Twenty-seven executives from youth serving organizations from across Indiana have been selected for The 2013 Executive Journey Fellowship. In response to a growing need for ongoing professional and personal renewal in the field of youth work, the Journey Fellowship was created in 2002 and funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc. The Executive Journey Fellowship provides Indiana’s youth workers greater opportunities to bring more meaning to their lives and make stronger commitments to the field of youth work.
“This Fellowship is about renewing individuals which leads to renewing organizations and ultimately, to renewing the entire field of youth work,” says Tom Plake, Journey Leader.
Each of the twenty-seven participants in the Journey Fellowship will attend a series of residential retreats designed to create new ways of thinking about and practicing youth work within existing systems and youth programs. Fellowship participants will be awarded individual renewal scholarships, and be supported to make a difference within their local organizations or communities.
So far, the Journey Fellowship has served more than 500 prospective and current youth workers (2003-2012) through this retreat-based format. Fellows are engaged in creating exploration and renewal opportunities throughout the state of Indiana. Countless other youth workers have been served through conference workshops, day-long seminars, and other types of renewal for staff and organizations within local communities facilitated by Journey Leaders.
“We know that youth workers play a vital role in the lives of young people. It has been documented in dozens of ways that youth who enjoy positive relationship with adults over time do better in life,” explains Janet Wakefield, Journey Leader. “We also know that many people enter the profession because they ‘want to make a difference’ and they enjoy building positive relationships with young people. The Executive Journey Fellowship provides Indiana’s youth workers greater opportunities to strengthen themselves as leaders and invest in their careers serving the young people of Indiana.”
Amber Alexander completed her first leg of the journey February 5-7 in Terre Haute. “I am so honored to be a part of The Journey Executive Fellowship program. I'm thrilled and overwhelmed that the Lilly Endowment would support Indiana's youth workers with this program. During our first retreat, I made connections with a lot of other individuals from across the state with different levels of experience and who worked in different areas of youth work. I am so looking forward to seeing how we can come together and move youth work forward in the state of Indiana. I see great things ahead for the future,” said Amber, Portage Township YMCA, Senior Program Director.
Congratulations 2013 Executive Journey Fellows!
The Journey is pleased and honored to announce the 27 distinguished Indiana leaders in the field of youth development who have been nominated and selected to be the tenth class of the Executive Journey Fellowship.
Aurora
Amy Phillips
Program Coordinator, Youth Encouragement Services, Inc.
Columbus
Andy Young
Director of Programs, Foundation for Youth
Evansville
Angela King
Director of Membership and Community Development, Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana
Fort Wayne
Nancy Fisher
Interim State Director, Specialized Alternatives for Youth and Families
Goshen
Aileac Deegan
Executive Director, Ryan’s Place, Inc.
Indianapolis
Janaule Bennett
Park Manager, Indianapolis Parks and Recreation
Joe Brubaker
Executive Director, About Special Kids
Jim Grim
Director of School/Community Engagement, Midwest Center for University-Assisted Community Schools at IUPUI
Lisa Hubbard
Training Supervisor, Child Welfare Education and Training Partnership, IU School of Social Work
Bernice Humphrey
Associate Director, Program and Training Services, Girls Incorporated
Cynthia Jackson
Behavior Specialist, Indianapolis Public Schools
Megan Jessup
Clinical Supervisor, Resolute Treatment Facility
Adrana Johnson
Division Manager, Indiana Department of Child Services
Tim Nation
Director and Co-founder, Peace Learning Center
Shane Rice
Home Based Counseling Program Supervisor, Families First Indiana
Pattie Ryan
Deputy Director, The Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and Referral
Lynn Shaw
Associate Professor, Ivy Tech Community College
James Taylor
Founder and Director, Help Increase the Peace Indy
Stephan Viehweg
Interim Director, IUPUI Center for Translating Research into Practice
David Westenberger
CEO, Indiana Youth Services Association
Julie Whitman
Vice President of Programs, Indiana Youth Institute
Jenny Young
Juvenile Justice Advocate, Marion Superior Court Probation Department Juvenile Division
Jeffersonville
Meredith Clipp-Rodriquez
School Age Child Care Director, YMCA of Southern Indiana
Lebanon
Skye Berger
Collaborative Care Supervisor, Indiana Department of Child Services
Michigan City
Angie Marsh
Child Advocacy Center Director, Dunebrook
Portage
Amber Alexander
Senior Program Director, Portage Township YMCA
Terre Haute
Eleanor Ramseier
Executive Director, Vigo County YMCA
The Journey is home to a variety of programs that seek to support the renewal and professionalization of youth workers in Indiana and around the country. To learn more, visit www.thejourneyonline.org