Alexander Youth Network Joins Charlotte Hornets for Mental Health Night
Across Charlotte, conversations around mental health are becoming more visible—and more important than ever. On Friday April 3rd, Alexander Youth Network joined the Charlotte Hornets for Mental Health Night, bringing awareness, connection, and community together in a powerful way. Celebrating Our Foster Families Mental Health Night with the Charlotte Hornets was also a celebration of the families at […]
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: Leonard Shinhoster, Our New Vice President of Program Operations
“I treat everyone with respect, not because of who they are, but because of who I am. You never know what someone’s carrying, and kindness might be the only calm they feel all day.” For 25 years, Leonard Shinhoster has been a steady, compassionate presence at Alexander Youth Network. His leadership is more than a […]
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: Jessica Hofstetter, Our New Family Peer Support Supervisor
“Stand, even if your knees are shaking.” These words reflect the heart of our newest program at Alexander Youth Network and the strength behind the person leading it. We’re proud to introduce Jessica Hofstetter as our Family Peer Support Supervisor, a role created to launch and lead our Family Peer Support Program, made possible through a […]
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 […]
A Mother’s Breath: Jenny Harbin’s Story of Courage, Crisis, and the Lifeline She Found at Alexander Youth Network
When Jenny Harbin stepped into her child’s elementary school last October, she didn’t know she was walking into a moment that would redefine her as a mother and as a human being. Her child, just 8 years old, was in crisis. The school was on lockdown. Paramedics and police were already there. And Jenny, heart […]