Each month, we’d like to highlight one of our excellent staff members by getting to know them better. Without their dedication and passion, our organization would not be what it is today! Behind every program is a fantastic team that works tirelessly to serve our community’s at-risk youth, which in turn allows us to provide quality services unlike any other nonprofit in the Piedmont Triad. We appreciate all of our excellent staff!
This month we’re kicking off our staff highlight with Temara Carthens at Act Together. Act Together is an emergency housing facility for male, female, and gender-nonconforming youth who have run away, are experiencing a family crisis, are the victims of abuse or neglect, or are homeless for other reasons. While at Act Together, youth receive shelter, as well as medical, psychological, and educational support in a home-like environment. The children attend public school, most often the school they were currently attending, and participate in a wide variety of both on and off-campus recreational, cultural and social activities.
Act Together has a long history of serving the LGBTQIA community. We are the proud recipient of several grants from the Guilford Green Foundation, a local organization whose mission it is to promote diversity and inclusiveness throughout the gay and lesbian community in greater Guilford County.
Temara is a crisis care professional, weekend supervisor, and scheduler with Act Together. Last year Temara was our part-time employee of the year, and we’re so excited for you to get to know her better!
Let’s learn some about Temara!
1. What is your favorite memory from Youth Focus?
Last year I was snowed in with our youth for four days. We had a wonderful time playing in the snow and making memories.
2. What is one thing you wish the general public knew about Youth Focus?
We do a lot of great work in Greensboro, but we also work with kids from outside of Greensboro and Guilford County.
3. Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?
The youth we serve. Everyone is different and comes from lots of different backgrounds. You have to get to know them and handle them all gently, but differently. By learning their strengths and weaknesses, I can help them grow. Learning that made me better at my job, and it doesn’t go unnoticed by our youth or my co-workers.
4. What led you to Youth Focus and working with young adults?
My father. I think about how if my father had access to more resources or programs like those that Youth Focus offers, maybe, just maybe, his adult decisions and family life would have been better. I firmly believe it is easier to build stronger children than to repair broken men.
5. What are three words to describe Youth Focus?
Community outreach, change, future
6. What advice would you give to your teenage self?
Always work to be better than yesterday.
7. If you were stuck on an island, what three things would you bring?
Food, the Bible, and a phone with wifi
8. What’s your most-used emoji?
😒
Thanks, Temara, for letting us get to know you a little better, and thank you for all you do for Youth Focus! We appreciate you!
