OUR STAFF
Kathleen Jackson started at Chicago Youth Programs as Donor Relations Director in October 2022. She brings a wealth of knowledge of the development landscape to her role, having over 20 years of experience working with a broad range of corporations, nonprofits, foundations, higher education, and individual donors.
Kathleen’s commitment to community service-oriented organizations for many years and her chosen career path aligns with her passion and desire to maximize Chicago Youth Programs’ presence as they continue to empower youth in the community to have confidence in themselves and understand their lives and their accomplishments matter to CYP.
Stephany Price born and raised in Woodlawn community. Like most kids she attended Chicago Public Schools. Stephany joined Chicago Youth Programs in 1995 to escape violence that plagued her community and finds ways to explore the Chicago. Stephany studied History and Black Studies at Northern Illinois University. She started her professional career with CYP in 2006 until 2015. I enjoyed connecting volunteers and youth to create long term relationships. As a mentor, I encourage kids to live a healthy nonviolent lifestyle. Stephany deliberately shifted her career to Real Estate in 2017 becoming a licensed luxury leasing agent in Chicago to spend more time raising her teen daughter; who is studying Molecular Engineering at THE University of Chicago.
Audtrie began working at Chicago Youth Programs as a parent volunteer in 2004, and was later promoted to After School Coordinator, before entering her current role as Southside Youth Programs Manager. She graduated from Kennedy King College with an Associate’s in General Studies, and plans to obtain her Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Development. Audtrie believes that children learn by example, and so it is imperative that they are supported and empowered from an early age. Audtrie’s personal goal is to use her skillset to help our youth overcome any hurdles they may encounter.
Charles has been involved with Chicago Youth Programs (CYP) since 2015. He first served as a parent volunteer for our PREP Program, as well as for our Male Mentoring Initiative, before joining the staff as a Community Liaison. In addition to being a Chicago native, Charles has worked with children for over a decade within the Department of Children and Family Services and other social service agencies focused on children’s needs. In September 2020 Charles stepped into the role of Near North/West Side Youth Programs Manager. His personal mission at CYP is to be a positive role model for students of all ages.
Janee’ is a passionate and results driven Program Manager at Chicago Youth Programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work. With extensive experience in leadership, youth development, and community engagement, Janee’ has dedicated her career to designing and implementing programs that create lasting impact. She brings a unique blend of compassion and strategic thinking to her role, ensuring that every program she manages is both mission-driven and results-oriented. Her unwavering dedication positions her as a trusted leader in the field of social work and youth development.
Lanyashia Jones joined Chicago Youth Programs in April 2025 as the Uptown Program Manager. In her role, she oversees programming for Uptown students and works closely with youth to support their personal, academic, and social development.
Lanyashia holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and brings a strong foundation in youth engagement and community service through various internships. What makes her journey especially meaningful is that she’s a proud alumna of Chicago Youth Programs—having participated in the very programs she now leads.
Deeply committed to giving back, Lanyashia is passionate about creating safe and empowering spaces for young people to thrive—just as CYP did for her. A fun fact: every one of her cousins was also part of the program, making CYP a true family tradition.
Affectionately known as “Coach D”, Darrick has been with Chicago Youth Programs since February 2018. Starting as a volunteer basketball coach and now working as a Lead Mentor Coach D has made mentoring while playing basketball his mission. His passion is to connect with the youth and give them a safe space to express themselves while they build their basketball skills and create a brotherhood.
Tommie is a Chicago Youth Programs (CYP) alumnus who grew up in the Cabrini Green Community and joined CYP programs when he was six years old. Currently residing on the city’s southside, Tommie takes pride in giving back to the organization. Tommie is invested in contributing to the continuous growth, change and support of CYP’s mission.
Ivory began working at Chicago Youth Programs (CYP) as the Higher Education Coordinator in 2019. He earned his B.A. in Speech Communications from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; and has over a decade of experience in mentoring and youth program development. A proud born-and-raised Chicagoan, Ivory loves the fact that CYP is a community-based organization; and hopes to continue to organize programs that aid Chicago students in forging their futures.