Alexandra Alexis

Alexandra Alexis: Program Coordinator & Youth Champion

Alexandra Alexis is a compassionate, creative problem solver with a deep passion for empowering young people. As the current Program Coordinator for Youth Empowered to Prosper (YEP), Alexandra is committed to creating environments where youth can thrive. Her dedication stems from the belief that every child and teen has the potential to rise above their circumstances and become great, given the right support and encouragement. She believes that one person’s unwavering belief in a young person can inspire them to see endless possibilities, creating a ripple effect of empowerment that impacts their peers and community.

Why I Believe in Youth Empowerment

“I believe each child and teen has the potential to arise and become great. Having one person who believes in them, despite all odds, environment, and circumstances, allows a young person to believe that possibilities are endless. To be encouraged to dream and become great will cause a chain reaction, impacting not only one youth but those surrounding them as well.”

Career Journey

Before joining YEP in November 2022, Alexandra spent six years as a full-time Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT), working with autistic children between the ages of 2 to 14, both verbal and nonverbal. Her work as an RBT refined her skills in empathy, patience, and creative problem-solving, which she now brings to her role at YEP. Alongside her professional work, Alexandra is also the owner of a faith-based fashion brand, where she merges her love for creativity with her commitment to positive messaging.

Community Engagement & Leadership

Alexandra’s journey with YEP began when she was introduced to the organization through City of Faith Church. Captivated by the love and sense of community, she began volunteering as a mentor during the 2020–2021 period and supported the church’s food pantry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her commitment to YEP quickly grew, leading her to her current leadership position.

In her role as Program Coordinator, Alexandra oversees the Young Women Who Win mentoring program, working closely with local schools to provide group mentoring to girls. She also plays a pivotal role in managing YEP’s social media presence and provides one-on-one mentoring to a teen she’s connected with. Her work continues to impact and uplift youth, aligning with her belief in the transformative power of mentorship and encouragement.

Alexandra remains dedicated to helping young people realize their full potential, advocating for youth empowerment and providing guidance and support to the next generation of leaders.

Amy Flores

Amy Flores is an East LA native, graduate of UC Davis, and passionate about closing the opportunity gap for underrepresented youth. Her passion is to ensure that at-promise youth have access to guidance and support they need to reach their personal and professional goals. Amy is a Program Coordinator with Mentor For Change where she drives key initiatives providing support for FGLI and unhoused youth. As the first in her family to attend higher education, Amy understands the transformative impact of mentorship and uses her personal experience to meet the needs of the youth in her community. In her role, she provides direct support to mentees and builds partnerships with community organizations and local high schools.

Daniel Matamoros

Daniel Matamoros was born in Heredia, Costa Rica as the second of 10 siblings. He holds degrees in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Dallas, a Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from the University of Navarra, and a second Masters in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago. He is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance, a Certified Financial Aid Administrator, and holds a specialization in Curriculum and Pedagogy. As a PhD candidate in Loyola University’s Higher Education Program, Daniel’s research focuses on STEM identity for minority students, supporting undocumented and underrepresented students, using financial aid to bridge educational gaps, and developing tailored supports for underserved student populations. He currently works as the Center Director for the Midtown Achievement Center for boys, focusing on programing to support underserved populations of students from 3rd – 12th grade. He is married and is the proud father of 3 children.

Grace Annen

Grace Annen is originally from Wheaton, IL, and currently serves as the Program Coordinator for Safe Families PLUS in Chicago/Cook County.

Safe Families PLUS exists to Provide Lasting, Unconditional Support (PLUS) to youth who are aging out of the foster care system by pairing them with caring adult mentors. Throughout her time working with PLUS, Grace has seen several mentees accomplish their goals, develop lifelong relationships with their mentors, and successfully transition into adulthood and independence. Seeing these journeys of growth and hope is what brings Grace joy!

Grace is deeply passionate about seeing transformation take place in the lives of young people. She has personally experienced how the power of a present, supportive mentor can change the trajectory of someone’s life– as she herself had mentors in her formative years who played a crucial role in her story. Without the mentors who have influenced her, Grace doesn’t know where she would be today. She wants to do everything she can to connect other young people to mentors who will show up for them, believe in them, encourage them, and give them hope. Grace believes that there is hope and healing available for everyone, and that, “Every kid is one caring adult away from a success story.” – Josh Shipp (former at-risk foster kid who became a Harvard graduate)

Grace values humility, her faith, learning about others’ stories and cultures, and seeing the glass as half-full. Outside of her professional endeavors, Grace enjoys traveling, trying new cultural foods/activities, exercise, and being a dog mom to the cutest Golden Retriever, Daisy.

Hannah Cheyney

Hannah Cheyney is the Mentoring Program & Volunteer Manager at AALEAD, supporting Asian Pacific American youth through a humanistic and culturally responsive approach.

Adopted and multi-racial, Hannah draws on her personal experiences to support youth who feel marginalized. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Adventure-Based Learning from Elon University, where she studied education, social justice, and psychology. With extensive experience in youth programs, she also led a one-on-one tutoring and mentoring initiative with America Reads, focusing on academic and social-emotional growth.

Hannah’s role as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters gave her firsthand insight into the powerful, life-changing effects of mentorship. This experience cemented her belief in the importance of providing youth with strong role models who can other guidance, support, and encouragement. Hannah is passionate about creating inclusive spaces where young people feel valued, understood, and empowered to overcome challenges, and is dedicated to ensuring that all youth have access to mentorship that helps them thrive.

