Peter Chung, Executive Director
Peter has spent his career as an advocate for children and youth beginning with Save The Children Fiji where he spent countless hours volunteering. He went on to found Kids Link Fiji, the first youth-led organization in his home country, and an organization that was awarded the San Marino Global Child Initiative of 2008 by UNICEF. Peter moved to the U.S. after completing his studies at The University of the South Pacific. He started his career in Providence working with the YMCA of Greater Providence leading after-school programs in elementary schools across the city. In 2010, Peter joined the YV team as the Program Coordinator, marking his return to youth organizing, advocacy, and supporting the growth and development of young leaders readying them to lead in their communities. During his time at YV, Peter has completed many training opportunities as he continually seeks to grow his ability to set and attain new goals. He has completed The BEST Initiative (Building Exemplary Systems of Training) for Youth Workers, Leadership Rhode Island Core Program, and continues to be an active alum. Peter also sits on the Board of Directors for the Mental Health Association of Rhode Island (MHARI) and Be Well Community. This fall Peter has been accepted into the Core Certificate Program by the Institute for Non Profit Practice (INP), an affiliate of the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University.
Gretta Schaaf, Deputy Director
Gretta started as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Young Voices in 2015 to research and design college access and success programs. Since then she has worked in Providence, Pawtucket and Central Falls organizing high school students to advocate for the change they believe in. Currently, she is based at Blackstone Academy, where she facilitates the leadership transformation academy after-school, teaches two CIP courses, and directs BACS 2.0 (a student-led task-force that is leading the redesign of Blackstone Academy).
Gretta is a 2019 New Leaders Council Fellow and a 2014 Newman Civic Fellow. She is a Justice Talks facilitator and has co-taught courses at Providence College including Community Organizing and Introduction to Service in Democratic Communities.
In her free time, Gretta enjoys going to yard sales, turning trash into treasure, reading, and doing anything outside!
Eric Calogianes, Program Manager
Eric was born on Long Island, New York and received his B.A. in English Education from Stony Brook University. In 2008 he moved to Rhode Island where he served as a City Year Project Leader and led 40 Providence youth in an afterschool service-learning program.