WEEK 3 - THURSDAY, APRIL 15
kenyatta parker | poised • trainer • listener • fabulous
What are some of the amazing things that Kenyatta has done?
Kenyatta seems to always help her family and friends. She's supportive of others and shares in their milestones and helps them along the way. Kenyatta is very generous with her time and energy.
Kenyatta perseveres through the personal and professional challenges brought on by the pandemic. She is committed to professional development and effective training to increase confidence and empower teams to show up with their A-game.
Kenyatta has been an incredible director during the pandemic. Even though she has a million things to do a day, she makes time for her team and cares about how we are doing. She emits the best qualities in a leader and makes it known that she is invested in us. And for this, I am truly so grateful for her and my team. Working from home and teaching sex ed from home has been an incredible challenge but Kenyatta is always there to support us and listens to what we have to say.
Kenyatta takes time to make everyone on the team feel validated and valued in the space.
How has Kenyatta supported you and your team?
She was a great watercooler buddy prior to the pandemic, providing feedback on my work. She's very open to collaborating across programs.
Kenyatta checks in often to see how she can support. She is generous with her resources to accomplish goals. Thank you, Kenyatta!
Kenyatta supports us by reminding us she has an open door policy. And she tells it like it is. When morale is low and we need encouragement, she is honest and supportive.
Kenyatta is a good listener. She always makes herself available (even when she's busy) to check in, be a support and to help get answers.
What makes Kenyatta a great leader?
She's organized, strategic and open to ideas.
Kenyatta is strategic and intentional about developing teams and training offerings. She provides genuine support and empathy. Kenyatta is a coach, captain, team player, cheer leader, and more!
She is not self-centered; I can tell that she is invested in the growth of all of us.
Kenyatta leads with great character and good listening skills, and makes an effort to cultivate strong relationships.
Anything else?
Honestly, thank you so much, Kenyatta, for being so real and genuine during such a scary time. It means the world to me.
Thank you for constantly making me (and the team) feel seen, heard and understood. I/We appreciate you!
andrew schwenk | visionary • best • go-getter
What are some of the amazing things that Drew has done?
Drew shows so much initiative. His ability to see the bigger picture facilitates his passion for ending the HIV epidemic. Drew sees hope amid uncertainty and works diligently to carry out the mission of the HIV/STI Initiatives even when the directives could seem cloudy.
Some of the amazing things Drew has done has been graduating from USC with a global health degree, moving across the country to New Orleans, becoming a PHAP and starting his first job after college, and working to build up our HIV/STI Initiatives and now spearhead Targeted Testing.
Drew moved from a foreign state to New Orleans in the middle of a pandemic and hit the ground running at IWES.
How has Drew supported you and your team?
Drew is intentional and structured. He is encouraged even when things seem ambitiously impossible. He always shows up with a "We can do it" attitude.
Drew has supported me and the entire portfolio by taking on any task thrown at him and completing it diligently. I can always count on Drew to make me laugh or troubleshoot something.
Drew has been an incredible point of contact and is a diligent worker!
What makes Drew a great leader?
Drew is a visionary leader and has a commitment to learning and achieving personal, professional, and organizational goals.
Drew is passionate about the work he does and cares about his community. He stands up for and defends what he believes in and is always prepared to educate others.
Anything else?
DREW IS THE BEST! AND he has great taste in books.
Drew is an invaluable team player. He is supportive, innovative, and always finds a way to make me laugh.
hannah allen | phenomenal • sunshine • joy • loving • curls • mirth
What are some of the amazing things that Hannah has done?
There is no one thing Hannah has done; she does so much. Hannah IS amazing!
Hannah brings so much energy, creativity, and intention to all that she does. Exactly what was needed to continue to meet our goals with the onset of and throughout the pandemic.
She has been supportive of the program I work with and offers her skills and energy to assist.
How has Hannah supported you and your team?
Hannah provides organization and structure to The MORE Project. She supports the Out of the Shadows support group. Hannah has built out forms and databases for other HIV/STI projects. Even through her loss and during challenges caused by the pandemic, Hannah shared her spirit of hope, courage, and strength.
