OAYA
Orion
Area
Youth
Assistance
Orion Area Youth Assistance
CERC Building Room 8
455 East Scripps Rd.
Lake Orion, MI 48360
oaya@lok12.org​
Phone: (248) 693-6878
Fax: (248) 693-1494
Dawn Ames
Chairperson
Dawn has been on the OAYA Board of Directors since June 2017 and Chairperson since 2019. Dawn works at Lake Orion United Methodist Church as the Director of Family Ministry and brings years of experience in program management and coordinating and developing children and youth programming and events. Through her experience in the community, she founded the Blessings in a Brown Bag FREE Summer Lunch Program at Lake Orion United Methodist Church which provides food to food insecure children during the summer months. Dawn is also a Community Group Leader and Presenter in Northern Oakland County for Michigan Abolitionist Project, an anti-human trafficking education and awareness organization. At the heart of all of these organizations she is involved is children and her desire to create programming to help them become the people they were meant to be. Dawn was Lake Orion’s Citizen of the Year in 2018, received the Orion Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Impact Award in 2019, and Zonta Club of Pontiac-North Oakland County Unsung Hero Award recipient in 2019 for her work advocating for children in her community. Dawn has a BS in Psychology from Central Michigan University and 10 years of experience in Human Resources in a corporate setting.
Dawn has lived in Lake Orion since 2001, is married to her husband, Mike, for over 20 years, and has 5 children. She loves dogs (and most animals with fur!) and just enjoys spending time talking to people. You will also see her adding to her ever increasing-in-size “idea folder” of community projects to make the world a much better place.
Jillian Nolan
Treasurer
Born and raised in Scotland, I have lived in Michigan since 1999 and in Lake Orion since 2005. I live on the border of Lake Orion/Oxford with my husband, Michael (an Irishman) and two “kids” (when they are home from college). Both kids went through Lake Orion schools right from Kindergarten and are Dragons through and through. I consider myself an “adopted Dragon”!
In my working life, I work at the local chamber of commerce. Outside of work, as well as being treasurer for OAYA, I am on the steering committee of Blessings in a Backpack – Lake Orion. When I get the time I enjoy reading, walking our dog, gardening (although I don’t exactly have a green thumb) and watching UK crime dramas.
I was very lucky to have had a wonderful childhood and I hope my kids feel the same way about their younger years. But I am very aware that there are others who are not so lucky. Via my work at the chamber, I got to know more about OAYA, the work they do and the fantastic people who make it all happen. When the opportunity to be on the Board came about, I saw it as a great opportunity to help support OAYA and all the great things the organization does.
Nicole Quandt, Secretary
Photo and background information coming soon!!!
Julie Monroe,
Board Member
I am Julie Monroe . I had the privilege of working for Lake Orion Community Schools for thirty-six years . I am currently enjoying retirement , and have been on the board of directors for OAYA since 2018 . I have also been a member of Alpha Delta Kappa , a philanthropic teaching sorority , for over 30 years .
My career with Lake Orion began at Blanche Sims Elementary where I not only completed my student teaching , but also taught Special Education for 21 years . As my career progressed I became a school counselor at Waldon Middle School . I also had the opportunity to counsel students at Scripps and Oakview Middle Schools for the last 15 years of my time with Lake Orion .
Born in Detroit , I have lived in Michigan my entire life . I received my B.S. in regular education and special education from Central Michigan University and my masters in counseling from Oakland University . I was teacher of the year for Lake Orion Schools , WDIV teacher of the year and runner-up teacher of the year for the State of Michigan in 2000 .
My husband Keith and I are approaching 32 years of marriage and have lived in Oxford for over 31 years . We are very involved at Oakwood Community Church where we have been attending for 33 years . We were blessed 26 years ago with our son Jamison , who is teaching History at Genesee High School . He is getting married in May and we are very excited to be adding his fiance Hailey to our family .
I love our 2 dogs Teddy and Louie and can’t get enough of my horse Miss Jamie the Boone . I have been playing the bagpipes for 30 years and still play for weddings , funerals and of course for St. Patrick’s Day and other special occasions . I also enjoy weightlifting , line dancing , water aerobics and have always been an avid reader . My greatest passion in life continues to be educating and supporting our youth and their families .
Lauren Smith,
Board Member
Photo and background information coming soon!
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