has allowed me to live two lives in one lifetime. For many years I was in active addiction in the city of Buffalo. Living with a secondary illness, and made it to recovery. I'm about to celebrate some clean-time and I'm truly grateful. I'm employed at one of Buffalo's best hospital with a very special population of people. I got married on December 12th 2015 to a very good man, I have 4 wonderful children, and 2 grandchildren who bring out the very best in me. I never though I would be where I am today. So for me its not about just being the hardest working women in Buffalo, it's about being the best women I can be!!!!!" Keep staying clean and being a strong woman Yolanda, we salute you!

Alexis is the mother of a 3-year-old toddler. She is the oldest of 9 and helps care for them as well. Alexis says, "When I'm not helping my siblings I'm taking care if my mother who is epileptic and has seizures. On top of all the help I give to my family I help the organization Open Buffalo spread the word about community policing in the neighborhoods. Once that's done I return to my day to day job as a personal special education aide for buffalo public schools where I help assist an autistic first grade class at Highgate Heights Elementary School. Not to mention I'm only 22 years old!" Keep up the amazing work Alexis!!

Lynnette was nominated by her daughter, who says "My mom is the most hardest working woman I know. She has been a teachers aid at Aloma D. Johnson for almost 10 years. And In between that she receive her Associates Degree, while taking care of my late grandfather. She a single mother of 2 girls (ages 15 and 21) and she works 60-hours a week and also takes care of my grandmother. She teaches me essential values that may help me to become as successful as she is." Keep representin' for the strong, independent, hard-working women Lynnette!!

Tyonna is a mom, student, studying to become a pharmacy technician and works as a PCA for Interim Health Care! If that wasn't enough, she also has a side hustle as a hair stylist (#TouchedByT)! She does all of this at the young age of only 21! Tyonna says, "I am doing my best at raising my 6 year old into a strong minded young man and my almost 2 year old into a respectful, clean young lady. My goal is for my children can have someone to look up to besides a rapper or Basketball player, because someone once told me Parents with Careers raise Children with careers." Keep being a strong working woman and mom Tyonna, we salute you!

Dasia is working full-time, while attending graduate school full-time at Buffalo State. She is studying Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration. She also has an internship part time, while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Dasia says, "I am WNY hard working woman of the week because I'm working on my future, while balancing every other aspect of my life as well. Balance is key!" Keep it up Dasia, we salute you!