Meet Helen Tewolde & Sefora Seyoum, Youth Programs Team
Staff Spotlight Series
Get to know the incredible team that brings We Amplify Voices Programs to life through our Staff Spotlight Series. This special feature spotlights our two staff members who directly oversee all of WAV's youth programs. We're very excited to introduce Helen Tewolde and Sefora Seyoum.
Meet the People Behind our Youth Programs
Helen and Sefora are a dynamic duo who make it possible for every student who comes through our programs to have an impactful experience where they feel safe, valued, and a sense of belonging.
They’ve worked together at WAV since the beginning of 2024, and their teamwork has taken WAV’s in-school, afterschool, and summer programs to the next level. Together, they bring their unique strengths and perspectives to leading our youth programs with compassion, creativity, and care.
Helen: Director of Youth Programs
Helen brings a strong sense of leadership and empathy to her role. Whether she’s collaborating with a school partner to design a program that fits their needs or investing in our staff to ensure they feel prepared, valued, and ready to facilitate at their best, Helen keeps a lot of moving parts working together to make each program the best version it can be.
What's her Superpower?
Solving problems at a moment’s notice.
Even with a detailed plan, those who work in this space know that challenges can arise quickly—and Helen is always ready to find a solution when we need one.
Even if things behind the scenes sometimes feel like an episode of The Office, Helen is able to make important decisions and adapt quickly so that when our facilitators are with students, no one would ever know about the fires she put out to get them there.
Here are a few words from the team about what makes Helen such an important part of WAV:
"I appreciate Helen because of the passion and genuine care she brings to the work she does. At the forefront of everything, she never loses sight of the mission of ensuring that the students in our programming feel safe, supported, and heard—and she creates that same sense of care within the environment she provides for her staff.
There has never been a time when Helen wasn’t positive, and I truly believe that comes from how much she loves the work she does. She is incredibly intentional and detail-oriented, and whenever an obstacle comes her way, she finds creative and thoughtful ways to pivot and keep things moving forward. Working with Helen has been such a great experience and is always a learning opportunity for me. I’m grateful for the passion, positivity, and purpose she brings to WAV."
-Sefora Seyoum, Administrative Assistant
"Helen has superwoman energy! Every student that leaves our programs feeling like a better version of themselves is due to how much time, planning, attention to detail, and care that Helen puts in to designing programs, building partnerships, and creating learning opportunities for staff. She is the heart of what we do and an amazing person all around!"
-Gigi Cox, Director of Marketing and Development
"Helen's incredible organization and unmatched planning skills keep everything running seamlessly. She has an extraordinary ability to map out every detail before anyone else even sees the big picture. Thank you for always bringing such grounded professionalism, clarity, and steady leadership to our team."
-Tiera Suggs, Director of Storytelling
"Helen is reliable and focused. You can always count on her to get things done, even when it's challenging. She is also a wonderful advocate. This combination is invaluable to her position where she strategically navigates an ever-changing environment with care and integrity. Helen naturally sees the bright side, which gracefully compliments her problem-solving attributes."
-Stephanie Shoup, Executive Director
Sefora: Administrative Assistant
Sefora’s title only begins to describe the important role she plays at WAV. Whether she’s planning an end-of-program celebration for students or analyzing survey results, she makes sure the little details that have a big impact are never overlooked.
Behind the scenes, you can find Sefora in programming meetings, communicating with staff and partners, planning curriculum, digging into survey data, or serving as our “designated pizza lady.” Everything she does not only makes our programs possible, but helps ensure they’re carried out with quality and genuine care for every student who participates.
What's her Superpower?
Comedic Relief.
Sefora reminds her teammates—and herself—that it’s okay to take a break and laugh, even in the midst of the challenges we face. Her energy brings joy to the team and helps us reset so we can keep showing up at our best.
Here's what our team had to say about why we appreciate Sefora:
"What I appreciate most about Sefora is her ability to always find the positive in any situation. She brings such a bright light to this organization through her dynamic personality, positive attitude, and genuine care for those around her. She has a way of uplifting the people on her team and creating a positive environment wherever she goes.
