BRIRONNI ALEX

Programs Manager | Cupcake Girls

Another member of YNPN reached out to me and suggested that I apply for the Board based on my current role at The Cupcake Girls, my approach to work, and my passion for racial justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Upon reading the requirements for the board and what you’re seeking, I am confident that I can provide value and a meaningful perspective to help advance the mission of YNPN.

HOW WILL YNPN SOUTHERN NEVADA BENEFIT FROM MY PARTICIPATION ON THE BOARD?

YNPN Southern Nevada and the Board of Directors will benefit from my participation due to my ability to live our organization’s core values:

Advocate Social Equity – As a Black woman, I have always been passionate about Racial Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI). I participate in mentoring programs, give to causes that advance JEDI work, and spend a lot of time breaking down my own biases (while encouraging others to do the same). This is also why I shifted my focus to work in nonprofit two years ago. With this year’s surge in interest in dismantling and reimagining the systems that marginalize BIPOC, we can activate our members to evaluate their personal contributions as well as those of their organizations/employers to take steps in the right direction.

Cultivate Professional Growth – I’m very much interested in evaluating ways to offer our members the most value for their yearly membership fee. I’d love for everyone to reflect on the previous year and look at their dues as the best $30 they’ve ever spent. I would like to increase our membership and also generate more engagement from members by understanding what they’re looking to get from their membership and delivering valuable training and development opportunities accordingly.

Collaborate Intentionally – I believe time is one of the most valuable finite resources we have; being intentional and stewarding our time well can be beneficial for everyone with whom we interact. It’s important to look at our processes, events, and offerings critically in order to ask ourselves whether we’re offering the most value we can to members of the network. We should always be seeking ways to make the most of every event, meeting, and interaction we have.

Create Community – I enjoy building and strengthening relationships with others through finding common ground. I like to know what makes others smile, what drives them, and what gets them out of bed in the morning. Empathy and a genuine interest in others help to foster meaningful and lasting relationships. These are qualities I’d love to be able to relay to other YNPN members to help them expand their networks.

Lead Authentically – Authenticity is of the utmost importance to me, both personally and professionally. I’m a firm believer in leading by example; I’d never ask someone on my team to do something I’m unwilling (or unsure how) to do. As a leader, it’s vital to be honest, empathetic, and an effective communicator. This means challenging ourselves to show up courageously and to bring our best to every moment, acknowledging when we fail to do so, and offering grace to those around us when needed.

ELYSA ARROYO

Teacher | CCSD
Manager of Compiance, Grants, and Government Relations | Aerospace Machine and Supply

I am interested in joining the YNPN Board of Directors because I feel as though the Las Vegas community has a tremendous need for young professional leadership development programs. Networking with like-minded peers to create large-scale social change is a personal passion of mine and YNPN will allow me to help influence the direction of an organization already engaging in wonderful work to benefit the community.

HOW WILL YNPN SOUTHERN NEVADA BENEFIT FROM MY PARTICIPATION ON THE BOARD?

I have a unique background with 3 Master’s Degrees (Business Management, Educational Administration, and Elementary Education). In addition to these Master’s degrees, I have 7 years of extensive leadership experience working within elementary and middle schools, 5 of which were spent at Title 1 schools with highly diverse student bodies. I have also been fortunate enough to serve in many leadership and management roles including 2x elected President of the School Organization Team, Grade Chair, Mentor Teacher, Site Administrator, and (outside of education) as City Manager for a tour company. I’m an extremely ambitious individual who is constantly striving to take ideas to the next level/figure out how we can make the most of any situation. As a board member, YNPN will benefit from my creative thinking, drive to succeed, ambition and ability to build relationships with various stakeholders.

GRANT FRAILICH

Teacher | Explore Academy

To engage in some mutual mentoring among my peers while I still fit into the ‘young’ portion of YNPN, and for a few other professional development purposes.

HOW WILL YNPN SOUTHERN NEVADA BENEFIT FROM MY PARTICIPATION ON THE BOARD?

I bring a solid blend of vision and policy wonkiness that can benefit not so much the board, but the members of YNPN and the NPO community of SoNV at large… at least, I think I do. I suppose a board term is the way to find out if I think too highly of myself in that regard.

Also: I want to volunteer to do regular press releases. YNPN deserves more public recognition IMO. I’d like to help make that happen.

RACHON LAWSON

Relationship Advisor | Kelly Klee

Challenge myself by being in a leadership role,  grow and contribute to the success of the organization.

HOW WILL YNPN SOUTHERN NEVADA BENEFIT FROM MY PARTICIPATION ON THE BOARD?

I have a heart to serve and strive to make the people around me better.

SAMANTHA WILSON

Development Manager | The Neon Museum

I am interested in joining the YNPN Board of Directors because I believe that my skills can be utilized to grow this wonderful organization. I believe that as a working board member of YNPN Southern Nevada, I will not only be able to hone my leadership skills, but that I will also make an impact on other members of YNPN. I truly enjoy all the events that YNPN has put on for its members, and I really love my interactions with current members. I would like to be more involved in all the wonderful things that YNPN does.

HOW WILL YNPN SOUTHERN NEVADA BENEFIT FROM MY PARTICIPATION ON THE BOARD?

I believe that the Board and YNPN will benefit from my positive go-getter attitude, creative ideas and drive to be involved. I am a generalist, a jack-of-many-trades, and I believe that the organization would benefit from my many skills. I am currently and have been involved previously in many different types of nonprofit organizations in many different positions, from Social Media Manager/Advisor to the Leadership Seminar Chair of a youth organization. I have experience in things such as event planning, leadership training, social media, communications, fundraising, and design. I also believe that I will benefit greatly from being a board member, by having a creative and supportive place to grow my leadership skills and other talents. .

VANESSA VALDIVIA

Learning Experience Coordinator – Arts and Humanities | DISCOVERY Children’s Museum

I am interested in joining the YNPN Board of Directors to help support and grow professional development for other young professionals as well as giving myself a new and exciting challenge.

HOW WILL YNPN SOUTHERN NEVADA BENEFIT FROM MY PARTICIPATION ON THE BOARD?

YNPN Southern Nevada and its Board of Directors will benefit from my participation on the Board because I believe in fostering an environment of welcoming and inclusive. Also, as being a first generation Mexican-American woman born and raised in Las Vegas I want to extend my support of all-inclusion efforts with other young professionals.