STAFF

Gabrielle Hinahara, Director

Gabrielle has directed the Middleton Youth Center since it’s reopening in February of 2014. She loves working with middle school students and finds this work very fulfilling. In particular, Gabrielle enjoys building relationships with the Youth Center’s students and families, supporting the staff and interns, and finding new ways to grow and improve the program. Gabrielle grew up in Middleton and went to college at UW-Madison. She studied environmental studies and Spanish and began working with young people through outdoor education and sustainable agriculture. Outside of her time at the Youth Center, she loves riding her bike, dancing, gardening, travelling, and spending time with the 12 housemates, friends, and kids that live in her co-op house.

John Hunter, Assistant Director

John was born in Madison and has lived here most of his life. He graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI in 2012. John’s interests include playing and watching sports, fishing, reading, and playing video games. Before working for the Middleton Youth Center starting in 2015, John worked for one year at the Bridge Lake Point Waunona (BLW) Community Center on the south side of Madison
as a PASS AmerCorps Member.

Danielle Moore, PASS AmeriCorps Summer Member

Danielle is super excited to be working at the Middleton Youth Center! In 2016-2017, Danielle served as one of the Youth Center’s PASS AmeriCorps members, tutoring students in Literacy at Kromrey, helping supervise the homework room, and leading activities like photography and hip hop dance. Since then, Danielle has worked part-time as the Youth Center’s Youth Worker and this summer is once again serving as a PASS AmeriCorps member. Danielle is a student at UW-Madison and is working on getting a degree in Elementary Education with a Math/Science Minor. During her free time, Danielle enjoys running, hanging out with friends, and sometimes being lazy and watching Netflix. She has also recently developed a passion for exploring different cultures!

Haley Nippert, PASS AmeriCorps Member

Haley was born and raised in the suburb of Naperville, Illinois, where she spent the first 20 or so years of her life. After graduating from Neuqua Valley High School in early 2013, she initially attended the University of New Haven before transferring to UW Madison. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a certificate in Gender and Women’s Studies, with the intent of attending graduate school in the future. During her time at UW-Madison, Haley was the Culture Editor of Moda Magazine, one of UW’s many PubCom publications. And while she can’t say she’s a big Badger devotee, she remains an avid fan of both their men and women’s hockey teams. Her favorite activities include reading, playing Trivial Pursuit, and marathoning The West Wing on Netflix. She hopes to build on the relationships she’s formed with students during the summer term, whether it’s through assisting in homework room, helping them create art in Radio Club, or simply being a listening ear.

Akshita Pattnaik, High School Intern

Akshita was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and moved to Middleton when she was 5. She has been going to school in Middleton for eleven years-she is now in 10th grade at Middleton High School! She is super excited to be working at the Youth Center for the 2018-2019 year after volunteering here Spring 2018-Summer 2018. She always loves to meet new people and learn new things! In her free time, Akshita is often playing tennis, laughing with her friends, or playing one of the many instruments she plays. When she’s not doing any of those things, you can find her listening to music or watching her favorite shows on Netflix. Akshita’s parents were both born in India so she loves to celebrate and show off her culture!