Young Leaders Spotlight
The Safe Haven Project and Youth Futures International, is extremely grateful to the following young leaders for dedicating their time, talents and passion to the organization. We are very fortunate to have a wonderful long-term relationship with the National Youth Leadership Forum, National Young Leaders Conference, and the Global Young Leaders Conference, various high schools around the nation, civic organizations and youth groups. Safe Haven is proud to feature the following five students in our first Young Leaders Spotlight, and look forward to showcasing many of our other young leaders over the months and years ahead!
Ally Stewart: Ally Stewart is a sophomore in college at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She is an education major and has a minor in psychology. Ally is from Parker Colorado. As a high school student, Ally attended the National Youth Leadership Forum in Los Angeles and upon hearing a presentation about Safe Haven by Dave Butler, she decided she was going to get involved. Over the 2009-2010 year, Ally exhibited great leadership in connecting with Safe Haven to share her deep interest in Ghana. Over a series of calls, Ally worked with Dave Butler in opening the first ‘Serve & Learn’ in Ghana for the summer of 2010. Due to Ally’s leadership the program was a complete success and has since grown to not only increase in size, but has led Safe Haven to open its Youth Futures International program. Ally participated as the programs first student in 2010, and now serves as a Program Director where she mentors and leads participating students during their time in Ghana.
Denali Wilson: Denali Wilson is a freshman in college at New Mexico State University and is from Las Cruces, New Mexico. Denali is active in a variety of community leadership projects both in Las Cruces and at New Mexico State University. She has brought her leadership skills to Safe Haven and has made a great impact. Denali has volunteered as a camp counselor for two years at Camp Safe Haven North Carolina, as well as organized various fund raising efforts. Through her high school, the university and a local church she raised $3,000 in support of Safe Haven. Another $1,000 was recently raised through a raffle drawing she conducted in her community. Denali participated as a Youth Futures International student in Ghana in 2011 and will return to Ghana this summer as an assistant program director. She is also a member of the Safe Haven Young Leaders Committee.
Lily Wagner: Lily Wagner is a freshman at the University of California Irvine and is studying toward her goal of becoming a doctor. Lily is from Sabastopol, CA. During her summer between her junior and senior year of high school, Lily attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, which was held in Boston. At the forum, Lily heard a presentation from Safe Haven Founder Dave Butler and knew from that day she would become involved in Safe Haven’s work in Ghana. During the summer of 2011, Lily participated in Safe Haven’s second year in Ghana as a Serve & Learn student. Since her return, Lily has served as great example of a young leader by presenting with Dave Butler at the National Youth Leadership Forum’s fall program in Los Angeles, serving as the administrator on the new Youth Futures International Ghana Facebook page for enrolling students, and will be attending as an Assistant Program Director this summer with Youth Futures International Ghana.
Laura Rose: Laura Rose is a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Laura is from Shelby, N.C. Laura has brought great leadership to Safe Haven as a volunteer, an athlete, and fundraiser for Camp Safe Haven North Carolina. As with many of our volunteers, Laura became involved with Safe Haven after hearing of the organization while attending the National Youth Leadership Forum. Laura first came to Safe Haven as a camp counselor during the summer of 2010 after just completing her junior year of high school. During her senior year, Laura produced, implemented and participated in the first ‘Camper Scamper’ 5K fundraising run to benefit Safe Haven. The event was a complete success in raising $3,500 for the program. Laura returned in the summer of 2011 once again as a camp counselor. She is a member of Safe Haven’s Young Leaders Committee. The ‘Camper Scamper’ will once again take place on May 19, 2012 in Shelby, N.C.
Melissa Curley: Melissa Curley is a junior at Jericho High School in New York and a member of the Young Leaders Committee for the Safe Haven Project. At her high school she is part of AIDS Awareness Club, AIDS Peer Educators, Student Council, Varsity Club, Spanish Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, and National Honor Society. Melissa is a three-varsity sport athlete playing tennis, basketball and lacrosse. She raised $6,000 running 9 miles with Dave Butler for the Safe Haven Project and plans on working at the North Carolina camp in August. Melissa most recently presented with Dave Butler to 1500 students at Huntington High School on Long Island, New York. During her presentation she stressed the importance of supporting Safe Haven, as well as beginning to collaborate with students at Huntington High School for her fundraising run in the fall of 2012