OUR TEAM IS THE HEART OF YOUTHWORKS
Dedicated, compassionate, and deeply committed to youth success, our staff brings a wealth of experience and unwavering belief in the potential of every young person we serve. Together, we work to create a supportive, empowering environment where youth can thrive, learn, and build bright futures.
Melynn Schulyer
Melynn Schuyler is the Founder and Executive Director of YouthWorks. Originally from Washington State, her path to Santa Fe included studying biology while trapping pocket gophers, hitchhiking across Japan, and earning degrees in International Relations and Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy.
She founded YouthWorks to connect Santa Fe’s opportunity youth with hands-on job training, life skills, education, and counseling. Under her leadership, YouthWorks has grown into a dynamic nonprofit known for its wraparound services and innovative, community-driven approach to creating pathways for youth success.
Francisco Areallano
Job Training Coordinator
Francisco first joined YouthWorks at age 16, working on environmental and community projects. Now, years later, he returns as Job Training Coordinator, bringing his lived experience to mentor youth following a path he once walked himself.
With a background in Job Corps and professional experience in HVAC and electrical work, Francisco leads hands-on training and supervises construction projects. He also brings his artistic roots to life through community mural projects.
“I get to remind these kids they’re worth more, capable of more—and to never give up on their dreams.”
Contact: Cisco@santafeyouthworks.org
Geegee Aldana
Office Assistant
Geegee is a passionate advocate for all youth, ensuring all participants know that they are capable and supported.
Geegee is originally from Santa Fe, and she is a graduate from YouthWorks programs. Geegee originally came to YouthWorks as a Santa Fe Youth Corps participant, and today is working as a peer mentor to guide other youth toward success. She is learning all aspects of YouthWorks client navigation and case management to assist with the demands of client/participant needs.
Contact Geegee@santafeyouthworks.org
Karen Cain
Counseling Director
Karen Cain is a New Mexico licensed clinical mental health counselor. She has been employed as YouthWorks Counseling Director since 2018. She received her Master’s Degree in counseling in 1997. Karen provides individual and family counseling for all YouthWorks program youth, ages 16-24. At YouthWorks Karen provides daily assessments of clients and also provides 24/7 text, phone, and email response for clients in crisis.“My greatest reward as a therapist is helping my clients explore ways to make the changes in their lives that will allow them to look forward to the future with hope.” Karen is also a lifelong animal rights activist and is the executive director of a local non-profit, Street Homeless Animal Project which provides veterinary care, food and more for the companion animals of people experiencing homelessness.
Lizbeth Flores
Case Manager
Lizbeth comes to YouthWorks with extensive experience in property management and affordable housing. She first joined YouthWorks on a part-time basis in the winter of 2017, helping manage the ShelterNow! Program, an emergency overnight shelter for young people that was hosted in local houses of worship.
Today, Lizbeth is a full-time staffer and serves as a case manager coordinating services to meet the needs of our young people, with special focus on housing issues. Lizbeth also oversees an intensive community monitoring program for youth in the juvenile justice system, working particularly with many of our Spanish-speaking clients.
Contact: lizbeth@santafeyouthworks.org
Johnny Gee
YouthBuild Program Manager and Construction Program Manager
Johnny Gee was born and raised in Santa Fe New Mexico. Johnny left Santa Fe to study in Oregon at Portland State University where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Community Development, only to find that he left his heart in New Mexico. He has since moved back to Santa Fe to retrieve it, and to give back to the city that raised him. Johnny is the YouthBuild Construction Trainer and is a certified Core Curriculum Instructor with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).
Having grown up in Santa Fe, Johnny is passionate about the future of Santa Fe youth and loves watching his students build better lives for themselves one nail at a time.
Contact: Johnny@santafeyouthworks.org
Kaylee Guitierrez
Education Program Assistant
Kaylee Gutierrez is an instructional assistant of YouthWorks. Originally from Costa Rica and raised in Guatemala, she has been working with the impoverished youth of Guatemala since the age of 14 years old. She taught Spanish for three years before she began teaching at YouthWorks. Kaylee then moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, with her little baby, only to find her passion and love for teaching and trying to make a positive change in young people’s lives.
Contact: Kaylee@santafeyouthworks.org
Rachel Coon
Workforce Development Director
Rachel supports youth in career planning and builds partnerships with local employers to create job opportunities. She holds a master’s in Community and Regional Planning from UNM and served in Peace Corps Nepal as a Food Security Specialist, leading trainings on sustainable agriculture and nutrition.
With a background in environmental advocacy and education, Rachel is passionate about helping communities grow through connection and support. Outside of YouthWorks, she volunteers with the Albuquerque Wildlife Federation and loves hiking and rock climbing in the Southwest.
Contact: Rachel@santafeyouthworks.org
Levi Thorp
Program Manager
Levi was born and raised in Santa Fe NM, and after dropping out of high school he went to YouthWorks to acquire his GED. After getting his GED with YouthWorks he left Santa Fe at 16 to search for what he wanted to do in life. After trying a few different fields he decided to join the Coast Guard. He became an electrician’s mate and served 6 years. He is a lover of the outdoors and after getting out of the Coast Guard he decided to hike the Appalachian Trail. Finally life returned him back to Santa Fe where he has decided to try and help the youth as he was helped.
Contact: levi@santafeyouthworks.org
