OUR PROGRAMS

NEWCOMERS NETWORK

Convened by Thrive Mahoning Valley, this group is designed to be space for organizations working on repopulation, immigrations, resettlement, etc. The group meets every other month at OCCHA in Youngstown. Email Vicki@ThriveMV.org for more information.... 

SOUNDING BOARD

Convened by Thrive Mahoning Valley, this group is designed to be space for nonprofit leaders and future leaders to connect and share ideas while providing support for one another. The group meets at various locations throughout Mahoning County and practices the Jemez Principals for Democratic Organizing in its work. Email Terry@ThriveMV.org for more information... 

LISTEN, LEAD, SHARE, SERVE

Coming to your school soon....

ThriveMV will host a youth-focused series with OH WOW! The Gloria and Roger Jones Children's Center for Science and Technology. These conversations are designed to build power through conversations centering on environmental justice and equitable climate solutions. We are excited to be the fourth local recipient of the Ohio Climate Justice Fund's LLS grant. 

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ON IMMIGRATION

These conversations are aimed at sharing truths and dispelling myths about immigration and refugee resettlement. We invite newcomers to share their own stories of resettlement and professionals to share best practices and available resources. Our first event was November 30, 2023 at UUYO and focused on the Latin American experience. Future events will focus on the experience of another cultures.

During this annual series of events across the country, communities bring together immigrants, refugees, returning citizens, international students, and long-time residents in a spirit of unity to build strong connections across the community and affirm the benefits of welcoming everyone.

ThriveMV hosted the first annual Mahoning Valley Welcoming Week in 2019 and will continue in 2024 and beyond.

Follow along on Social Media by clicking the links below. 

DEAR MAHONING VALLEY

This project was supported by a Resident Engagement Grant from the Wean Foundation . We collect stories of impact in the form of a letter or video addressed to the Mahoning Valley. We continue to accept submissions to this project. Visit the Dear Mahoning Valley page for more information

BIKES FOR STUDENTS

We are accepting donations of gently used or new bicycles, and new helmets to provide to international students and other newcomer adults with short distance transportation needs in Youngstown. You may send us an email at info@thrivemv.org to schedule a pickup or to tell us about a newcomer in need. 

HOLAFEST YOUNGSTOWN

Thrive Mahoning Valley is proud to have participated on the planning team for the 1st Annual HolaFest | Youngstown, which occurred September 23, 2023. We are committed to ongoing participation in the planning of future events and look forward to celebrating Latin culture for many years to come. 

CINCO DE MAYO 2024

Thrive Mahoning Valley is leading the planning for the 1st Annual Cinco de Mayo Cultural Celebration on Phelps, scheduled for May 2024. The event is co-sponsored by the City of Youngstown and Sociedad Mutualista Mexicana, and will feature a cultural fair, dance, children's activities, and music, headlined by the Labra Brothers. 

COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE PROJECT

Thrive Mahoning Valley started with a collaborative project to support families relocating to the Mahoning Valley from Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricanes Maria and Irma. Our team wanted a way for these families to have easy access to reliable resources and not have to worry about information being lost in translation. The project was initiated through the efforts of Justin Mondok and Christopher Tennant, both alumni of the Raymond John Wean Foundation’s Emerging Leaders Program. The project received initial support from The Raymond John Wean Foundation’s Community Investment Grant Program and through collaboration with the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.

Thrive Mahoning Valley comenzó con un proyecto colaborativo para apoyar a las familias que se trasladan al valle de Mahoning desde Puerto Rico después de los huracanes María e Irma. Nuestro equipo quería una manera para que estas familias tuvieran acceso fácil a recursos confiables y no tuvieran que preocuparse de que la información se perdiera en la traducción. El proyecto se inició a través de los esfuerzos de Justin Mondok y Christopher Tennant, ambos egresados de Raymond John Wean Foundation’s Emerging Leaders Program.  El proyecto recibió  apoyo inicial de una beca de inversión comunitaria de la Fundación Raymond John Wean y a través de la colaboración con la Corporación de desarrollo vecinal de Youngstown.

