Candice Towe

Executive Director
candice@outyouth.org

Biography coming soon.

Monrovia Van Hoose, LMSW

Clinical Director
monrovia@outyouth.org

Monrovia Van Hoose, LCSW, holds a Masters of Science in Social Work from Columbia University, and was the first social work intern at the Harvey Milk High School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to serving as Out Youth’s Clinical Director, she also provides private practice therapy through Transformations Psychotherapy.

Monrovia has been the Clinical Director of Out Youth Austin since October 2008. In her time at Out Youth, Monrovia has built and expanded the in-school counseling program and increased the number of youth receiving clinical services by incorporating pro-bono clinicians and graduate level social work interns into Out Youth’s continuum of care.

Monrovia also functions as the Coordinator for the K.Y.S.S. (Knowing Your Status is Smart) Program, Out Youth’s HIV testing, education, and prevention program. She is also Out Youth’s primary mental health clinician and an HIV tester and risk reduction specialist.

Monrovia was called to work for Out Youth following her work with LGBTQIA youth at the Harvey Milk High School, and in previous work for Planned Parenthood. The combination of serving the LGBTQIA community and working with young people has been a dream come true for her.

In addition to her work at Out Youth, Monrovia maintains a thriving private practice.

Tameika Hannah

Contracts Manager & Program Specialist
tameika@outyouth.org

Tameika is a full-time student at Huston-Tillitson University with a focus in Literary Arts. She will be graduating in the spring of 2012 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Minor in Sociology.

Tameika first became involved with Out Youth as a Sociology intern, which later turned into a position as the Administrative Director. She has since transitioned into an active role in the programming aspect of Out Youth as well.

A few of the areas Tameika is currently involved with at Out Youth include meeting with the Young Adult Leadership group on Friday afternoons. Together, they work to organize fundraisers and discuss ways in which to organize and promote outreach opportunities in the outlying areas of the Austin community.

On Sundays, she facilitates a weekly writers group called the Writers’ Block. During this time, creative writers come together to discuss projects they themselves are currently working on. It is also a time which people can give each other advice on how to become better writers. If you have an interest in bringing media, music, art, and education to Out Youth, Tameika would love to work with you!

Texas GSA Network Staff

Andi Gentile

Regional Director, Texas GSA Network
andi@texasgsa.org

Andi Gentile has a degree in Feminist and Gender Studies and a degree in Psychology from Wesleyan University, and completed a Community Organizing Residency program with Domestic Workers United. She co-directed Soulforce’s 2010 Equality Ride, a national social justice bus tour taking young adults to religious colleges and universities with discriminatory policies.

Andi serves as the Regional Director of the Texas Gay-Straight Alliance Network, connecting and supporting youth across Texas to create safe spaces in their schools and communities. In just a few months, she has worked with youth and community members to expand the Network’s reach in theWest, Coastal, North, and South/Valley regions of Texas through a sharp increase in regional summits, training events, and site visits tailored to each community. Andi has also worked with the youth intern team to enhance the Network’s model for regional leadership development and GSA-building.

Andi first joined Out Youth and the Texas GSA Network in 2008 as a volunteer and intern. She is constantly inspired and humbled by her youth colleagues, and believes deeply that youth have the power to make change in their schools and communities.

Gabi Padilla

Program Director, Texas GSA Network
gabriel@texasgsa.org

Biography coming soon.

Kurt Cadena-Mitchell

Administrative Director, Texas GSA Network
kurt@texasgsa.org

Biography coming soon.