SaySo is on the cusp of turning 25 years old. SaySo, short for Strong Able Youth Speaking Out, was formed in 1998. We are North Carolina’s youth advocacy organization. We have grown a good bit over the past year and are excited to introduce you to our team.
Ms. Jaleesa Bartley-Maye, Administrative Staff.
When Jaleesa and her husband became foster parents in 2015, she decided to pursue a career in child welfare to further her passion for advocating for youth in the substitute care system. After adopting in 2018, Jaleesa and her husband continue to serve as foster parents. She has also authored and illustrated two children’s books.
Ms. Carmelita Coleman, Executive Director.
Ms. Carmelita is an experienced and passionate social worker with over 25 years working with youth, families, and child serving systems. Her vision for SaySo is to see SaySo more aligned with other national partnerships and growing in youth & alumni membership, local chapters, resources, and staff capacity.
Ms. Dekota Jeter, Young Adult Project Leader.
Dekota has 10+ years of experience in this field. Experiencing foster care from ages 13-21, she was a part of numerous programs and participated in a great deal of volunteer work in her community, even after she aged out of foster care. She says, “I used my voice that was amplified by programs like SaySo to build my confidence and speak out for myself. I use my experiences and resources to pay it forward to our current and upcoming youth and young people who are in substitute care. I am passionate beyond measure because when I see them, I see me!”
Ms. Tan McDougal, Special Projects Program Supervisor.
Ms. Tan has 30 years’ experience working in various capacities with families, children, youth, and young adults. She enjoys serving others and helping them reach their fullest potential. She says, “I am passionate about working with youth and young adults to help them make successful transitions to adulthood. I strive to make a difference in the lives of those I serve.”
Ms. Cherie Watlington, SaySo Operations Manager.
Prior to joining SaySo, her work included assisting parents of youth in foster care. She says, “That work allowed me to see that many of the challenges these parents face could have been prevented if they had the appropriate supports when they were young. I choose to work with youth as a preventative measure to reduce the challenges they may face in the future. In the next few years I see SaySo having the resources to reach youth on a national level.”
Ms. Kourtney White, Program Coordinator.
Kourtney is an NC native and has a background in nonprofit management and youth advocacy. Kourtney hopes to empower young adults to know their worth, access their potential, and be world changers. She says, “There is an untapped wealth of information, power, and wisdom that youth have to offer and it’s up to us, as adults, to create those spaces for young adults to be heard.” Kourtney stands by the phrase “it takes a village” and aims to see communities come together to create systematic change that supports vulnerable populations, especially youth in substitute care.
Mrs. Calvisha Wilson, Community Engagement Coordinator.
Calvisha says, “SaySo is all about the young people. I enjoy that SaySo gives young people a safe place to be their authentic selves. I love that SaySo provides youth and alumni with experiences and opportunities they wouldn’t typically have. My desire for SaySo is develop a youth life coaching and peer- to-peer mentoring model.”
SaySo (Strong Able Youth Speaking Out), is a statewide, North Carolina-based association of youth aged 14 to 24 who are or have been in out-of-home care. This includes all types of substitute care, including foster care, group homes, and mental health placements.
Web: www.saysoinc.org
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