COMING SOON

Thrive Mahoning Valley is working on exciting new programs and initiatives in 2024 like improving language access, addressing barriers to employment, and collaboratively tackling the local housing shortage. Additionally, we will launch the Ambassadors of Inclusivity Program and work to erase health disparities in non-English speakers of the area. Through these efforts, we look forward to leading the way to resettlement and population growth in the Mahoning Valley for years to come. 

We are also excited to announce that we will soon host Diana Palardy's  project Latino Voices of the Valley. These videos and transcripts, originally done when Diana was a Spanish professor at YSU, tell the Latino story of the Mahoning Valley through the voices of those who experienced it personally. 

THE TEAM

Justin

Justin Mondok  | Co-Director

Accessibility is a central focus of Justin’s professional work as an Urban Planner and much of the community work he engages. He believes in the idea of easily accessible information and physical places to better connect people to the things they need.

Follow Justin on X @justin_mondok to learn more about the work he does.

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Christopher Colón  | Co-Director

Hailing from Youngstown, Ohio, with cultural roots traced back to the Taíno people of Puerto Rico and immigrants from the Welsh countryside, Chris has always thrived to connect people and places. For over 17 years, he worked as a social worker, counselor, and business development professional in the healthcare industry of the Mahoning Valley. After seeing the devastating effects of the 2017 hurricanes in Puerto Rico and personally helping families relocate to the Mahoning Valley, he devoted himself to welcoming newcomers. In addition to his current role as Co-Founding Director here at ThriveMV, Chris is a certified volunteer naturalist and the Northeast Ohio Regional Director of the Ohio Environmental Council & OEC Action Fund. He sits on  the Boards of Directors of Oh Wow! The Gloria & Roger Jones Science Center for Children, Friends of the Mahoning River, and Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services. He is also a proud husband and father of two boys. For self-care, he enjoys tinkering with recipes, exploring parks and green spaces, and being a tried and true member of Raider Nation...

 

 

 

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Vicki Vicars  | Director of Advancement

Raised in Canton, Ohio, Vicki and her husband, Terry, have been Mahoning Valley residents for 35 years. After working 33 years as a Catholic religious education and evangelization coordinator in a variety of parishes, Vicki left that ministry to pursue other options. She worked as Lead Community Organizer with ACTION and currently works as Director of Mission, Equity, and Resilience for Ursuline Sisters Mission. Inspired by Catholic Social Teaching, Vicki is excited to be also working with Thrive Mahoning Valley to build inclusive, equitable communities that welcome people from all walks of life.  She and Terry have a son who is married with three children and a daughter who is engaged with two children.  They have been foster parents to Jimmy for 33 years.

 

 

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Ariana Wyndham  | VISTA Program Development Coordinator

Ariana Wyndham was born in Mexico and moved to Mississippi as a child with her family looking for work. After eventually settling in Warren, Ohio, she spent over 15 years gaining experience with volunteering, activism, and advocacy across many social justice issues including human rights, voting rights, diversity and equity, immigrant rights, poverty, animal rights, the arts, and climate change. She currently attends Purdue Global University,  pursuing a Bachelor's in Youth/Family Services and Administration, and expects to graduate in 2025. Ariana has a unique perspective as a DACA(Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient, mother, student, artist, and philanthropist. She is dedicated to serving humanity and is excited to continue her efforts as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Thrive Mahoning Valley.

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Terry Vicars | VISTA Community Engagement Coordinator

While his family roots can be found in England, Whales, Germany and Ireland, his heart yearns for the rolling hills of the Emerald Isle. He counts among his "Pot of Gold" his wife of 35 years, Vicki, their children Nicholas and Annie, foster son Jimmy, and their five grandchildren. Before coming to ThriveMV as an AmeriCorps VISTA, Terry worked for the Catholic Charities Regional Agency for 26 years as a Case Manager, working in the homeless communities of Warren and Youngstown. Prior, he worked for 12 years as a Youth Minister at several parishes within the Diocese of Youngstown. Terry's life passion is to work with people who have been oppressed by poverty and/or who have been marginalized for any number of reasons. His motto and most treasured belief - "We are sisters & brothers ALL"... In addition to serving his community, Terry also enjoys the outdoors and a great jazz show now and then.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Diana Palardy  |  Board President