Hannah approaches all aspects of her work with a contagious, unfettered enthusiasm and so much warmth, always lending a helping hand wherever she is needed. She's a brilliant problem solver, always quick to offer a creative solution to problems as they arise. I feel truly lucky to work with Hannah!
Hannah always offers an open ear and meaningfully contributes to accomplishing R&E goals. She is an invaluable thought partner across projects/programs.
Hannah always has a kind word to share. If I'm having a bad day I can always count on her to lift my spirits.
Her smile is infectious! When she smiles your heart melts. Her enthusiasm for the work she is involved in is amazing. Her work ethic and integrity alone draws you to her.
What makes Hannah a great leader?
Hannah is so gracious with her gifts. Her smile radiates in light spaces and illuminates dark spaces. She encourages many to keep pressing.
Hannah is multi-talented and gets things done! She's always available and supportive.
She’s a great leader because of her passion and intelligence!
Anything else?
Hannah is a joy to work with, she makes a point to make everyone feel seen and appreciated.
River lunch! Back when our office was downtown we'd often have lunch by the river. Fun times. :D
She's the example of positivity in the world and the work place.
tylar williams | exponential • attentive • poised • funny • friendly • hard-working
What are some of the amazing things that Tylar has done?
She has taken the reigns to keep our Youth Advisory Board internship on track.
Her Wisdom Wednesday presentation was amazing! Entertaining and informative.
Tylar has held our team down in so many little ways that add up to a BIG impact, especially since working from home. From leading us in getting our curriculum online to motoring along our MCH work, to creating the full skeletal system of our youth internship, she has tasks handled before most of us even think to ask about them! I don't know where we'd be without her multifaceted talents and her drive!
How has Tylar supported you and your team?
Tylar is the biggest asset to my team and she doesn't officially work on my team. She lends a helping hand.
She has an incredible attention to detail and is meticulous as an editor. Additionally, she always finds a way to put a smile on my face when we work together.
What makes Tylar a great leader?
She's thoughtful and deliberate.
She is limitless in her growth. Tylar is constantly setting the bar for herself and others, especially when it comes to putting our students first.
Anything else?
When I shared an office with her, we used to have Jazz hour. It may be small, but it always meant a lot to me.
christina illarmo | empathetic • energetic • thoughtful • balanced • rooted • hilarious • GLITTER!
What are some of the amazing things that Christina has done?
Christina always brings a breath of fresh air to the space. She leads with character! Her nature is gentle, her connections with people throughout the organization (not just the team she leads) are cool and I love her spirit!
Christina shows up as her authentic self. I always look forward to her insight and perspectives because they help me see things through a different lens.
She participated in a Facebook Challenge which is outside of her norm for the sake of bringing awareness to a topic outside of her program. Warmed my heart.
How has Christina supported you and your team?
Christina is always super supportive of everyone and recognizes when folks may need some uplifting. She helped me get through my first semester of my Masters by acknowledging the difficulties of my program, being online, in a pandemic, and still working full time. She is always supportive and encouraging.
Christina is always there to listen and be a support, and she makes others feel special. During the pandemic, Christina listened to my ideas and my feelings (and made me feel they were valuable), and she also performed acts of kindness. Thank you so much for sending that half gallon of locally brewed cold brew to my doorstep. :)
Christina surprised me for my birthday and I was overwhelmed with joy. I felt incredibly special and I won't ever forget how her thoughtfulness boosted my spirits!
She's very open to offering her knowledge to other programs and her team members.
What makes Christina a great leader?
Christina is a great leader because she trusts her team, which makes for a confident and sufficient team.
Christina is a great leader because of her passion for mental health and wellness. Social work is a demanding profession, but Christina makes it appear effortless and engaging. I appreciate that she is committed to the mental health field and improving quality of life for youth and families.
Christina's leadership skills create an environment where people feel respected and are empowered to help each other.
She is thoughtful, knowledgeable, passionate and compassionate.
