Avenues for Homeless Youth | About Us: Staff

Deborah Loon joined the Avenues staff in February 2008. Deb has been providing nonprofit organizations with transitional leadership and strategic change consulting services for nine years. She has served a wide variety of organizations as their interim executive director. Deb has a Bachelors degree from St. Olaf College in Political Science and extensive leadership experience in both the nonprofit and for profit sectors.

Peter Fischer peter@avenuesforyouth.org
Director of Finance & Operations

Peter Fischer joined Avenues for Homeless Youth in June 2007. As the Director of Finance & Operations, he is responsible for all facility operations, human resources and financial management. Peter holds a Bachelors degree in Business and has over 30 years of business, operations, and general management experience.

Hanna Getachew-Kreusser
hanna@avenuesforyouth.org
Program Director,
Shelter & Transitional Housing Program

Hanna began her work at Avenues in April 2011. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Behavioral Science/Counseling and Psychological Services from St. Mary's University of Minnesota. Her Bachelor degree is in Psychology and International Business Management with an emphasis in French from Gustavus Adolphus College. Hanna has over 13 years of experience working with diverse populations, including victims of abuse, sex offenders, and homeless adults and families. She served for 10 years as the Transitional Support Services Manager at the Tubman Family Alliance, and she has been a mental health practitioner, including as a Psychotherapist, at Project Pathfinder in St. Paul. Hanna also co-founded a nonprofit organization, Resources for Enriching African Lives (REAL, Inc.). Its mission is to educate and empower African people, living in the United States and in their native countries, to lead productive and satisfying lives, building strong communities. Most recently, Hanna was a realtor helping people realize home ownership dreams.

Mike Meyer mike@avenuesforyouth.org
Marketing & Development Manager

Mike Meyer graduated from St. Olaf College in 2000 with a Bachelors degree in Economics and worked extensively in direct marketing and online marketing in the nonprofit and for profit sectors through 2008. In 2009, Mike started working independently for small firms in marketing, sales and consulting roles. He joined Avenues in January 2011 as the Marketing & Development Manager. In this role, Mike works to increase the Avenues footprint in the Twin Cities by strengthening community relations; heightening awareness of the organization; managing website, email and social media network marketing; and developing strategies to increase the donor base and individual and corporate giving. In his spare time, Mike enjoys playing the piano, singing, running, cooking, and doing pretty much anything outdoors.

Raquel (Rocki) Simões
rocki@avenuesforyouth.org
Program Manager, GLBT Host Home Program

Raquel (Rocki) Simões was hired in December 2006 to manage the GLBT Host Home Program. Rocki brings over 12 years experience in coordinating programs for homeless youth. She was the original program manager for the GLBT Host Home Program when it was housed at YouthLink. Rocki has a Bachelors degree in Russian and Masters in Social Work.

Jenny Lock
jenny@avenuesforyouth.org
Program Manager, Suburban Host Home Program

Jenny Lock joined Avenues in August 2011. She has an MS in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University and a BA in fiction writing from Hampshire College. Jenny has several years direct service experience with young people experiencing homelessness as a Youth Advocate and while coordinating the Independent Living Skills program at YouthLink. She most recently served as the Volunteer Coordinator and Development Associate at YouthLink, working with administrative staff to develop volunteer and in-kind donation policies and procedures. Jenny has also been a member of the Homelessness 101 steering committee and training team since 2009, and regularly leads trainings and workshops in the community on youth homelessness and conflict resolution.

Deena McKinney
deena@avenuesforyouth.org
Program Manager,
Minneapolis Host Home Program

Deena joined Avenues in April 2012. Deena McKinney has extensive experience developing programs and supporting homeless youth, having been a youth worker for nearly 15 years. She held positions at The Bridge for Youth ranging from youth counselor and independent living skills coordinator to manager of several housing programs and program director for the agency. Deena holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Northwestern College in Sociology and Intercultural Studies, and is completing a Masters of Education Degree in Youth Development Leadership at the University of Minnesota. She also is participating in the Walkabout Youth Worker fellowship through the University of Minnesota's Extension Center for Youth Development and Minnesota Department of Education. In that fellowship, Deena is conducting a critical inquiry and examination of youth work practice and the field of youth work in Minnesota.

Case Managers

Avenues schedules its case managers across the entire week and into evenings to give youth broad access to their support. These professionals assist the youth as they pursue their individual goals for housing, education, employment and health care. They also provide life skills training, assist youth in getting vital documents, and provide ongoing support after youth leave Avenues.

LaReina Dominick
Independent Living Skills Coordinator

Avenues' independent living skills training program provides youth with skill-building opportunities four days a week. Trainings cover a wide range of topics, including managing personal finances, conducting a job search and practicing for interviews, selecting a college and applying for financial aid, personal safety, health care, cooking and nutrition. Youth are able to take advantage of these opportunities in both one-on-one sessions and in group learning settings.

Bernie Menge, LICSW
Mental Health Therapist

Avenues hires staff on a part-time basis to provide mental health counseling services to youth.

Nancy Cusack, LP
Consulting Psychologist

Nancy Cusack provides clinical consultation to Avenues’ case managers and program director on a contract basis. Nancy is Clinical Director at The Bridge for Youth and has provided therapeutic services to youth at The Children’s Law Center and Youth Transition Program. She holds a BA and masters degree, and is a licensed psychologist, with extensive experience in both supervision and working with clinically with youth and families in a crisis setting.

Nurses

Avenues’ nurse practitioners are experienced in working with homeless youth and an important part of our care team. They provide medical assessments, referrals to dental and medical providers, medication management and health education.

Youth Counselors

Avenues’ youth counselors provide 24-hour care and supervision of the youth. They also prepare meals, assist youth with achieving individual plan goals, provide general care and support, and coordinate enrichment activities.