OUR PAST TEAM .THE PEOPLE THAT GOT IT ALL STARTED.
ALY DOVE
Founder // Executive Director
Charlotte, NC
Aly is a free-spirited chocolate addict with a love for adventure. Hailing from the Green Mountain state, her adoration for the outdoors has never escaped her. When she’s not planning her next excursion abroad on Pinterest, you can find her drowning in a sea of anthropology textbooks in the basement of the library. She picked up her first camera at age 16 and it’s been her passion ever since. YouthMAP combines both her love of photography and working with kids. With a belief in artistic empowerment and a vision for change, Aly hopes that the impact of YouthMAP will reach beyond photography, and create a ripple effect in the lives of kids she works with each week.
MAX FEINSTEIN
Co-Founder // Chief Operations Officer
Houston, TX
Aly Dove and I were inspired to provide a creative outlet for youth with demonstrated need after our work with the National Coalition for the Homeless. For our spring break in 2013, we lived homeless in Washington, D.C., and learned first-hand how the arts helped individuals experiencing homeless find solace. We wanted to provide a similar experience for kids at a local group home, and simultaneously involve Davidson students who share our goals!
SCOTT CUNNINGHAM
Director of Photography and Teaching
Virginia Beach, VA
Working with kids serves me as much as I hope I serve them. I work with youth of variant backgrounds and ages in a variety of settings. I am always surprised by the amount that I learn while teaching. Though I may feel like the more experienced photographer, our participants often remind me of the power and beauty photography has as medium of expression. The mentors and students of YouthMAP teach me each day about creativity's reward: the soul-bending magic of a moment captured in any form of art.
POOJA POTHARAJU
Publicity Coordinator
Charlotte, NC
Pooja remembers the first time her parents bought her a camera and what an experience that was. She was excited, anxious, confused, inspired, and curious--something that she had never before had an outlet to express. That's exactly what she wanted to do with YouthMAP. As a pre-med and neuroscience major, Pooja wanted to not only tap into her interest in photography, but she also wanted to give other children the opportunity to find beauty and meaning in ordinary things. She is honored to work with such an amazing team of mentors and a truly inspiring and heart-warming group of students.
WILL JOHNSON
Photography Mentor
Wilmington, NC
William’s skills: basketball, traditional Irish dance, and fitting fourteen cheese balls in his mouth at once. Although William’s list of valuable life skills is extensive, his most rewarding one is working with children. He hopes to build a relationship with children that develops self-confidence and facilitates a creative output through photography. William is a biology major at Davidson, and is from the southern coast of North Carolina.
Helen Mun
Secretary
Charlotte, NC
Helen is a first year student at Davidson currently exploring political science and biology. She hopes to start contributing to YouthMAP more as a mentor working directly with the young students in the local community.
ISABEL MCLAIN
Photography Mentor
Lexington, KY
Isabel is a junior Psychology and Africana Studies double major at Davidson who spends most of her time creating art, playing with her brothers, or hiking. Art, whether it's journaling, drawing, or painting, has always been her passion and the way that she processes her daily life. Isabel loves to laugh and often has an uncontrollable desire to lose herself on the dance floor. When she needs to relax, she usually reads a good, thought-provoking book in a quite corner while eating a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin... or two.
CONNERY O'BRIEN
Photography Mentor
New York City, NY
Connery is a junior who's excited to be a part of the YouthMAP team this year! On campus, she enjoys touring prospective students, planning student-life events, spending time in the wilderness, and hanging out with special needs kids. If she's not doing any of those things you can probably find her speaking too loudly in the library, or pretending she can play basketball as a member of a 5 v. 5 ladies intramural team. A fun fact about Connery is that her thumbs are double jointed.
EMILY KENT
Photography Mentor
Doha, Qatar
Emily is an economics major who enjoys rowing, media, yoga, traveling, brunch and hiking. She grew up overseas, and had the opportunity to travel to all corners of the earth. She accredits this passion for adventure to her daring parents, who have always encouraged her to try new things, and approach life with a growth mindset. Emily is thrilled to get to know the students at Barium Springs, and watch as they cultivate the creativity within them.
