pronouns: she/her
mobile: 919-694-3133
email: myuckman@hopecenteratpullen.org
Where you’ll find me when I’m not at work: White water rafting
Favorite quote: “It is not happy people who are thankful, it is thankful people who are happy”.
Hidden talent: Playing piano
Favorite HS class: Theater
Meredith is grateful for the opportunity to serve The Hope Center and help light a path toward a safe and stable future for former foster youth. She is an experienced administrator and has developed and shaped programs that support at-risk youth for over 20 years. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master’s of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Meredith first join the Hope Center team in 2014, serving as the Program Coordinator, to spearhead the development of our Teen Programs that prepare youth in foster care for a safe and stable to adulthood.
pronouns: she/her
mobile: 919-637-9661
email: csherman@hopecenteratpullen.org
Where you’ll find me when I’m not a work: On a yoga mat or on a family outing
Favorite Book (and movie): Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston
Hidden Talent: I like to believe that I am the best rapper alive
Favorite Highschool Class: English (I have a serious love for words and reading)
Chantel is excited and honored to serve in the role of Director of Programs at The Hope Center at Pullen. Her passion for working alongside individuals who have a history within the foster care systems extends beyond her professional experiences. In her teen years she was a recipient of foster care services and believes this experience proved to be her call to action. Chantel has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Prior to joining The Hope Center at Pullen, Chantel worked directly with youth who were entering foster care, foster parents, young adults transitioning out of foster, for 14 years. She is tremendously grateful to be able to continue this very necessary very rewarding work here.
pronouns: she/her
mobile: 984-895-6093
email: bscotton@hopecenteratpullen.org
Where you’ll find me when I’m not at work: On my porch enjoying the peace and quiet.
Favorite TV show: Succession
Hidden talent: Line dancing. Not everyone can do it. lol
Favorite HS class: I liked interactive classes like Healthful Living and Weightlifting.
Bri is excited about serving as the Teen Programs Manager for The Hope Center. A southern country girl at heart, she comes from a family that taught the importance of helping others, serving the community, and working together to support youth. After working with individuals across the life span, she discovered that her passion is working with teens. She enjoys helping them navigate their unique journeys. Her mission is to provide meaningful support to youth by meeting them where they are, aiding them in identifying where they want to go and helping them feel empowered in order to reach their full potential. Bri graduated from UNC-Greensboro with a Bachelor of Social Work and holds a Masters in Higher Education Administration from Appalachian State University, with a focus on college and university leadership. She is also certified in Trauma and Resilience through Florida State University.
pronouns: she/her
mobile: 984-895-5927
email: apardo@hopecenteratpullen.org
Where you’ll find me when I’m not at work: Hanging out with friends or binge watching a show/movie series
Favorite quote: “Success is rarely the result of one swell swoop, but more often the culmination of many, many small victories.” -Joseph M. Marshall III
Hidden talent: Spontaneously switching to a British accent at any time
Favorite HS class: English/Writing
Alexys graduated from East Carolina University with B.S. in Applied Sociology, with a concentration in Marriage and Family, and a minor in Gender Studies. She also received her master’s degree in social work at NC State in May 2024. She always knew that she wanted to make a positive impact on the world and her local community. She is excited for the opportunity to be part of the Hope Center team and looks forward to working with and empowering our youth!
pronouns: she/her
mobile: 919-349-8266
email:
cbrown@hopecenteratpullen.org
Where you’ll find me when I’m not at work: Spending time with family
Favorite book: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince / Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Hidden talent: I love to dance and sing. I am always off beat and making up my own words to songs.
Favorite HS class: History
Originally from Syracuse, NY, Coco is an older sister, a godmother to five, and a dog mom! She has a Bachelor’s in Social Work and a Master’s in Public Administration with a focus in nonprofit administration from Buffalo State University. She started her career working as a teacher’s assistant in an infant room and became the family advocate for the same daycare. Further into her career, she worked as a training development specialist and group home supervisor, working with youth in foster care aged 14-21 years old. Now, as a Transition Specialist at The Hope Center, she works with former foster youth ages 18-27 and their families. She is the liaison for our Youth Advisory Board, and is working to become a certified birth and postpartum doula.
pronouns: they/them
mobile: 984-286-6023
email:
amee@hopecenteratpullen.org
Where you’ll find me when I’m not at work: In a cuddle puddle with all four of my kitties!
