Matthew Emerzian is founder and CEO of Every Monday Matters (EMM), a not-for-profit organization committed to helping people and organizations understand how much and why they matter. The EMM K-12 Education Program currently reaches over 2.5 million students in 49 states and 6 countries, and the EMM Employee Engagement Program is changing the culture of companies nationwide. His work has been hailed by Oprah.com, The TODAY Show, Fast Company Magazine, Hallmark TV, Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper, and several other media outlets. Over the past ten years, Emerzian has traveled the country sharing his unique story and insight on finding purpose. His life-changing message focuses on sustained personal and social change that happens by stepping outside of ourselves. His fourth book, Every Monday Matters for Families, released September 1, 2021, and is available now everywhere books are sold.

Brenda Britsch is a Sr. Research Scientist with the National Girls Collaborative Project whose work focuses on increasing equity in STEM opportunities and fields for girls and women. She has over 15 years of experience building collaborations across diverse sectors invested in equity in STEM and building capacity of educators to use research to inform practice and programming. Brenda has served as a Co-Principal Investigator for multiple NSF-funded STEM equity projects and is a co-author of SciGirls Strategies: How to Engage Girls in STEM, a summary of current research on engaging girls in STEM. She has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from UC-Santa Barbara.

Kata Lucas is a Senior Project Manager with the National Girls Collaborative Project, supporting programs focused on role model engagement and STEM identity, including the Brite Program. She has experience in gender analysis and project management on diverse human rights issues and is passionate about communicating and integrating feminist research into practice. Kata has a Master’s in International Affairs from The New School and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Right Studies and Political Science from the University of Dayton.

Christine Cunningham is described as a blow-up costume and bib-overall-wearing, Iowan mom of 4, and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Her favorite cow is the butter cow, which is proudly displayed yearly at the Iowa State Fair.

“Christine is a one-of-kind person and a champion for our members and families at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County,” said Carolyn Plein, a Boys and Girls Club intern who nominated Christine for the award. “She has been a trailblazer in the field of behavioral health. She provides invaluable guidance and opportunities for individuals.”

She has worked in the field of social work since 1996. Christine has worked in Youth Development for Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County (BGCLC) since 2020. She established the Behavioral Health Team at BGCLC, which has now grown to include three other social workers and interns.

“Christine has been an invaluable asset to the team and the kids at BGCLC,” said Sarah McKeen, who serves as Christine’s supervisor at BGCLC. “We can all better serve youth in Larimer County because of her.”

Jami Powell, is a Quality Coach for the Denver Afterschool Alliance. Jami spent her youth in the woods of Missouri, initially living in a log house with no running water. Life lessons came from being in nature, hard work on the farm and engaging in large family gatherings while listening to the stories of elders! As the oldest daughter of seven siblings, she was dedicated to their safety and well-being. And set her on course to impact young people throughout her life. Jami brings decades of personal, professional and practical experience to her work as a Quality Coach for the Denver Afterschool Alliance. Her coaching focuses on engaging, inspiring and supporting adults who are determined to impact the lives of young people. Authentic, Curious and Kind are the values she strives to bring to encounters with adults and youth. She embraces life long learning to continuously grow personally, and support the grow of others.

Brenda Britsch is a Sr. Research Scientist with the National Girls Collaborative Project whose work focuses on increasing equity in STEM opportunities and fields for girls and women. She has over 15 years of experience building collaborations across diverse sectors invested in equity in STEM and building capacity of educators to use research to inform practice and programming. Brenda has served as a Co-Principal Investigator for multiple NSF-funded STEM equity projects and is a co-author of SciGirls Strategies: How to Engage Girls in STEM, a summary of current research on engaging girls in STEM. She has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from UC-Santa Barbara.

Kata Lucas is a Senior Project Manager with the National Girls Collaborative Project, supporting programs focused on role model engagement and STEM identity, including the Brite Program. She has experience in gender analysis and project management on diverse human rights issues and is passionate about communicating and integrating feminist research into practice. Kata has a Master’s in International Affairs from The New School and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Right Studies and Political Science from the University of Dayton.

Christine Cunningham is described as a blow-up costume and bib-overall-wearing, Iowan mom of 4, and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Her favorite cow is the butter cow, which is proudly displayed yearly at the Iowa State Fair.

“Christine is a one-of-kind person and a champion for our members and families at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County,” said Carolyn Plein, a Boys and Girls Club intern who nominated Christine for the award. “She has been a trailblazer in the field of behavioral health. She provides invaluable guidance and opportunities for individuals.”

She has worked in the field of social work since 1996. Christine has worked in Youth Development for Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County (BGCLC) since 2020. She established the Behavioral Health Team at BGCLC, which has now grown to include three other social workers and interns.

“Christine has been an invaluable asset to the team and the kids at BGCLC,” said Sarah McKeen, who serves as Christine’s supervisor at BGCLC. “We can all better serve youth in Larimer County because of her.”

Jami Powell, is a Quality Coach for the Denver Afterschool Alliance. Jami spent her youth in the woods of Missouri, initially living in a log house with no running water. Life lessons came from being in nature, hard work on the farm and engaging in large family gatherings while listening to the stories of elders! As the oldest daughter of seven siblings, she was dedicated to their safety and well-being. And set her on course to impact young people throughout her life. Jami brings decades of personal, professional and practical experience to her work as a Quality Coach for the Denver Afterschool Alliance. Her coaching focuses on engaging, inspiring and supporting adults who are determined to impact the lives of young people. Authentic, Curious and Kind are the values she strives to bring to encounters with adults and youth. She embraces life long learning to continuously grow personally, and support the grow of others.

