Who We are – aspengrovecommunity.org

People Rooted in Purpose

Aspen Grove Community Center is led by dedicated professionals, community leaders, and partners who believe in the power of building community, consistency, and care.

Our Team

Our staff brings together experience, compassion, and a deep commitment to supporting teens and young adults. Each team member plays a vital role in creating a safe, nurturing environment where young people feel heard, respected, and encouraged.

We believe strong relationships are the foundation of meaningful impact, and our team shows up every day with care, consistency, and heart.

Lauren Symmonds Aboussie, LCSW

Founder/Executive Director

Lauren brings more than a decade of experience working alongside children, teens, and families to create supportive, preventative, and connection-driven programming.

Lauren’s commitment to youth development began abroad, volunteering in a children’s orphanage in Cochabamba, Bolivia. It was there that she discovered a deep passion for supporting adolescents as they navigate complex life circumstances, a passion that would shape her professional path. Upon returning to the United States, Lauren pursued a career in social work, first serving in an after-school program in Denver, Colorado. During this time, the vision for a holistic, community-based after-school model began to take root and continued to evolve over the next decade.

Board of Directors

Aspen Grove Community Center is guided by a Board of Directors made up of community leaders, professionals, and advocates who share a commitment to our mission and long-term sustainability.

The Board provides strategic leadership, governance, and stewardship to ensure Aspen Grove remains strong, accountable, and responsive to the needs of our community.

Sherise Porchia, M.S.

Board Secretary

Sherise is a founding board member of Aspen Grove and brings her expertise of navigating the complex landscape of post-secondary education and opportunities as the College and Career Counselor at Borah High.

Maggie Benedetti, MSW

Board Treasurer

Maggie is a passionate non-profit leader with 12 years of experience helping organizations grow their impact and reach revenue goals.

Kathryn Nieri

Board Member

A Boise native, Kathryn has spent her career advising business leaders on marketing and brand strategy, with experience spanning Boise, New York, and San Francisco. She is currently a Partner at Foundway, an independent innovation studio.

Kathryn holds a BA in Marketing from Boise State University and has a deep appreciation for the role creativity can play in helping people learn, communicate, connect, and heal. She lives in Boise with her family and is the proud mom of two young children.

Dayo Ayodele

Board Member

Dayo Ayodele is a tradition-bearer and cultural organizer whose practice sustains living folk and
traditional arts through community-centered performance, documentation, and mentorship.
Before moving to Idaho in 2003, he worked as a music and film producer, experience that
shapes his curatorial approach and compositional sensibility.

In Boise, Ayodele co-founded Global Lounge to address urgent needs for cultural exposure and
enrichment, creating platforms where music, dance, storytelling, craft, and culinary traditions
are practiced, taught, and celebrated. Today he serves as Executive Director, Artistic and
Programming Director and as a multicultural issues advisor and African Community affairs
advisor, stewarding ethical collaboration across immigrant, refugee, Indigenous, and
long-standing communities.

Over the past 11 years, he has co-led the launch and expansion of Global Lounge’s artistic programming and continues to perform and facilitate at diverse public events. Out of a desire to bring communities together, he established Afrosonics, a collective in the
past featuring musicians from the Middle East, Europe, Africa, South America, and the United
States. At the heart of its progression, Afrosonics has conscientiously integrated new American musicians—former refugees from conflict-affected regions—into the ensemble, modeling artistic excellence through inclusion.

Bobby Gaytan

Board Member

Bobby Gaytan is an artist and community advocate based in Meridian, Idaho. With a deep passion for street art and graffiti, Bobby blends urban aesthetics with his Latino and farmworker background. After earning a BFA in Graphic Design from Boise State University in 2001, he transitioned into a professional career as an illustrator, specializing in digital and traditional mediums. He is the owner of Blakbook Pages, A creative company where he creates a wide range of art, including murals and illustrations. His work is a reflection of a life devoted to both artistic expression and community engagement.

Beyond the canvas, Bobby is a passionate community activist, working to inspire and support young people through creativity, hard work, and dedication. In addition to his artistic endeavors, Bobby serves as an Arts Commissioner for the city of Meridian, helping to shape the cultural landscape of the region. By fostering creativity and providing opportunities for youth, he continues to make a meaningful impact in both the local art scene and the community at large.

Linda Harrison

Board Chair

Linda brings expertise in nonprofit leadership and community advocacy and is dedicated to supporting opportunities for youth and families in the Boise area.

Robert Kim

Vice Chair

Robert brings expertise in finance and strategic planning and is dedicated to supporting opportunities for youth and families in the Boise area.

Jennifer Martinez

Treasurer

Jennifer brings expertise in accounting and financial oversight and is dedicated to supporting opportunities for youth and families in the Boise area.

Michael Foster

Secretary

Michael brings expertise in education and youth development and is dedicated to supporting opportunities for youth and families in the Boise area.

Dr. Patricia Williams

Board Member

Patricia brings expertise in mental health and clinical services and is dedicated to supporting opportunities for youth and families in the Boise area.

Carlos Ramirez

Board Member

Carlos brings expertise in community development and social services and is dedicated to supporting opportunities for youth and families in the Boise area.

Community Partnerships

Aspen Grove Community Center believes collaboration strengthens impact. Partnering with local schools, community organizations and service providers will allow AGCC to expand support and respond more effectively to community needs while building a network of care that extends beyond our walls.

Local Schools & Educators

Mental Health & Wellness Providers

Youth-Focused Nonprofits

Community Organizations & Businesses

Volunteer & Service Groups

Make a Lasting Impact Today

When you give to Aspen Grove Community Center, you invest directly in initiatives that uplift lives and bring people together. Your generosity allows us to build a safe third space for Boise’s youth, to expand our reach, and create positive change where it matters most.

Aspen Grove Community Center is a 501c3 non-profit organization EIN#39-5088701

What People Are Saying

"Thank you for the wonderful opportunity provided to the kiddos this week. [My daughter] has come home every day feeling happy and inspired, which truly means a lot to our family. The program sounds incredible and is exactly the kind of support that teenagers need today…Your toughest critics would be the kids and from everything I’ve heard, they love it!"

"Thank you so much for the awesome opportunity! [Our girls] had the best time. They wished it had gone on longer. They woke up excited every camp morning ready to create. One of the biggest compliments they gave was “they treat us like we’re the one’s with the power.” They felt so respected and cared for by you and the rest of the staff. They loved how free and encouraging the environment was. It seemed to boost their confidence and definitely got their creativity sparked. Really appreciate all your efforts to make this happen."

"Que fue muy buen campamento y le ayudó mucho a mi hijo para aprender cosas nuevas y a saber cómo expresarse de otra forma."

"Our daughter had a wonderful experience learning about a new medium she never would have picked up on her own and she was so inspired by the work. I'm thankful MK got to see, first hand, the technique and beauty that this art form represents."

"This summer, [my daughter] participated in an art program where she spent time doing what she loves alongside other teens who share her passion. She worked with a professional artist and learned how to use spray paint as an artistic medium. She was engaged, challenged, and surrounded by positive peers and adults who encouraged her creativity. That opportunity meant so much to me as a parent."