The Latest From Twitter

Staff

Allison Ashe, Executive Director, AAshe@CovenantHouse.Org

Allison Ashe is Covenant House Georgia's Executive Director. She is a Georgian with a vast background in local outreach programs. Prior to joining Covenant House she served as COO and Vice President of Development for the Atlanta Police Foundation. Allison has served on the board of the Fulton Child Advocacy Society and the Atlanta Medical Center Community Advisory Board. She is a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, a member of the Junior League of Atlanta, and a long-time volunteer with Warrick Dunn’s Home for the Holidays program which aids single mothers in achieving their dream of home ownership. Allison has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies and brings more than 12 years’ experience in pastoral counseling and community ministry.

Allison calls Covenant House “the perfect opportunity to combine my personal faith and commitment to bettering the lives of Georgia’s youth."

To see and work with Allison is to marvel at her boundless energy and vision. In 2007, she was named as one of Atlanta’s '40 under 40' by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Allison and her husband Paul reside in Atlanta with their two children Sophia and Miles.

As Executive Director, Allison is the prime mover in the fundraising and economic stability of Covenant House, developing long range policies and programs and raising public awareness. But regardless of which hat she is wearing, she is first - and always - a tireless champion for at-risk youth.

Jennifer Paveglio, Associate Executive Director, JPaveglio@CovenantHouse.Org

Jenny Paveglio, MSW, LCSW joined Covenant House Georgia in 2010. Jenny is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in the treatment of trauma, specifically trauma related to sexual abuse and severe physical abuse. Jenny received her Masters of Social Work Degree from Hunter College School of Social Work where she was honored with the The Feva Fine Holtzman Family Award for Excellence in Field Work.

Jenny started her career with Covenant House in 1992 as a Faith Community full-time volunteer. Her Faith Community experience "changed her life" and amplified her calling to work with homeless and street youth. With her many roles, Jenny has a background as FC Member, Formation Director of Faith Community, Social Worker and Coordinator Female Service.

Jenny Paveglio says she is blessed to have the opportunity to serve homeless and at-risk youth from Atlanta and knows this will be a long relationship.

Krystal Mangum, Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, KMangum@CovenantHouse.Org

Krystal was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, where she attended Johnson & Wales University and received an Associate in Science degree in Court Reporting. Seeking a change from “the biggest, littlest State in the Union” (Rhode Island), Krystal relocated to Houston for 7 years and then relocated here to Atlanta in 2002 to be closer to her sister and family.

Krystal is deeply committed to Covenant House Georgia, starting full time in April 2003 as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director. She has witnessed countless young adults overcoming the trials and tribulations in life and moving forward to become successful young men and women in today’s society. It's not hard to get her to tell success stories. Her first-person accounts are something to hear.

Todd Wilcher, Residential Services Director and Street Outreach, TWilcher@CovenantHouse.Org

Todd Wilcher has the indispensable role of residential services director and street outreach...no easy task.  But it's a job he is well-suited for. Todd received his undergraduate degree from Morris Brown College, BS degree Therapeutic Recreation and his Masters Degree in Behavior Disorders in Education.

For 18 years, Todd was the Inner Harbor Youth Villages Director, Excel Leadership Academy. Prior to that, Todd worked as a Signature Research consultant with Ropes Course teambuilding and Omega Quest consultants’ teambuilding, school program development for In School suspension alternatives. Todd's convinced he was brought to Covenant by Divine Intervention. He was well on the way to a consultant career when his son's baseball coach introduced him to Allison and the rest is – as they say - 'Cove Love' History.

There's an added bonus to Todd's resume: his gardening skills. Come and visit our finished and soon- to-be-finished projects! Gardening has been a vital part of integrating wellness and healthy living. The youth and Todd are learning a lot by harvesting from Mother Earth.

Elizabeth Runkle, Director of Finance and Administration, ERunkle@CovenantHouse.Org

Elizabeth Runkle is a native of metro Atlanta. She too was drawn to Covenant House Georgia’s work moving homeless teens from the streets to self-sufficiency. She came aboard full time in 2010. Over the past ten years, she has worked with and on behalf of low-wealth and marginalized populations to create a positive social impact. Elizabeth designs innovative and break-through ideas within the social sector. She holds an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business where she was a CASE (Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship) Scholar. At Duke, Elizabeth received the Dean's Recognition Award for her exemplary service to the school.

Elizabeth began her career in Washington DC working on policy issues related to women and girls. In positions at several national nonprofit organizations, Elizabeth worked with leaders from Congress, the Federal Government, the private sector and other nonprofit organizations to ensure legislation included the needs of women and girls. 
Elizabeth enjoys working with her CHGA family and is waiting to win the annual tofu cook-off, closing in on her goal as we speak!

Joshua Gray, Crisis Shelter Coordinator, JGray@CovenantHouse.Org

Joshua is the main contact on staff each day in the shelter. He handles incoming youth and deals with their issues on-site. It's a pro-active task that requires extensive experience working directly with homeless youth and collaborating with social service agencies across metro Atlanta. He gets them out the door and on their way to whatever they need to be doing - school, work, etc.  Joshua began his journey of service many years ago while still living in his hometown of Cincinnati. Volunteerism and service were instilled in him.  At an early age, he began serving in soup kitchens and giving back to his community.   After graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelors in psychology, Joshua came to Atlanta as a US-2 missionary through the United Methodist Church.  He spent two years living in intentional community and serving homeless adults with Samaritan House of Atlanta. Over the next four years, Josh worked at the Atlanta Speech School serving youth with speech and motor delays.   Joshua came to Covenant House Georgia in 2010 and instantly combined his two great passions in life - homelessness and youth. About the homeless youth in America, Joshua says, "It's just not right! There is no reason why any youth should ever spend a night on these streets.  Thirteen kids die every night on the streets of America and our youth deserve better."

