Nine youth workers — adults who work with youth — will be recognized for their outstanding contributions to supporting young people at a ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Madison Youth Arts Center, fourth floor.
The Madison-area Out-of-School Time initiative ensures that all of Madison’s children and youth have access to comprehensive, high-quality, out-of-school time programs that support positive youth development, educational achievement, and readiness for college, career, and community.
Award winners were nominated by their peers, with final selections made by a group of former MOST Award winners from dozens of strong nominees. MOST is recognizing their contributions to making the city a better place with $500 awards.
The 2026 MOST Outstanding Youth Workers include
- Luz Cruz from Madison School and Community Recreation
- Brian Emerson from Rooted WI, Inc
- Kelsey Flood from Wisconsin Youth Company
- Vernon Hill from Goodman Community Center
- Fred Martinez from Madison School and Community Recreation
- Courtney Schwalbach from RCC: Sexual Violence Resource Center
- Joseph R Thigpen Jr. from Root2Rise
- Melody Duran Torres from Centro Hispano – Newcomer Award
- Shennon Lawhorn Williams from Madison School and Community Recreation
These winners are the seventh group of MOST Outstanding Youth Workers, joining 60 other winners from 2019 to the present.
At the same event, Will Green, the founder and executive director of Mentoring Positives, and Vincent S Carey II from Boys & Girls Club of Dane County, will be honored as “2026 Legends.”
Green has spent more than 20 years creating opportunities for Madison youth through mentoring, entrepreneurship, and community leadership as the founder and executive director of Mentoring Positives Inc. Over the past two decades, Green has been a leading advocate for youth in Madison’s Darbo-Worthington neighborhood, helping hundreds of young people build confidence, develop job skills, and connect with caring adults.
Carey started with the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County as a volunteer in 2003 after he retired from the NFL. In 2005, he was hired to cook meals and for the last 21 years, Carey has served as the Head Chef at Boys & Girls Club on Allied Drive, making a lasting impact on countless young people and staff members. Carey has been a dependable, caring presence in the lives of club members, ensuring that every child has access to nutritious food in a welcoming environment.
MOST is a collaboration between the City of Madison, Dane County, Madison Metropolitan School District, and over 45 Madison-area youth-serving organizations.
Biographies of the honorees, as provided Madison Out-of-School Time, are as follows:
Luz Cruz, MSCR
Luz cares deeply for the students, families, staff and communities she works with. She puts her all into the work she does; she is a village builder in the morning, then comes to her afterschool program and works all night long to come up with fun activities, behavior management techniques/skills and systems for staff to use to make their lives easier. In our MSCR program, Luz is not only the assistant director, but she also plans cultural celebration activities and family engagement nights to allow celebrations and the learning of different cultures. Luz also has lots of experience with students with disabilities, and is great at advocating for her students’ needs while also setting high expectations and helping them reach their goals. She is so selfless and dedicated to the youth in Madison and building their futures and is an inspiration to all youth workers!
Brian Emerson, Rooted
Brian came to Rooted in 2020 with years of experience as an educator and mentor building a garden-based education program at Gompers Elementary, coaching basketball and running a small urban farm. He is currently the Director of Urban Agriculture Education for Rooted’s northside programs. He manages Rooted’s Madison School Farm site and supports the Troy Kids’ Garden site where over 2000 youth of all ages visit each year to gain hands-on farm-to-table experiences and contribute to addressing food insecurity in their community through donating over 1000 pounds of produce they help grow and harvest each season to the Goodman Community Center Fritz Food Pantry. Brian also offers a year-round agriculture-based educational curriculum to justice-involved youth at the Grow Academy in Oregon, WI, a residential program for youth as an alternative to incarceration as well as a step-down for youth returning to the community.
One of the greatest strengths of Wisconsin Youth Company’s Kelsey Flood is her ability to bring out the best in every student. The young people she works with strive to do their best because they know she genuinely believes in them and is always rooting for their success. She creates an environment where students feel supported, encouraged, and empowered to reach their full potential. Kelsey also excels at building strong, trusting relationships with families. She understands that meaningful progress happens when families and staff work together, and she takes the time to communicate openly, listen with empathy, and ensure families feel respected and included throughout the process. Kelsey embodies the qualities of an outstanding youth worker through her unwavering commitment, leadership, and genuine care for others. Her positive influence extends far beyond her daily responsibilities, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of the young people, families, and colleagues she supports.
