Education leader brings engagement and impact expertise to
global headquarters championing opportunity youth around the world
YouthBuild Global, the headquarters for the YouthBuild movement, has announced the appointment of Jesse Noonan as its new executive vice president of program success. In this role, Noonan will advance the nonprofit’s commitment to unifying and partnering with an expansive network of YouthBuild programs around the world, championing opportunity youth as they achieve their ambitions and reach their full potential.
In YouthBuild programs, young people who are out of school and out of work reclaim their education, gain job skills and credentials, and become leaders in their communities. Within the opportunity youth population, YouthBuild primarily serves young people who lack a high school diploma and financial resources. These young people are in greatest need of access to the tools to succeed, and they are our greatest source of untapped potential to bolster economic mobility and transform the world.
Noonan’s appointment furthers YouthBuild Global’s work strengthening this expansive network and serving as a convener, collaborator, and catalyst for the entire YouthBuild movement. She will oversee the organization’s Network Engagement, U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild Program Impact, and AmeriCorps teams, working to fortify relationships with the global network, support partnerships with state coalitions and collaboratives, and build longevity for programs through funding and technical assistance.
Noonan joins the global nonprofit from REACH Public Schools, a new network of alternative schools focused on opportunity youth, where she was founding executive director. She was previously the vice president of direct impact for Think of Us, a policy and advocacy organization focused on young people who experienced foster care. Noonan began her career as a high-school English teacher.
“Jesse has made it her professional and personal mission to see young people succeed, and we are so grateful to have her leadership as we maximize impact for our network,” said John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild Global. “Love is YouthBuild’s foundation and the connective tissue that empowers young people to pursue their goals and aspirations. The care Jesse holds for our world’s future leaders will drive her work to strengthen our network of local programs, the young people they serve, and the entire YouthBuild movement.”
“I know from my tenure serving and learning from opportunity youth that the YouthBuild model delivers on the promise of what young people need to be successful,” said Noonan. “The focus on positive youth development and love in the delivery of high-quality education and career training is powerful, and it’s centered on the phenomenal potential of young leaders. I am so excited to join the outstanding team at YouthBuild Global as we strengthen our dedicated support of local programs and the young people they serve.”
Noonan received her bachelor’s degree from Barnard College at Columbia University, and her master’s and doctorate degrees from Loyola Marymount University. She currently lives in Los Angeles.
