The lifeblood of A Promising Future is our amazing team. We are committed to educating and empowering students to step into their futures and live out their dreams.
Our passion is to meet young people at the crossroads of decisions that could permanently change their lives and equip them with essential skills that will enable them to make healthy choices. We know students are confronted every day by a culture that encourages them to do whatever feels right. Often, this leads to the pressure of experimenting with behaviors that can harm them. Our team believes students have amazing potential and strengths, and it is our goal to equip them to lead lifestyles that will create promising futures.
Our team
Alex Sopocy: Program Director*
“As a previous foster parent to teenagers, the need for more adults who believe in, equip, and encourage teenagers to be connected, passionate, and whole-person healthy is huge. A Promising Future desires to show teenagers their value, worth, and abilities, while also training other caring adults in how to reinforce these concepts and support them. I’m honored I get to create relationships with both teenagers and adults to help the next generation thrive.”
Email me at Alex@APromisingFuture.com.
Kristen Curran: Administrative Coordinator
“It has been such a privilege to have been involved with A Promising Future since 2018. Through this work and in my own experience, I’ve found that youth are so often left to learn vital skills like stress management, communication, and how to form healthy relationships on their own. By providing support and structure in learning social and emotional skills, we have the opportunity to give teens a head-start in their own development and provide protective factors against dangerous situations, especially by embracing their inherent dignity and great worth.”
Email me at Kristen@APromisingFuture.com.
Laila LaFrombois: Teacher and Community Connector
“One of my favorite music producers, Pharrell Williams, once said, ‘Curiosity is the life force in all of us.’ I believe education, at its best, is a space that cultivates & encourages diverse perspectives. But at its worst, it leaves us feeling disconnected in our curiosities. A Promising Future provides youth a place to explore and expand on what it means to reflect and connect. Being a young adult and having worked with teens, I see so much value in this program as it bridges the gaps between youth when it comes to relating to their peers and adults.”
Email me at Laila@APromisingFuture.com.
Alicia Biggs, MA, M. Ed: Teacher and Community Connector
“I epitomize a career dedicated to excellence in the education field, boasting over 40 years of invaluable experience. My journey encompasses a rich tapestry of roles and achievements, each contributing to my profound impact on education. In every facet of my illustrious career and personal endeavors, I have remained a beacon of inspiration, advocating tirelessly for children’s education, supporting families, and leaving an indelible mark on my community. A Promising Future empowers me to bridge the gap in traditional education by equipping students with essential skills for thriving relationships, personal growth, and meaningful life choices.”
Email me at Alicia@APromisingFuture.com.
*Certified as a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist.
Volunteer
Interested in knowing more about how you can partner with A Promising Future? Check out our volunteer opportunities below! If you have a specific way you would like to help our organization but don’t see it listed, please reach out!
As a lead instructor, you have the opportunity to directly implement our curriculum to youth. For volunteers with experience and passion for teaching, this is a way to utilize your skills to teach teens beyond academic skills. A co-instructor would be able to work alongside another instructor and implement the curriculum in tandem. A Presenter would be responsible for understanding the program and curriculum and being able to effectively communicate our mission and values. *Training provided.
We have limited time with our students and every minute counts. As an instructor aide, you would help ensure that class activities progress in a timely and effective manner. You would also have the chance to engage teens in conversation and help them to achieve a better understanding of the valuable skills and ideas we hope to impart. *Training provided.
APF is constantly looking for new opportunities for partnership and collaboration with organizations or individuals that would benefit from The Diamond Standard. Having people who are dedicated to seeking out new relationships are incredibly helpful.
Our curriculum is ever-evolving, so we need people who enjoy looking at current research on the topics that affect today’s youth so that we are aware of any changes or updates we should include.
As we continue to develop our curriculum and be relevant for the educational environment, research concerning grant opportunities for APF would also be well-received.
You have the opportunity to become an extension of the A Promising Future team. This role equips you with the knowledge and resources to share our curriculum and extend our reach to communities we don’t currently serve. You could be the person to sow a seed in a future partnership. *Training provided.
- Planning
- Being an Ambassador at the event
- Set-Up/ Tear-Down
- Resource Fairs
As the needs of the students shift, APF strives to produce and implement workshops focused on addressing life issues relevant to today’s youth. Participating in a mock classroom allows you to have a sneak peek at the new content and offer invaluable insight that will be used to ensure that APF develops the best product for our teens.
If administrative tasks are more suitable for you, we have plenty of projects where we could use your help! These tasks will vary depending on current needs, so contact us to learn more!