Recreational Co-Co
nyrell@youthinactionri.orghe/him
Hey, I’m Nyrell. Im a student at E-cubed Academy , class of 2025. I’m the Recreational CoCo. My favorite thing about my job is getting the opportunity to meet new people and have new experiences. YIA is a cool place because you meet people different from you and learn new things. I really like to play sports and competing.
Executive Director
stephanie@youthinactionri.orgshe/her
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
Restorative Justice Co-Co
christie@youthinactionri.orgshe/her
Hi I’m Christie🤭 I’m from Haiti and I’m a high school student, class of 2024. I like braiding, I like watching criminal documentary shows, and I love swimming but I don’t know how to. I love documenting my life through photos and videos I love my family and friends. I would say people describe as calm cool collected and smart.
Senior Development Co-Co
Hi! My name is Jeremiah (Jer-uh-my-ah), and I was born and raised in Rhode Island, although my parents were born and raised in Nigeria. My pronouns are he/they and I’m a senior at Choate Rosemary Hall, a boarding school in Connecticut. Although I do not currently go to school in RI, I have in the past, and growing up here has allowed me to have a better understanding of my community.
Executive Strategy Co-Co
chavely@youthinactionri.orgshe/they
Hi! I’m from Providence, RI born to immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic. I graduated from Classical High School and am currently pursuing a degree in youth development and public administration. I’m passionate about creating spaces where people can show up as their authentic selves, challenging norms we’ve been socialized to adhere to, and using transparency with empathy as a means of creating change.
I first experienced Youth In Action as a youth in Immersion programming, and it truly was a life-changing experience. Now as a staff, I am excited and thankful for the opportunity to continue creating meaningful impact in my community, and excited to tend to connections with people that bring me joy, care about my personal and professional development, and reinforce YIA’s value of doing this important work through a lens of joy and belonging .
Development Director
sarah@youthinactionri.orgthey/she
Sarah loves showing up to Youth In Action every day, helping create funding streams that are reflective of YIA’s mission and values. Sarah feels privileged to work alongside young people, learning from them and sharing knowledge as our youth discover various pathways to resource their communities.
Sarah was born into the LGBTQ community in the late 80s and is the daughter of many mothers. Sarah graduated from RISD’s Illustration program with a concentration on Gender and Sexuality Studies, and went on to plan community events and fundraisers with local nonprofits including Southside Community Land Trust, ONE Neighborhood Builders, Youth Pride, PRONK!, Paint it Pink!, among others. Sarah then spent nearly a decade in Los Angeles where they established a career in fundraising at TreePeople, LA’s oldest environmental nonprofit. In Los Angeles, they grew their expertise in Corporate Giving, Major Gifts, and the intersection of communications and fundraising. Most recently, she was the Associate Director of Development at The Learning Community in Central Falls.
Sarah is a lifelong learner and is committed to growing a practice of antiracism and challenging historically racist and inequitable principles within philanthropy. Outside of work, Sarah has a deep love for the outdoors, sharing homemade meals with friends, and exploring the world through her child’s eyes.
Executive Development Co-Co
rahmat@youthinactionri.orgshe/her
Heyyy! My name is Rahmat. I am someone who loves to have fun and spread smiles, especially to those who don’t know what being a living environment is like. I want to be the happiness that people come to in order to get away from their troubles. I may only be a student but that only makes it easier for me to reach my peers and spreads smiles.
Program Director
aisha@youthinactionri.orgHey y’all, I’m Aisha. Being from Providence RI, I’ve learned the value of storytelling. I often spend my time in spaces where I get to share my stories with others and learn from them. It’s a passion of mine to continue doing work that encourages people to take space and tell a story that only they can tell.