By Libby Hopkins
Socialights has been a part of the Winthrop community for less than a year but has been making a positive impact on all of the students who attend its classes and sessions. The business is run by four women who are experts in the fields of occupational therapy and speech-language therapy. Alicia and Brieann Yimoyines are sisters and they are speech-language therapists, while their friend, Angela Hill, is the business’s occupational therapist and their other friend, Holly Marino, is their director of communication. “The four of us started Socialights together out of the need for providing something more for families and children with special needs beyond what is traditionally offered in a therapy setting,” Brieann said.
Its mission is “Social Growth for Social Success.” Its vision is to increase a child’s potential for positive and appropriate social interactions, build successful and meaningful peer relationships, along with growing and connecting with the community. “Many children receive therapy in an office or clinic type of setting, but generally they struggle with bridging those social skills to other settings which are very much a part of their family’s lives,” Brieann said.
Socialights mixes therapy with gym-based activities like Zumba, dance and martial arts as well as performing and collaborative arts. It also hosts camps at its facility and it encourages its students’ siblings to come and participate. “We encourage siblings to join so they can do things together and have that shared experience as siblings,” Brieann said.
The ladies at Socialights love being a part of the Winthrop community and John Sullivan and Bryant Martinez of the Winthrop Town Centre are thrilled to have them as a part of its little community. “They empower kids with the arts and businesses from this community and that’s wonderful to us,” Bryant Martinez said. “All the activities they do are community-oriented and I feel honored and grateful they are a part of Winthrop.” To learn more about the different classes offered at Socialights, visit it at www.acitherapy.com or contact Brieann Yimoyines at 220-0971. Visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SocialightsConnectionInc to learn more about the different upcoming events it will be hosting. Socialights is located at 11146 Winthrop Market St. in Riverview.
