Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

Our Team

Our Team

Leadership Team

Rick Brazile

Sr. Director of Finance, Interim Executive Director

479-795-2417 ext 307

Krystal Bequette

Director of Human Resources and Administration

479-795-2417 ext 306

Administrative Team

JJ Thompson

Kitchen Aide

John Craig

Maintenance

Maggie East

Reception Coordinator

479-795-2417 ext 300

Will and Waltina Hanna

Individual Volunteer Coordinators

479-795-2417 ext 312

Joseph Gammon

Assistant Chef

Education Team

Anaiya Daniels

Elementary Teacher

Wade Wofford

High School Teacher

Youth Care Team

Larry Twaddle

Youth Care Specialist

Mandi Maclean

Youth Care Specialist

Sabrina Dwire

Youth Care Specialist

Katherine Robles

Youth Care Specialist

Corina Ward

Youth Care Specialist

Grayson Plumlee

Youth Care Specialist

Kaci Edwards

Youth Care Specialist

Fabiola Hernandez

Youth Care Specialist

Mallory Deets

Supervisor

Stephanie Bacon

Supervisor

Akeem Coleman

Shift Supervisor

Lawrence Nguyen

Youth Care Specialist

Grace Anne Odom

Youth Care Specialist

Leah Cochran

Youth Care Specialist

Veronica Porto-Juarez

Lead Shift Supervisor

Micah Wood

Shift Supervisor

Cathy Lowry

Youth Care Specialist

Jackie Redfearn

Youth Care Specialist

Jared Hines

Youth Care Specialist

Jessica Minez

Youth Care Specialist

Jill Young

Youth Care Specialist

Katie Smith

Youth Care Specialist

Lisa Covert

Youth Care Specialist

Lisa New

Youth Care Specialist

Nakisha Snell

Youth Care Specialist

Sidney Graham

Shift Supervisor

Teresa Bingham

Youth Care Specialist

Karen Heath

Transporter

The Shelter Shop Team

Brandon Bulen

Manager

Becky Johnson

Store Associate

Demonte

Recently, we had an intelligent, hard-working young man in our care. His name was Demonte and he was 15 years old. One day, he got upset in class and took off out of the building like he was planning to run away. This is not an uncommon reaction from the children in our care. Many […]

Read more about DemonteImpact stories

Meet Demonte

Recently, we had an intelligent, hard-working young man in our care. His name was Demonte and he was 15 years old. One day, he got upset in class and took off out of the building like he was planning to run away. This is not an uncommon reaction from the children in our care. Many have been taught that their only two options, when circumstances are beyond their control, are fight or flight. This time, Demonte chose flight.
Lisa, one of our amazing Youth Care Specialists, followed after him and was calling out his name to stop him from walking away. Finally, he did stop and Lisa was able to convince him to return. Later that afternoon, when he was talking through what had happened, he said, “When I heard Mrs. Lisa saying my name, it made me realize that no one in my family or in my life would ever have cared if I ran away. The only reason I stopped is because I knew Mrs. Lisa must care about me because she came after me.”
This is just one story, among hundreds each year, that shows how much our youth care staff impact the children in our care – every day. It is an honor to be here for these kids when they need us the most.

My new bed makes me happy. And I am clean and have a new shirt.

Henry, age 4

This place has made me feel the most at home. What makes it so special is the staff. I have never met such caring and dedicated staff.

Katie, age 14

I rode on a tire swing for the first time!

Mitchell, age 10