Introducing the 2026-2027 Up Next Nevada Ambassadors

Launched in February 2025, Up Next Nevada connects young people to employment at Boys & Girls Clubs with mentoring, individualized career planning, and continuing education stipends. The Alliance operates the statewide initiative with support from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation and receives technical assistance from Nevadaworks.

Chosen for their exceptional commitment to the initiative and community engagement, Ambassadors serve for one year as keynote presenters and advocates at statewide events and community outreach activities. Ambassadors share their experiences with policymakers, community partners, and young adults across Nevada, encouraging investments in workforce readiness and development programs. This year’s Ambassadors represent 394 Up Next Nevada participants pursuing careers in the Silver State.

Read on to learn more about our outstanding lineup!

DeMelle Cooley

Education Specialist

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada

Faith Reid

Program Administrator

Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada

Kaitlin Nichols

Youth Clubhouse Coordinator

Boys & Girls Clubs of Truckee Meadows

Laszlo Demick

Aquatics Director

Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeastern Nevada

“Up Next Nevada is a workforce development initiative. It encourages people to pursue an education past high school, to get certifications and experiences into different kind of fields. You pick a path, stick to the path, you learn things. As long as I keep my feet to the beat, I cannot be stopped. The future is never set in stone. That’s what I’m excited about, is being able to help others write it.”

DeMelle CooleyBoys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada

Young adults sometimes get treated like we’re still waiting for our turn, but through Up Next Nevada I’ve seen how much we can contribute right now. I work with kids and families every day, and being an ambassador has made me more intentional about showing them that young people can lead, speak up, and shape what happens in their own community.

Faith ReidBoys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada

The tools that I have, I learned through Up Next Nevada. Up Next Nevada has taught me multiple different leadership skills, and with those tools, I can also help give those same tools to others and to the younger generation. I recently just took over a new position at Boys & Girls Club. So that’s working on my time management skills and how to lead a big team.

Kaitlin NicholsBoys & Girls Clubs of Truckee Meadows

We’re always told that ‘You’re the future of America, you’re the future of the world, you’re going to be the world leaders one day’. We felt like, “Wow, we are, but where’s our resources? How are we going to actually learn how to do that? Up Next Nevada attacked that issue of no longer being trusted and said, ‘We trust you. Go achieve and go do something great.’