Interests
As someone who is passionate about seeing growth and the opportunity for growth to be accessible to people from every background, my leadership and volunteer experience with As You Are Youth Collective is where I had the opportunity to participate in making that growth available to unhoused youth in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a House Mentor from 2017-2022, my co mentor and I collaborated with the organization to receive formerly homeless youth in the duplex apartment neighboring our own. From weekly house dinners, to offering rides and checking in on the youth to making sure they will be ready to pay rent, to communicating with donors and keeping data organized for AYA, my role was to be a friend as they transition from instability to stability with housing. This experience taught me that everyone is always trying to do their best and good, quality communication is often the bridge to working together to bring out the best in everyone and, ultimately, how people on any team realize big dreams.