Maya Osterman is the Program and Partnerships Director of Mirror Image Arts. Maya began her work as an applied theatre practitioner over a decade ago. Upon receiving her BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Colorado, Maya was an Assistant Director for the Interactive Theatre Project housed on the University of Colorado – Boulder campus. She then created the ACTivism Theatre Ensemble, a company of high school and college students performing an educational outreach/prevention play for The SAVA (Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy) Center throughout Colorado. While living in North Carolina she wrote plays for the Interactive Theatre Carolina at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill exploring race and identity. At that time she also founded Restorative Theatre which is now a program for miARTS.

Nicholle Harris has a Master’s in Social work from The University of Denver. During her graduate program, she focused on Positive Youth Development, Organizational Leadership, and Policy Practice. At the height of the COVID19 pandemic, she worked with incarcerated individuals in arts and writing practice during her time at DU. In the last year of her graduate program, she worked for Denver’s District 9 City Council Office with Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca, focusing on constituent care and community power building. She was also an intelligence analyst with the United States Air Force and the Department of Defense for 16 years. She hopes to use her experiences in these diverse environments to inform her understanding of working with youth and in advocacy with Mirror Image Arts.

Angelica Portillo’s passion for education and public policy led her to advocate for the Out-of-School Time (OST) field. She has spent nearly a decade working in afterschool programs and providing OST programs with quality assistance, which ultimately led her to serve as NAA’s Director of Advocacy and Workforce Initiatives.
Before her role at NAA, Portillo worked at Dallas Aftershool as the Director of Advocacy, increasing access to afterschool programs for children across Dallas County. In 2018, the National Afterschool Association (NAA) honored her with the Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders award. Angelica holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of North Texas (UNT) and is currently a board member for the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Young Professionals. She also takes pride in being an alumnus of Leadership ISD Civic Voices, Dallas Mayor’s Star Council, and the LBJ Women’s Campaign School.

Mandi is the Extended Learning Coordinator for The PEAK Learning Center in Adams 12 Five Star Schools. Mandi has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s in Thanatology. She has been working in the OST field for 23 years as a site aide, site leader, director and now the Extended Learning Coordinator. She loves the opportunities that OST brings to students and families in our communities!

This is Taylor’s fourth year as the Out of School Time Director for Lake County School District and her eighth year working for the district. In her first 3.5 years in Lake County, she taught elementary school. She attended Harvard’s Graduate School of Education to obtain her Master’s Degree in Mind, Brain, and Education. Taylor loves working with OST programs because she is able to use both her “research” and her “people” brain. She truly believes that the time spent in OST programs is crucial for kids to have a positive educational experience.

Angelica Portillo’s passion for education and public policy led her to advocate for the Out-of-School Time (OST) field. She has spent nearly a decade working in afterschool programs and providing OST programs with quality assistance, which ultimately led her to serve as NAA’s Director of Advocacy and Workforce Initiatives.
Before her role at NAA, Portillo worked at Dallas Aftershool as the Director of Advocacy, increasing access to afterschool programs for children across Dallas County. In 2018, the National Afterschool Association (NAA) honored her with the Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders award. Angelica holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of North Texas (UNT) and is currently a board member for the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Young Professionals. She also takes pride in being an alumnus of Leadership ISD Civic Voices, Dallas Mayor’s Star Council, and the LBJ Women’s Campaign School.

Mandi is the Extended Learning Coordinator for The PEAK Learning Center in Adams 12 Five Star Schools. Mandi has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s in Thanatology. She has been working in the OST field for 23 years as a site aide, site leader, director and now the Extended Learning Coordinator. She loves the opportunities that OST brings to students and families in our communities!

This is Taylor’s fourth year as the Out of School Time Director for Lake County School District and her eighth year working for the district. In her first 3.5 years in Lake County, she taught elementary school. She attended Harvard’s Graduate School of Education to obtain her Master’s Degree in Mind, Brain, and Education. Taylor loves working with OST programs because she is able to use both her “research” and her “people” brain. She truly believes that the time spent in OST programs is crucial for kids to have a positive educational experience.

Dedrick is currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Sims-Fayola Foundation. The Sims-Fayola Foundation’s mission is to improve the life outcomes of young men and boys of color and the capacity of youth professionals who partner with them. Dedrick’s career in education began in a high school classroom 24 years ago as a substitute and has since served in roles as a High School Biology and Chemistry Teacher, Secondary Curriculum Administrator, Master Lead Teacher, Technology Coordinator, Alternative School Teacher, Dean of Students, Assistant Principal and Principal of both traditional and charter public schools (Co-Ed and Single Gender), and school Founder. As the Sims-Fayola Foundation CEO, Dedrick provides professional training to educators around the country in single-gender learning, working with young men and boys of color, and school and program design through an equity lens. Through the Sims-Fayola Foundation, Dedrick’s work has impacted over 2,000 young men and boys of color and provided workshops and coaching to over 5,500 professionals who work with young men and boys of color.