36 Indiana Youth Workers of Color Join Second Emerging Leaders Cohort
November 19, 2024 (INDIANAPOLIS, IND.) – Thirty-six exceptional youth workers of color from across the state have been chosen for the second Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship cohort launching in January 2025 as part of the Indiana Youth Worker Well-Being Project.
Participants will engage in an intensive six-month training and development series designed to enhance leadership capabilities and provide opportunities to cultivate robust community networks. Monthly sessions cover topics like equity-driven leadership, navigating crucial conversations, community building, and sustainability and strategic direction from a diverse team of highly qualified facilitators and speakers, equipping the cohort to lead and grow thriving youth-serving organizations.
The following individuals were selected to join the Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship through a competitive application process that considered their aspirations or current leadership in a youth-serving organization as well as commitment to a career in youth services:
- Brittany Adkins, Edna Martin Christian Center – Indianapolis
- Mimi Ahiakwo, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana – Fort Wayne
- Bryce Akridge, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana – Indianapolis
- Ronnie Beathea, Eclectic Soul VOICES Corporation – Indianapolis
- Bobbi Boutte, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Indianapolis
- Joseph Castillo, Extended School Enrichment – Pendleton
- Komal Chohan, Umeed Hope – Indianapolis
- Gabriel Clark, MLK Center Indy – Indianapolis
- Paula Eve Davis, Good Samaritan Project – Lafayette
- Ashlyn Douthitt, Reach for Youth – Indianapolis
- Ronnell DuBose, Purdue University Northwest – Griffith
- Finda Fallah, Communities in Schools of Indiana – Indianapolis
- Nancy Garduño, La Plaza – Indianapolis
- Cynthia Grant, Laporte County Juvenile Services Center – Michigan City
- Diana Greeno, YWCA of Greater Lafayette – Frankfort
- Jasmine Harvey, Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation – Fort Wayne
- Devon Holifield, Martin University – Indianapolis
- Kiana Jackson, Youth Services Bureau of St. Joseph County – South Bend
- Laresha Johnson, 14th and Chestnut Community Center – Terre Haute
- Katrina Jones, Foster Success – Indianapolis
- Priscilla Jones, Middle Way House – Bloomington
- Raydia Martin, Flourish Community Hub – Munster
- Dominique Morefield, Girl Coalition of Indiana – Terre Haute
- Wendell Mosby, Real Men Color – Merrillville
- Christy Nunley, Child Advocates – Indianapolis
- Kenya Patterson, Do Over Project/Living Wellness Respite Retreat – Indianapolis
- Tolvi Patterson, GEO Academies – Indianapolis
- Emily Perez, Indiana Youth Group – Indianapolis
- Gladys Rosas, La Casa de Amistad – Goshen
- Jamarra Smith, Pathway Counseling & Consulting – Indianapolis
- Lannie Terry, The Gurl Code – Indianapolis
- Oscar Tipton, Foundation for Youth – Columbus
- Aleesha Thirkles-Williams, Ivy Tech Community College – Gary
- Autumn Trice-Johnson, Brightpoint – Fort Wayne
- Robert Walls, Winning Experiences – Indianapolis
- Lolita Wilson, Coates – Hammond
Through the Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship, the Youth Worker Well-Being Project aims to tackle the need for leadership diversity in Indiana’s youth-serving sector by investing in youth workers of color’s skillsets and foster more inclusive youth organizations statewide. A third round of applications for the Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship will launch in February 2025. Sign up for IYI’s Weekly Update at iyi.org/newsletters to stay up to date on future cohort application dates.
Interested Indiana youth workers and youth-serving organizations can also learn more about the next round of fellowship applications and other project initiatives at youthworkerwellbeing.org.