webinar

The First 100 Days

DATE

April 30, 2025

TIME

3-4p ET / noon-1p PT

LOCATION

Virtual

How State and Local Leaders are Responding

In its first 100 days, the current Administration has issued multiple Executive Orders,* implemented significant reductions of federal agency staff, and eliminated funding for local, state and federal programs supporting youth.
Register

Join GTY and the National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy as we engage state and local leaders in a discussion on how the youth they serve have been impacted, what they are doing in response, and what ideas they have for all of us to support youth to thrive in these uncertain times.

This program is free and open to all. Registration required.

*Executive Orders Affecting Charitable Nonprofits | Chart from National Council of Nonprofits

This program is free and open to grantmakers and others in the thriving youth community. GTY’s webinars and funder learning opportunities are made possible through the time and expertise of presenters from the field.

In the spirit of transparency, GTY will make available the list of webinar participants to presenters upon request, unless the registrant requests to remain anonymous (please indicate your preference via the registration form).

Speakers

Nia West-Bey

Executive Director, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy (TYP)

Nia West-Bey is the Executive Director of the National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy. She is a community psychologist with expertise in youth development, qualitative and quantitative data interpretation and analysis, and the intersection of psychology, social policy, and program evaluation. Prior to leading TYP Collaborative, she was CLASP’s director of youth policy. In this role, she led a team that sought to advance a vision for policy and systems change co-created with youth and young adults, ages 16-25, that centers safety, healing and well-being, and economic and racial justice.

Previously, Dr. West-Bey was a senior policy analyst with CLASP’s youth team, where she focused on youth and young adult mental health, two-generation policies and strategies to support young parents of color earning low incomes as well as girls and young women of color. Dr. West-Bey co-founded and spent 10 years as executive director of a community-based nonprofit organization offering youth development programming to young people in foster care in Washington, DC. Dr. West-Bey earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. in community psychology from New York University and completed her undergraduate degree at Swarthmore College.

Sunae Villavoso

Director, Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, New Orleans, LA

Sunae Villavaso, an accomplished leader with nearly 25 years of experience in the field of education, currently serves as the Director of Workforce Development at the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, where she is also a non-voting member of the New Orleans Workforce Development Board, holding the esteemed position of the Official Convenor of the Workforce System for the City of New Orleans.

Her influence extends nationally, having been appointed to the US Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council in 2019. In recognition of her exceptional contributions, Sunae was appointed to the USCM WDC Board of Trustees in 2022, further solidifying her role in shaping workforce development policies and initiatives on a broader scale.

Dedicated to the development of the youth in New Orleans, Sunae actively serves as a member of the New Orleans Children & Youth Planning Board. Additionally, she plays a pivotal role on the steering committee of YouthForce NOLA, an impactful education, business, and civic collaborative that diligently prepares New Orleans public school students for successful pursuit of high-wage, high-demand career pathways.

Sunae’s commitment to community engagement and advocacy is demonstrated through her service on the City Council Equal Pay Advisory Committee. Beyond her professional roles, she is an active member of the Junior League of New Orleans and the Ballet Resource and Volunteer Organization (BRAVO), a philanthropic initiative that raises funds to support the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) and its tuition-free programs.

Bringing a wealth of expertise to her roles, Sunae holds a Master’s in Counselor Education with an emphasis in Higher Education and Human Service Counseling. Her knowledge spans staffing and placement issues, co-teaching models, positive behavior intervention supports, School-Wide Evaluation Tools, professional development, and compliance guidelines regarding students with disabilities and special needs.

With over 20 years of administrative experience, Sunae’s background includes nearly a decade in a traditional post-secondary institution and three years as a Strategist for the largest Public School District in Louisiana.

In her impactful role as the Director of Workforce Development, Sunae has led JOB1 to consistently rank in the top tier of the State of Louisiana in performance measures. Under her leadership, the office has set the standard for delivering concierge-level customer service for both job seekers and employers, emphasizing a focus on Return on Investment.

Sunae Villavaso’s leadership, dedication, and strategic vision have positioned her as a driving force in workforce development, education, and community service, making her an invaluable asset to the City of New Orleans.

Jessica Makin

DHHS Administrator, Office of Substance Use and Mental Health, Utah

Jessica Makin is the Program Administrator for Transition-Age Youth and Employment Supports within the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health in the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

Jessica has worked with transition-age youth since 2000 in a variety of capacities including mental health settings, educational programs, residential and transitional housing, community-based programs, and workforce development programs.

She is passionate about engaging with youth and young adults and offering interventions and support during this critical developmental stage. Jessica’s experience has taught her that when we engage with transition-age youth and provide support across all life domains, they can move into adulthood in a safe and healthy way.

Presented by

Grantmakers for Thriving Youth

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