SPYS Team
DR. TRACINE ASBERRY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Location: Minnesota
Dr. Asberry is a former elected member of the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Board of Education, where she prioritized community outreach, best practices, and achieving excellent, equitable outcomes for all students. Tracine taught English/Language Arts at an MPS middle school for nearly 10 years, during which time she earned her Master’s in Education from the University of St. Thomas (UST). She completed her doctorate in Critical Pedagogy at UST as part of her Bush Leadership Fellowship. Dr. Asberry is a past director of the African American Academy for Accelerated Learning in St. Paul, has taught at local college and university Teacher Preparation Programs for 5 years and was appointed to the Board of School Administrators by former Governor Mark Dayton. Tracine grew up in Detroit, Michigan as the youngest of 8, and is the proud mother of three. Click here to learn more about Dr. Asberry.
PROGRAM Team
Behavior Intervention Program (BIP):
RICHARD HAMMONDS
Program support Specialist
Location: Minnesota
“Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It’s the courage to continue that counts”
– Winston Churchill
Pre-Charge Diversion :
LORI ROBERSON
Pre-Charge DivErsion CRISIS CoORDINATOR
Location: Minnesota
“Young people need models, not critics….”
– John Wooden
RAJIV REDD
Pre-Charge DivErsion COUNSELOR
Location: Minnesota
"What we do is more important than what we say or what we say we believe"
- Bell Hooks
LATAVIA OSGOOD
Pre-Charge DivErsion COUNSELOR
Location: Minnesota
Why is the work at SPYS important?
The work at SPYS is important because it allows youth to see just how connected they are with their community and how their actions affect their community and their future. SPYS allows youth the opportunity to grow through adversity while contributing to their community. I've very happy and excited to work with the youth and watch their growth through this process.
YouthPowerMN℠ Leaders
Dashawn Robinson
YouthPowerMediaMN℠ Co-Facilitator
I am Dashawn, from Illinois
I am from going to church on Sundays,
from greens and cornbread.
I am from African American people.
I am from Robinson and Jackson,
from English and praying.
I am from happiness and Christianity.
In order to lead without apology,
I must be assertive
I am brave.
Kananisa Abanesha
YouthPowerMediaMN℠ Co-Facilitator
I am Kananisa, born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota.
I am from the homeland of traditional coffee,
from injera and yummy tibs.
I am from Oromo culture people,
and from the one of the only Arsi tribe and my Abanesha brothers,
from a Muslim family and a happy Oromo family.
I am from a curious people and Islamic people.
In order to lead without apology, I must respect others
I am Kananisa
Suleiman Hassan
YouthPowerMediaMN℠ Co-Facilitator
I am Suleiman, from Kenya, Nairobi, and Somalia
I am from the horn of Africa.
from bariis and canjello that’s always sizzling.
I am from Somali people,
I am from Ibrahim and Hassan,
from a Muslim family and African American,
I am from happiness and faith in Allah.
In order to lead without apology,
I must take responsibility
I am Suleiman
Ryan Alexander-Cohen
YouthPowerMediaMN℠ Co-Facilitator
I am Ryan, from Fairview Hospital.
I am from celebrating family traditions,
from cookouts and barbecues
I am from African American people,
and from Austin and Corruthers,
from English and God.
I am from happiness and Christianity.
In order to lead without apology,
I must show better actions.
I am Ryan.
Resource Development Plan Team
ELIZABETH CAVANAUGH
Accountant Consultant
Location: Arizona
All children deserve opportunities to become their best selves regardless of the color of their skin and/or where they come from. When we help in this way our entire community becomes a better place. I want to be part of making children and community happy and healthy.
ELLEN DAVIS
GRANTWRITER Consultant
Location: Minnesota
What drew me to SPYS is the way SPYS flips the normal script on youth programs- like the YouthPowerMN vision of changing systems instead changing kids- and the way SPYS challenges adults to change our own practices to champion youth.
ELIJAH NORRIS-HOLLIDAY
Community Consultant
Location: Minnesota
“The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.”
-African Proverb
SHEILA REGAN
Marketing & Social Media consultant
Location: Minnesota
A friend referred me to the work of St. Paul Youth Services, and, since 2018, I've been inspired by the organization's mission and the creative, powerful youth we partner with.
AARON SOULE
BOOKKEEPER consultant
Location: Minnesota
I admire, respect, and align with SPYS values, and fully believe that the sky is the limit with each youth. My heart is in the work of SPYS, knowing that the vision is to offer hope and opportunity to all youth. The youth of St. Paul have something special in SPYS where no matter their background or past situations, there is a team devoted to their success who are there to coach, cheer, and hold them accountable as they achieve their goals. Although my role is behind the scenes, I consider it a privilege to serve on a team with our highly skilled program members who are deeply passionate about working with our youth.
WILLIE SUTTLE
Facility Maintenance Provider
Location: Minnesota
I've had the pleasure of providing services to SPYS for many years, beginning back in 1987. That's when SPYS was located on Marshall near Snelling Avenue in St. Paul and before it moved to Arcade Street, then it's current location on Wilson Avenue. In addition to maintenance services, I've worked with hundreds of youth completing community services through the SPYS Diversion program. I will ALWAYS have fond memories of my affiliation with SPYS.
Special Projects Team
Dominica Asberry-Lindquist
Special Projects Consultant
Location: Minnesota
"It’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished. It’s about what you’ve done with those accomplishments. It’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. - Denzel Washington
Farrington Asberry-Lindquist
Special Projects Consultant
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Quote: "One of the most vital ways we sustain ourselves is by building communities of resistance, places where we know we are not alone." - bell hooks
Harry Satler
Special Projects Consultant
Location: Chicago, IL
What brought you to St. Paul Youth Services?
I am deeply inspired by the way SPYS listens to and helps to amplify youth voices
I love that SPYS walks the walk, it's so rare for organizations to put their words into practice.