our Team and Careers

Executive Director
Poonam@detroitydrc.org

Poonam is responsible for leading the YDRC team, implementing its strategic plan, and program design & development. She has been dedicated to bringing strategic vision to youth-focused initiatives and professional development, driving transformative change through partnerships, evidence-based program design, impactful implementation, and continuous improvement. Her expertise encompasses organizational leadership, social and emotional learning, capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and fundraising, ensuring measurable outcomes for the communities she serves.
In her previous roles, including as a Program Officer with UNESCO and a Senior Research & Practice Specialist at the Forum for Youth Investment’s Weikart Center, she led initiatives that advanced youth development and capacity building in the U.S and on a global scale. From designing and implementing training programs to monitoring progress and securing grants, her work has consistently shaped policies and practices that empower young people across diverse cultural and social contexts.
Poonam has a master’s in educational studies from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and a masters in English, from St. Stephens College, University of Delhi, India.

Senior Program Associate
Albi@detroitydrc.org

Albi is responsible for network engagement, advocacy efforts, data and improvement coordination, and communications with the YDRC to support Detroit area youth-serving professionals.
He is a recent graduate of Wayne State University, where he studied Political Science and Spanish. Albi is passionate about youth services, Michigan politics, and community development. He is an Albanian-American immigrant and longtime resident of Metro Detroit.
Prior to working at the Youth Development Resource Center, Albi was a Challenge Detroit fellow at Detroit Public Schools Community District, where he worked in Government and Community Affairs.

Our Team

Deputy Director
Yvonne@detroitydrc.org

Yvonne is responsible for leading the organization’s day-to-day operations and development efforts and supporting its administration, programs, and strategic plan. Her work centers on building cultures of belonging where people thrive.
For over fifteen years, Yvonne has endeavored to support continuous growth within herself and those she serves with empathy, consistency, and excellence. Through her work directly serving youth in out-of-school-time spaces, Yvonne has a firsthand understanding of the challenges and rewards of implementing high-quality youth development practices in programming. Her career opportunities have also provided her with experience in schools, working with parent groups, and developing and implementing curricula centered on social-emotional learning to support academic and life outcomes for youth. She is a licensed teacher, certified external assessor, coach for program quality assessment, Youth Work Methods and Management trainer, Social and Emotional Learning Methods facilitator, and restorative practice and circles facilitator.
Yvonne holds a Master of Education in Education Policy and Leadership from Marquette University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

Program Associate: Network Engagement and Advocacy
Elizabeth@detroitydrc.org

Elizabeth is responsible for network engagement, coordinating advocacy campaigns, and monitoring national policies impacting out-of-school time programs and youth development at YDRC. Her work centers on aligning grassroots insights with systems-level strategy, using policy analysis, narrative-building, and cross-sector collaboration to elevate the voices of youth-serving organizations.
Prior to joining YDRC, Elizabeth served as the primary liaison for 13 social impact clients, supporting events, managing stakeholder coordination, and leading survey design and analysis. A Detroit native, she is passionate about building genuine connections between people and systems and advancing sustainable program practices that strengthen cross-sector collaboration
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Spring Arbor University.

Operations and Data Manager
Tammy@detroitydrc.org

Tammy is responsible for the daily operations and data management support of the organization.
While working at the University of Michigan School of Social Work (UM-SSW), Tammy was offered an opportunity to collaborate with the Detroit Technical Assistance Center (TAC) as their Data Technician/Administrative Coordinator. Her work with Detroit’s UM-TAC led her to YDRC. Tammy is also the owner of Miller Business Solutions, an administrative outsourcing company serving organizations with operations, database, and special project needs. She has 25+ years of business experience working in university, private, and non-profit settings, and has been engaged with the YDRC since its inception.
Tammy holds an Associate in Applied Science (Business Management) degree from Washtenaw Community College. She has also studied at Eastern Michigan University.

Program Associate: Development and Communications
Malik@detroitydrc.org

Malik is responsible for supporting YDRC’s development and communications efforts, including storytelling, outreach, and community engagement that strengthen Metro Detroit’s youth-serving network. His work focuses on amplifying the voices of youth and the organizations that serve them, building connections through compelling narratives, and ensuring the YDRC mission reaches a wide audience.
Being a Detroit native, Malik brings experience in digital marketing, nonprofit communications, and youth program coordination through previous roles with the Black Male Educators Alliance, Wayne State University’s Debate Team, and 3:5 Creative[s] Digital Marketing Agency. He is also a scholarship recipient and Dean’s List student at Wayne State University, where he is pursuing a B.A. in Communication Studies.
Malik is passionate about equity, leadership development, and community storytelling, and is dedicated to uplifting youth voices to create lasting change in Detroit.