Value Statement:

"I help students get to and through college"

Alissa Young was born & raised in Los Angeles, California and graduated from Crenshaw Arts Tech Charter High School (CATCH) located in South LA. After high school graduation (2012), Ms. Young matriculated to Loyola University New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a first generation college student at Loyola University New Orleans, Alissa held several leadership positions within student campus organizations such as the Black Student Union and even helped develop a program called "First In The Pack" - a mentorship program for First Generation College Students. In 2016, Alissa obtained a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Sociology with a concentration in Social Justice and Inequalities.

Immediately following undergrad, Ms. Young applied and was accepted into the University of Southern California's Masters of Social Work program. As a student at USC, Ms. Young served as a student intern for an non-profit organization called United Friends of the Children - a program for Middle School and High School aged Foster Youth interested in receiving College Access and Mental Health Support. While attending USC, Alissa also worked as a College Advisor for i.am.CollegeTrack - a program for Roosevelt High School students interested in College Access Support and Resources, located in Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles area.

As an intern and college advisor, Alissa realised she had a passion for working with high school and college-aged students in the college access space. However, she noticed a reoccurring theme amongst most students served. While many utilized resources and were eager to learn more about college, many students experienced 'imposter syndrome' and significant childhood trauma.

Imposter Syndrome: suffering from chronic self-doubt and a sense of intellectual fraudulence that

overrides any feelings of success or external proof of their competence.

It was at this point that Alissa realized there was a needed space for joint College Access and Mental Health Support. 

Upon further reflection, I realized, I too was affected by 'imposter syndrome' and unprocessed childhood trauma, which impacted my mental health throughout high school, undergrad, and graduate school. I decided to use this information as motivation to finish obtaining my Master's degree focusing on children, youth, students, and families. After graduation from the University of Southern California (2019), Alissa Young proceeded to fulfill the post-degree licensure requirements of 3,000+ work hours as a child's therapist in the Los Angeles, Pasadena, Compton, and Gardena area(s).

Alissa currently practices as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) at the University of San Diego in San Diego, California. Ms. Young's ultimate goal is to continue bridging the gap between college access, matriculation, degree attainment and mental health support amongst high school and college students across the country!