Jennifer Stadler 

Youth Empowerment Specialist

As a child, adults are always asking you, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I always said I wanted to be a teacher. There was a space missing in my life, and I didn't want others to miss out either. When you grow up with three older siblings, each with their own challenges, you're not always heard. So, I wanted to become a teacher to create a space where youth felt empowered and heard. While I ultimately did not go into the classroom to teach, I did become a different type of teacher.

Until recently, I operated after school and summer camp programs supervising teams of youth and young adults working with elementary, middle, and high school students in a non-profit organization. My office became the space youth felt welcomed and safe. They knew I was there to listen and offer advice if they asked for it. It always brought a smile to my face when the office was full of laughter from young people getting ready to leave for the day and others coming in for the afternoon. As I moved up in the organization, the less youth voice I heard. We were making decisions about them without them and I didn't like that. So, whenever I had the opportunity to include one of my youths in the conversation, I did. In doing so, I realized I wanted to create those spaces for youth voice on a larger scale.

My friend thought of me for the Youth Empowerment Specialist role, and I thought it sounded exactly like what I've always wanted to do, which is how I came to Voices Amplified. Even though I wish I knew about Voices Amplified sooner, I am glad I was able to develop the skills needed to bring youth voice to the table as a Youth Empowerment Specialist.

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Madyson Haas

Young Adult Leader & Program Coorindator

 Hi everyone, my name is Madyson Haas, and I am a Young Adult Leader and Program Coordinator with NC Voices Amplified!  

I am currently pursuing my Master of Social Work at North Carolina State University, after earning my B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice at James Madison University. My interests or goals are to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and worth therapeutically with youth and young adults in a justice system or psychiatric facility. I was introduced to NCVA through my prior practicum site with the North Carolina Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and formed a really great connection with the team! 

I became really passionate about empowering youth and young adults to speak up and advocate for themselves throughout coursework and field experience, and NCVA has given me the opportunity to develop resources and help with programming that aids both adult partners and youth for successful collaboration.  

As many of us in a “helping” profession recognize that sometimes an individual only has themselves, I believe learning how to advocate for yourself is powerful and key in being successful! 

NCVA experienced substantial growth during FY 2026. The program more than doubled the number of training events offered and increased registrations from 747 in FY2025 to 1,814 in FY2026. NCVA also expanded its annual geographic reach from 65 to 73 North Carolina counties while maintaining very high participant satisfaction.

Participants continued to rate NCVA trainings highly during FY 26. Overall satisfaction averaged 4.71 out of 5, with 97% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing that they were satisfied. Participants also rated the relevance of training content at 4.77 and the ability of the training to support their work at 4.73. 

NCVA delivered 6,537 contact hours of training during FY2026, averaging 6.1 hours per number of participants. Family Peers accounted for the largest documented share, with 373 number of participants and 1,662 contact hours. 

NCVA continues to build a strong pipeline for North Carolina’s peer specialist workforce. During FY 2026, 422 registrants expressed interest in family and youth peer certification, and 60 Family Peer or Youth Peer registrations were submitted. 

The largest groups represented were Family Peers and agency representatives. Registrants reported serving communities connected to mental health, behavioral health, substance use, juvenile justice, foster care, and housing instability. 

Populations served by FY2026 registrants. Respondents could select more than one population. 

During FY 26, the Friday email generated the largest number of documented registrations, while referrals from friends or colleagues and national agencies had the highest attendance rates among the major reported channels. Outreach source information was available for approximately half of registrations.

During FY 2026, NCVA hosted its first Family Partner Conference, specifically designed for current and prospective Family Peers. Approximately 125 adults and 105 youth attended the conference. Among the 51 attendees who completed the satisfaction survey, 96% reported high levels of satisfaction with their conference experience. 

Nyisha Powell

Family Collaboration Coordinator

Eastern Region 

I am excited to join the NCVA team and be part of an organization whose mission aligns so closely with my personal and professional journey. My passion for advocacy began as a mother raising a son with autism. I learned firsthand how overwhelming it can be to navigate systems, find the right resources, and make sure your child’s needs and voice are heard. I also learned just how powerful it is to have the right people in your corner.

Professionally, I have continued to build on that passion through family support, advocacy, community collaboration, and social work. As I pursue my Master of Social Work, my experience working alongside families, providers, and community partners have strengthened my belief that families should not only have a seat at the table but truly be heard in decisions that impact their lives.

Joining NCVA during a season of growth and expansion, including its first conference, makes this opportunity even more meaningful. To me, growth is not just about reaching more people. It is about remaining intentional, strengthening connections, and creating opportunities for more voices to be heard.

I am excited to grow alongside NCVA, build new relationships, and use both my lived and professional experience to contribute to the mission and the communities we serve.

FY 2026 trainings reached individuals from 73 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, an increase from 65 counties in FY 2025. Mecklenburg County had the highest documented attendance, followed by Guilford, Cumberland, Iredell, and Buncombe counties.

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