The YR team

Tasha is a resilient leader dedicated to championing the underdogs and empowering youth. Overcoming personal trauma and nearly failing out of high school, she became a top Realtor and homeowner as a single mother at 20, inspiring others with her determination.

Driven by a deep calling to help those who feel voiceless and marginalized, Tasha pursued higher education. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Community Development and a Masters in Education. In 2011, she founded Youth Rising, a groundbreaking initiative that has grown nationwide. To further her mission, she also received a certificate in fundraising and in real estate development to create safe and secure independent living programs for older youth.

Tasha's passion for physical activity and street sports stems from her personal experiences, where basketball, dance, and other sports were pivotal during her teenage years. As a previous USA/ABF Licensed Boxing Instructor and owner of boxing programs, she is committed to integrating physical activities into YR Drop-in Centers to provide holistic opportunities to improve the health and well-being of young people.

Motivated by her encounter with an unregulated, abusive wilderness boot camp as a teenager (which has since been shut down), Tasha is dedicated to developing innovative services that effectively serve youth facing challenges in foster care or falling through the cracks of the system.

Tasha's journey and unwavering commitment to advocating for youth and communities are a testament to her purpose-driven leadership. She resides on a "Girl Farm" in rural Middle Tennessee with her daughter and Presa Canarios, continuing to inspire change and make a difference in the lives of those she serves.

Dan is an experienced financial executive with a passion for leveraging his accounting and financial management acumen for the benefit of community organizations. In part due to his own experiences during adolescence, and in part due to observing service gaps in many communities for youth in need, Dan felt a calling to join Youth Rising as Chief Financial Officer, where he acts as a strategic business partner to the executive team as they seek to make data-informed decisions for the benefit of YR and the populations it serves.

Prior to joining the team, Dan spent nearly a decade leading finance and accounting departments of non-profit organizations, primarily those operating in the human services space. He has led mergers and acquisitions activities, spearheaded systems improvements, and engaged in grant applications and fee- for-service contract negotiations. After leaving the nonprofit sector, he served as Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller for a large e-commerce retailer, and later as a fractional CFO and Controller for nonprofits and privately-held companies ranging from $500,000 to $85,000,000 in annual

Revenues. Dan holds a BBA in Finance, is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and is consistently engaged in professional development and continuing education. Dan lives in Baltimore, and outside of work, he enjoys volunteerism, most recently having served on the board of directors of a human rights organization as both a director and an officer (treasurer). Beyond that, he has a kitten that keeps him occupied, he’s working on becoming fluent in Spanish, and enjoys car shows, races, and horology.

Jesse is a compassionate Idaho LCSW with 15+ years in behavioral health, hospital administration and youth services. His projects have included leading the State's regional parenting program for troubled teens, integrating Primary Care Behavioral Health services in a rural clinic, and most recently developing clinical oversight of a new 64-bed psychiatric residential treatment facility. He also just completed a graduate certificate in Public Health (Management and Leadership) in December 2023, endeavoring to improve as a leader.

Growing up with personal and family challenges in Washington State, Jesse received the assistance of friendly professionals to develop confidence, resilience and a desire to help others. This orientation towards "unconditional positive regard" has proved beneficial in difficult work settings ranging from the boys' home to the county jail to the psychiatric hospital. He has volunteered regularly since high school, including years with the local refugee population, and continues to provide Clinical Supervision for individuals in this field.

Jesse was excited to learn about Youth Rising's diverse resources and mission to help transitional-age youth become productive citizens and the best versions of themselves. He is committed to providing thoughtful program development, clinical oversight and adding value to our great programs across multiple states. Jesse and his amazing Social Worker wife live in the Boise metro area, where they enjoy their two great kids, serving on the church music team, staying active in sports and travelling as much as possible.