Stephanie Nunes

Interim Executive Director

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Stephanie Nunes, M.S.W, born in Cape Verde and raised in Pawtucket, RI, had a long desire to work within the communities she grew up in. After graduating from Shea High School, she attended Providence College where she received her Bachelor’s of Social Work degree. While at PC, Stephanie helped launch the EXPLORE! Program, a college access program for local ninth and tenth graders and continued the work as an AmeriCorps VISTA. In 2012, Stephanie moved to St. Louis, MO to pursue her Master’s of Social Work degree at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. Stephanie lived in St. Louis for six and half years starting her career at the United Way of Greater St. Louis in the Community Response Department then as Program Development Manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, helping launch their work with high school students in the Metro St. Louis Area. When returning back to RI, Stephanie was excited for the opportunity to work at Youth In Action. The role, mission and day-to-day work aligned perfectly with the goals she set out for herself.

In the years that she has been with YIA, Stephanie has supported the agency through staff transitions, COVID programming, and growing the agency to where it is today, while continuing to ensure the agency stays true to its values of intergenerational leadership and the foundations laid by YIA alumni.

“YIA is the first agency that I have felt that I can bring my whole self. The ability to develop professionally was fueled by the safety that I felt being in a BIPOC and intergenerationally-led agency.” – Stephanie