Aidil Ortiz Collins, LTC Training Associate

(Durham, NC) Aidil has a degree in public relations from UNC-Chapel Hill and has worked with youth for the last decade. Her youth work ranges from being a summer camp counselor to advising youth-led advocacy initiatives. She currently works at Youth Empowered Solutions. Aside from youth empowerment, her experiences include community/ neighborhood organizing, non-profit board membership, grant writing, media relations, and event planning. Aidil is also earning a Master’s in counseling. Aidil shares her innovative and inspirational facilitation skills as a Training Associate with Leading To Change where she provides support and consultation to the North Carolina Native American Youth Organization’s “GIVE (Giving Indians Volunteer Experience)” program as well as the Youth Philanthropy program in Nash/Edgecombe Counties.

Training Staff

Mary Jane Akerman, LTC Training Associate

(Thomasville, NC) Mary Jane Akerman has been actively involved youth leadership for many years, most recently in youth development and service learning. Her passion is providing young people the tools and res... Read More

Fred Baker, LTC Training Associate

(Fayetteville, NC) Fred Baker is a native of the Bronx, NY and joined the United States Air Force in 1987 where he served his country for 10 years. During that time, he has traveled the world extensively. He is a disabled vetera... Read More

Yolanda Bynum, LTC Training Associate

(Charlotte, NC) Yolanda Bynum is a graduate of Winston-Salem State University and holds a BA in Psychology with a Minor in Elementary Education. Raised in Pinetops, North Carolina, Yolanda now lives in Charlotte ... Read More

Ana Jassel Covarrubias, LTC Training Associate

(Charlotte, NC) Ana Jassel Covarrubias was born in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico and considers Spanish as her first language. One of her most recent accomplishments is her graduation from the University of North Caro... Read More

Vernisha Crawford, LTC Training Associate

(Charlotte, NC) Vernisha Crawford is a 2008 graduate of Ashbrook Senior High School located in Gastonia, North Carolina. She is currently a undergrad student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, whe... Read More

Michelle Inhofer, LTC Evaluation Associate

(Charlotte, NC) Bio coming soon Read More

Kelly Jeffries, LTC Training Associate

(Rock Hill, SC) Bio coming soon Read More

Pat Kelsaw, LTC Training Associate

(Rock Hill, SC) A California native, Pat Kelsaw earned a BA in communications and a teaching credential from the University of California, Davis. As an elementary school teacher, Pat taught in the Rio Linda (Sacramento area) and Los Angeles Unif... Read More

Desmond Miller, LTC Training Associate

(Concord, NC) Bio coming soon Read More

Aidil Ortiz Collins, LTC Training Associate

Aree Pearlman, LTC Training Associate

(Charlotte, NC) Before high school graduation, Aree Pearlman had already spent three years with youth and state leaders creating an annual youth-led Youth Summit (Positive Forces for Change). She helped create the first campus-wide chapter of UNICEF at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in her undergraduate years and advised PRIDE students (lgbt student organization) at the University of North Ca... Read More

Monique Steele, LTC Training Associate

(Greensboro, NC) Monique Steele has over a decade of experience working with youth and nonprofits. Since graduating from The Ohio State University with a BA in English and obtaining a certification in ... Read More

Nancy Tom, LTC Training Associate

(Durham, NC) Originally from Durham, North Carolina, Nancy Tom attended UNC-Chapel Hill for a B.A. in Communication Studies and Dramatic Arts. She then moved to Boston in 2005 to attend graduate school at Lesley Un... Read More

Erik Turner, LTC Training Associate

(Charlotte, NC) Erik M. Turner is a native of Charlotte and graduated from North Carolina Central with a B.A. in History and a concentration in education. While attending college, he was a member of the student cha... Read More

Stephanie Walker, LTC Training Associate

(Greensboro, NC) Stephanie M. Walker currently serves as Deputy Director for the Center for Youth, Family and Community Partnerships. She is the principal in the firm of Walker & Associates Consulting Inc., with more than 30 years of experience and expertise working with community organizations in the areas of management, strategic planning, organizational development, capacity building and ex... Read More