Chief Executive Officer - Brian Kavanaugh, MPA
I first discovered my passion for working with youth during my senior service learning project at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. The service project focused on mentoring and tutoring children in the inner city of Detroit. I quickly became struck by the disconnect between these young children and the availability of any kind of positive external support. I witnessed and worked with young children wrapped in social disorganization and community dysfunction. Any opportunity for positive change – or, to move beyond the influences of their immediate surroundings – was rare and disturbingly absent. Looking back, I have come to see my senior service project as influential in organizing my life and passion around developing “opportunities for change and growth” for young people.
Later, I graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with an academic emphasis in Juvenile Justice. Shortly thereafter, I moved to Las Cruces to more fully embrace my own “opportunity for change and growth” as a case manager in a Transitional Living Program for youth at Families & Youth, Inc. (FYI). I fully embraced the core values of FYI, organized my efforts around advancing FYI’s mission “to promote a safer and healthier community by focusing on families and children,” and worked to strengthen and expand our community based programs. During the next 11 years at the agency, I occupied myself in a range of different programs and in a variety of different roles.
In March of 2015, FYI unexpectedly lost its founder and leader of over 35 years, Jose Frietze. Jose was a dedicated champion to helping families and children in need; he was my supervisor, colleague, and mentor. I was honored and privileged when asked to serve as his successor and lead the agency as Chief Executive Officer.
In May of 2016, I received my Master’s degree in Public Administration from NMSU and was inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, the International Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. My FYI history, education, and experience has provided me with a rich and unique opportunity to learn about the mission and purpose of FYI from the bottom-up, inside out, and outside in. I remain passionately dedicated and committed to FYI’s mission, staff, and purpose in working with the community, families, and youth.
My vision and plan is to continue making FYI a dynamic, vital, and integral component in providing youth and their families with rich opportunities to discover and follow more positive alternative paths in making their decisions and choices in life.
