Salah manages the Somali Youth Development Fund (SYDF) and is committed to ensuring that ALL Minnesota youth are given the opportunity to thrive. Salah is currently pursuing a Master of Art in Education and Secondary Mathematic Initial Licensure. Salah is also local entrepreneur and operate tax preparation and consultation business. You can reach out to Salah to learn more about the Somali Youth Development Funds or if you would like to talk about educational policies and reforms.

Guiding Quote: “Mathematics is the most beautiful and most powerful creation of the human spirit.”

Irina leads research to inform best practices in evaluation and working with young people. Irina leads Youthprise’s YPAR (youth participatory action research) network, grants and programs. Irina earned an MSW from the University of Minnesota and is a visual artist dedicated to producing affordable and accessible art in collaboration with her community. You can reach out to Irina to learn more about our research work or to learn from her extensive knowledge of herbal healing.

Guiding Quote: “Our duty is to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.” -Assata Shakur

Melissa has an established background in customer service, leadership, new hire, and ongoing training and employee coaching. At Youthprise, Melissa provides full administrative support to the president and board of directors. Outside of work, her children keep her fairly busy and that is fine by her. However, when she makes time for herself she enjoys seeing live music, cooking, and being in the sun. You can reach out to Melissa for general organization information, or if you need makeup and hair advice.

Guiding Quote: “Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.” - Toni Morrison

Christa leads the vision and builds the capacity of Youthprise’s Nutrition Program. She is responsible for all aspects of the program and supports Youthprise’s network of Nutrition Program participants. Christa earned a degree in Dietetics from Iowa State University and has a background working in food service and nutrition education. You should reach out to Christa to learn more about our Nutrition Program and to tap into her extensive nutrition expertise. As a young person Christa credits her relationships with strong independent women for helping her to succeed.

Claire leads and implements strategies to advance overall organizational effectiveness at Youthprise. This includes setting the evaluation agenda to measure external organizational impact and improving internal organizational functioning by advancing solutions around structure, human relations, power, and culture. Claire has an MA in Organizational Leadership and Evaluation and is trained in teaching therapeutic yoga. You can reach out to Claire to learn more about organizational strategy; yoga and alignment; or her dogs, Luis and Remington.

Guiding Quote: “Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed; happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.”

Sheila provides oversight on all aspects of finance, operations, and human resources. Sheila is a leader who is committed to the principles of community-based enterprises working to improve lives.  You can reach out to Sheila to learn more about coding invoices, monitoring expenses, and working within compliance.

Guiding Quote: “We all do better when we all do better." -Paul Wellstone

As the Nutrition Program Coordinator, Colleen monitors and supports meal sites for Youthprise's Nutrition Program. She is responsible for conducting site visits, assessment, daily compliance paperwork, and site staff trainings. She graduated with a degree in Nutrition in 2015 and served with Americorps in Utah as a Meals Manager. You can reach out to Colleen to learn more about regulation, interest in becoming a site, and an occasional bad joke.

Guiding Quote: “To live is one of the rarest things in the world, most people just exist." -Oscar Wild

Alejandra has a well seasoned background in administration and working with diverse populations. As Mission Advancement Manager, Alejandra plays a lead role in creating opportunities for various stakeholders to get more engaged with Youthprise's mission. She is experienced in big picture planning, strategic and analytical thinking, and creating an atmosphere of harmony and calmness.

Guiding Quote: “If you don't live by the applause of man, you won't die by their criticism.”

Gen supports the development team and Redpath Consulting to execute the Youthprise’s Major Gift Campaign and accomplish larger development goals for the organization. Gen received her BA from Hamline University in Sociology and Studio Art. Prior to working at Youthprise, Gen worked at the Minnesota Museum of American Art in their development department and at Praxis International in their Advocacy Learning Center program.

Guiding Quote: “We have to save each other. It’s the only way to save ourselves.” - Eboo Patel

Melissa oversees management, technical support, and the cultivation of positive relationships with private and grassroots partners at Youthprise. She has a rich background in youth development, project management, and capacity building. Her strengths and interests include positivity, connectedness, being a mother and positive role model for young people, exposure to culture, ballet, and sushi.

Guiding Quote: “And these three remain, faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.”

Tracey conducts the majority of financial transactions and ensures that all staff are compliant with standards. In addition to a B.S. in accounting and over 5 years of experience in non-profit accounting, Tracey brings her expertise in memes to all staff emails and updates. Outside of her commitment to cute kittens, you can reach out to her to learn more about non-profit accounting and the management of restricted funds.

Guiding Quote: “Every new day is a chance to change your life.”

Maurice has over twenty five years of experience working in the fields of non-profit and government. During much of that time, he focused on youth development, racial justice, and public safety issues. He is responsible for providing funding, resources, and technical assistance to oganizations that work on youth development issues.  You can reach out to Maurice to learn more about funding and all things related to barbecue.

Guiding Quote: “Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Matt leads Minnesota Afterschool Advance, a program Youthprise operates collaboratively with Venn Foundation, which helps families who meet income guidelines leverage the Minnesota K-12 Education Tax Credit to pay for out-of-school time programs.  Matt has worked in youth development for over a decade and has a JD from the University of Minnesota Law School.  You can reach out to Matt to learn more about participating in activities through Minnesota Afterschool Advance, offering out-of-school time activities through the program, or to chat about the most recent Vikings game.

Neese coordinates youth engagement at Youthprise. This includes providing support to the young people partnering with Youthprise and facilitating programmatic initiatives such as YouthBank and the YPAR network. Neese previously served a term with the Minnesota Youth Council and is trained in Design Thinking facilitation. Contact Neese to learn more about her knowledge of art history or to learn about how to infuse youth voice in design thinking.