Emily is a youth development professional and community advocate with experience supporting children and families across diverse settings. Her work centers on helping young people, especially those navigating risk and adversity, build practical life skills that sustain mental health, wellness, and long-term success. She leads initiatives and hands-on coaching that foster growth and resilience, partnering closely with families so these skills are practiced at home and in the community.

Throughout her career, Emily has prioritized creating environments where youth feel welcomed, understood, and supported. She believes youth development is intentional work: it takes real tools, consistent practice, and caring adults to build up the next generation. Guided by that belief, she cultivates spaces where emotional well-being is prioritized so students feel safe, engaged, and ready to recognize what they can control and confidently take the driver’s seat in their growth.

Emily has held leadership roles in nonprofit initiatives focused on keeping young people from deeper involvement with the Department of Juvenile Justice and the child-welfare system. She championed person-first supports—like trauma-informed approaches, strengths-based coaching, and proven, evidence-based interventions and ensured they were put into everyday practice. She worked to reduce barriers to accessing resources and support and implemented additional programming to shorten the path from “in crisis” to “on track,” making help more timely and effective. In recognition of her impact in direct services, she was honored as a 2024 Change Agent of the Year by the Florida Department of Children and Families.