North Carolina Local Leadership
Youth Villages Local Staff
Annie Smith
State Director – Community-Based Programs
John Horton
Director – Development
Local Board
Community leaders serve on Youth Villages’ North Carolina Board to actively promote and support our mission to help children and families live successfully and advocate proven solutions for the foster care/child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Board members play a significant role at the local level establishing Youth Villages as the leading provider of effective programs for troubled children and their families.
Natalie Frazier Allen
Founder & CEO
The Arts Empowerment Project
Charlotte
Justin Arnall
Mortgage Loan Originator; Vice President Mortgage Bankers Association of WNC
Crew Lending – A Division of Goldwater Bank, N.A.
Asheville
George Awad
Freelance Graphic Designer
Asheville
Tia Bethea
Community Impact Manager
Google Fiber
Raleigh
Sara Boehm
Civic Leader
Charlotte
Meredith Buckner
Registered Radiologic Technologist/
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Mission Hospital
Asheville
Devon Cains
Client Director
F5 Networks
Charlotte
Laura Crago
Financial Advisor
Edward Jones
Asheville
Nancy “Nan” Gray
Regional Marketing Manager
Sprint
Charlotte
Craig Paridy
Director, Executive Alignment & Messaging
Duke Energy Corporation
Charlotte
Jennifer Van Lue
Individual & Family Therapist
Aspire Center for Personal Growth
Asheville
Social News
Today our CEO, Pat Lawler will receive the distinguished National Jefferson Award for Outstanding Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged. Thanks to The Daily Memphian for beautifully sharing Pat's story. bit.ly/2G3DqVV
Reserve your seat for tonight's Jefferson Award Show:
www.multiplyinggood.org/what-we-do/jefferson-awards/attend-the-jefferson-awards/2020
Youth Villages leader to get award, but he's not done yet
bit.ly
Pat Lawler has run Youth Villages for 40 years, and has made the program so effective that it has led to a national model.Congratulations Pat! A visionary and amazing Leader so 😆👏🏽Deserving
Pat rocks! I’m so proud to work for him and this wonderful organization!
Congratulations 💥👏
Fabulous Pat!
Congratulations Pat! Very well deserved.... 💕
Congratulations, Pat! Well-deserved!!
Awesome job Pat!
Congratulations
Congratulations!
Every year, approximately 20,000 young people, like Ary, age out of the child welfare system. Turning 18, she was proud to have achieved high school graduation; completed the broadcast and video production course at Frances Tuttle Technical Center; and enrolled at Oklahoma State University to major in entrepreneurship. But obstacles began to hit fast and led Ary to being connected to one of our LifeSet specialist.
“My LifeSet Specialist, Hannah Bluege, really took the time to build a relationship with me,” Ary said. “I have so much to talk about, but I don’t like to let people in all the time. She took the time to let me work at my own pace. She’s persistent and caring and that means a lot to someone who doesn’t have anyone.”
Though some obstacles, including Covid-19, have paused her work, Ary continues to be an advocate for other transition-age youth. She’s looking forward to getting back to work and saving money to return to college. Read Ary's full story: bddy.me/3mLBPoG
How does it feel to “age out” of foster care? | Youth Villages
www.youthvillages.org
Every year, approximately 20,000 young people turn 18 in child welfare systems without ever being reunited with their biological family. Ary, a young woman receiving help in Youth Villages Oklahoma’s LifeSet program experienced the ups and downs of that big birthday.When Covid-19 first hit earlier this year, there was panic, hysteria and confusion. In spite of it all, our staff, like Kendra Dzingle, did not hesitate to leap into action! Kendra knew that with schools and businesses closing, families would be under incredible stress and, in some cases, worrying how to feed their children without school. Kendra created an internal document full of resources for her families and even got her colleagues involved. They added to the list when a new resource was found, allowing everyone an easy way to share information. This meant families had access to more resources than they might otherwise through a single specialist. "Kendra said, let’s figure it out – they need resources,” said Christina, a Youth Villages Program Representative. “Families are now laid off, and let’s think about how can we help them more.” Visit the link for Kendra's full story.
bddy.me/2FO1tsd
This is awesome!!!!
Though recent documentaries and discoveries have brought new light to child trafficking, this epidemic is, unfortunately, not new. In times like these, it's important to make sure we are doing everything we can to protect children from people who would do them harm. Our very own Colby Jonas spoke with WREG News Channel 3 about ways to be vigilant in protecting your children.
bddy.me/35PawUc
Child advocates urge parents to be vigilant to protect children from predators
wreg.com
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Child therapists are sending a warning to parents when it comes to keeping their children safe from predators. Advocates say parents need to keep their ears and eyes open and…Amani, 19, spent over three years in the foster care system due to instability in her home. LifeSet has helped Amani learn critical life skills. “In the beginning I struggled with balancing school, paying bills, knowing what paperwork I need to have,” she said, “but luckily I had my specialist to walk me through everything.”
Even in her struggles to balance life, Amani continues to push through to meet her full potential and continue to work towards her primary focus: her education. She is currently a sports management major at the University of Memphis and we can’t wait to see the bright future ahead of her! We believe in her and thanks to your support, she is on the track to success.
bddy.me/2ZFZnRI
Amani's LifeSet Story | Youth Villages
www.youthvillages.org
Annually, 20,000 youth age out of foster care, and they are often left with little to no resources to transition successfully into adulthood. LifeSet™, an evidence-informed program model developed by Youth Villages, is the bridge from foster care to successful adulthood for thousands of transition...
