International
Bill Herman. International Director. Director of YES! Teacher Training. Bill received his BFA and teaching credentials from the Art Institute of Chicago in 1975. In 1982 he received his MFA from the same institution. For more than twenty years, Bill taught photography and art in high schools and colleges across the United States. Inspired by working with youth, Bill initiated and conducted IAHVs first Youth Leadership Training Program (YLTP) in North America in 2001. He organized and taught YLTP in USA, Canada. Mexico, Belize, Haiti, India and Pakistan. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005 Bill organized a YLTP team to organize and deliver trauma relief programs for the people of New Orleans. In 2008 he began inspiring and training teachers to build the Youth Empowerment Seminar (YES!) into the curriculums of schools in North America. Since then he has trained teachers to spread YES! for Schools to many countries around the world including Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Equador, Australia, South Africa, Canada and England as well as the United States. In 2018 in the USA YES! for Schools had reached over 100,000 students in over 188 schools. In the State of Mexico in Mexico and the State of Bahia, in Brazil, state governments have partnered with IAHV to build YES! into the curriculum of all of their schools affecting teachers and students alike. He lives in Chicago and Lake Tahoe, CA with his wife and daughter.
National
Elan Gepner-Dales. Executive Director. Elan has spent the last 10 years organizing and delivering empowerment programs for youth, including leadership academies, poetry and theater festivals, youth film productions, and personal development coaching and instruction. In his current role he serves as the U.S. Director of the YES! for Schools program, where he has spent the last 4 years overseeing the creation of sustainable and scalable programming to support long term school climate shift in programs across the country. In previous work as a filmmaker, Elan produced documentaries for educational purposes, and as a theater director/performer, he created pieces for youth in the US and internationally. The intersection of all of Elan’s work is alleviating stress and violence in the lives of youth and communities in need. Elan graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Art Semiotics from Brown University.
Robynn James. Chief Generosity Officer. Robynn has devoted her 25 year career to helping start-up and small nonprofits, schools and spiritual organizations plan for and realize their highest ambitions. She has worked in a wide range of cultural, geographic and socio-economic settings, and believes in the power of generosity and compassion above all other forces for good. She holds a bachelors degree in Journalism from Northern Michigan University and a Masters in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution from Creighton University College of Law. She is a trained yoga teacher with over 20 years of yoga practice, and has studied MBSR under Dr. Jon Kabbat-Zinn at Esalen Institute and SKY Meditation through the International Association for Human Values. She is a mother of three talented adults and grandmother of two amazing girls. She lives in Detroit with her life partner, Rodney Farkas.
New York/New Jersey
Narciso Cruz. YES! Teacher. Narciso was born in the Dominican Republic and studied Political Science at the City College of New York. He has more than twenty-five years of professional experience in youth development, and seven years of experience as a YES! teacher. He is currently the Director of the Youth Programs for IAHV in York City, and oversees all YES! programs in New York and New Jersey. In addition to teaching YES! in schools and in the community, Narciso teaches YES! programs at youth correctional facilities nation wide.
Hitesh “Harry” Monga. YES! Teacher. Hitesh recently graduated with his BS in Construction Engineering Technology at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Since childhood, he has had a passion for giving back to society. Having volunteered with several service-based, non-profit organizations, Hitesh could have never imagined that his passion for giving back would manifest as the Youth Empowerment Seminar (YES!). Hitesh has since assisted and/or facilitated the YES! Program to over 10,000 students nationwide. Inspired by the overall vision of YES!, creating a stress-free environment for both students and educators, Hitesh is driven to continually look for new ways to convey this profound wisdom. He enjoys playing competitive sports, reading and self-development.
Juan Mosquera. YES! Teacher. Juan joined the YES! team in New York full-time in 2014. With his roots in Colombia, Juan was raised in Ohio and attended the Ohio State University receiving a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing. During his time in university, he served in several leadership positions including being elected Hall Council President as a freshman. He also became very involved with Yesplus, the college age program for YES!, organizing many courses and events, eventually going on to become a Yesplus Teacher. He found his passion for serving youth in schools during a workstudy position working with an afterschool kids program, and decided to switch career tracks and join City Year for two years where he mentored, tutored and empowered 9th and 10th graders. Juan is happy to be working full time at Dodd Middle School in Freeport Long Island, supporting school climate change through the curriculum, SEL practices, and working together with the committed staff towards a stress-free, violence-free school.
Maddie Fontaine. YES! Teacher. Maddie joined the full time YES! For Schools force in August of 2017 when she moved from Wisconsin to Brooklyn after graduating from the University of Wisconsin Madison with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies. She primarily teaches at one of the model schools in Freeport, NY, and also leads programs in and around long island, NYC, and New Jersey. Maddie owes her career in YES! For Schools to her university’s Yesplus organization, which she became the president of in her junior year of college and led various de-stress sessions around her campus, teaching breathing techniques and yoga to staff and students. In addition, she obtained her 200 hr yoga teacher certification from Rishikesh Yog Peeth in India in 2016, and holds certifications in Reiki and Shiatsu massage. Maddie has an adventurous side to her, and enjoys rock climbing, backpacking, dancing, Lyra, cooking vegetarian meals, and learning new and wondrous things! Her goal in life is to spread light on others’ lives, helping them to reach their full potential while she continues to grow and explore all this beautiful life has to offer.
