RYT200 Hatha and Vinyasa certified yoga instructor, currently working at Yoga Now in Chicago, IL and always looking to build classes and clientele. One-on-one classes available upon request!

The ODLSS Transition Specialist supports schools in preparing students with disabilities for life after high school, including planning for post-secondary education, job development activities, independent living skills training, community-based instruction, and travel training. Additionally, the team provides staff development, hosts informational family workshops, provides parent support and assistance, facilitates linkages to adult services, provides consultation to IEP teams regarding the development of individual transition plans, and organizes district-wide events for students.As a Transition Specialist, I oversee transition planning best-practices and compliance with state and federal law, for students with disabilities with IEPs who are transition age (8th grade - graduation), for half of the 3rd largest school district in the United States. I work with schools, teachers, and staff who are looking to improve the transition planning for students with disabilities at their school. I train K-12 teachers, help run the ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education) yearly audits for Indicator 13 & 14, create and implement events for students across the CPS district, and maintain resources and curriculum that I provide to support schools. I began in this role on the first day of the Covid-19 Pandemic in March of 2020, and have seen the district through many challenges including remote learning, school & district re-opening efforts, structural changes, and learned how to do my job remotely during the pandemic.

As the READY (Realizing Education & Advancement for Disabled Youth) Program Coordinator, I was responsible for assisting transition age students with disabilities to find employment and/or transition to college. In this first of its kind Transition Program in Chicago, I worked to create the READY program from the planning to implementation stage across Chicago Public Schools. The long-term goal of transition planning is for youth with disabilities will be able to live independently with sustainable employment in their community of choice as adults. The main job functions were as follows: Learned how to fight for disability rights from nationally and internationally recognized disability rights leaders from Chicago and beyond, building a strong understanding of disability history, language, culture, and best-practices for increasing positive disability identity understanding in our communities. Conducted disability awareness trainings for program partner organizations, businesses and schools. Taught a 12-week career-readiness curriculum to students with disabilities with varied needs and learning styles at four different high schools simultaneously. Supervised, trained, and provided tasks to READY program interns, volunteers and new staff; conducted performance evaluations. Consulted individually with each student regarding their disability and related needs as they shifted towards independence. Assisted transition age youth in setting and meeting goals related to finding employment and/or continuing their education. Developed and maintained relationships with CPS administrative staff and teachers throughout Chicago. Connected youth to Chicago area service agencies, including job readiness programs, college disability services offices and other community resources.

Established immediate contact with all newly-arrived refugee families with children in kindergarten through twelfth grade, including youth ages 18-21 that have experienced breaks in their education resulting from conflict in their home country Scheduled and conducted in-depth educational intakes with families through the use of a professional interpreterWorked one-on-one with refugee parents to provide school support services while working to ensure good relations with over twenty Chicago Public SchoolsLed monthly cultural orientations and parent trainings and provided daily support to parents Facilitated leadership and professional training for the refugee youth leadership program after interviewing and hiring studentsProblem-solved with schools while advocating for parents and resolved conflicts with participants on a regular basis

Planned and coordinated all after school and summer programming activities for recently arrived youth refugees and immigrants in the communityLed refugee youth in life-skills and enrichment activities while building consistent and supportive relationships with them and their familiesCo-planned and facilitated leadership and professional training for the refugee youth leadership program

Assisted in the planning and coordination of after school and summer programming activities for recently arrived youth refugeesOrganized all departmental youth program materials and prepared for refugee youth life-skills classes and enrichment activities Co-planned and facilitated leadership and professional training for the refugee youth leadership program through After School Matters

The Intercultural Service, Leadership & Management MA is a composite program with concentrations in Non-profit Management, Sustainable Development, & Peace and Conflict Transformation.

Co-taught, managed, and lesson planned for a 3rd grade classroom of 19 refugee and immigrant studentsLed children in after school programming and conducted academic tutoringTook initiative to develop and implement programming to enhance academic community in an under-resourced schoolCommitted to live simply and sustainably, and work toward social justice within a community of like-minded individuals as a member of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps

Volunteers give a year of service at a not-for-profit placement. My placement was in elementary education at The International Community School just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Lutheran Volunteers work for justice, build community, and live simply and sustainably.

After interning during the summer of 2009 at the African Community Center, I was hired for this position as a temporary replacement during an employee's sabbatical in the summer of 2010. Program responsibilities are as follows:Planned and led summer programming for youth refugees ages 12-18Managed staff and budget resources for all youth enrichment activitiesCoordinated and oversaw a daily soccer program with about 100 youth refugee studentsDeveloped and implemented life skills lessons, ESL class, and extra-curricular field trips

Assisted with coordination, planning and promotion of campus eventsSupported the Director of the Events and Conferences Office with all event related planning, from the beginning stages to implementationManaged various office and administrative tasks