Community youth worker profiles

Position vacant

Position vacant

Kyla loves being a youth worker, as it is immensely inspiring to walk alongside youth and help them achieve and reach their goals as they try to navigate the sometimes tumultuous time of being a youth.

Kyla’s first job was a soccer referee. At one point she had to referee her younger brother’s soccer game, unfortunately that was the game he decided to try and pick up the ball in the middle of the game. Kyla blew the whistle and called a foul which resulted in her brother crying and running off the field.

The most exciting place Kyla has been is Prince Edward Island. She enjoyed the red cliffs and all things Anne of Green Gables in PEI. Does she even lift? Yes Kyla lifts, she lifts 4L milk cartons from the grocery store to her fridge. Does that count?

kyla.sattler@vancouver.ca

Suzy loves being a youth worker because every day is like a fresh start with the youth. Suzy went to high school in Richmond. Back then, they had junior and senior high, so she moved around a lot and yes she did attend summer school. So if you want to know about it, ask her.

Her first job was working in a bakery/deli and her wage was $2.75/hr. This turned into an apprenticeship, and she became a baker. Suzy wasn’t happy with the “dough” she was making… so she went back to school and attended the CYCC program at Douglas College, and she hasn’t looked back since.

Suzy found her calling and enjoys working with all of the young bright minds that she encounters during her job as a youth worker.

suzy.parker@vancouver.ca

Gogo loves being a youth worker because every day is different and every new experience brings new ideas and perspectives on youth work.

Gogo’s first job was cashiering at a little league concession stand, making $30 and a can of pop per day.

The biggest challenge Gogo has had to overcome as a youth worker was saying goodbye to all of the youth at one site to make new connections and create new opportunities for youth at another site.

If Gogo won the lottery she would build a state of the art fitness centre and let all youth lift for free.

gogo.lalli@vancouver.ca

Tamara loves working with youth because there is never a dull moment with the great energy and variety of people she gets to meet! She is very grateful for all the life lessons, adventures, and laughs she was given as a youth and feels lucky to be able to have a job that allows her to facilitate similar opportunities for today’s youth.

As an Eric Hamber grad, she found becoming a volunteer in high school (where she spent most of her time at Douglas and Riley Park Community Centres) allowed her to build friendships with other youth she otherwise might not have befriended.

Tamara’s first job was to film a Vancouver Aquarium commercial where she was given $75. The most exciting place Tamara has been was Newfoundland where she got to swim with icebergs floating by! 

tamara.morrison@vancouver.ca

TJ loves being a youth worker because it allows him amazing opportunities everyday to interact, learn, and be inspired from the youth in the community.

One of TJ’s most memorable trips was in 2014 when he went to New Orleans and checked off a life-long bucket list item: attend WrestleMania.

TJ was raised in the Sunset area and graduated from John Oliver Secondary. During his wonderful tenure there, he played football, badminton, and joined the track and field team for discus and shotput.

While an avid fan of rap and hip hop, one of TJ’s hidden talents is rocking the mic for karaoke and pop music.

Don’t let the beard fool you – TJ is well known among his friends to take centre stage on the dancefloor and bust a move once his jams come on.

tj.shukla@vancouver.ca

Matt's favorite part about being a youth worker is getting to mentor and teach youth new skills. Years ago, Matt went to Killarney Secondary School and was always inspired by his youth worker. He strives to be equally inspiring to the youth he works with each day.

One of Matt’s most embarrassing moments was caught on video, when all of his peers surprised him with a birthday song at a staff meeting.

Aside from youth work, Matt is passionate about music – in his late teens he was the lead singer in the local boy band, Matt About You.

matthew.charan@vancouver.ca

David loves being a youth worker because it is challenging, fun, and rewarding. He was very fortunate to be able to start his youth work career in Strathcona, the same neighbourhood that he grew up in.