Steer. YES! Teacher. Steer has served in many capacities that have benefited communities as well as his own personal growth. Through his work and study in Public Health, he has developed a passion and desire for engaging and empowering under-served communities. Steer joined the YES! for Schools program full-time in August 2017, and immediately embarked on the program’s mission of spreading peace, love and awareness to students, parents, teachers and staff in the Freeport, NY community. His ambition to empower youth and communities stemmed from the experience of utilizing the techniques and practices used in YES! for Schools curriculum in his own life to create positive change. Steer’s previous work as a Cultural & Linguistic Competence Consultant, assisting healthcare organizations and institutions with understanding, developing and implementing cultural competent practices and programs within their organizations. His involvement in these initiatives equips him with the energy and influence to continue to create stress-reduced lifestyles, engage communites, build capacity, and empower communities. Steer completed his coursework at the University of Maryland for a Bachelor’s of Science in Community Health; and Drexel University’s School of Public Health for a Master’s in Public Health.
Lauren Grieco. YES! Teacher. Research Assistant. Lauren holds a B.S. in Psychology from Saint Joseph’s University, where she graduated magna cum laude. Prior to working with YES!, Lauren was an Early Intervention Support Therapist, working in the field with special needs children for 5 years. In her work as a YES! teacher, she teaches a curriculum that increases emotion regulation and stress management in high-risk students. Lauren also facilitates one-on-one coaching sessions with students, assessing their need for tools and techniques to increase focus at school and to decreases stress, anxiety and anger. Lauren is also the co-founder of a Leadership Training Program for young women called, GROW, Girls Ready to Own the World. She has been an avid practitioner of yoga and meditation for the past ten years and is passionate about bringing the benefits of these practices to those struggling with life’s daily stressors and psychological trauma.
San Francisco Bay Area
Priya Mayureshwar. YES! for Schools City Director, SFBA. YES! Teacher. Priya comes with 13 years of experience in the IT industry. She has worked as a Software Engineer and as a Business Analyst for different IT companies in India, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and the US. Inspired by the work done by IAHV, she made the switch to teaching YES! in 2009. She has taught the program to high school students in at risk populations as well as in academically high achieving schools. Priya’s YES! motto is “Awareness is all about living fully in the present moment”.
Anjali Vishwanath. YES! Teacher. Anjali has worked for many years in the hi-tech industry. Parenting her twins has been the single most fulfilling adventure of her life. She loves Yoga and is a certified Yoga instructor. She also teaches Stress Management workshops through the Art of Living Foundation. Anjali loves to run marathons through The Luekemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training and is a mentor volunteer for them. Her favorite segment of the population is teens and youth, our future is in their hands. Her focus is currently nurturing them through the YES! program. Her other passions include hiking, cooking & reading.
Dr. Vanitha Thulasiraman. Financial Officer, Data Scientist, YES! Teacher. Vanitha is a Senior Post Doctoral fellow from Stanford University and worked as a Staff Scientist in Biotech companies for 15+ yrs. She was awarded Senior Post Doctoral Fellowship from American Cancer Society and Data Science Essentials from Microsoft & EdX. She loves to teach yoga for all age groups. She teachers Stress Management Workshop through Art of Living Foundation. She has taught and interacted with youth for 10+ yrs.
Rekha Alur. YES! Teacher. Involved as a volunteer with the YES Program since its inception in 2009, became a YES teacher in 2015. I have struggled with my emotions during my teenage and adult years. Often, in due course of time, the emotions would subside but the impression of the trigger for the emotions lingered on. Neither at home nor at school was I taught how to get rid of the source of the emotional rollercoaster. It was when I experienced the power of “Sudarshan Kriya”, that I realized the cleansing effect of rhythmic breathing in getting rid of emotional trauma and impressions. Not only that, I was given amazing tools to navigate through life keeping a peaceful and stress free attitude within, while being totally engaged with enthusiasm with the world outside.
Allie Xiong. YES! Teacher. Allie works as a Computer Science instructor at CSU Monterey Bay and Foothill College. Prior to teaching computer science, she had 14 years of experience working as a software engineer and program manager in the IT industry. She holds a Bachelors and Masters in Computer Science. She is passionate about education and teaching, and she has over 10 years of experience volunteering for educational non-profit organizations.
