Spotlights

Staff

Cory Umlauf

Cory began her career with The Center over eight years ago serving youth across Central Florida. Currently working as a violence interruption specialist with The Center's Community-Based Prevention Department, Cory has been able to create and implement several different programs focusing on specific needs of the communities and youth she serves. A core component of Corey's afterschool program is encouraging youth to "give back" to their community through volunteer projects. Youth have assembled care packages for soldiers overseas and put together gift boxes for the homeless. In addition, youth are encouraged to achieve academic excellence and participate in life skills activities and development.

Everyday Corey is positively impacting the life of a child that may have otherwise been overlooked. The Center's 2009 Prevention Specialist of the Year says, “There are not many places you get to work where when you get home, despite being utterly exhausted you realize you've learned more from the kids you work with than what you have taught them. It is rewarding in ways I have not even begun to explore!"

Steve Castaneda

Staff around the Adolescent Residential Campus (ARC) rely on Steve Castaneda to help keep the program running. As a member of the maintenance team goes far beyond what is listed in his job description. The ARC is a moderate-risk juvenile justice residential commitment program for male offenders ages 14-18. These youth have a unique set of challenges and difficulties but that doesn't stop Steve from assisting clients in need. He mentors clients, talking with them, and listening & motivating them to be successful in the program. In addition, Steve has given clients the opportunity to learn a skill through participation on a variety of projects. He says, "I enjoy working with the staff and helping out with the clients." Even though he has only been with The Center for a short period of time, Steve has already made an impact on the clients and staff of ARC.

Henrietta Tice

If you were to look up the definition of 'community leader' in the dictionary, you might just find Henrietta Tice listed there. An Orlando native, Ms. Tice has fostered the development of The Center's Village House Program for over 15 years. Based on the African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child", the Village House Program serves neighborhood youth through community residents who volunteer their homes as activity centers and 24 hour safe havens. These volunteers serve as role models not only for the youth served, but also for other adults and parents by encouraging them to take an active role in the development and safety of neighborhood youth.

Henrietta works tirelessly to promote the healthy development of youth around the Orlando area. She is a champion for all youth and has cultivated relationships with numerous local officials, organizations, and businesses to further the success of her community and her program.

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed, as Ms. Tice has been the recipient of Heartland Award for Outstanding Community Service, awarded by the late Florida Governor Lawton Chiles; the Hometown Hero Award, and the JC Penney Golden Rule Award. Most recently, Ms. Tice received the first annual WD Judge Trailblazer Award for her dedication to community service. The award was presented by the Antioch Development Corporation which stated that Ms. Tice represents what we are all about “Building, Uniting and Fortifying our Communities Together”.

Programs

Francis Walker Halfway House

Clients at The Center’s Francis Walker Halfway House, a short-term, residential treatment facility for female (ages 13-18) juvenile offenders, are giving back to our troops overseas one stitch at a time. Clients have been busy crocheting blankets to be sent to military personnel currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The project was recently highlighted by Brevard County’s Florida Today newspaper.