NYEP is a housing-based, learning-capable system for young women (18–24) experiencing homelessness in Reno, Nevada.
It builds sustained independence through:
structure, standards, consistency, and accountability.
Housing provides stability.
Services provide support.
Daily expectations provide development.
I grew up in an environment where expectations were clear and consistently reinforced. There was structure. There was accountability. There were people responsible for making sure things were done.
That foundation shaped how I understand development.
In 2007, I founded the Nevada Youth Empowerment Project (NYEP) to work with young women experiencing homelessness in Reno, Nevada.
As I entered the youth homelessness space, I worked alongside other providers and participated in system-level conversations.
What became clear was not a lack of services. It was a lack of structure. Support was available, but expectations were often inconsistent.
Progress was measured by participation, not by demonstrated change. Systems were designed to deliver services, not to build sustained independence.
NYEP was built in response to that gap.
It operates as a housing-based, learning-capable system designed to build independence through structure, standards, consistency, and accountability.
At its core is a daily operating system where:
This model extends across the full NYEP continuum: Community Living Program (CLP), Sonder House, and Gen Den, with each stage increasing responsibility while reducing oversight over time.
The work is not based on theory or periodic intervention. It is built on daily practice, consistent expectations, and systems that adapt and improve over time.
Interested in booking Monica to speak about GenZ? See her speaker kit →
Interested in booking Monica to speak about Production Systems? See her speaker kit →
Cindy is a native Nevadan from Reno. She became passionate about working with youth while serving 3 years as an Americorps VISTA volunteer for NYEP. She returned to join the NYEP staff in September 2015 and couldn’t be happier about it. She is excited for the opportunity to help young people make positive changes in their lives. When she is not working, she enjoys cooking, reading, gardening, and spending time with her two children and family.
Marvetta Lewis is the Resident Success Coordinator at NYEP, helping young women adjust to the structure and expectations of the Community Living Program. A former foster youth from Washoe County, she brings empathy, honesty, and lived experience to her work. Marvetta supports residents with daily routines, appointments, and life-skill development, and she also coordinates NYEP’s volunteer engagement program. In her role, she helps set the tone with community partners by representing NYEP’s intentional, structured approach to youth support. Outside of NYEP, Marvetta enjoys time with her son, continuing her education, and staying connected with family and friends.
Katie is a single mom of two kiddos. She’s super passionate about creating positive social change in the community. Her knowledge of community resources and what it takes for people to move from point A to point B primes her to work with young women striving to improve their lives. In 2012, Katie co-founded the Reno Initiative for Shelter and Equality, where she served as vice president and free-market director. In 2017, she began growing food for people living outside. In 2022, she co-founded Soil Solidarity to become a communal teaching garden where people can grow food, live, and learn new skills. Katie loves art, plants, and music, and can paint, draw, and craft.
As a graduate of NYEP’s Community Living Program and as a full-time employed professional in the community who has traveled abroad, Liliana’s background gives her a unique skill-set and ability to connect with peers who are struggling to make positive choices. She is a certified Jiu-Jitsu instructor teaching self-defense at NYEP each week. Liliana is also a runner and an artist.
Born and raised in Reno, Casey Howell brings both local insight and deep empathy to her role on NYEP’s board. With a background in coaching individuals who face significant barriers to employment, she offers real-world expertise in helping people navigate and overcome systemic and personal obstacles. Casey’s strong community ties and her genuine connection to the struggles NYEP residents have faced, past, present, and future, make her a valuable advocate and thought partner as NYEP continues to evolve and lead.
In addition to acting as the Secretary for the Nevada Youth Empowerment Project, Britton Griffith-Douglass is Vice President of Operations at Reno Engineering, a development services company. Britton is dedicated and passionate about assisting the youth in her hometown of Reno by being hands-on and available to the youth. She stands proudly behind the mission of NYEP and encourages education, participation and change in her City, beginning in her own backyard and branching out. She wishes to bridge gaps between youth/adults, business/non-profits and to assist in building an accountable ecosystem that puts an end to poverty. It starts with you. Britton is also the Special Events Chair for The Riverwalk/Liberty District, board member for both the Regional Alliance of Downtown and the Redevelopment Advisory Board, columnist for Reno Tahoe Tonight, founder of the High Heels & Hopes Fashion Show, and a Yoga Instructor.
Brian is a local entrepreneur and charity director. His previous work experience with creative marketing for Fortune 500 Companies has given him an impressive ability to create custom marketing strategies and bring that to the non profit space, specifically at NYEP and the Family Respite Care of Nevada.
Veronica Chavez is the Director of Business Retention & Expansion at the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN), where she supports local companies in growing and staying in the region. With a strong background in workforce development and economic strategy, Veronica plays a key role in connecting businesses to the resources they need to thrive. As an NYEP board member, she brings her expertise in sustainable systems, regional partnerships, and community development to support long-term success for young women in transition.
Jackie Mead is a Reno-based real estate professional and former paralegal with a background in family law and contracts. She brings a strategic mindset and strong systems awareness to her role on NYEP’s board. Passionate about youth development, Jackie is especially drawn to NYEP’s structured model that blends housing with social and emotional learning to create real, lasting outcomes for young women.