James Earl Hollywood III

James Earl Hollywood III is the owner and founder of Hollywood Enterprise & Associates, LLC, a consulting firm that offers a wide range of services across various sectors. With over a decade of experience, James has emerged as a recognized leader in juvenile justice, child welfare systems, mental health advocacy, and community transformation. He has also developed expertise in reducing racial and ethnic disparities within the youth justice system, where he is a trusted subject matter expert in partnership with Georgetown University and system partners across the United States.

James’s work extends internationally, where he has partnered with communities in Brazil and Africa to promote equity policies, social services, and education initiatives. Domestically, he actively works on gun and firearm reforms, serving with Moms Demand Action, further demonstrating his commitment to creating safer communities. Additionally, James is in the process of becoming a certified mediator and volunteers at prisons, where he facilitates anger management sessions and serves as an apprentice mediator. He also serves on the Howard County, Maryland, School Strategic Advisory Committee, helping to shape education locally, and is a board member for NAMI Maryland, advocating for mental health awareness and support.

James holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology/Pre-Law and dual Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Strategic Communications from Arkansas State University. He is currently pursuing dual doctoral degrees in Public Policy and Strategic (Social) Leadership, demonstrating his deep commitment to advancing knowledge and driving positive change.

Throughout his career, James has worked on critical issues in public health, education, fiscal policies, climate change, and voting rights. He is deeply passionate about fostering healing processes vital for the growth of communities and individuals. His efforts have empowered leaders and systems to implement lasting changes, especially in juvenile justice and child welfare.

Outside of his professional work, James is a devoted husband, father of nine, minister, and accomplished author. He remains actively involved in community initiatives, serving on various boards and advisory groups. He is widely recognized for his dynamic leadership, unwavering commitment to social justice, and passion for making a positive impact both locally and globally.

Jarvis Griggs

Jarvis Griggs is a versatile actor and dancer from Dallas, Texas. With a BA in Theatre from Prairie View A&M University and an MFA in Acting from Columbia University, Jarvis boasts a solid foundation in both acting and dance.

Trained in a wide range of styles, including jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, ballet, and modern dance, Jarvis’s dance journey began with the Classic Dance Ensemble Company. His passion for sharing his knowledge extends beyond performance, as he has dedicated over 3 years to teaching hip-hop and theater to aspiring artists.

Beyond his artistic pursuits, Jarvis is a dedicated Program Manager for ADVOT, where he mentors youth who are system-impacted and currently or formerly incarcerated. With 4 years of experience in this role, Jarvis is committed to providing these young people with the tools they need to elevate and grow their lives.

Inspired by his undergraduate professor’s belief in his abilities, Jarvis is committed to empowering young artists and helping them discover their own unique voices.

Marcela Garcia

Born in Colombia and raised in New York City, Marcela Garcia is a dedicated young professional committed to empowering student voices, streamlining community resources, and equipping underserved families with the tools they need to succeed. As an immigrant and a product of the NYC public school system, Marcela views education as a vital pathway for reaching students and their families, with schools serving as agents of opportunity.

Marcela has always been passionate about supporting the emotional and social development of youth. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development from Binghamton University, where she connected her personal experiences with the clinical sciences. This synthesis inspired her to focus on fostering socio-emotional development in children through trauma-informed, socially just practices. She took these initiatives to the classroom where she served as a bilingual elementary school teacher through AmeriCorps in Dallas, Texas. During this time, she continued to research the impact of schools and education on students and communities, and earned her Master of Bilingual Education.

Currently, Marcela serves as the Family Engagement Specialist for the Reimagining Educational Achievement Coalition of Harlem (REACH), a center housed under the Gordon Institute of Advanced Study at Teachers College, Columbia University. REACH employs a university-assisted community school model across public schools in Central Harlem, engaging schools, community organizations, and institutional partners to implement strategic solutions that support students and their families. The coalition offers wraparound services, including professional development for educators, expanded learning opportunities, mentoring programs, and physical and mental health interventions for students, and family services for parents.

In her role, Marcela leads the Success Mentoring Program at Frederick Douglass Academy II Secondary School, connecting chronically absent students with support services. Every student is matched with a Youth Advocate, attends weekly “Resource Hub” small group workshops in collaboration with community organizations and school staff, and receives one-on-one mentoring sessions and socio-emotional check-ins.

Marcela is honored to work at the intersection of education and community impact, serving students and families while striving to create empowering and resourceful community spaces.

Megan Hall

Megan Hall is the Program Director for the Teens Lifting Teens Grant at Utah State University. Where she oversees recruiting, budgeting, data collection & analysis, as well as providing training and resources to the youth advisors on how to provide meaningful mentoring experiences for their youth. Last year they had 650 youth participate in their mentoring program and they served and mentored over 7,000 youth across Utah. Her program focuses on reaching and recruiting youth from “at-risk” populations and empowering them to make a difference in their communities through near-peer mentoring and service learning.

Nathan Douglas Gardner

Nathan Douglas Gardner is a mentorship coordinator, freelance journalist, and creative writer based in Hartland, VT. He shares his life with his wife, Clancy, an Early Childhood Educator, and their beloved cat, Neiko. Inspired by personal experiences with the mental health struggles of children close to him, Nathan entered the field of mentoring. As the Northern Coordinator for Windsor County Mentors, he is dedicated to fostering strong community connections, passing down valuable skills and hobbies, and bridging generational divides through the power of mentorship.