Meet our BOOST global street team of advocates and champions

Juan Alvarado, Founder & CEO (he/him/his)
Raize The Bar LLC, Visalia, CA

Juan Alvarado is a keynote speaker, leadership trainer, and CEO of Raize The Bar LLC. A Gallup Certified CliftonStrengths Coach, U.S. Army veteran, Juan has delivered trainings to 15,000+ leaders across education, healthcare, and corporate sectors. Featured on CBS, NBC, and FOX and worked with hundreds of OST Programs. His Blueprint to Leadership framework has empowered 15,000+ school administrators and staff to become more confident, intentional leaders who build high-impact teams.

Kelly Baker, Founder and President (she/her/hers)
Ignite Youth Club, Inc., Mt. Pleasant, TX

Kelly Baker is the visionary founder of Ignite Youth Club, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering children through literacy and academic support. Kelly has spearheaded initiatives that have impacted countless numbers of students and expanded offerings to include literacy workshops, mentorship programs, and summer enrichment camps. Under her leadership, Ignite has grown into a trusted community resource, helping bridge educational gaps and making a lasting impact on children's lives.

Sheryl Blessing, Youth Services Recreation Supervisor (she/her/hers)
Parks Tacoma, Tacoma, WA

Sheryl Blessing is a parks and recreation professional and youth minister who has over 22 years of youth development experience. She specializes in youth engagement for her role as a youth minister at her local parish and staff management as a recreation supervisor for Parks Tacoma. Sheryl is committed to developing teams who ensure young people have a safe, welcoming, and fun space and environment. Advocating for youth voices and empowering youth leaders to develop their leadership skills are main focuses for her as she recognizes young people are the up-and-coming leaders of today and tomorrow.

Kaitlin Brown, North Middle and Central High School Site Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Black Hills Special Services Cooperative, Rapid City, SD

Kaitlin is a Coordinator with the 21st Century OST Programs at North Middle and Central High School. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming. Her passion for OST stemmed from helping students, watching them grow, and letting them practice skills in a safe environment away from judgment. She serves on the South Dakota School Age Care Alliance board, helping connect other SD OST programs to quality training and networking opportunities.

Richmond Brown, Director of Expanded Learning (he/him/his)
Scoot Education, Los Angeles, CA

Richmond is a native of Charleston, SC, now in Los Angeles, CA, continuing 17 years of dedication, commitment, and service in leadership in the Expanded Learning and Afterschool (OST) Field. Upon arriving to Los Angeles, CA, Richmond immediately hit the ground running, serving the students and communities supporting ELOP, ASES, and 21st CCLC programs as an Associate Director of programs overseeing multi-school district partnerships. He now serves as the Director of After School Care with Scoot Education.   

Nancy Coddington, Founder, Creative Director (she/her/hers)
SciComm Solutions, Ithaca, NY

 

Nancy Scales-Coddington is a science communicator, PBS education contributor, and founder of SciComm Solutions and STEM Socialite. With 25 years in out-of-school time, she leads national trainings and creates hands-on STEM programs that blend science, fashion, and wearable technology. Nancy is passionate about building STEM identity, amplifying youth voice, and making STEM fun, creative, and inclusive for all learners.

 

Gabriela Delgado, Senior Director of Strategic Projects (she/her/hers)
San Diego County Office of Education, San Diego, CA

Gabriela has served in education for over 22 years. She currently serves as a Senior Manager for the San Diego County Office of Education. She is well-versed in trauma-informed practices; group facilitation; restorative practices; student engagement; and grant development/management. Gabriela has an MA in Education/Counseling from Point Loma Nazarene University and a Master of Public Administration with from San Diego State University. She is the co-host of the 2 Counselors & a Mic podcast, which features stories of everyday people changing the world. She enjoys traveling with her husband and playing catch with their dog, Chiquita.

Armoni Easley, Lead Empowerment Facilitator (he/him/his)
Easley Done & Company LLC, Sacramento, CA

Armoni Easley is a social impact entrepreneur, author, empowerment facilitator, and keynote speaker with 17+ years of experience in mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement. As Co-Founder and former CEO of Project Optimism, he helped build an organization that impacts thousands of young people each year through mentorship and leadership programs. Through his books, LifeWork Connection Cards, and community-centered experiences, Armoni continues to create tools that inspire reflection, self-development, and meaningful connection.

As Founder of Easley Done & Company and creator of the LifeWork Experience, Armoni designs and delivers workshops, keynotes, and professional development experiences rooted in storytelling, connection, and action. His gift is his ability to reach people in any setting, from speaking to thousands on a keynote stage to facilitating intimate conversations with small groups. Across schools, nonprofits, organizations, and leadership teams, his work builds bridges, strengthens community, and helps people connect more deeply with themselves, each other, and the impact they are called to make.

Nathan Houston, Founder/CEO (he/him/his)

IAMIMPACT, Sacramento, CA

Nathan Houston is the Founder of #iAmImpact and Director of Impact at Mentor California. With more than 20 years in youth development, expanded learning, and leadership, he equips educators, mentors, and organizations to move beyond strategies and become the people who create lasting impact. Through engaging, transformative experiences, Nathan helps individuals build stronger relationships, healthier cultures, and purpose-driven leadership.

Sheila James, Manager (she/her/hers)
Teen Science Cafe Network /STEM Next Opportunity Fund, Columbus, OH

For 25+ years, Sheila passionately supports OST programming. As a director, STEM Specialist, and Professional Development Trainer, she makes a significant impact. Her leadership enhances site experiences nationwide, including Central Ohio. Sheila, a Master STEM Trainer and instructor in mental health and first aid, equips program staff with tools for success. Through delivering best practices and staying updated on afterschool trends, she actively promotes youth learning and social development.