He worked at Strathcona Community Centre for 15 years and was able to do outreach at the schools he went to as a youth: Strathcona Elementary, Seymour Elementary, and Britannia Secondary. David found his high school extracurricular activities, including volleyball, basketball, boys service club, referee and score-keeping club, and Students’ Council, to be fun and life-shaping. Because of this, he is a big proponent of youth getting involved with school and community.

The biggest challenge that David learned to overcome was dealing with the passing of youth that he has worked with.

David strives hard to provide and lead youth programs which help youth be healthier, happier, and more effective.

david.ng@vancouver.ca

Riya loves being a youth worker because she gets to help the stewards of tomorrow actualize their potential.

She went to Windermere Secondary School and graduated from Simon Fraser University with a BA in Criminology and Counselling. Riya studied abroad in Melbourne, Australia for a semester which was an exciting and rewarding experience for her. Travelling is something Riya hopes everyone has the opportunity to do.

She plays basketball and is always ready to lace-up for a game. Be warned, she averages twenty points a game and makes it rain 3’s.

Riya is also an open and confident member of the LGBTQIA community, so if you ever need someone to talk to, talk to Riya.

riya.talwar@vancouver.ca

Katie loves connecting with youth and creating spaces where they can be themselves. She loves learning from the youth she meets as much as she loves teaching them.

Other youth workers describe Katie as a laid back person who's equally at home on a canoe or kayak as she is on an Xbox (or a PlayStation, she doesn’t discriminate). Hint, ask Katie about Mass Effect or Animal Crossing and she’ll talk forever.

If she had a million dollars, she’d most likely spend it on camping equipment and a woodworking shop for all the times she sees something cool-yet-expensive and thinks, “I could probably make that." The next project on her list is to carve her own kayak paddle.    

Does Katie even lift? No, not really, but the farthest she’s ever biked was from Brentwood in Burnaby to Golden Ears Campground in Maple Ridge.

katie.meredith@vancouver.ca

So…rumor has it, that Annty loves being a youth worker because she gets to connect with some pretty awesome youth with a variety of skills and knowledge.

She has had the opportunity to take part in fun activities such as dragon boating, camping, snowboarding, and surfing…she also enjoys the spontaneity of each day because she never knows what to expect! There are days that she organizes events or fundraisers, and other days she gets to deal with sticky situations, but overall she enjoys relationship building and supporting youth in their development.

She is originally from El Salvador and speaks Spanish, but grew up in South East Vancouver and graduated from Killarney Secondary. She is a coffee snob and her heaviest lift is a venti cup! #Annty 

anntuaneth.figueroa@vancouver.ca

Nataly loves being a youth worker because every day is different. She loves how inspired she is from the youth she works with, and how amazing their world views are.

Nat grew up in Vancouver and loved living downtown where she spent lots of time at the community centre and the beach as a youth.

She spent two years living in London, and worked with youth while completing her master’s degree.

When Nat is not at work, you can find her at an ice rink, somewhere outdoors, or (most likely) with her knitting, book, and cats.

nataly.kaufman@vancouver.ca

Alex is in his 17^th year with RayCam Community Centre as a youth worker, with mainly aboriginal and immigrant youth on the Downtown Eastside.

Staff at RayCam follow a relationship-based model of youth work and try to work with the whole family wherever possible.

Alex oversees child protection case management, advocacy, and promotion of social inclusion. He also spearheaded the award-winning NASKARZ Program  (Never Again Steal Karz) in partnership with the Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver Community College.

alex.vasiljevic@vancouver.ca

Starla became a front line youth leader when she was 19 years old. It was during this time she realized her passion for building relationships and helping youth navigate through the ups and downs of life.

She learned about the significance of caring adults, peer relationships, and being involved with her community while advocating for the needs and rights of the youth she was working with.

The important relationships, many laughs, and heart to heart conversations are what inspired her to become a Community Youth Worker.

Her educational background includes a large high-school, alternate school, entry level trades training for automotive mechanics, and a degree in Child and Youth Care Counseling.

When asked what she would do if she had a million dollars, her response was to keep working.

Starla’s enjoyment in her career is watching the resilience and inspiration that the kids in the community have and supporting her wonderful staff.