Nicole Rossi. YES! Teacher. With over 32 years experience with mindfulness and meditation. I received intensive meditation and mindfulness training while living as a Buddhist nun in Burma since I was seventeen years old and was taught by one of the foremost living masters of Vipassana meditation. I am also a trained Art of Living meditation facilitator. I take what I learned in the monastery years ago and bring it into a practical real world experience. I can help you utilize mindfulness, meditation and powerful breathing techniques to live life more fully and reach your highest potential. I am a frequent guest speaker and teacher of mindfulness to both individuals and corporations.
Andrea Jordan. YES! Teacher. Andrea Jordan graduated from the USC Rossier School of Education with a Masters in Teaching. In 2011, received BS in Music from Canada’s McGill University and performing internationally as an opera singer, Working with YES! for Schools combines her passion for education with a broader vision of providing students with powerful, practical tools for managing their stress, as well as unlocking their natural enthusiasm and creativity.
Chicago/Milwaukee
Ambrose WB. Director of YES! for Schools, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ambrose received his BS in Sports Management and History from Valparaiso University in 2005. He won the Pioneer Football League Championship in 2003. He immediately received his credentials and began coaching youth football. He continued coaching high school football as he received his personal trainer certification. Ambrose continued working with youth as a strength and conditioning coach as the owner of MISPIBO Fitness. Ambrose employed, trained, and managed a staff of personal trainers. In 2013, he added social service work to his experience as the Assistant Director of Youth Programs at Journey House. Encouraging and coaching youth has always been some Ambrose did, and now he’s focusing on public health and self-care for non-profit professionals. He has been with YES! since 2013, starting as a volunteer, working part-time and eventually full-time as a teacher, and now as the Director of YES! for Schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Emily Lifton. YES! Teacher. Emily graduated from Sierra Nevada College in California with a degree in psychology and body therapy in 1984. For ten years, she worked as a massage therapist, a yoga teacher and ski instructor in Lake Tahoe, while raising her daughter, Tika Simone. Additionally, Emily has taught YES! and YLTP programs both nationally and internationally, and has been actively involved with IAHVs youth lead community service initiatives in New Orleans, Belize and Haiti. Since moving to Chicago in 2003, Emily has taught YES! in elementary, middle and high schools in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Minnesota.
Pam Brockman. YES! Teacher. Pam has a BA in Modern Languages from Knox College in Illinois, a MA in Romance Languages from Northwestern University in Illinois and speaks fluent Spanish and French. Her professional experience includes teaching French and Spanish at suburban, inner city and parochial high schools, and ten years as vice president of a small Hispanic advertising and public relations company in Chicago. Pam teaches the YES! program, as well as stress management and life-skills programs for adults. She also teaches meditation and facilitates meditation retreats in the US, Canada, Central and South America. Pam is passionate about helping youth and adults learn practical skills to manage their minds and emotions.
Hongkham Sornsena. Schools and Community Liaison, Data and Impact Manager. Hongkham received his Sociology degree from Long Beach State in 2015. He is currently serving in Public Allies, an AmeriCorps organization, at YES! for Schools. Prior, he spent 8 years in the financial service industry and is passionate about mental health and wellness. Hongkham recently was admitted into the MSW graduate program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His goal is to become a mental and behavioral health therapist/counselor.
Beverly Walker. YES! Teacher. Community Manager. Beverly Walker is The Community Manager with the Milwaukee YES! Team. As a Certified YES! Teacher and Organizer, she identifies potential Yes! schools, partners and organizations to work with YES! She also works hands on teaching the YES! courses and breathing techniques to teachers, faculty, adults and students. Beverly is a Philanthropist, small business owner, mother and wife that has worked with children for over 25 years. As a previous owner of two childcare centers, Beverly has worked with children of various age groups and facilitated youth groups, helping troubled teens and young adults. Beverly is a paralegal, notary public, CNA, and an advocate for social justice.
Los Angeles/Pomona
Justin McGurrin. YES! for Schools City Director, Los Angeles. YES! Teacher. Justin has a degree in English and business from Florida State University. A 2006-2007 LeaderShape Graduate, Justin has been involved in leadership roles with projects ranging from Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief to Cherokee Nation Education Reform. He has been teaching YES! in cities across the country since 2009, and is currently serving as the Los Angeles Program Director for YES! for Schools. Additionally, he is pursuing a masters degree in the field of education. Justin is passionate about and finds much joy in working with youth. In his spare time he can be found exploring Los Angeles, playing basketball and acting.
Deirdre Jackson. Lead YES! Teacher / Coordinator, LA. Deirdre studied psychology and sociology at Clemson University in South Carolina. While there, she helped start The Tracy Jackson Foundation, which provides support to battered women and self-empowerment programs for under privileged girls. Currently she lives in Los Angeles and works part-time for the U.S. Department of Education testing 4th and 8th graders in math and science. She also works for the RAND Corporation on Project Choice, a study created to design after school drug and alcohol prevention programs. Now Deirdre is taking her desire to uplift youth to the next level by working with IAHVs youth programs as a YES! teacher.