Sefora also demonstrates a strong work ethic and is someone we can truly depend on. She is committed, reliable, and always willing to step up when needed. Her positivity, dedication, and energy make her such a valuable part of our organization, and we are grateful for everything she brings to our team."
-Helen Tewolde, Director of Youth Programs
"Sefora is the glue that brings the best out of our youth programs. She is able to be persistent in the face of any challenge while also keeping the whole team laughing and in positive spirits. She always keeps the students at the forefront of what she does and it really shows in the experience they have in our programs."
-Gigi Cox, Director of Marketing and Development
"Sefora's positive energy and brilliant sense of humor truly brighten my day. She has a gift for holding all the moving pieces of our programming together while keeping the room light, grounded, and smiling. She brings genuine joy to our space, and keeps us laughing through every step of the process."
-Tiera Suggs, Director of Storytelling
"Sefora brings out of the box thinking to every scenario. She is curious and quick to see all sides, which naturally lends to suggesting helpful alternative perspectives and problem solving. She is truly a team player. Sefora's quick-witted humor adds an additional sprinkle of fun to the team and community! She brings fun and a can-do attitude to every interaction."
-Stephanie Shoup, Executive Director
Beyond the Work
We couldn’t spotlight Helen and Sefora without sharing a little more about who they are beyond the amazing work they do.
What keeps them grounded?
Helen takes three deep breaths—a simple practice that helps her stay proactive rather than reactive. Sefora turns to phone games like Solitaire, giving her something small to focus on and a sense of control in a busy day.
What could they give a 30-minute presentation on?
You can always count on Helen and Sefora for a good recommendation. Helen is our go-to for new coffee shops, so it’s fitting that her presentation would be on the benefits of drinking matcha. Sefora keeps our team meetings stocked with TV recommendations, and she could easily fill 30 minutes (or an hour) talking about one of her favorites: Law & Order: SVU.
Why WAV Matters
Helen and Sefora both embody WAV’s mission, and when asked what the organization means to them, they came back to a shared idea: creating a place where everyone can belong.
For Helen, that starts with acceptance:
"WAV means accepting everyone as they are, and building community in spaces where you typically don't find yourself in."
Sefora also sees WAV as a place where anyone can find community:
"WAV to me means compassion, empathy, family, neighborhood, community, a plethora of things. I think being in the area that we're serving, it's great to know that there's a space for literally anyone and everyone to be able to come in and feel welcome. "
And it’s the different ways people can find connection at WAV that make that community unique:
"Whether you're into the arts, or music, or just chatting, you'll find someone as soon as you walk through these doors that connect with you in a way that most other places won't allow you to do."
Staff members like Helen and Sefora are the reason WAV’s mission comes to life in our programs. It’s the people behind our mission who make the impact we have in our community possible.
About Helen
Helen Tewolde is the Program Director of Youth Programming at We Amplify Voices, a position she has held for several years. With over 9 years of experience in childcare development, working for established organizations from Directions for Youth and Family Services, to YWCA, to the Columbus Urban League, Helen is passionate about working with youth and supporting them in discovering their true potential. She believes in the power of guiding young people as they explore their identities, ask questions, and bring their ideas to life. At We Amplify Voices, Helen helps create an environment where students can be inspired, empowered, and encouraged to create meaningful change.
About Sefora
Sefora Seyoum has worked for WAV as the Youth Programs Administrative Assistant for several years. She brings a wealth of relevant experience to her role, from her previous work as a Mental Health Specialist and Data Collector at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, to her 3 years serving as a lead teacher with Communities in Schools. Her background has enabled her to create safe, supportive environments where students not only are safe, but feel safe. She is passionate about empowering youth through creativity, self-expression, and personal growth. Her work focuses on designing and implementing targeted programming that fosters self-awareness, confidence, and emotional well-being. Her goal is to continue to help create spaces where every child is seen, heard, and valued.
Helen and Sefora bring so much joy and expertise to our team, and their commitment to building an inclusive community is at the heart of everything they do. We couldn’t be more grateful to have them.
Through our Staff Spotlight series, we celebrate the people who make WAV what it is. We’re grateful for every staff member, artist, community partner, donor, and participant who plays a part in bringing our mission to life.
Want to learn more about the work Helen and Sefora help make possible? Explore We Amplify Voices' Youth Programs on our Website
