Staff Anniversaries - March 2024
It would be impossible to overstate how valuable our staff is in pursuing our mission to serve Knoxville’s urban youth. Whether staff members are directly involved with youth through discipleship, coaching, tutoring, etc. or are a part of the support staff that equips them, each member has God-given talents and passion that make our organization fruitful. It is our desire to celebrate them and, in the process, let you get to know them a little better. So, stop by our blog each month to see the latest anniversaries and get to know the folks who are the hands and feet of our work in knoxville’s city neighborhoods!
Kaylin Chesney
Kaylin Chesney - 6 years
Kaylin believes God brought him to Emerald Youth to be an advocate for the East Knoxville community and to help connect families to the resources available through Emerald. Kaylin’s heart is to hear the needs of the families in East Knoxville and find ways to serve them well. “I want all young people in the area to have an opportunity to see and do things, and I feel that through Emerald, I am able to help make that happen.” His most memorable moments working at Emerald are when he can share his story. Whether it’s in front of 2,000 people at our Prayer Breakfast or one-on-one with a teen, he shares how God has brought him full circle and, through his past experiences, has given him the ability to relate to area youth. He lets them know that he was in their shoes and makes sure they receive the time, relationships, and resources that helped him.
Cesar Correa - 6 years
Cesar Correa
Talk with Cesar and you’ll immediately know that it’s his love for the next generation that brought him to Emerald Youth Foundation. First as a youth pastor and now as Director of Area Ministries in South Knoxville, Cesar gets the opportunity to pursue his passion for “discipling young people and helping them to become passionate, contagious, and lifelong followers of Jesus Christ!” He enjoys being a part of the mission to raise up youth to be “disciples who will make disciples” and does whatever he can to serve his community well - even if it means sacrificing his body to the rigors of middle school camp where Cesar’s most memorable (and painful) experience was being launched off the BLOB by colleague Kent Stanger at Doe River Gorge Camp. As he puts it, “You haven’t lived until you’ve been BLOBBED by Kent!”
Hannah Hopper
Hannah Hopper - 9 years
God has used Hannah’s time at Emerald to show her the character of His heart, inspiring a deeper relationship with Him and a desire to be more like Him. She enjoys the “behind the scenes view” that gives her the opportunity to see our staff advocate for children and families while also seeing our donors rise up to meet those needs. “It’s a beautiful picture of the body of Christ, and I love watching that come together in a Kingdom way.” Hannah loves Emerald’s staff and whether it’s helping them troubleshoot ways to deliver gifts safely during COVID or watching the looks on their faces when our CEO kicks a “storybook home run” during a staff kickball game, she celebrates every ministry moment and fun adventure with them.
Max Lemons
Max Lemons - 4 years
When you hear Max talk about why he is here at Emerald and what he hopes God will accomplish through him, it makes you wish every student had a “Max” in their life. He came to Emerald with experience in a variety of fields that in hindsight seem perfectly orchestrated to help young adults make difficult life decisions. “Maybe something I’ve seen or done or heard or read will be used to help a student achieve their God-breathed goals and succeed on their own.” He is energized by helping youth to see their possibilities and then exceed them. His favorite moments are when a young person steps out and begins to make successful adult choices on their own or when they accomplish something they didn’t think possible. “Those are the moments that bring a smile and make the hair on my arms stand up!”
Clark Reyes
Clark Reyes - 6 years
Clark and Emerald go way back! “My career pretty much started at Emerald from intern, AmeriCorps member, and high school coordinator.” He then left to work to in a hospital setting where he believes God helped him to grow as a leader and servant. It was an environment, however, were he struggled with working primarily to please others instead of keeping God primary. He realized God was calling him to change course when he was at an Emerald Youth Prayer Breakfast. “I had an overwhelming feeling that morning that it was time to come back.” Since then, he has been able to see and enjoy the fruit of his labor for Christ through watching former students become parents, coaches, bosses, and deacons. He’s even received texts from young people he’s worked with thanking him for “loving them, pushing them, and helping them.” They’ve also thanked him for “smelling good” when he coached them, but that’s a story you’ll have to stop by our North Area Ministry Complex and get from him yourself!