LAUREN PENDO
Photography Mentor
Darien, CT
Lauren Pendo is just your average math nerd with a creative side. When she's not solving mathematical equations, she's off busting her hip hop moves for Dance Ensemble or fundraising for Breast Cancer Research. She loves nothing more than a good beat, a good book, a good problem, and a good photograph.
MORGAN SPENCER
Director of Fundraising and Finance
Cary, NC
Morgan is a Davidson Mathematics major with a love of sweet tea and mozzarella sticks. As YouthMAP's treasurer, she puts her organization skills to good use keeping track of anything budget and finance related. When not crunching numbers and battling Excel spreadsheets, Morgan can be found taking Buzzfeed quizzes and listening to Broadway soundtracks.
BETSY MARSHALL
Community Relations Coordinator
Charlotte, NC
Betsy is a junior studying sustainable development. She is passionate about intramural sports and Mexican food. Betsy is excited to promote YouthMAP's awesome work and to explore the ways in which YouthMAP can bring to light other needs in our community.
SAM WINSTEL
Event Planning
Dallas, TX
Sam is a sophomore Public Health major from Dallas, Texas. A strong supporter of community outreach programs, Sam finds value in the work done by both the YouthMAP mentors and participants. As a team member he strives to highlight the success and creativity of the students by giving them a platform and an audience through which to showcase their work.
KATIE BENNETT
Product Developer // Co-Editor of YouthMAP Blog
Virginia Beach, VA
Growing up, Katie was told several different "truths" to learn and live by: "Be nice to everyone," "Always brush your teeth," "Everyone you love will leave you, in the end," "You need to work harder." While some voices were more cynical than others, she tried continues to try to have a positive outlook on life today. Some may call her hope and enthusiasm for life a bit naïve, even ignorant. "Where is your sense of realism?" But she doesn't see it that way. She believes in the things some people are too afraid to believe in: trust, vulnerability, allowing people to enter your heart. But most of all, she believes there is good in the world, and that we we can change and improve it. She believes in YouthMAP's purpose, and is ready to change the world, one photograph at a time.
BRUNA SIQUEIRA
Graphic Designer
Thornton, CO
Bruna is a Davidson College student with an interest in Biology, Sociology, and the science of thrift shopping. When she’s not studying in her room, she’s staked out in the library—probably hunched over more books. However, when the planets align just right, she takes a break from school by making a thing or two on Photoshop.
ZACH BLOUNT
Web Developer
Sewanee, TN
Zach studies psychology and he loves all things related to music. He is excited to be working with YouthMAP behind the scenes and hopes to use his love of the arts, technology, and minimalistic yet powerful aestetic to further the YouthMAP image and mission. Zach loves reading Calvin and Hobbes, his favorite food is a good raw oyster on the half shell, and he dreams of one day building a sailboat.
GWYNETH ARCHER
Photography Mentor
Houston, TX
Gwyneth is a first year student from Houston, TX. She hopes to major in Economics with an International Studies concentration. She enjoys traveling, learning foreign languages, and listening to music. She is also involved in the Sailing Team, French Club, and Catholic Campus Ministry. Photography has played a huge part of her life, and she hopes to continue learning as she mentors students with YouthMAP.
SARAH FUNDERBURG
Director of Social Media
Rockford, IL
Sarah is an Art History major who has been taking photographs since the age of fourteen. Her passions include Friday Night Lights and porch swings, and she believes that photography is an excellent way for children, especially those that that are in difficult situations, to articulate their worldviews.
Emily Ness
LAURA HIATT
Photography Mentor
Raleigh, NC
Laura comes to Davidson as a freshman from Raleigh, NC. She wants to double major in mathematics and another field yet to be discovered. In her free time, she likes to play volleyball, run, spend time with friends, and take pictures. Photography has been an interest of hers since the beginning of high school and she hopes that YouthMap will allow her to continue to grow in this area meanwhile making a difference in children’s lives.
DANIELLE KRAMER
Photography Mentor
Levittown, NY
Danielle is a freshmen from Levittown, New York hoping to study Biology and Psychology here at Davidson College. She joined YouthMAP because it was the only thing she’s ever heard of that combines two of the things she loves most: photography and kids. She hopes to contribute optimism and hard work to the club but most importantly make a difference in the lives of the children she shows photography to.
