Meet The Staff
A team of dedicated staff members provide supervision during program hours and serve as positive adult role models. Staff members focus on providing a safe and secure environment for this diverse group of teens. When it comes to finding an environment that works best for your children, the B.L.O.C.K. staff creates a unique gathering spot that provides plenty of fun and creative programming. To contact us please call 734/398-5570 or
email.
Recreation Specialist
Laura Mortier: Laura graduate from Eastern Michigan in 2010 with a Bachelors of Science. She majored in Psychology and minored in Communication. While in college, Laura worked at the B.L.O.C.K. Youth and Teen Center as a supervisor and adviser for the Youth Advisory Council. Laura has over 11 years of experience in after-school programming, youth development, and special event planning. In her spare time, she teaches dance at Central City Dance, plays softball, and spends time with her family and friends. Some fun facts about Laura - She had a goldfish that live more than 7 years (RIP), her nails are always polished, and she loves ranch dressing!
Teen Services Coordinators
Scott Kardel: Scott has been "around the block" for awhile. Scott was a part of the Canton Youth Advisory Council for all four years of high school, which met at the B.L.O.C.K. every month. He also volunteered at Teen Night Out events the year leading up to getting hired. He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University earning a degree in Social Work. If you get caught in a conversation with Scott, you're likely to hear about his love of dolphins, intense fear of frogs, and at least one serious rhyme every time. He considers few things more rewarding or special than the relationships he has made with the kids he's been lucky enough to meet through this program, and he looks forward to another great year!
Courtney Smith: Courtney is a student at Eastern Michigan University to earn her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy. She has played guitar for 10 years and has been dancing all her life. Courtney tries to always listen, learn and be inspired by kids everyday.
Meghan St. Peter: Meghan is a proud graduate of the Plymouth-Canton School District. She also graduated from Madonna University with her teaching certificate in Social Studies, History, and English. Meghan is currently a teacher at Liberty Middle School for both 6th and 8th grade Social Studies. She is very passionate about working with middle school age students at a time in their lives when life can be a bit rough. In Meghan's spare time, she can usually be found "nerding out" and strolling along the streets of Greenfield Village, or spending quality time with her husband and friends!
Chelsea Schmitt: Chelsea graduated with honors in 2013 from Eastern Michigan University, and teaches English at Summefield High School. Chelsea has a passion for working with youth, in particular working toward youth empowerment with at-risk youth. Chelsea has several years experience with youth leadership both as a teacher and a youth council coordinator. In her free-time. Chelsea loves to hang out with her rescue dogs, Colby and Bridgette, and go camping with her family!
Youth Advisory Council Advisor
Jenny Porter: Jenny worked for the Township for more than 111 years! Jenny is currently in school to earn her degree in Social Work. Jenny says that she absolutely loves what she does here at the B.L.O.C.K. and the teens that she has been lucky to have met and formed connections with. She strives to help the teens that come to the BLOCK have the best time possible. After all you're only a kid once, and you might as well enjoy it! In her spare time she loves spending time with her large family, which includes 3 nieces and 2 nephews.
Teen Services Supervisors
Frania(Frani) Crippen: Frani graduated from Concordia University, Ann Arbor with a major in Family Life. She is completing her internship at the Summit, B.L.O.C.K., and Lead Like a Girl program. Frani has worked with kids and youth of all ages. She was also a leader of her dance team and is also part owner of A2 Fit-Kid. Frani loves to read, dance, and spend time with her fiance and two crazy dogs, Tyson and Kia.
Ciara Szostek: Ciara graduated from Eastern Michigan University in the Spring of 2017 with degrees in Sport Management and Communication. She hopes to return to school for her Masters in Marketing & obtain a job with a professional sports team, but in the meantime, she will be working at the BLOCK and is very excited to do so! In her free time, she enjoys watching & attending sporting events, hanging out with friends & family, exploring new places & binge-watching Netflix shows.
Zach Smilo: Zach is currently a student at Eastern Michigan University, with a degree in Social Work. He is a former collegiate football player at Ferris State University. His hobbies include reading, camping, and driving his dirt bike. Zach is excited to be apart of the BLOCK.
Teen Services Staff
Ramzy Ali: Ramzy began his experience with youth at Eastern Michigan University's Bright Future Program. Ramzy values the opportunity to engage and guide those still in development on their character. He is excited to continue his experience at the BLOCK, working with kids is the only time a job doesn't feel like a job for him. Since around the age of our participants, Ramzy's dream job would be a character voice actor.
Lauren Brooks: Lauren is attending Schoolcraft College for nursing and wants to specialize in labor and delivery or pediatrics! She has a rescue dog named Stella and a cat named Boba. Lauren loves Star Wars (if you can't tell by her cat's name) and Harry Potter. She wants to make a career in nursing working with children, so being at the BLOCK is a perfect fit!
Justin Dooley: Justin is a portrait photographer and student filmmaker. Justin attends Wayne State University and has three younger siblings and has years of experience with youth.
Tiffany Jackson: Tiffany is a graduate of the University of Michigan, GO BLUE!! She studied Psychology and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Counseling. Tiffany loves sports; and actually plays basketball, softball and volleyball. One of her favorite hobbies is coaching and coaches softball and volleyball at a local high school in Detroit. Her favorite colors are purple and blue and her favorite food is Lasagna.
Emily Libby: Emily has been working at the B.L.O.C.K. for the past five years. Emily graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Along with working at the B.L.O.C.K., she is a preschool teacher. When Emily is not working, you can usually find her at the gym, golfing or spending time with family and friends. Although Emily is very active, she has also been known to eat ice cream out of the carton and eat large quantities of chips and salsa! Teaching and working with children is her passion, there is nothing else she would rather do. Changing lives one day at a time!
Ian Litchtenberg: Ian is a graduate of Concordia University, Ann Arbor. He graduates with a bachelors in Psychology fall of 2016. When he is not spending time hanging out with kids of the BLOCK or his wife, you can find him delving into dungeons with his friends or writing. He enjoys the time spent here and describes it as, "One of the best parts of his week."
Kelli Mottes: Kelli graduated from CMU in 2013. Since then she has worked at Teaching Family Homes, a group home for at-risk youth, and at the YMCA where she taught kids about healthy living. Kelli enjoys staying active, cooking, and spending time with my husband and their adorable pup, JoJo! Kelli recently moved to the area from the beautiful Upper Peninsula where she was born and raised. She loves to climb trees and catch frogs!
Amber Porter: Amber is a sophomore at Eastern Michigan University for interior design. She originally heard about the BLOCK from her aunt, who worked there when she was younger. While that was her main reason for wanting to work here, after being here, she loves the friendships you build with the kids who go there. Amber hopes to somehow help kids struggling with mental health problems because mental health awareness is something she is very passionate about. In her free time she finds herself watching tons of netflix, trying to learn how to cook, or spending time with her friends and family.
