GRASS VALLEY, Calif. (June 24, 2026) — Leah Ellis, a former local substitute teacher whose educational background includes clinical counseling and psychology, has been named Program Manager at The Friendship Club, an after-school program that makes a life-changing difference for youth in Nevada County.
Ellis oversees the day-to-day activities of The Friendship Club, a preventative program aimed at helping youth maintain good health and make good choices throughout their lifetime.
Ellis, whose roots go back four generations in Nevada County, earned a Master of Education in Human Relations from Northern Arizona University with an emphasis on mental health counseling, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Science from the University of Nevada, Reno.
“Leah is a wonderful asset to our organization, bringing strong educational credentials along with valuable work experience, said Jennifer Singer, Executive Director of Bright Futures for Youth and co-founder of The Friendship Club. “We are excited Leah has joined our team at a time when being a child and young adult has never been more difficult, from the anxiety that so many face to the uncertainty of what tomorrow may bring.”
The Friendship Club is a program of Bright Futures for Youth that provides academic, emotional and social support to sixth- through 12th-grade girls and young women in Nevada County. About 100 students are enrolled in the program for the 2026-27 school year.
“I am pleased to join an organization that goes above and beyond to empower our community’s youth, build resiliency and set them up for success in all aspects of their lives,” said Ellis.
The Friendship Club offers life-skills classes, get-togethers with peers, staff and volunteers, college tours and summer camps, mentors and much more. Bright Futures for Youth also provides a range of safety-net services, including serving healthy meals, connection to health care and counseling, and clothing and housing, if needed.
Ellis has experience working for multiple university counseling departments, which enables her to keep a close watch on the mental wellbeing of youth. “I look forward to connecting to help ease the isolation and social anxiety many experience at some point in their lives,” said Ellis. “I bring a deep-rooted passion and love for this community and its youth.”
About Bright Futures for Youth
Bright Futures for Youth is a nonprofit committed to making a life-changing difference for children and young adults in Nevada County. Bright Futures for Youth – created by the merger of The Friendship Club and NEO Youth Center in 2020 – has three core programs: The Friendship Club, NEO and SAFE, which helps youth facing housing insecurity. Bright Futures for Youth programs connect youth to positive experiences, relationships and environments to build resiliency today and into the future. The original organization started in 1995. For more information, visit www.bffyouth.org or Facebook at Facebook.com/BrightFuturesforYouth.