Board of Directors
Name: Bronwyn Lucas
Hometown: Springfield, MA
Favorite Adolescent Age: I enjoyed my entire adolescence.. really, I did! I would go back to any age now in a minute. Reflecting back, I realize now that I had a lot going on mentally, emotionally, socially and physically. I loved learning and discovering about who I was. It was during this time that I had many, many social interactions that helped to define me.
Why YES!?: I believe that intergenerational power sharing is essential to creating solutions for the challenges of our world. To that end, every day I see the changes that we are making in communities, with organizations, with adults and in the lives of young people. I get my energy from all the people with whom I work.
Profession: Executive Director of YES!
Name: David Jolly
Hometown: Bridgeport, CT
Favorite Adolescent Age: 12 and 13 when I was in what we called junior high – very close-knit circle of friends – lots of adventures. It was downhill after that until college!
Why YES!?: I believe in the mission of empowering youth for social change, particulary youth who aren’t already recognized as superstars but who have great potential and who could really come into their own through a program like YES! Also I love how YES! combines a commitment to this progressive cause with a energetic and creative entrepreneurship.
Profession: Teach public health education at NCCU
Name: Meka Sales
Hometown: Chantilly, VA
Favorite Adolescent Age: It wasn’t until I was 16 that I really had confidence to contribute to this world in a meaningful way.
Why YES!?: I enjoy helping youth become aware of their potential and understand the important contributions they can make to our society.
Profession: Program Officer for The Duke Endowment
Name: Saleem Hussaini
Hometown: Pune, India
Favorite Adolescent Age: 18
Why YES!?: I am motivated and energized by the passion of the youth and staff to make a difference that impact the community.
Profession: Director, Business Technology at Pfizer Animal Health Global Poultry
Name: Anne Thornhill
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Favorite Adolescent Age: I hit my stride in college, when I was 18, because I finally had independence and confidence to speak up for the things I believed in. One reason YES! is such an important organization is that it helps young people find their voices earlier than I found mine.
Why YES!?: The great work that YES! does accomplishes two critical aims— engaging youth in health advocacy and civic engagement, making our communities stronger; and empowering young people, building strong future leaders.
Profession: Senior project manager for a public health organization
Name: Heather Gates
Hometown: Marianna, FL
Favorite Adolescent Age: As I think back, I enjoyed most of my adolescent years. My favorite ages were probably later in adolescence when getting my driver’s license gave me a new sense of independence and control.
Why YES!?: I joined YES! because I whole-heartedly believe in the mission of this organization and want to contribute my passion and expertise to improving adolescent health.
Profession: Director of WNC Programs, WNC Health Network
Name: Lee Storrow
Hometown: Asheville, NC
Favorite Adolescent Age: 15, because that’s when I started debate at my high school. Debate gave me public speaking skills, policy knowledge, confidence and a desire to make the world a better place.
Why YES!?: I got my foundation in advocacy and activism as a youth leader with YES!, and am proud to be able to give back to the organization now as a board member.
Profession: Managing Director, North Carolina Alliance for Health
Name: Roxanne Elliott
Hometown: I was born on Beale Air Force Base in California. I had many hometowns growing up in the military. I lived in California, Massachusetts, Alabama and Virginia during my childhood. I currently live in Sanford, N.C.
Favorite Adolescent Age: My junior and senior year of high school were my favorite times; I was 16 and 17 years old.
Why YES!?: I believe the youth voice is a powerful voice. It is exciting to see youth present themselves professionally and assert their knowledge to influence real change.
Profession: Policy Director, FirstHealth of the Carolinas
Name: Sage Dunston
Hometown: Cherokee Indian Reservation, NC
Favorite Adolescent Age: I was lucky enough to grow up in Western North Carolina among some really great people I’m proud to say I’m still friends with. High school was a really great time for me. I had a lot of fun and personal growth during those years.
Why YES!?: Simple, because youth empowerment works. Youth empowerment builds strong families and healthy communities. Youth empowerment invests in all people. The good work YES! undertakes supports the goal that everyone deserves the simplest of human values: hope, education, and opportunity.
Profession: Enrollment Management Counselor, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Name: Rebecca Reeve
Hometown: I spent my first 12 years in southern New Jersey, most of them in Woodstown NJ, a small town with one traffic light.
Favorite Adolescent Age: I’d have to say that 17 was the best. That’s the year my high school field hockey coach took three of us to an alumni game at her alma mater, Madison College in Harrisonburg, Va. Meeting the college coaches and realizing that I really could go to college opened a new world for me. The mentors who helped me rise to the challenges of college years remain my friends to this day.
Why YES!?: I enthusiastically support the YES! mission. I’ve seen the results the dedication of the impressive adult and youth staff of YES! have produced– positive community change right now. Realization of the YES! vision, communities where empowered youth leaders work alongside adults to create positive change, is not only energizing and inspiring to me, it is the only way to create the kind of progressive community in which I want to live.
Profession: Director of Research Programs, NC Center for Health & Wellness at UNC Asheville
Name: Tom Cornwell
Hometown: Cary, NC
Favorite Adolescent Age: My favorite adolescent age was around the age of 16. This was the time in my life that I got my first part-time job and I enjoyed becoming more independent, the added responsibilities, and the sense of personal growth.
Why YES!?: I joined YES! because I view the program as a catalyst for positive change in our communities. I am confident that the graduates of this program will become future leaders in their families, places of employment, civic groups, and neighborhoods as they apply many of the skills they are presently learning at YES!.
Profession: Senior Tax Manager at Malvin Riggins & Company, PC
