BRATTLEBORO — Richard “Ricky” Adams, the director of technology for Windham Northeast Supervisory Union (WNESU), recently joined 11 other community members in serving on Youth Services' board of directors.
With 20 programs - including restorative justice, after-school mentoring, transitional living, workforce development, counseling and case management - Youth Services, a nonprofit agency celebrating its 50th Anniversary, builds community in Windham County.
Adams has held various technology-related roles at WNESU during the last 10 years and has held the Director of Technology title for the last three. Adams started his career under a technology contractor working for area schools, where, he says, he built significant knowledge of technology and school operations.
A former Bellows Falls Union High School student, Adams explained in a news release that his primary drive at WNESU is to help improve technology access and the experience for students.
Adams, at age 29, helps lower the age range of the board and comes on with familiarity with some aspects of Youth Services including having been a participant in its after-school program, Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP).
RAMP is a workforce development program which mentors local youth, exposing them to different careers in the region. “I would say that my Youth Services program involvement helped build long-lasting connections outside of the school community,” said Adams.
The former Youth Services participant turned tech-wizard, who lives in Bellows Falls with his fiancée, Shawna Coutu, looks forward to new challenges ahead as he helps the organization meet its mission of being a catalyst for change. “I'm really excited to contribute to the Youth Services board and give back to an organization that supported me as I transitioned out of high school,” Adams said.
“Ricky is an amazing 'home-grown' asset for our board,” said Youth Services board president Ana Saavedra. “With all his tie-ins to Youth Services, we are so very fortunate for Ricky to join our board as his first choice. His prowess with technology and his familiarity with Bellows Falls, one of the communities where Youth Services has a significant presence, will be an asset, as well as his perspective as a former participant and his comparative youth.”
Visit youthservicesinc.org or call 802-257-0361 to become involved or refer someone to Youth Services.