Elika Almeida has lived in the Pocono Mountains with her family since 2004. At the time she had been working at an environmental consulting firm in New Jersey and commuting to Pennsylvania everyday. Her daughter and son were both going to school in the Pocono Mountain School District. It became clear rather quickly that communiting was leaving her exhausted and with not enough energy to be present for her children during the week. She made the decision to leave the corporate world and start connecting more with her community and finding ways to connect her children to meaningful activities in the community. Her decision to get more involved in her community led her to start working at the United Way of Monroe County where she met some incredible people who truly wanted to make a difference in Monroe County.
In 2009, Elika met Francesca Turturro and they quickly became best friends as they shared dreams of a better world. Francesca and Elika decided to start a non-profit organization called Youth Infusion because they both believed that youth voices are powerful and when youth have a platform to use their voices, they can drive positive change in the world.
Several years passed and Elika had to leave Youth Infusion to pursue a career as an event planner. She started her own company, EA Wedding Planner & ELysian Events and still runs her business today. Through the years, she continued to follow Youth Infusion’s journey and many accomplishments, and she helped organize fundraisers like the 50 Shades of Green which was an Earth Day Event on Global Youth Service Day to benefit Youth Infusion.
Fast Forward to 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Elika had reached out to Youth Infusion’s Board of Directors and asked how she could become involved once again with the organization she still held near and dear to her heart. Her children were now in their 30's and she found herself wanting to dive back into the non-profit sector. She is now proud to be Youth Infusion’s Executive Director. She believes today’s youth have the power and potential to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges and issues. Ask their opinions and give them a platform to voice their concerns and amazing positive change happens.
Philanthropy and advocating for youth and women have always been a part of who Elika is. In addition to her role as Executive Director for Youth Infusion, she is also running Youth Infusion's Youth Talks, Youth-led Podcast Program as well as her own own podcast called H.E.R! Heal, Empower, Rise! She believes there is power in connecting, engaging, and supporting other women. Women are stronger and our voices are heard when we stand together. Because she believes so strongly that women in leadership have the power to empower young girls and help them build their confidence, Elika also launched the Girl's Infused Program to help girls ages 10-15 years old to feel strong and confident in their abilities and teaching them the skills to thrive and know they can be unstoppable. She wants young girls to know that there is power in their voices.
More recently, Elika launched the Youth Leadership Advisory Board Program which is not only a leadership program for young people ages 16-19 years old, but gives these young people opportunities to be mentored, learn about true service in their communities through Service-learning opportunities. The program will give young people the tools they need to prepare for the real world after high school and help build strong, positive relationships with adults and connection to their communities.
Elika's love for her community, supporting and advocating for women and youth is what drives her. Her children are now grown but she continues to believe that we need to engage youth by creating programming that is youth-led and youth-centric. She believes there needs to be a spark in intrisic motivation in young people where they feel empowered and are encouraged to make conscious choices. It's through the unique youth-led programs, mentorship approach, peer-to-peer connection approach and connection to the community where true meaningful and positive change happens in the world.
She is currently seeking young adults to lead the Youth Leadership Advisory Board (YLAB). More information can be found HERE and to join our YLAB, please submit email to youthinfusion2020@gmail.com
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