As Youth MOVE National continues to grow and expand its capacity, we are excited to announce some new staff to the organization! We would like to officially welcome April Boyd (she/they), AmandaGrace Krier (she/her), Ms. Pink (she/her), Huck Talwar (he/him), and Brittany Wiley (she/her), to our YMN National Team.
We’d also like to highlight the internal promotions of Te Jay McGrath (he/him), Shayn McDonald (they/them), and Elizabeth Calcaterra (she/her). You can read more about our staff here!
April Boyd (she/they) is joining Youth MOVE National as an intern!
April “AJ” Boyd (She/They) is a trans individual who is currently pursuing her MSSW at the University of Tennessee and wishes to pursue a career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She joined Youth MOVE National’s team as in intern in October 2023 through May 2024. April has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and is a huge advocate when it comes to mental health. Drawing from her own life experiences, April’s passion for advocacy was ignited at a young age, where advocating for herself was a common experience due to living with two autoimmune diseases that had her making tough decisions on her health at a young age. She strongly believes in the extensive potential of our youth, perceiving them as the present/future advocators of positive change. Aside from her academic and professional pursuits, April has found comfort by immersing herself in books and video games where she can take her creativity/imagination and let it run rampant through characters she reads about or plays as.
AmandaGrace Krier (she/her) is joining Youth MOVE National as a Youth Programs Specialist!
Ms. Pink (she/her) is joining Youth MOVE National as a Youth Programs Specialist!
Huck Talwar (he/him) is joining Youth MOVE National as a Youth Programs Specialist!
Huck Talwar (he/him) is a Youth Program Specialist – Trainer at Youth MOVE National (YMN). In this role, Huck develops and delivers a variety of interactive workshops on various topics for diverse audiences. His areas of expertise include eating disorders, trauma and psychosis, and the LGBTQ+ community. Huck has taken part in numerous councils and workgroups, including MEIP (Maryland Early Intervention Program), SCCAN (State Council for Child Abuse and Neglect), Sources of Strength, and more.
Brittany Wiley (she/her) is joining Youth MOVE National as an intern!
Brittany Wiley (she/her) is an aspiring Macro Social Work professional currently pursuing her degree at the University of Tennessee. She is Youth MOVE National’s Intern from August 2023 through May 2024. Residing in Washington, D.C., she channels her dedication to social change as a Program Analyst with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Drawing from her own life experiences, Brittany’s passion for advocacy was ignited at a young age, where advocating for herself and her family meant not only survival but resilience. She firmly believes in the immense potential of our youth, recognizing them as the present and future architects of positive change. Brittany is driven by the conviction that empowering young minds and supporting their endeavors is a pivotal step in creating a remarkable world.
Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Brittany discovers comfort in immersing herself in the lively coffee shop culture and broadening her intellectual horizons by continuously adding new books to her ever-expanding reading list.
Te Jay McGrath (he/him) has been promoted to a Youth Program Coordinator at Youth MOVE National!
Te Jay brings 7+ years of professional and lived experience to the Youth MOVE National team. Not only has he directly served and supported youth and young adults in Systems of Care, especially those experiencing homelessness, he has worked on policy changes when it comes to LGBTQ+ initiatives, anti-bullying efforts, and public health inequities. Te Jay has been performing all around southern California in his drag persona, Tia Wanna Ross, for over a decade. Originally from Hawaii, Te Jay is a Korean-American who now resides in Los Angeles and is a senior in the Hospitality Management program at Johnson & Wales University.
Shayn McDonald (they/them) has been promoted to a Youth Program Coordinator at Youth MOVE National!
Shayn’s passion for youth advocacy and social change is rooted in their many lived experiences and involvement in systems throughout their lifetime. As a queer young adult and trauma survivor, Shayn is particularly invested in education and advocacy around LGBTQ2-S+ communities, and actively seeks to highlight and address the impact of trauma and systemic oppression with the intention of creating greater change. Their involvement in the mental health system in particular motivates them to continue expanding awareness around the diversity of human experiences, and they believe that every person is deserving of community and self-determined support. Prior to joining Youth MOVE National, Shayn worked as the Youth Advocacy Coordinator for the Zia Young Adult Access Center—a Massachusetts-based, youth-led peer support and resource connection center that educated and advocated around youth advocacy and system change. When not working, Shayn enjoys spending time with their cat and watching notoriously bad horror movies. They also love philosophical conversations and contemplating the nature of the universe.
Elizabeth Calcaterra (she/her) has been promoted to a Youth Programs Specialist at Youth MOVE National!
After a year of Interning and Consulting for Youth MOVE, Elizabeth Calcaterra is excited to join our team as a FT Youth Program Specialist at Youth MOVE National. Over the last nine years, Elizabeth has spent her time working in a variety of different social service organizations both abroad and in her local Michigan communities. Her educational past focused on Community & Organizational Leadership, Social Work, Spanish Translation, Developmental Psychology, and Trauma Treatment. This variety of disciplines intertwined with professional experience with residential, shelter, and wrap-around services has taught Elizabeth the importance of uplifting those around her with love and joy. In her free time, Elizabeth can be found outside exploring with her dog Pico (regardless of the weather) or playing cards with friends.