Lettice Laguerre, Rights of Passage Coordinator, South Fulton, LLaguerre@CovenantHouse.Org

Lettice joined Covenant House Georgia in 2007 after a long career serving at-risk youth in both greater New York and Georgia. She graduated Cum Laude from New York’s Touro College in 2000, earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Human Service, specializing in Youth Services. In 2010, she earned her Masters of Science Degree in Counseling. Before serving as Rights of Passage Coordinator, Lettice was Case Manager and Clinical Research Coordinator.

Lettice lives by the philosophy illustrated by the famous Gandhi quote, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” She has embodied this “change” by devoting her career to serving at-risk children and youth with a smile. Her off-the-charts sense of humor and bubbly attitude earned her the unanimous vote of “Personality of Covenant House. “ Nobody witnesses her joy and remains unaffected.

Kellie Glenn, Development Coordinator, KGlenn@CovenantHouse.Org

Working in the nonprofit industry for nearly 10 years paired with a strong background in social work has prepared Kellie for her new endeavor at Covenant House Georgia.  Kellie’s passion in life is to help others and to assist youth to live self sufficient, empowering lives.  Kellie feels incredibly blessed to hold a position where her job is to help others.

Kellie is an Atlanta native and went to school at Georgia State University where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelors in Social Work.  She was very involved  volunteering with the homeless population through the Lazarus Ministry at her church.  She has worked for nearly 7 years with youth who displayed Emotional and Behavioral difficulties and for the past 3 years worked with adults and teens who have developmental disabilities. 

Regina Jennings - Director of Support Services, rjennings@covenanthouse.org

Regina Holden Jennings returns home to Atlanta and comes to Covenant House after 14 years in California.  She has a wide-ranging background in higher education academic and student development and worked for several years in the community college and state university systems. Most of that time was spent at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and Santa Monica College, although she has also been employed with Pasadena and Long Beach City Colleges . In addition to working with low-income, first generation college students, Regina also has extensive experience in grant management and program administration. Before shifting to a career in college administration, Regina spent many years working as a museum curator and studying African art.

Regina says, “It’s hard to believe that I’ve done so many things, from working at the Washingon Post newspaper right out of college, then shifting to work in the museum field and then eventually moving to California to work in higher education! Sometimes it seems the only thing I haven’t done is work in a travelling circus!” She truly believes that all of her professional experiences have led her to Covenant House, where she welcomes the opportunity to support homeless youth. She says it’s good to be back home and she looks forward to a long career of service to our agency. Regina also looks forward to sharing her passion for cinema, music, and art with our youth to develop ways for them to capture and share their own journeys. Regina believes that “every human life is a divine and sacred narrative” and she hopes to encourage Covenant House youth to express their experiences creatively and artistically.

Lorie Davidson - Clinical Case Manager, Ldavidson@covenanthouse.org 

Lorie Davidson, M.Ed, CAC II, received her Masters Degree in Human and Organizational Leadership from Vanderbilt University where she specialized in non-profit development. Lorie has served as the Director of Academy Nine at the Steppingstone Foundation in Boston, MA where she implemented programs that prepare urban schoolchildren for educational opportunities that lead to success.  There she helped to close the opportunity divide by overseeing the preparation, placement and support services for at-risk youth and their families seeking educational opportunities.  Lorie also spent ten years at Exploration School where she acted as the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid as well as the Director of Alumni Affairs and Community Outreach.   Prior to joining Covenant House, Lorie worked as the Lead Counselor and Case Manager for an Atlanta area non-profit that focuses on helping at-risk young adults overcome substance abuse and mental health concerns.  Lorie is also an avid knitter, glassblower, and advocate for abused and neglected animals.   She volunteers for several pit bull sanctuary organizations and is rarely seen without her trusty sidekick and best pal - her loving, rescued, one eyed Boston Terrier named Miss Butter Bean.  Lorie is excited to bring her passion for helping at-risk youth reach their full potential to Covenant House Georgia.    

Kaylah Walker - Volunteer Coordinator, kwalker@covenanthouse.org 

Kaylah is a native Atlantan and a University of Georgia graduate with a passion for helping young people in need. Before joining Covenant House GA, Kaylah worked for the City of Atlanta during Mayor Shirley Franklin’s administration, in both the Mayor’s Office of Communications and the Department of Watershed Bureau of Communications and Community Relations.

After leaving the city, Kaylah switched gears in search of mission-based, nonprofit work and landed at the Woodruff Arts Center where she served as Assistant to the President of Young Audiences; a division that focuses on transforming the lives of Georgia’s young people through arts integrated education.

Kaylah enjoys reading, writing and attending her favorite performers live concerts. She is so grateful for the opportunity to work for an organization whose mission reflects her values and looks forward to engaging the community in Covenant House GA’s great work!