Lori Livesay, Educational Technology (she/her/hers)
Madrid, Spain

Lori Livesay is a recognized edtech leader and digital transformation strategist with over 25 years of experience in US and international education. Specializing in AI literacy, she designs curriculum grounded in adult learning theory and UDL. Lori has a proven track record of scaling professional development for hundreds of educators. Holding a Master of Education, she strategically bridges emerging tech and practical pedagogy to build future-ready environments.

Eric Rowles, CEO (he/him/his)
Leading To Change, Huntersville, NC

Eric Rowles is a nationally recognized trainer, speaker, and consultant who has worked with over 200,000 youth, adults, administrators, professionals, and policymakers within the past 20 years. His presentations are legendary - by combining the energy and innovation of a master trainer, while at the same time reaching each of us through his stories, research, and on-the-ground strategies. One part inspirational speaker and published author, one part DJ, and two parts community organizer and parent of 2 daughters, Eric runs a customized consulting and facilitation practice that, through a network of over 20 dynamic and diversely talented trainers, works with for-profit and non-profit organizations to achieve progressive and dynamic change. Additionally, Eric is the founder and current Director of the North Carolina Youth Giving Network – a statewide association of over 1100 youth philanthropists that have granted over $400,000 to North Carolina communities since 2005.

Eric’s previous experience includes his work as Senior Director of Training with the Youth Leadership Institute where he designed a national training institute that provided over 1,000 days of training in five years to community organizations and coalitions throughout the country. Prior to his work with YLI, Eric was the Director of Leadership Development at Rutgers University (NJ), managed his own touring educational theater organization, Leadership Through Motivation Productions, was the Director of International Youth Summer Abroad programs, and spent five years as a substance abuse prevention coordinator in Southern California.

Additionally, Eric through his double bachelors and Master of Science degrees in Ethnic Studies and Educational Leadership, he has served as a faculty member at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte as well as Rutgers University (NJ) and has over a decade of innovative and cutting edge classroom instruction and facilitation experience. Eric has also been a volunteer trainer and partner for a wide range of social change agencies and organizations including the National Conference on Community and Justice, College Leadership Diversity Conference, and Teaching Tolerance Curriculum Instruction.

In addition to his training experience, Eric has also been a professional DJ and worked with artists throughout the entertainment industry, including Gwen Stefani, Billy Joel, Notorious B.I.G., Cypress Hill, Tribe Called Quest, The Fugees, Boyz II Men, Third Eye Blind, The Roots, George Clinton & Parliament, Henry Rollins, Radiohead, Smashmouth, Weezer, Edward James Olmos, Sinbad, George Lopez, Margaret Cho, and Maya Angelou.

Morgan Schrankel, Manager of High School Initiatives (she/her/hers)
Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Philadelphia, PA

Morgan is a passionate educator working at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, where she manages high school OST programming. She oversees programming at three high schools and one middle school in Philadelphia. Prior to this role, Morgan worked as a high school Reading Specialist. She is a firm believer that all children deserve equitable access to education and opportunities. Originally from Pittsburgh, Morgan earned her bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College in 2013, and her M.S.Ed. from UPenn GSE.

Jill Sisco, After School Coordinator, K-6th Grade (she/her/hers)
Atlanta Speech School, Atlanta, GA

Jill Sisco is the After School Coordinator for K-6th Grade at the Atlanta Speech School, as well as a Creator, Manager, and Inspirational Coach! I have held several positions at the Atlanta Speech School since starting in 2008: after school enrichment teacher, summer camp manager, substitute teacher specialist, and after school coordinator. Always learning and growing both professionally and personally, I have worked with hundreds of children and staff. I hold a Master's degree in Therapeutic Recreation and a Bachelor's in Psychology.

Dr. Sonia Toledo, President & CEO (she/her/hers)
Dignity of Children, New York, NY

Dr. Sonia M. Toledo is the founder and CEO of Dignity of Children and the author of Beyond Supervision, a practical guide for after-school leaders. For decades, she has coached youth-serving teams to lead with emotional intelligence, building calm, inclusive programs where behavior is treated as a systems issue, not a child problem. For the past four years, she has been a familiar voice at BOOST, in conference workshops, and on her podcast, turning emotional intelligence into tools that staff can apply immediately.

Interested in becoming an ambassador?

We are offering the opportunity to become a BOOST Ambassador. Our Ambassadors serve as a street team of advocates who spread the word about BOOST Conferences, online trainings, PD opportunities, and other initiatives in the field. Becoming a BOOST Ambassador will challenge and inspire you to build capacity in the after school, expanded learning, and in and out-of-school time fields. You are acting not only as a representative of your organization, but also on behalf of BOOST Collaborative.

Join the interest list here.

We are committed to diversity and to equal opportunity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, height, weight, physical or mental ability (including HIV status), veteran status, military obligations, or marital status. At BOOST and in all BOOST-related activities and events, we affirm the sexual orientation and gender identity of each individual and aim to create LGBTQ-inclusive and affirming environments and learning opportunities. This policy applies to hiring, internal promotions, training opportunities, advancement opportunities, and terminations. This policy also applies to all employees, Leadership Team members, volunteers, clients, and contractors who present/speak/exhibit at or sponsor BOOST-related activities and events.

Ambassador Program Contact

Deanna Underwood, Ambassador Program Manager
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.