Anything else?
I’m thankful for you bud!
If anyone doesn't love Mariah Carey, Christina will give you 5 reasons that you should!
kaelyn charbonnet | culture • magnanimous • elevation • energetic • grounded
What are some of the amazing things that Kaelyn has done?
Kaelyn is fun and optimistic. She is also serious and realistic. She has a very positive and healthy outlook on life and she shares it with others.
She helped create Wellness Warriors and is the voice behind our wellness wish.
Her work with Wellness Warriors has been amazing. Our youth really needed a space to just be when the pandemic started and it was amazing to watch Kaelyn work. She has such a calm and grounded energy about her that really helped to foster a safe and engaging space for the youth.
How has Kaelyn supported you and your team?
As a note taker and a passive observer of many interventions, it is a wonder to observe the calming, compassionate and open force that is Kaelyn. I've seen just how much she truly touches hearts with her wellness wishes and how she listens with an open heart to those who need to share with her, as well.
She always has a positive outlook, spread joys and encourages others.
Kaelyn is very thoughtful and intentional about her support for the Out of the Shadows participants. We all look forward to her wellness wish and also her charming and charismatic delivery of the wellness and self-care tips she shares.
Kaelyn has wonderful energy. She is uplifting and values the wellness of everyone she encounters.
What makes Kaelyn a great leader?
Kaelyn is the leader who will encourage you to do the seemingly impossible and celebrate you for your attempts (successful or not). She is the leader who empowers others to build on their strengths and explore the parts of themselves that may be untapped for potential to heal from within.
She is innovative, creative and passionate.
Kaelyn not only rises to the occasion with any task or project in front of her, she redefines it. Her approach to her own wellness, healing & self care radiates out to everyone she encounters, & in so doing, she elevates the rest of us, as well. I have rarely had the pleasure of working with such a charismatic, kind heart.
She always has new, fresh ideas.
Anything else?
The Out of the Shadows participants LOVE Kaelyn!
ashley everett | adaptable • excellence • dynamic • creative • ambitious
What are some of the amazing things that Ashley has done?
Ashley has made working on the BY-LA team feel like home. Not only is she super organized, but she's understanding. Her leadership is admirable as she intertwines the worlds of being a leader, individual and team player. Might I add, she makes the life of a team manager, wife and mom look effortless.
Ashley came onto our team just before the pandemic began, and for someone who barely got their bearings before going remote, she certainly sets the bar in every aspect of her work since. Every presentation she gives, meeting she facilitates, even promotion she steps into is handled expertly and with grace. We are all lucky (and ever so slightly intimidated!) to walk this professional journey with her.
She started on the R&E team right before lock down, quickly became an integral part of the team, then after that she became a manager of the BY-LA 2.0 program, where she was also quickly embraced. She's just an all around wonderful woman.
How has Ashley supported you and your team?
She is an amazing communicator and possesses a wealth of resources.
Not only did she shift roles in this position in the middle of a pandemic seamlessly, she makes us feel safe with her approachable attitude. She supports us by giving us all a chance to shine - being open to ideas, giving us room to be innovative, and opening us up for opportunities to lead. On top of that, she also reaffirms how cool of a team we are...that's never to be underestimated.
Ashley shared and implemented her recommendations to help the HIV/STI team complete observations. This was a monumental task and with the support of her and her team, we were able to get it done. Thank you, Ashley!
I love her spirit and her contributions to group settings.
What makes Ashley a great leader?
You never see Ashley sweat under any circumstance. Her spirit and work ethic is admirable. She does an amazing job keeping us organized, informed, and prepared (as much as possible), as well as making work pleasurable!
The times that I have worked on projects with her, she has gone above and beyond, and to call her reliable would be an understatement. She's impeccable, wise and a hard worker. Additionally, she speaks up for what she believes in.
Ashley is wise, willing to learn, organized and transparent.
Anything else?
I say this to her often, but thank you so much for all that you do. You are greatly appreciated and admired!
She has such a great warmth to her and her children are adorable!