Diana is currently the Volunteer Coordinator for RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) and a former professor of Spanish at Youngstown State University who has experience with grant writing and fundraising. She collaborated with the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor to produce the Latino Voices of the Valley project, which is an oral history archive funded by the Ohio Humanities Council and YSU’s Office of Research Services. She has been active in the community by fundraising for the local immigrant population and for various organizations. Furthermore, she has been active in voter registration campaigns. In her academic research, she focuses on topics such as utopia/dystopia, immigration, gender, and contemporary social movements in Spain.

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Angelica Diaz |  Board Recorder

Angelica Diaz, is the Executive Director for Organizacion Cultural Hispana Americana (OCCHA). She takes pride in advocating the organization’s mission to improve the lives of the Hispanic and multicultural communities in the Valley. She is a native of Isabela, Puerto Rico, and was raised in Youngstown, where she graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School.  She has lived in Detroit and Puerto Rico working with Hispanic faith-based communities. Angelica is married to Moises Diaz Rodriguez, and they have five beautiful children. She received a B.A. in Journalism from Youngstown State University and is dedicated to her faith, family, and community. 

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Dr. Alexis Smith  |  Board Treasurer

Alexis is currently Co-Medical Director of the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center which is part of Bon Secour Mercy Health System in Youngstown, Ohio. Smith was Director of Breast Imaging at Trinity Health System in Steubenville, Ohio from 2014 to 2017.  In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Smith serves on the YWCA Mahoning Valley board, United Returning Citizens board,  and the American Osteopathic College of Radiology committee for continuing medical education. She is also the first vice president of the League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown, co-group leader and liaison for Citizens' Climate Lobby Mahoning Valley, and vice president of the Poland Jr Womens' Club. Dr. Smith received her Bachelor's degree in Economics, graduating summa cum laude in 2003 from Washington and Jefferson College prior to entering medicine.  A graduate of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Smith completed a radiology residency at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and fellowship training in women’s imaging at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Magee Women’s Hospital.

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David Labra |  Board Member

David has strong roots in the Youngstown area and is an active member of the community, while also being an avid supporter of local businesses. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Elena, who founded her own local business as a ceramic artist. Along with his passion for supporting the local community, David has several years of experience organizing local events as a member of The Neighborhood LLC. He is also a founding member of the award-winning, multicultural musical group, The Labra Brothers, which allows him to proudly tap into his Hispanic heritage.

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Elainie Huncik  |  Board Member

Elainie is the Program Coordinator of Outreach at OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children's Center for Science & Technology in downtown Youngstown, Ohio. She has 5 years of experience in informal education, and she holds a bachelor's degree in Physics/Astronomy with minors in Geosciences, Mathematics, and Education from Youngstown State University. She enjoys volunteering, especially in community theatre. She believes that everyone, regardless of background or experience, has the capacity to understand science. Her goals are to make science accessible, correct misconceptions about STEM, and build people's confidence in STEM concepts. She sees astronomy and the night sky as a way to build and strengthen community - we all share the same sky, every culture has stories in the stars, and we all wonder what is out there. As a second generation American and a first generation college graduate, she is endlessly grateful for those who made it possible for her to pursue her passions, and she aims to pay it forward.

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Derrick McDowell  |  Board Member

A native son of the Southside of The City of Youngstown, and a Chaney High School graduate, Derrick has endured the challenges that so many faces as an inner-city kid. Having previously spent 12.5 years in corporate America, Derrick is now more known for his resilience and resolute passion, and love for the city of his birth. From developing the movement known as "We Are A Generation,” a collective "call to action” and community empowerment organization, to his efforts as the Founder of The Youngstown Flea (an outdoor "Market for Makers” which, since 2016, has the focus of building out a micro-incubator, ecosystem and an economic sustainable platform for side hustles, small business owners and successful brands alike); to his work as Community Engagement & Inclusion Coordinator at the downtown Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre found in Wean Park — Derrick is relentless in his efforts to show value, worth and significance to the residents of the City of Youngstown that he loves.

