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    • About Us
      • Board of Directors
      • Our Staff
    • Programs
      • Our Programs
      • Trips for Kids PoconoFlow
      • Youth-led Podcast Program
    • EVENTS
      • Food Truck Festival
      • Battle of the Chefs
      • Chili and Chowder Cookoff
    • News
      • In the News
      • Youth Infusion Newsletter
    • Donate
    • Gallery
Youth Infusion
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Our Staff

Elika Almeida, Co-founder & executive director & Youth-led podcast program director

I moved to the Pocono Mountains with my family in 2004. At the time, I was transitioning from the corporate world into the entrepreneur world.  I had already started my business EA Wedding Planner and ELysian Events in 1999 but was struggling to build my brand and clientele. 


I knew that in addition to being an entrepreneur, I also loved being involved in my community and being there for my kids was what was in my heart and the most important thing I had to do as a young mom. I struggled to find activities for my kids to participate in within our community. 


I worked for the United Way of Monroe County as there corporate giving and campaign database coordinator when I first moved to Pennsylvania. I learned so much in one year and loved the connections made, especially being involved with the many details of the Day of Caring Event.  I knew after a year that I needed to do more in my community and get more involved so that my children also grew up wanting to be involved in their community. 


In 2009, I met Francesca Turturro and we quickly became best friends. Francesca and I are the founders of Youth Infusion, Inc.  Francesca was the Executive Director and Program Director and I worked as our Marketing Director.  We both believed that youth voices are powerful and when youth have a platform to use their voices, they can drive positive change in the world. 

Several years passed and I had to leave Youth Infusion to pursue my career as an event planner, but I had continued to follow Youth Infusion’s journey and many accomplishments, and I attended several fundraisers. During the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, I had reached out to Youth Infusion’s Board of Directors and asked how I can become involved once again with the organization I still held near and dear to my heart. I am now proud to be Youth Infusion’s Executive Director. I believe today’s youth have the power and potential to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges and issues. Ask their opinions and give them a platform to voice their concerns and amazing positive change happens.


Philanthropy and advocating for youth and women have always been a part of who I am. In addition to my role as Executive Director for Youth Infusion, I am also running our Youth-led Podcast Program. I have my very own podcast called H.E.R! Heal, Empower, Rise! I believe there is power in connecting, engaging, and supporting other women. Women are stronger and our voices are heard when we stand together. Together, my co-host Alegria Sita Amor and I speak to powerful women who share their stories of adversity and how they have risen to overcome some of the toughest journeys and how we constantly evolve, learn, and support one another in order to heal.  


I have also been the chairwoman for the Pocono Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business Council since December 2018.  My love for my community, supporting and advocating for women and youth is what drives me. My children are now grown but I continue to believe that we need to engage youth by creating programming that is youth-led. I am currently seeking young adults to lead our Youth Leadership Advisory Board (YLAB).  More information can be found HERE and to join our YLAB, please submit email to youthinfusion2020@gmail.com 

Jim Dellavalle, Trips for Kids Pocono Flow Program director

I've competed in the sport of off-road mountain biking for more than a decade 2001-2011 and climbed from the expert ranks to the pro level in downhill, dual slalom and professional freestyle cycling. Since leaving the competitive arena, I founded Dellavalle Designs, LLC.   Dellavalle Designs has already made tracks into the design/build world of biking and he strives to further promote biking as a life-style sport and enrich the typical recreational landscape with new biking venues for all skill levels and ages. 

I have experienced in all aspects of design, layout, and construction for walking and mountain biking trails, as well as, bike parks. I have been a trail design consultant and trail construction contractor for 20 years. I  understand sustainable trail design, following International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Standards and strive to reduce the environmental footprint of trails on the landscape. I have experience with mechanized machinery and trail design equipment that reduces environmental impacts. Since 2001, I have proudly designed cycling-freestyle-specific tracks and dirt jumps and appeared in films for Brownstone Beam Tech, DH Productions, Launch Pad Productions, and Nat Bartholomew. 

From my home base in the Poconos, I am involved as a  Ride Leader and programmer for Youth Infusion's Trips For Kids Pocono Flow Chapter. I am the Head Coach for Madd March Racing, a branch of Off-road Cycling Camps Worldwide and currently steward trails in NY, NJ, and PA with local IMBA volunteer cycling clubs. I am always aware of current trends in off-road cycling, and he strive to educate and teach the younger generation by facilitating the construction of “progressive” trail networks and bike park designs. I am also available for presentations on the art of trail sculpting, progressive biking trail designs, and the art of road to trail conversions. Lastly, I organize monthly riding events, dovetailed with trail appreciation and education programs for volunteer/ nonprofit groups in the Tri-State area.

Amy Lee McMahon, Shanti students program director

 Amy Lee McMahon also known as "Amyleeflower" has a multifaceted approach to creating unique yoga and meditation programs that help children, teens, women, & families. In 2015, she became a trauma informed Kripalu Yoga and Mindfulness teacher. She is the founder of Shanti Students, a program that brings yoga, meditation and mindfulness into 30+ schools throughout Country. During the Pandemic, she co founded Mindful Minute- a platform offering free 1 minute meditations for effective transformation. Amy is very passionate about the process of self discovery through self love and mindfulness practices. She empowers her students to trust the process of life, to learn how to experience the beauty of every moment that arises and how to allow the light within to shine brighter. She has created and led over 7000+ hours of teaching mindfulness programs, workshops, assemblies, afterschool programs, self love retreats sharing her love for this work with thousands of people throughout the country.


 Amy began exploring the practice of yoga and meditation at the age of 14. During her childhood and adolescent years she endured great suffering and trauma- from her mindfulness practice there was an awakening of her heart, shortly after she began her practice she and others noticed a significant difference in her mental, physical, and emotional health. When Amy chose to become a teacher of this great work, her intention was to bring these transformative practices to the masses. She is known for her vibrant outlook on life, her illuminating wisdom, and her very happy grateful heart. 


Amy is continuously studying and learning, creating new workshops and classes to diversely connect with both adults and children. Being present with her students fuels her inspiration, seeing the growth through their practice individually and as a whole is the greatest gift of all. Amy is passionate about living a prosperous life using the tools of yoga, meditation, breathwork, journaling, self reflection, inner child loving, movement, painting, writing poetry, eating plant based whole foods, & practicing self care. She is mindfully connected to each passing moment of the day, Amy always remembers to stop and smell the flowers and smile at the sun. She looks forward to the opportunity to share the golden gifts of yoga, meditation, and self nourishment to all. 

erica velander, grant writer

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