Board of Directors

St. Paul Youth Services is led by a committed and passionate board of directors with diverse perspectives and expertise.

JULIA FREEMAN

BOARD CHAIR, Interim Treasurer

Director of community engagement, voices for racial justice

What brought me to SPYS was my commitment to dismantling the school to prison pipeline. After speaking with Executive Director, Dr. Tracine Asberry about her vision for SPYS youth that shifted from focusing on engaging youth when they got in trouble to seeing them with all the assets they bring. How we as a community can lovingly put our arms around the youth. I joined the Board five years ago. I'm so happy I did because I've seen the birth of YouthPowerMN℠ and witnessed "Youth Changing the rules of Engagement." Their commitment to racial justice and "Kids Changing Systems vs Systems Changing Kids. I am proud to be a Youth Ambassador of SPYS.

JIM VUE

BOARD Vice Chair

The Saint Paul Board of Education, Vice Chair

Being Hmong Program, Facilitator

When I was growing up in this new country with my family, I heard many harrowing stories of their survival from war in Laos. Among those stories was my family’s escape plan from their village. My father would say, “store food in all directions north, east, south and west because we would not know which way we would flee.” They ended up going west towards Thailand. Now, with children and a family of my own, I understand my father’s logic, even though I may not know the context. Youth need support to grow their leadership from multiple sources. School, church, non-profit organizations, work or family. Their survival depends on it and any one or combination of sources could open that door to their future. I am compelled to join in this work with Saint Paul Youth Services because I’ve learned from my family’s stories that the more opportunities we create for ourselves to succeed, the more likely we are to experience success. I see it as my charge to ensure that our youth have multiple pathways for success.

NICOLE ENGLISH

BOARD Secretary

director of programs, new hope living inc.

A quote that inspires my work at SPYS:

“If you're going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can't be erased.”

– Maya Angelou