YLLC Staff

Candy Hodgkins- Executive Director

Candace Hodgkins, Ph.D., LMHC, is the Executive Director of the Boselli Foundation and the mother of Tony Boselli. Besides her full time job as Senior Vice President of Research at Gateway Community Services, Inc., the largest provider of substance abuse treatment and prevention services for adults, children, and families in Northeast Florida, she dedicates the rest of her time to running her son’s foundation.

After years of providing comprehensive evaluations to Department of Juvenile Justice youth and praying about how to intervene earlier in a youth’s life to reduce juvenile crime, the opportunity to assist her son was not difficult to agree to.

Dr. Hodgkins is a licensed mental health professional in Colorado and Florida, and has over 28 years of experience in both the mental health and substance abuse fields. She is responsible for all the operational and managerial oversight of the Boselli Foundation after-school programs as well as the clinical research and grants at Gateway Community Services.

Her passion for improving the lives of the most vulnerable populations of the Jacksonville community, our youth, creates a dynamic force in the operational context of the Youth Life Learning Centers.

She is a certified counselor through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) and is a long-standing member of the American Counseling Association. Dr. Hodgkins has served as a board member of the Eagle County Head Start Program, Eagle County United Way, Eagle County Family Services Coalition and Florida After-School Network and is a member of the steering committee for the National Institute of Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network.

Jen Vihrachoff – Foundation Director

I grew up in Jacksonville, where I graduated from Bishop Kenny High School. I graduated from Florida State in 2007 with by undergraduate degree in Social Work (BSW) and graduated in 2008 with my masters degree in Social Work (MSW). Upon graduation I began working for the Boselli Foundation as the Lead Teacher at Russell Bill Cook Park, the newest of the Boselli Foundation’s after-school programs. I am currently the Program Director, overseeing both sites.

Growing up I always had a heart for inner city kids that began with an opportunity I had to help lead a vacation Bible school in a housing project on the Northside of Jacksonville. Throughout counseling internships and volunteer experience with various inner city populations my desire to help inner city kids grew. I have a passion for working not only with inner city kids but also their families for a more holistic approach. My experience with the Boselli Foundation has been wonderful and I am excited to see what the Lord has in store in the years to come.

Simonds-Johnson Park Staff:

Cynthia May – Teacher

I was born in Jacksonville and raised in the Moncrief area, not far from the Simonds-Johnson YLLC. In 2001, I received my Associates of Arts degree from Florida Community College at Jacksonville. I had been working as a systems analyst and developer for both Prudential Insurance Company and IBM Global Services prior to receiving my degree. I felt strongly that it was time for me to raise my family and begin to make a difference in the lives of others- it was my time to serve.

I have always had a passion for children and feel that there is greater return on investment than a child who has had good values and a good education instilled in them. I became a licensed childcare provider, foster parent, and a substitute teacher, seeking a way to help children. While these opportunities were beneficial, I wanted more. I prayed for a job and received the position here at the YLLC, the answer to my prayer. I am currently enrolled in the Early Childhood Education bachelor’s program at Florida State College Jacksonville, working at a job I love – serving, teaching, and loving children.

Missi Schock – Teacher

Missi Schock grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and recently graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor’s of Science in Education. Missi was introduced to the Boselli Foundation through 2nd Mile Ministries. Missi interned at 2nd Mile last summer and worked their Summer Day Camp and just fell in love with the Moncrief/Brentwood area. She felt that the Lord has called her to work with inner city kids, encouraging them to follow Christ while learning academic subjects.

Shundell Welch, City of Jacksonville Recreation Leader

I was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas but moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 2001. I graduated in 2009 from William M. Raines High School as one of the first graduating class of A.I.C.E. I am currently a student at Florida Community College at Jacksonville where I am majoring in business administration. When I am not furthering my education, I work as a Recreational Leader for the City of Jacksonville. I have been a part of Parks and Recreation since the summer of 2007. My time has included being a part of Kids Kampus and other local inner-city community centers.

I enjoy working with the children because I share a similar background with many of them. I hope to continue to be helpful in the process of giving back to the community and inner-city youth. As a member of the City of Jacksonville, I would love to grow and excel in all my endeavors.

Russell Bill Cook Park Staff:

Keandra Nate Ewing – Teacher

I was born and raised in Dallas, TX. I moved to Houston, TX in 1999 to attend Univ. of Houston. I graduated with a bachelor of business administration in Management in 2004. I was a home school substitute teacher during my college years. After college I moved to LA to attend a 6-month training program at the Graduate School of Campus Ministry. After completing the program, I worked full-time as a campus minister with Every Nation Campus Ministries at the University of Houston for two years. I transitioned to working as an academic advisor at the University of Houston.

I grew up in the inner city and have always had a heart for the youth in the inner city. When I found out about the work the Boselli Foundation was doing in the inner city, I knew I had to be a part of it. I want these kids to know that their neighborhood and upbringing does not have to dictate their future. God has a plan for each and every one of them.

Hannah Hamrick – Teacher

I grew up near Jacksonville in Callahan. I graduated from Bryan College in 2010 with a degree in English Literature. I have always had a passion for working with children, and soon after graduating, I moved to Kenya to work with Gethsemane International, an organization that runs two children’s homes in the Nairobi area. I recently moved back to Jacksonville and when I heard about the work the Boselli Foundation is doing in the inner city here, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I am so excited for the opportunity to work with these children.

Steve Wood – Teacher

My name is Steve Wood and I am currently an elementary teacher in Duval County. I spend the first 18 years of my life in Danville, Illinois. I graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in math. I then moved to Jacksonville, Florida to teach. I am certified to teach elementary education, grades K through 6th. This is my tenth year teaching in the Duval County Public Schools where I have taught 2nd through 5th grades.