Young Voices

Young Voices tranforms urban youth into powerful advocates

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Staff

Peter Chung, Executive Director

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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 

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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.
 
From 2011 – 2019 Eric was a high school and then later college advisor with the College Crusade of Rhode Island. In this role, he worked with over 200 first-generation students from Classical High School and the University of Rhode Island in postsecondary awareness and preparation each year. Eric is thrilled to apply his experience in college admissions, community organizing, and youth advocacy for the Young Voices team!
 
In his spare time, Eric enjoys running long distances, watching science videos on youtube, and spending time with his two very misbehaved cats.
 
Marleni Suazo, Program Coordinator
 

 

Marleni is a proud Hope High School Alumni 15′ and a recent graduate from Rhode Island College. She studied Youth Development, with a concentration in Children and Families Mental Health, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Studies. As an undergrad, Marleni began her college years working in the Admissions Office at RIC. She gained a variety of experiences from being a Teacher Assistant, Youth Counselor, and College Navigator. Marleni received the Rose Butler Award for her outstanding involvement in leadership development and completing community service hours to a disadvantaged population. 
 
Upon Senior year, Marleni started her Internship at Young Voices as the first-ever Young Voices ESL/ELL Leadership Staff. In this position, she served students at Alvarez High School whose English was not their first language. Now, in her new position, she continues to outreach students and increases the opportunity for ESL/ELL students across Providence Public Schools. 
 
In her free time, Marleni loves cooking Dominican food, watching movies with her husband, listening to instrumental music, and creating DIYs! 

Donate:

  • $120 supports him/her to be in the LTA for a month
  • $1,400 supports him/her to participate in the Leadership Transformation Academy (LTA) for the year
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Youth Impact

  • Program Description
  • Proven Impact
  • Other Projects

Education Equity

  • State-level Change
  • District-Level Change
  • Change at the School Level
  • Student Driven Research

In The News:

RI Kids Count report: Students want, need more guidance in reaching their goals

Young Voices Part of Major Effort to Expand Student-Centered Learning Statewide

Providence Public School Board Passes new Code of Conduct Policy

College Access and Workforce Development

R.I. student survey: Adult educators too quick to discipline

All News Items

Student Driven Research

  • Students solutions to increase attendance and graduations rates November 2013
  • Students partnering in school redesign Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex August 2011
  • Students partnering in school redesign at Central Falls High School May 2011
  • Students documenting school experience: Executive Summary
  • Students documenting school experience in Pawtucket and Central Falls Schools: June 2009
  • Students documenting school experience in Woonsocket Schools: June 2009
  • Student driven research on school climate in Providence Schools: January 2009

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About

Young Voices is a Rhode Island-based non-profit organization that transforms urban youth into powerful advocates, who partner with our State’s major leaders to create systemic reform and policy change that improve the lives of thousands of youth across the state.

Location:
P.O.Box 5853,
Providence, RI 02903
E. info@youngvoicesri.org

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