Meet the Committee
The Connecting for Change Youth Leadership program is organized by a Youth Committee, comprised of youth age 14-22 from the local region. These young people come from a wide range of experiences and backgrounds and it is this diversity of perspective that gives the Youth Program so much energy and richness.
To take the youth committee to the next level a mentoring program has been implemented. The mentors are compromised of local community activists and educators. They are community leaders committed to social change and empowering young minds. Each mentor is connected to work with one particular youth committee member throughout the year leading up to the conference on career exploration, conference program planning and personal development.
CONNECTING FOR CHANGE YOUTH COMMITTEE
KARLEN King-22-New Bedford, MA
JUSTINE Diaz- 17-Providence, RI
JAQUAN Gilchrist- 16-New Bedford, MA
DEVONTE Hunt-17- New Bedford, MA
MCKAILA Coulter- 16-Fairhaven, MA
SKY Bento- 17-New Bedford, MA
EMMA York- 15-New Bedford, MA
GABRIELLE Healy- 16-Falmouth, MA
CONNECTING FOR CHANGE YOUTH MENTORS
ERIK Andrade, New Bedford, MA
CHELSAE Biggs, Providence, RI
ANGEL Diaz, New Bedford, MA
GLENN Oliveira, Marion, MA
Glenn is a native Southcoaster, born and raised in Marion, MA. After attending college at Shepherd University in West Virginia and traveling, Glenn returned to the Southcoast over five years ago. He began working for the Marion Institute in 2007 and is currently the events and membership director. This is his first year on the advisory committee and he is looking forward to sharing his passion for sustainability, local food, people powered transportation, being active and enjoying life with this year's youth committee!
MICHELLE Prevost, Providence, RI
Michelle Prevost joined the Marion Institute in 2008 as the Volunteer Coordinator for Connecting for Change: A Bioneers by the Bay Conference. She has been the Development Coordinator for Cambodian Living Arts, a Program of the Marion Institute, since 2009. Michelle’s primary responsibilities are to support the program's development related activities and serve as on-site liaison for all administrative matters between Cambodian Living Arts and the Marion Institute.
Before coming to the Marion Institute, Michelle taught English in Miyakaki, Japan with the JET Programme. She has her B.A. from Colorado College in Environmental Policy and Economics. Her Senior Thesis focused on community-based conservation and development programs in the East Usambara Mountains of Tanzania where she studied abroad. She is passionate about making the arts come alive in Cambodia and all the work the Marion Institute does to improve the health of the planet and its people. Outside of the office she is a potter, martial artist, hiker, runner and enjoys cooking with fresh, local foods.
ZOË Hansen-DiBello– Youth Coordinator- Providence, RI
Zoe assumed the position of Youth Coordinator in May of 2009. She grew up in Providence, RI where she graduated from the Met High School and continued on to The University of Connecticut where she studied fisheries management and maritime policy. Since graduating she has moved back to Providence. She feels passionate about empowering youth through sharing their stories through music art and political action. She feels lucky and honored to assume a position that allows her to do just that every day.
