YOU staff awarded Carol Rivchun Educational Development Fund Employee Scholarship
In 2019, Y.O.U. commenced the Carol Rivchun Development (C.R.E.D.) Fund Employee Scholarship as a way to enable full time staff to further their professional development. Staff members apply to pursue an education of their choosing with the fund.
The fund, established through a generous donation from the Swaminathan and Garg Foundation, is named in honor of former C.E.O. Carol Rivchun, who led Y.O.U. to new heights from 1998 to 2018, and strongly advocated for continuing education of her staff. Below we feature this year’s winners and learn what impact the fund has had for them.
2021 Recipients
Koya Graham
Education Trainer & Facilitator
Koya Graham appreciates Y.O.U. for the fund and what it’s empowered her to do. She is earning her Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification through Tri-C Corporate College. Koya is looking forward to the certification supporting her role as education trainer and facilitator and promoting her growth within the organization by identifying opportunities for process improvement, time management, and eliminating wasteful habits.
“I am excited to incorporate my learning with other Y.O.U. related projects of which I am a part, including the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, as well as the Strategic Plan initiatives I have been selected to lead. “
Koya sends her congratulations to her co-winners of the fund.
Artemus Carter
Participant Recruitment Specialist
Artemus feels honored to be one of the four selected for the fund this year to advance his learning and better serve Y.O.U. and himself. He is pursuing his Administrator and App Builders Certification in Salesforce.
Artemus remarks, “As Y.O.U. moves forward in using Salesforce, my certification will provide Y.O.U. with an extra support with their Salesforce needs, while allowing me to look at developing Apps for the young adult to use to better serve our participants.
Over the last 13 years working here, I feel Y.O.U. has found a data management system I just love, and I am looking forward to developing new apps for all of Y.O.U.”
Cassidy McMahan
Senior Case Manager
Cassidy is taking Spanish Language Courses at the Cleveland Spanish School & Academy. She is excited to use her Spanish skills to facilitate a greater level of inclusion for Y.O.U.’s Spanish-speaking participant.
“I believe my study of Spanish will be incredibly useful at Y.O.U. When we look at our demographics for who we serve in our Summer Program (the program I’m a part of), Spanish is the second most popularly spoken language. I want to be able to contribute to making all of our participants feel welcome and cared for as they participate in our programs. I think learning someone’s first language so they know they’ll be heard and understood is a great place to start.”
Kim Bogan
Program Administrator
Kim will be attending Duke University’s Integrative Medicine Certified Health Coach Professional training. The 10-month certification will allow her to earn the designation, National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). The focus of the program is to understand and practice the science of behavioral change with those who are seeking to make sustainable transformational health and wellness changes.
She names the training as yet another tool that will support the youth Y.O.U. serves. “As a Program Administrator at Youth Opportunities Unlimited, my role will now be more enriched and layered as I am able to empower and support the youth to connect with their inner strengths, aptitudes, and talents as they choose a career path. This can be pivotal in creating a positive change in their lives!”
2020 Recipients
Eric Lewis
Director of Organizational Performance & Strategy
Eric used the scholarship to fund a workshop series called Foundations of Coaching for an internationally recognized credential in professional coaching from Case Western Reserve University. These sessions gave Eric new practical tools, skills, and frameworks to use in his coaching and enhanced his capacity to support others in the organization.
Eric points out why the C.R.E.D. fund is distinct. “I think having a program like this for employees to pursue learning in support of or beyond their job, if not unique, would be rather rare among nonprofit organizations our size. To be one of two recipients speaks a great deal to me about the way Y.O.U., its Board, and leadership care about and value me and my colleagues. I hope everyone eligible at Y.O.U. applies for this scholarship and receives it sometime during their career to pursue career aspirations.”
Claire Levin
Senior Executive Specialist
Claire was accepted into the Cleveland Leadership Center’s OnBoard 2021 cohort. OnBoard Cleveland guides early-career professionals to analyze and employ individual strengths to maximize contributions in both professional and civic settings.
“In the nonprofit world, we are stronger when we have a network of champions and an understanding of the value of community. My OnBoard experience helped me grow my community and connect with likeminded young professionals.”
Claire is continuing her professional growth by participating in Engage! Cleveland’s second cohort of their Women’s Mentoring program.