Favorite book: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Hidden talent: Making delicious jams and preserves
Favorite HS class: Anything related to poetry and writing
Adrianna is thrilled to join the Hope Center as a Transition Specialist! Adrianna is a nonbinary health and housing justice advocate who deeply believes that building a better world is possible. They recently moved here from Oakland, California where they worked as the lead street outreach case manager and program coordinator at a youth shelter drop-in center. Adrianna has a sociology degree from UC Berkeley and loves to flex their sociological imagination every chance they get. Their professional work is driven by their personal experience and strong belief that every human being is worthy and essential to this life. Adrianna works through a harm reduction and trauma-informed approach to elevate and empower clients. They cannot wait to envision beautiful futures with all the staff and youth at the Hope Center an to collectively work on turning those futures into reality.
pronouns: she/her
mobile: 984-286-3390
email:
mpeterson@hopecenteratpullen.org
Where you’ll find me when I’m not at work: Hanging out with family, finding the nearest beach, outing or event
Favorite book: Anything written by Omar Tyree
Hidden talent: I’m pretty good at doing hair.
Favorite HS class: Lunch (haha)… Science
Myisha is a graduate from Shaw University with a B.A. in Psychology and holds a current certification in Life Coaching. She has an extensive background in the human services field working as a case manager and program coordinator for homeless families and young adults transitioning into permanency. She is very excited to serve in the role of Transition Specialist where she uses an eclectic approach tailored to the unique needs of each client. Myisha enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and sitting in the sun with a good book!
pronouns: she/her
mobile: 919-637-5809
email: srodgers@hopecenteratpullen.org
Where you’ll find me when I’m not at work: You’ll find me on a date with my husband or home with the grandkids either jumping on the trampoline or dancing.
Favorite quote: “Don’t allow others to define who you are”
Hidden talent: Writing poetry
Favorite HS class: English
Stacey received her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Shaw University. Her career includes being a crisis counselor for domestic and sexual violence, licensed therapeutic foster parent, foster care social worker, as well as an intensive in-home worker with youth. Stacey is the founder and director of Sparkle Mentoring Program, a nonprofit organization for girls 12-18 providing one-on-one group mentoring. She is also a licensed minister, certified life coach, and is working towards her certification as a birth doula. She is married to Irving and together they have nine children and nine grandchildren. Stacey loves spending time with her family, going to the beach, and writing.
pronouns: she/her
mobile: 919-522-9707
email: bsherley@hopecenteratpullen.org
Where you’ll find me when I’m not at work: Attending/volunteering at a Comic Con, or out running.
Favorite quote: “Just because someone carries it well doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy.”
Hidden talent: Baking
Favorite HS class: AP Calculus
Brittney joins The Hope Center at Pullen with passion to learn and excitement to further the mission through development efforts. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in public relations and anthropology, and brings more than 15 years of fundraising experience in social services and animal welfare. She loves development work because it offers the best way for her to use her strengths to help those in need. She feels privileged to be part of such an impressive team of people who empower current and former foster youth, and each other. In her free time, she enjoys an active lifestyle of running, playing tennis, and strength training. Brittney also loves spending time with her husband, whether it’s watching movies, playing Scrabble, or attending fan-based conventions.
pronouns: she/her
mobile: 919-636-3641
email: aolson@hopecenteratpullen.org
Where you’ll find me when I’m not at work: Either on a bike, walking around town, or lounging on a picnic blanket.
Favorite book: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee or Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Hidden talent: I can replace a light fixture – electrical and all!
Favorite HS class: Orchestra
Abigail is excited and honored to support the Hope Center at Pullen’s mission in the Administrative Coordinator Role. After graduating from Arizona State University with a degree in Business and Sustainability, Abigail moved to Taiwan to complete a Fulbright grant where she worked with elementary school students. She stayed an additional year to study Mandarin and work as a mentor to college students at Tunghai University. Upon returning to the U.S., she worked in the construction industry where she learned project management and coordination skills. She is thrilled to jump into the non-profit sector and use the skills she learned to eliminate hurdles for her team and make sure everyone is set up for success. In her free time Abigail likes to study languages, ride her bike, and host game nights for her and her friends.
“Aging out is..hmm..to be honest, I really didn’t even know I aged out. It was because of the simple fact that I didn’t know anything about it–I didn’t know anything about my case, I didn’t go to court. I got to the age where I realized I didn’t have anymore court dates. I just put it in my mind that I was out of the system. There wasn’t really a transition for me because I was already used to living the way I lived. It was more like I already didn’t have anybody, so it was just the same scenario once I aged out. Why was I caught up in the system? That’s really my main thing, I still don’t understand.”
In 2016, more young people aged out of foster care in North Carolina than in the previous 15 years. In Wake County alone, 30–40 age out each year. Furthermore, Wake County experienced a spike in the number of children entering foster care in 2017. The services of The Hope Center are needed now more than ever before, and since 2013, we have increased the number of young people we serve from 30 to approximately 180.
The Hope Center provides support in the areas of housing, employment, life skills, education, mental and physical health, financial management, and establishing a support network, so that young people such as this young man quoted above don’t feel like they are alone in the world.
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