Northwest Arkansas Childrens Shelter

Our Team

Our Team

Leadership Team

Krystal Bequette

Human Resources and Administration Director

479-795-2417 ext 306

Administrative Team

Shonet Marshall

Accounting Assistant

Melissa Hoeldtke

Kitchen Aide

JJ Thompson

Kitchen Aide

John Craig

Maintenance

Linda Fulps

Office 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

Gina Andrew

Youth Care Specialist

Lucero Martinez-Salas

Shift Supervisor

Allison Serrano

Youth Care Specialist

Lexie Huynh

Youth Care Specialist

Garrett Donnell

Youth Care Specialist

Mik Morgan

Shift Supervisor

Gaby Ayala

Shift Supervisor

Angela Bishop

Youth Care Specialist

Larry Twaddle

Youth Care Specialist

Mandi Maclean

Youth Care Specialist

Sabrina Dwire

Youth Care Specialist

Katherine Robles

Youth Care Specialist

Corina Ward

Shift Supervisor

Kaci Edwards

Youth Care Specialist

Fabiola Hernandez

Youth Care Specialist

Mallory Deets

Lead Supervisor

Akeem Coleman

Shift Supervisor

Leah Cochran

Youth Care Specialist

Veronica Porto-Juarez

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

Nakisha Snell

Youth Care Specialist

Sidney Graham

Shift Supervisor

Teresa Bingham

Youth Care Specialist

Karen Heath

Transporter

The Shelter Shop Team

Shelley Turner

Store Associate

Geneva Jones

Store Associate

Tom Blackwood

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.

I learned to be proud of who I am.

Javier, age 14

The Shelter is a great place with warm hearts, open minds and lots of care.

Angela, age 14

The best thing that I love about the Shelter is the acceptance. No matter where any of us came from, we are accepted here.

Melanie, age 15