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Adam Lee  |  Board Member

Adam is a native of New York. He currently serves as the program director for Youngstown CityScape. His accomplishments include a self-started farm-to-table pop-up event business, providing hands-on inner-city science education, nonprofit work in support of local community food access, and professional experience in the world of fine dining and hospitality. Furthermore, he is involved in the Downtown Youngstown Partnership, Wick Park Neighborhood Association, a member of Youngstown Rotary and has an extensive international travel history.

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Koula Glaros-King  |  Board Member

Attorney Koula Glaros King currently serves as a staff attorney with Community Legal Aid in Youngstown.  Her focus area includes immigration and citizenship representation, Naturalization clinics, Health Education Advocacy and Law (HEAL), and Civil Protection for Domestic Violence.  A graduate of Kent State University, she went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron Law School.  She has served as special counsel to the Ohio Attorney General and has teaching experience at a variety of post-secondary institutions including Southeastern College in Athens Greece teaching Business Law and Ethics, as well as at Kent State University as a Political Science Instructor.  Attorney King has been involved in many professional and community organizations including the Trumbull County Bar Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Justice for Immigrants Council, Human Trafficking Network of Northeast Ohio, League of Women Voters, Trumbull Art Guild, and Friends of Warren Library. She is a member of the PanIkarian Brotherhood, the oldest Greek American 501(c)3 medical & scholarship charity.   Attorney King is a continuing legal education speaker with a primary focus on immigration issues. She speaks English and Greek but also has comprehension in Spanish, French, Some German, Italian & Portuguese.  She has taught Paper Cutting Art at the Susan Jacobs Studio in Cortland and enjoys sailing and gardening.

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Dennis Yommer Jr.  |  Board Member

Dennis is currently the coordinator of the English Learner Program at Youngstown City Schools. For the last 11 years he has worked with English learning scholars of all ages from across the globe in a variety of capacities. In recent years, he has presented multiple topics centered around equity, inclusive practices, and language acquisition to audiences at conferences across three separate states. Additionally, he presently serves as a board member to both West Virginia TESOL and Ohio TESOL, where his primary role is to promote and develop effective state and local practices for English Learning scholars in K-12 education. The driving mission of his work is to promote inclusivity and access among multicultural and multilingual families in the education system and local communities.

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Anika Jacobs  |  Board Member 

Anika Jacobs moved to the Youngstown area in 1987 from Yonkers, NY. She worked in the medical field as a Medical Assistant for 22 years. She served as the Midwest Chairper-son for Simply United Together. Anika is a VISTA Alumni and served at YNDC for 2 years prior to being hired as a Neighborhood Organizer. Through her love and passion for people and the community, she founded Promise Communi-ty-Hub nonprofit organization and Pantry to help meet the basic needs of low income individuals and families. She is a Board Member of Safe Zones nonprofit organization and Glo-ris Griffin Counseling Services. Anika currently works part time at the Glenwood Fresh Market, a program for low in-come individuals and families to receive fresh fruits in vege-tables to improve their health. She is the mother of 7 and Granny to 7! In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, music, reading and enjoying the fresh air. 

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Sr. Eilis McCulloh  |  Board Member 

Sr. Eilis McCulloh is a Sister of the Humility of Mary. She recently graduated with her JD from the University of Akron School of Law and currently serves as the Grassroots Education and Organizing Specialist at NETWORK Lobby. Eilis has worked alongside the refugee and immigrant communities for 15 years. She is a proud daughter of Youngstown and looks forward to giving back to her hometown.

SUPPORT

The project received initial support from The Raymond John Wean Foundation’s Community Investment Grant Progam as well as technical assistance to get the project off the ground. The Thrive Mahoning Valley founders are all alumni of the Foundation’s Emerging Leaders Program. Visit the Foundation’s website at rjweanfdn.org. 

Additional support has been received from the Youngstown Foundation, Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, International Institute Fund, and the Ohio Climate Justice Fund.