Shaphaun Black: The Moments That Remind Me Why I Do This Work: An MST Therapist’s Perspective
Change doesn’t always happen overnight. Sometimes it starts with a family willing to try something new, a youth discovering their own potential, or a caregiver learning a new way to connect. For Shaphaun Black, MST Therapist at Alexander Youth Network, these moments are what make the work meaningful. Every day, Shaphaun partners with families navigating […]
Miranda Wilson: When Families Need Someone in Their Corner
Sometimes, the Support Families Need Most Is Someone Who Understands No parent expects to navigate a child’s mental health journey. One day, everything feels normal. The next, you’re sitting in doctor’s offices, meeting with schools, searching for resources, and wondering if you’re making the right decisions. It can be overwhelming. That’s why Family Peer Support […]
Career Day at Alexander Youth Network: Creating Space for What’s Possible
On June 18, Alexander Youth Network hosted its first-ever Career Day. What happened that day went far beyond a program or an event. It became a moment of recognition and possibility for the young people in the room. For many of our youth, this was not just about learning about the different careers that […]
Employee Spotlight: Hadjaratou Diallo
“I lead with empathy, listen with intention, and believe deeply in the strength of families.” For Hadjaratou Diallo, this work is personal. As a Family Peer Support Specialist at Alexander Youth Network, she stands in the gap for families, helping them find their voice in moments when they may feel overlooked, unheard, or overwhelmed. Since […]
Employee Spotlight: Ashley Nieves
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank Ashley Nieves doesn’t just quote this line; she lives it every single day. Ashley started with Alexander Youth Network back in 2014 as a Customer Care Specialist in the Access to Services department. At the […]
Employee Spotlight: Nikki Cannon
For more than 16 years, Nikki Cannon has been a steady force of leadership and compassion at Alexander Youth Network. Her journey is rooted in a deeply personal calling to help children heal, grow, and find their way to brighter futures. Finding a Calling in the Work Nikki’s connection to the mission of Alexander Youth […]
Employee Spotlight: Fran Hart
Shaping Futures: Fran Hart’s Impact Across Generations “I know that what we do will have long-term effects. We may not see it right away, but we give them the tools to use in their future with the hope that they remember what they have learned and use it to be successful once they leave us.” […]
Employee Spotlight: Zach Riser
“Yesterday is gone, Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” This is the mantra that keeps Zach Riser grounded in his work as Day Treatment Program Manager at Alexander Youth Network. Since October 2020, Zach has brought energy, patience, and creativity to the children he serves, blending his love for […]
Employee Spotlight: Erika Moss
In June 2013, Erika Moss stepped into the lobby of Alexander Youth Network’s Shelby Day Treatment program as an Administrative Assistant. What she didn’t realize at the time was that she was also stepping into her purpose. “I was at home with my daughter for the first 18 months of her life,” Erika shared. “But […]
Employee Spotlight: Demestrius Williams
When Demestrius Williams first walked through the doors of Alexander Youth Network in 2020, the world was in crisis. The pandemic had upended routines, strained communities, and left families and children navigating an uncertain reality. But for Demestrius, stepping into this work during a time of collective anxiety was not a coincidence. It was a […]