Solar Youth, Inc.

BACKGROUND
SOLAR YOUTH, INC. is a non-profit environmental education and youth development organization founded in the fall of 2000 based on work piloted by its founders - Joanne Sciulli, Heather Gilbert and a group of New Haven's youth.

MISSION
The official mission statement of SOLAR YOUTH, INC. was written as part of our 2001 Strategic Planning process, involving staff, Board members and youth.

to provide opportunities for young people to develop a positive sense of self and connection and commitment to others through programs that incorporate environmental exploration, leadership and community service.

OUR MOTTO and PROGRAM MODEL
Our motto refers to the three main goals and activities of the Solar Youth program model:

See KIDS EXPLORE! KIDS DO! KIDS TEACH! in action!

PEOPLE

	Joanne Sciulli - Co-Founder & Executive Director
	Evelyn Diaz - Office Manager Evelyn came to Connecticut from the warmer part of Southern California. She joined Solar Youth, Inc. in September 2006 as Solar Youth's Office Manager. Putting her 8 years of administrative office experience to use, she handles the day to day administrative responsibilities that help the organization run smoothly. Among other talents, Evelyn holds a certification in Audio Production and aspires to move on to the Video Production industry in the future.
	Gamaliel Moses - Program Director Gamaliel Moses was born in an eastern Caribbean island called Dominica. He grew up climbing mountains, fishing, swimming and being outdoors. He graduated from college in 2004 and moved to the US in 2005. He became a Public Ally at Solar Youth, where he was responsible for two after-school NST programs. Public Allies is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance young leaders from the community in order to strengthen non-profit and civic participation through leadership training. After completing his year with the Allies, he stayed on as a second year Ally at Solar Youth. His favorite color is green and he is a musical artist who does poetry and drumming.
	Beth Studley - Program Director Beth is a Program Director at Solar Youth, organizing both HOLA (Hands-On Outdoor Learning Adventure) and Citycology. After spending time in New York City pursuing her passions for music, youth and the environment, teaching in schools throughout Brooklyn and Queens, she decided to return to Connecticut! After hearing about the organization through fellow members of her Environmental Education graduate program at Southern CT State University, she joined the Solar Youth team in September 2007. Beth thinks that Solar Youth is a great opportunity to learn from youth, explore the outdoors, and be crazy!
	Zeny Pfisterer - Environmental Educator Zeny is 27 years old and calls New Hampshire home. She works with two NST Programs at Solar Youth - one at Poplar Street and the other at John S. Martinez School in Fairhaven. Zeny's background is in Elementary Education but her passion lies in Environmental Education and teaching young people about the world around them. Besides teaching youth, her favorite things to do include spending time in the outdoors hiking and enjoying winter sports in the mountains of New Hampshire. She loves to snowboard and ski!
	Jessica Heringer - Environmental Educator Jess is originally from Montana -- big sky and big mountain country. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame and has worked with youth in Montana, Indiana, Chicago, and Honduras. She loves the color green, fried chicken wings, and Solar Youth field trips – come join us!!!
	Kelly Misiak - Environmental Educator Kelly is an experienced outdoorswoman with 7 years of experience in wildlife conservation and environmental education. While completing her BS in Wildlife Biology at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, Kelly worked extensively with birds-of-prey, wolves, bats, and aquatic invertebrates. Kelly is a native of Hartford and enjoys spending her time gardening, running, and volunteering with local animal welfare organizations.
	Maggie Dressel - Environmental Educator Maggie grew up in Virginia but moved to New York City to attend Barnard College. She graduated with a degree in Urban Studies and concentrations in Education and Environmental Science. She is so excited to combine her passions for cities, youth, and the environment in her work at Solar Youth! Maggie loves animals, the color pink, and baking!
	Cosmo - Office Dog

	Heather Gilbert - Chair Registered Nurse, Yale/New Haven Hospital
	Shakila McKnight - youth co-chair student, 11th grade
	Kate Walton - treasurer program coordinator, ct food Bank Kate Walton attended Goddard College in Vermont in the 1970's, majoring in Anthropology and Elementary Education. She obtained a Master's in Teaching from George Washington University and went on to work at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard. A native of New Haven, CT, Kate eventually returned there and created a community based rehabilitation agency called Fellowship Place, serving as its Director for 20 years. Since 2002 Kate has served as CFB's Grant Writer and now Programs Director, overseeing the distribution of donated food to over 600 programs in six of Connecticut's eight counties.
	Javaughn Harris - youth co-treasurer student, 12th grade
	Rebecca Gratz - secretary teacher, new haven public schools
	Nicole Dunnaville - youth co-secretary student, 11th grade
	Edgar Bonilla - member dir. of community resources, middlesex united way
	Joanne Sciulli - member executive director, solar youth, inc. Service on Board: 8 years
	Chris Rector - member consultant, holt, wexler & farnam, llp
	Aviv Aviad - member consultant, cornus consulting, llc
	Joe DeNicola - member managing director, ge energy financial services Joseph DeNicola is a Managing Director at GE Energy Financial Services where he has been employed for the last eight years. He previously managed a sustainable forestry company in Argentina. He has been active in various community and non-profit organizations and currently resides in Hamden with his wife and two children.
	Norris Haynes - member chair, counseling & school psychology department, southern connecticut state university Norris Haynes, Ph.D. is Chairperson and Professor in the Counseling and School Psychology Department at Southern Connecticut State University and Founder and Director of the Center for Community and School Action Research (CCSAR). He is also an Associate Clinical Professor at the Yale University Child Study Center, the Yale Department of Psychology and the Bush Center.

Now check out WHAT we do