Her first job was at Work Wear World where she was paid $3.50 per hour.

starla.bayley@vancouver.ca

Sally is grateful to be inspired by some of the most amazing youth she gets to meet at community centres. Youth worker by title and an adventurer at heart, Sally would explain to youth that life's all about "experiential learning". From climbing mountain ranges to swimming in the sea, "travelling is the only thing you buy that will make you richer".

If she had a million dollars, she would start a non-profit to inspire youth to be global citizens and make a difference where they are passionate in.

Aside from being a globetrotter, Sally knew she wanted to be a youth worker when she started volunteering at her local community centre as a youth. After spending lots of time in the community and building her connections, she landed her very first job there and she has not looked back since!

Being involved in her community taught her to work hard, be compassionate, and be genuine. If she didn't push herself out of her comfort zone when she was younger, she wouldn't be here today helping other youth chase their dreams too!

sally.chan@vancouver.ca

Gabe is a client-centred, strength-based, and solution-focused youth worker. His coworkers say he helps youth to reach their potential through patience and positivity.

Gabe comes from a large multicultural family in East Vancouver that includes black, white, Asian, south Asian, and Indigenous members. But as a white, cisgender male, he acknowledges that he walks with privilege.

He is just as comfortable in a loud, crowded youth room or gym as he is in his quiet office at Sunset Community Centre. There’s not much that he hasn’t seen or heard before, so he is always happy to talk and listen, usually with a cup of tea.

Outside of work, Gabe is an active supporter of the co-op movement and a proud member of the Co-op Housing Federation of British Columbia, Vancity, Community Savings, The Tool Library, Modo, and Mountain Equipment Co-op.

gabe.dennis@vancouver.ca

Rosa has been a community youth worker for 13 years. She has lots of experience that she brings to the table.

A few of her favourite moments are camping at Camp Sasamat and being thrown in the lake by chanting youth, playing indoor soccer, and dancing to Latin music with new immigrant youth.

Find her at Mount Pleasant and challenge her to a game of pool!

rosa.aravena@vancouver.ca

Priya loves being a youth worker because it’s fun and she gets to meet amazing young people who inspire her in many ways! It’s the most rewarding and unique job she’s had.

She went to Delview and North Delta High School and although she never joined the school team as a youth, Priya loves playing basketball and is always up for a game of 21 at T-bird!

If Priya had a million dollars, she would buy a farm where she could raise animals and keep bees. One of Priya’s favorite artists is Freddie Gibbs and she always has “You Only Live 2wice” on repeat: she considers herself a hip-hop connoisseur and has a pretty impressive CD collection. Priya’s heaviest lift was a 225 pound deadlift – now if only she could squat the same amount…    

priya.brar@vancouver.ca

Bernie loves being a community youth worker, as he firmly believes that youth should and deserve a chance to get involved in their communities. He also believes that when youth are making a difference in their communities, they need to be getting the praise and recognition that they deserve.

In his role as a youth worker, he gets the opportunity to advocate in the community for youth as well as help them gain the chances to be able to make a difference.

The most exciting place he has been is Disneyland – it’s the happiest place on Earth. His first job was at McDonald’s where he learned teamwork, leadership, communication, and customer service skills. Best of all, he earned money while he learned! His hobbies include playing all types of sports but soccer is his favourite.

bernie.dionne@vancouver.ca

Jessica has been working with children and youth for over 13 years. She lives in the tri-cities with her husband and her extremely fat and fluffy cat, Zoey.

She got her first job at 15 years old working at a local Dairy Queen over the summer, she filled her freezer with ice cream for days! Her favorite youth worker memory was when she took a group a youth to Tofino on a camping trip and they all learned to surf together.

When not working, she loves to travel the world and visit new and exciting far off places. Her most recent adventures (pre-COVID) were to Turkey and to Iceland! She loves being a youth worker because she is so inspired by the resiliency, creativity, and empathy that youth bring to their community.

jessica.mccallum@vancouver.ca