Teens For Teens mission is to create a safe space for teenagers to learn, grow, and better themselves and their communities with assistance from their peers!
1996
OUR STORY
2020
Teens For Teens (TFT) was created by a group of teenagers in 1996 that were having a hard time dealing with the stressors of the growing world around them. While the original organization was created before social media and the big boom of cell phones and computers in every home, the organizations staff hoped to inform and educate individuals like themselves about the issues of every teenagers life. TFT was able to do this through a website that offered resources for sensitive topics teens may not otherwise research in the fear of being judged or even critisized. We were able to offer positive outlets for teenagers wanting to express themselves through our forums, poetry center, and art gallerys. We had over 100 pages of research created by teens for teens with topics ranging from college tuition to STD's and sexuality.
After 10 years of building a website with such great information and a safe space for teens to share, as the staff began their new adventures into adulthood and the world fast tracked with technology booming, the original website was closed and it seemed the TFT story had ended.
Here we are 12 years after the original website was closed and this time Teens For Teens has become an official nonprofit in the United States of America. With this new platform our vision is ten times that of the original and our mission will continue to grow as we do!
We are very excited to bring this program back to life and to explore the new opportunities we can offer to teens in the even more complex and fast paced world of the 2020's!
Meet The Board
Joshua Sweeney
President
Joshua has always had a presence in the non-profit field. From the age of 12, Joshua has devoted many hours to any cause he came across which drove him to develop skills in nonprofit consulting. With this knowledge, he began assisting local nonprofit organizations in his close network that then branched out to larger networks which finally gave him the idea to start his own organization to be able to help nonprofit entities on a larger scale.
Autumn Nierode
Vice-President
Autumn Nierode began working at the age of thirteen and her dedication to perfecting her skills has only grown. She has made a name for herself in the entertainment world and has gained experience in marketing, talent scheduling, event planning, and logistics management. Since 2009 she has been in the celebrity convention field which led her to founding her own event planning company, Silver Screen Events.
Jacob Zappala Treasurer
Jacob Zappala is an accountant living in the Winston Salem, NC area. I work at Pike Enterprises as a Payroll Administrator. I am actively pursuing my CPA while working and taking care of my family. I enjoy fishing, hiking, working on cars, playing the banjo and spending time with my family and friends. Feel free to connect or message me.
Jamie Casseday
Board Member
Jamie has over 8 years of experience working in Marketing and Project Coordinating. She has been instrumental in developing teams and successfully managing projects with multiple companies and vendors throughout her career. Miss Casseday received her Bachelor’s in Marketing from the Southern Illinois University of Carbondale.
Erin Foley
Board Member
Erin is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she earned a Bachelors Degree in nursing and a minor in Human Development! She has worked as a Labor and Delivery Nurse for 14 years and has helped to deliver over 1400 babies. In her spare time, Erin likes to stay active in her community, play volleyball, and hang out with her family and friends!
Shannon Kortum
Board Member
Shannon Kortum attended Kaahumanu Hou Christian School in Maui, Hawaii before studying at Kent State University. Growing up in a military family, Shannon has traveled most of the United States and continues her traveling as an adult. She maintains a career while still staying true to her free spirit of exploring and enjoying life. She brings a wide abundance of knowledge from her own experiences as well as from the many relationships she has developed during her travels.
Tiffany Stewart
Board Member
Tiffany Stewart is a Chief of Staff and Corporate Events for Atlanta non-profit, Women in Technology (WIT) where they work to empower women in the STEAM fields. Prior to joining WIT in March of 2020,Tiffany worked at Technology Association of Georgia as Director of Corporate Events. She has a Master's of Business Administration and a Bachelor's of Arts in International Economic Affairs from the University of West Georgia.