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 Opens a New Window. .
Recreation Specialist
Chelsea Straub: Chelsea graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor's Degree in English and Health Education and in 2020 with a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. She taught high school English and health for eight years and was a programmer for the BLOCK Youth and Teen Center for six years before moving into the Recreation Specialist position. Chelsea has over ten years of experience in youth development, programming, and empowerment. In her free time, Chelsea loves to hang out and go camping with her husband, Jason, and their daughter, Emery.
Teen Services Coordinators
Frania (Frani) Lantigua: Frani graduated from Concordia University, Ann Arbor with a major in Family Life and a minor in Child Life. She completed her internship in 2017 at The BLOCK and has been here ever since! 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 husband and two dogs, Tyson and Kia.
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.
Chelsea Murphy: 
Chelsea Murphy is a graduate of Michigan State University (Go Green!) where she earned her degree in art history with a specialization in museum studies. After six years working as a museum educator, she is excited to use her experience in informal education to benefit kids in the local community. She especially enjoys thinking of fun and creative ways to help kids learn new things or engage with new topics. Chelsea lives in Canton with her husband and their two cats. In her free time, Chelsea enjoys reading, watching sports, finding new recipes to whip up, and keeping up with the latest movies and shows.
Sarah Mallon: 
Sarah is a graduate of the University of Michigan. She majored in Psychology and minored in Social Work. In the next couple of years she hopes to go to graduate school for a Masters of Social Work. Sarah has a passion for disability advocacy and working with kids. In her free time she enjoys painting, reading, exploring the outdoors, swimming, traveling, and spending time with friends and family!
TEEN SERVICES STAFF
Leanne Coleman: 
Leanne graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor's in Social Work and is currently working towards her Master's in Social Work from Madonna University and will graduate in May 2022. Leanne has worked at The Block previously for three years and left to pursue her career in school social work. Leanne teaches ice-skating in her spare time and enjoys hanging out with her dog, CheChe.
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.
Fatin Jafri: 
Fatin is a student at Wayne State University doing a bachelors of science in Psychology. After she graduates, she is planning on going to graduate school for either clinical psychology or developmental neuroscience. She is really excited to start working at The B.L.O.C.K. Teen center and getting to know the kids there. Fatin has a big family and a lot of younger cousins who she spends some of her free time with. She loves to watch films and listen to music from all around the world. She enjoys dancing and singing, writing, and traveling!
Yusuf Jafri: 
Yusuf is a student at the University of Michigan Dearborn majoring in Economics and Political Science. After graduating, Yusuf plans on going to law school and practice law. Yusuf is super excited to work at the B.L.O.C.K. Teen center and getting to know the kids! In high school, he ran track and played basketball. His hobbies include playing basketball, trying new things, playing video games, listening to music, and watching movies.
Scott Kardel: 
Scott is back for his second go around of working at the BLOCK and is so excited to be back! He is currently studying at Eastern Michigan University where he is pursuing his masters in social work. Scott has spent seven years working with teens and adolescents and is passionate about promoting youth empowerment. Scott hopes to provide mental health services to youth and teens upon completing his masters. When he isn't working or studying, Scott loves to explore, travel, and write.
Kaitlynn Lighthall: Kaitlynn graduated this past spring from Concordia University in Chicago with her B.A. in Psychology. She is super excited to start working this summer with the BLOCK, especially with the BLOCKS focus on creating a safe and inclusive environment for the youth. Kaitlynn believes strongly in creating inclusive environments where youth can feel safe and able to express themselves. Though she lived in Chicago for college, she has since moved back to the place that has always been home in her heart, Michigan. In her downtime, Kaitlynn enjoys board games, card games, and nerdy hobbies like Magic: the Gathering and D&D.
Lauren Peterson: Lauren is a graduate student at Wayne State University pursuing a Master’s Degree in Social Work and a Child Welfare Certificate. She will also be an intern at Child Protective Services for the upcoming school year, which she is very excited about! After graduation, Lauren would love to continue down the path of Child Protective Services, which is her dream job, or work for another child welfare agency. Lauren loves exploring the outdoors, fishing, spending time with her husband, and playing video games in her free time. She has a passion for working with, helping, and supporting kids, and wants to work with kids long-term. Lauren loves that she is able to work with kids and see their smiling faces every day at The B.L.O.C.K.!
Ashley Rodriguez
Ashley graduated in 2015 from Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach and is currently a college student at Tidewater Community College in Virginia beach. She is working on enrolling into college in Michigan at Washtenaw Community College to get her associates degree, then bachelors degree in nursing at University of Michigan. That is her goal and what she is working up to be (a neonatal nurse level one). This is Ashley’s first year working at The B.L.O.C.K. and also her first time living in Michigan. Ashley lives in Monroe, Michigan with her fiancé, soon to be husband! Ashley has three dogs! Two are brothers, silky terriers named Eeyore and Tigger and one Scottish terrier named Kobe. Ashley is a twin to her brother Timothy. She takes family really serious. In her free time, Ashley loves napping, drawing, cleaning, watching movies and shows , working out, playing video games, online shopping and being around people who are positive and push her to do better.