Vernon Hill of Goodman Community Center deserves to be recognized for his outstanding, longtime service in out-of-school-time work with youth. Through decades of dedication as a coach, mentor, and community leader, Vern has made a lasting impact on countless young lives. Whether on the basketball court, football field, or in community centers, he shows up with consistency, compassion, and a deep understanding of how to connect with youth. Vern has helped build a stronger culture in our high school program by intentionally bringing together students from East and La Follette. He organizes groups to attend games at the other school’s gym or field, cheering for one another. At Goodman, students identify as Goodman kids first, building friendships across school lines. His ability to meet kids where they are, inspire their growth, and encourage their potential sets him apart. Vern’s presence is not just about sports—it’s about building trust, teaching life skills, and creating safe spaces where young people feel seen and supported. His tireless commitment has made him a cornerstone of youth development in our community.
Fred Martinez of MSCR was nominated in part because five staff members that Fred directly supervises suggested a nomination. Before being an MSCR MS Specialist supervising SDs, Fred was one of MSCR’s most successful SDs himself, taking a struggling program and building to one of the most successful through a consistent approach, hard work and amazing relationships with staff, students and families. Fred has carried that through as a Supervisor. I asked his team to describe why he is outstanding, and they answered with more than I can fit. Just a few of their words: leadership, commitment, compassion, mentor, guidance, support, behind the scenes, unnoticed, and Big Dawg Fred. “I don’t think I would’ve gotten through my first year as an SD without Fred.”
He goes above and beyond to support his Site Directors. Fred challenges us to see things optimistically and realistically, while also following our personal values. Fred makes coming to work, even on the most challenging days, easier.
Courtney Schwalback has been with RCC: Sexual Violence Resource Center for several years, and during this time they have worked to engage youth across the county in sexual violence prevention work. Recruiting students from all backgrounds, they helped to grow students as advocates and educators focused on driving innovative and creative avenues for engaging their peers in sexual violence prevention. Their commitment to changing the landscape of rape culture through giving a voice to young people to lead this charge has been inspiring. Specifically, their work did the important job of meeting the moment, as Madison students faced a crisis in ensuring their voices against harassment and misconduct were being heard by wider systems in recent years. Their mission has been to uplift youth through difficult things, to guide their passion towards an important cause, and I can’t think of a more outstanding person on this front.
Joe Thigpen Jr. is an exceptional youth worker because he doesn’t just prepare young people to tutor elementary students; he develops them into confident leaders, mentors, and changemakers. Through Root2Rise’s Tutor Mentor Program, he provides intentional training that equips high school students with the skills to build meaningful relationships, support literacy, and serve as positive role models. His approach centers on belonging, accountability, and helping each young person recognize their strengths and potential. As a partner with Madison Metropolitan School District, I have seen Joe create opportunities where students gain leadership experience, earn meaningful workforce skills, and positively impact younger scholars. He believes every young person has something valuable to contribute and creates spaces where they can thrive. His investment extends far beyond training them for R2R; he builds confidence, purpose, and a lasting commitment to serving others. Joe’s impact is evident not only in the elementary students who benefit from tutoring, but also in the young leaders who leave the program believing in themselves. He combines professionalism, compassion, and a deep commitment to young people, building strong relationships with our Tutor-Mentors and their families, our Partner Teachers and our community partners. Joseph has a remarkable ability to inspire trust, solve challenges thoughtfully, and create environments where students feel seen, valued, and empowered to succeed.
Melody Duran Torres of Centro Hispano is the definition of being everyone’s “go-to person.” She is compassionate, understanding, and approachable. She goes above and beyond in her role as a youth program coordinator and always puts the needs and well-being of others first before her own.
At a young age, Melody has accomplished so much while building and maintaining strong relationships with both community members and students. She is a genuinely caring person who has a remarkable ability to make everyone feel welcomed, valued, and included. Melody was involved as a young person with our programming at Centro. Through her charisma, enthusiasm, and dedication to serving our community, she earned the opportunity to join our team. Since then, she has continued to grow professionally, quickly advancing into her current role as Youth Coordinator. Her passion and commitment to supporting students and families have made her an exceptional coordinator and leader.
Melody is everyone’s cheerleader, and I believe it’s time we cheer for her, and recognize her for all the hard work and dedication she continues to provide to our youth in the community.
Shennon Lawhorn Williams of MSCR is the heartbeat of Mendota and a cornerstone of the Northside community. She goes above and beyond for every student, guiding them forward rather than dwelling on past mistakes and placing them in situations where they can truly shine. Her deep, authentic partnerships with families foster immense trust and directly drive positive student outcomes. For her staff, Shannon acts as family, celebrating every holiday and birthday, offering love when someone is sick, and inspiring everyone to work at their absolute best. Whether championing innovative community partnerships or attending events across the district to support her kids, Shannon builds the trusting relationships that our entire school depends on. Shennon’s support doesn’t end at the school doors. When a former student participated in a pageant at Lake View, Shennon showed up in the crowd to cheer them on. She consistently shows up for family events across the community, making every child feel remembered, seen, and valued.
