The global nonprofit adds and elevates alumni, women and leaders of color to its executive committee. From left to right: Sarayfah Bolling, William Chatman, Francisco Medrano, and Neo Ntsala.
Global nonprofit YouthBuild USA has appointed four new members to its Board of Directors, electing leaders of color and three alumni from local YouthBuild programs — all while forming the first all-female Board leadership in its history.
Current Board member Carla Reeves has been elevated to reporting treasurer, forming the first all-female Board leadership team alongside chair Michele Courton–Brown, clerk Chi Kim, and vice-chair Kathy Witsil.
The new Board appointments deepen the organization’s work on behalf of opportunity youth — young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor employed — as they earn the knowledge, training and opportunities that lead to long-term professional and personal success. They further the diversity of the Board and incorporate the experiences of former students, advancing the organization’s commitment to better reflect the population it serves.
Sarayfah Bolling joins the Board as director of programs and strategic engagement at Callisto, a San Francisco-based national nonprofit organization that uses technology to empower survivors of sexual violence. Prior to this role, she was the project director of the T.E.E.M.S. AmeriCorps program at Georgia State University, bringing more than 10 years of experience in higher education, technology, nonprofit consulting and youth development to the organization. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development at the University of Georgia and holds a master’s degree in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a bachelor’s degree from Union College in Schenectady, New York.
William Chatman joins the Board as executive director and CEO of Comprehensive Community Solutions Inc. in Windsor, Connecticut, a community-based nonprofit that transforms neighborhoods and lives through workforce development, community engagement and affordable housing. During his time as a YouthBuild student at YouthBuild Rockford in Rockford, Illinois, he became president of the Youth Policy Council and a member of YouthBuild USA’s National Council of Young Leaders, representing all YouthBuild programs in the state of Illinois. Upon graduating, Chatman became a support staff member at the Boys & Girls Club, managed The Way to Peace Project, managed two local YouthBuild programs, and taught hundreds of young people.
Francisco Medrano joins the Board as a clinical social worker with more than two decades of experience working with justice populations in nonprofits and government. He was introduced to community work as an MAAC YouthBuild student in Chula Vista, California, inspiring him to organize community service projects upon graduation and be actively involved in youth advocacy and criminal justice reform. He has worked with adults, juveniles, and families struggling with addiction and mental health. Medrano received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a focus on juvenile justice and a master’s degree and license in social work from San Diego State University
Neo Ntsala joins the Board as leadership and counselling officer at the Saint-Gobain YouthBuild Academy in South Africa. She is also a program assistant for the YouthBuild Alternative High School in Soweto, South Africa. As a student at YouthBuild South Africa, she attained her National Qualification Framework Level 3 in Ceiling and Partitioning Installation, gaining career training for the workforce. Now, Ntsala works to develop the YouthBuild alumni network, facilitate workforce training and leadership development classes, and provide students with counselling.
“These appointments bring talented YouthBuild alumni and youth development leaders to our Board, providing us with an even more comprehensive and diverse perspective on our partnership with opportunity youth across the globe,” said John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild USA. “We honor their journeys, contributions, and continued commitment to the YouthBuild mission – and celebrate the first all-female Board leadership in our history.”
In YouthBuild programs, opportunity youth pursue their education, prepare for future careers, and grow into community leaders, building brighter futures for themselves and their neighborhoods. YouthBuild USA is the nonprofit support center for a global network of more than 280 local YouthBuild programs in 15 countries, with 223 programs in 47 U.S. states and territories and 61 programs in 14 other countries. Responding to the urgent need for knowledge, training and opportunity, YouthBuild primarily serves young people who lack a high school diploma and financial resources.