CLAIRE WEITNAUER
Graphic Designer
Decatur, GA
Claire is a freshman from Atlanta, GA who loves photography and graphic design. She is most excited about sharing the talent and creativity of the kids who participate in YouthMAP with the rest of the community. Some of her role models include Jane Austen, Tina Fey, and Linda from Bob’s Burgers.
Kathleen Walsh
Mentor
St. Louis, Missouri
Kathleen is a freshman from St. Louis, MO interested in studying history, political science, and art history. She loves traveling and especially taking pictures on those trips. Photography has been a great way for her to be creative and she hopes to help the kids also find an outlet this way too through YouthMAP.
LIVESEY PACK
Fundraising and Grant Writing
Lake Forest, IL
My name is Livesey and I’m a sophomore, currently undeclared. I’m excited to be a part of YouthMAP for the first time, meeting new people and doing what I can to support the growth of YouthMAP and its mission. I’m looking forward to learning about fundraising, grant writing, and though my point and shoot skills aren’t bad, possibly even photography. Aside from YouthMAP, I enjoy attempting to make jokes, laughing at myself, and finding ways to eat more Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
JOANNE SUK
Design Team
East Setauket, NY
Joanne is a freshman at Davidson College. In her free time she loves to go to the beach, download new fonts, and browse through Pinterest. Graphic design has always been an interest of hers and she hopes to continue pursuing it as a hobby and maybe even more. She is elated to be able to lend a hand in creating the YouthMAP legacy.
Isabelle
Event Planning
Philidelphia, PA
Isabel is a first year undeclared Hispanic Studies and Anthropology double major. In her free time she likes to explore outside, eat snacks, and drink good tea. Her favorite Girl Scout cookie is Thin Mints and never wears matching socks. Isabel joined YouthMap because of its thoughtful mission and its creative purpose and she hopes to continue to help make a difference
ALEX DUNNE
Photography Mentor
Alex is a sophomore economics major who loves photography and working with kids – aspects that have led her to becoming involved in YouthMAP as a mentor. She cannot wait to see all of the amazing photographs that are produced this year. In her free time, she enjoys running and spending time in coffee shops with friends.
EMMA JOHNSON
Photography Mentor
Washington, D.C.
As a wildlife lover and outdoorswoman, I am always eager to find new ways to show the world. Through photography, I hope to open people to different ways to see the world around them. I believe that photography is a way that we can learn more about each other and what drives each of us as individuals to bigger and better things.
Allie Hale
Mentor
Boston, MA
Allie is a sophomore Political Science major and Communication Studies minor. She has always had a passion for photography, and particularly values the memories she has created and adventures she has embarked upon through photographic endeavors. She hopes taking pictures will bring as much happiness and inspiration to others as it has to her.
HOLLY QUERIN
Photography Mentor
Valdosta, GA
Holly is a sophomore from Valdosta, Georgia. She is constantly amazed by the beauty around her and hopes that photography will instill in others the same passion for the ordinary. She is a camp counselor during the summer and is thrilled that YouthMAP gives her the opportunity to work with kids during the year as well.
SAM LASTRES
Photography Mentor
Tampa, FL
Sam is a sophomore pursuing a degree in English with a minor in Film and Media Studies. She is passionate about clouds and Food Network, and spends most of her free time hiking, beekeeping, and playing Tetris. She is thrilled to be a part of the YouthMAP team, and loves having the opportunity to work with kids while attending school. Watching the kids get excited and inspired by self expression through photography has shown her how rewarding and influential all the work of the YouthMAP team is.
NATALIE STERN
Event Planning
ARIELLE KORMAN
Fundraising and Finance
New York City, NY
Arielle is a sophomore Global Literary Theory major with an interest in Arabic, translation, music and creative writing. At Davidson, she is also a member of SIAD, the Student Initiative for Academic Diversity and Davidson Hillel. She is thrilled to be working as part of the Grant Writing team to help YouthMAP reach its full potential. She is a firm believer in the power of the arts to change lives, communities, and the color of the walls in the senior apartments.