Celebrating Our Kids 2026

On April 21, 2026 we hosted our annual fundraising luncheon, Celebrating Our Kids, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame! We were joined by over 300 community members, donors, and partners to hear more about the mission of Alexander Youth Network and learn how they can help support the children we serve. This year, we heard […]
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 […]
Congratulations Blaine Sanders, 2026 Outstanding Individual Attorney Award

When Expertise Meets Purpose: Celebrating Blaine Sanders Some partnerships make the work easier. Others make the work possible. For Alexander Youth Network, Blaine Sanders has been both. We are proud to celebrate Blaine on receiving the 2026 Outstanding Individual Attorney Award at the Mecklenburg County Bar Law & Society Gala in Charlotte. This recognition honors […]
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 […]
A Message from Our CEO: Alexander’s Commitment to North Carolina’s Children in 2026

As we welcome a new year, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the year behind us and the future ahead at Alexander Youth Network. This past year marked my first as CEO, and it has been a year of change, progress, and forward movement across the organization. We served thousands of children […]
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 […]