Staff
Rebecca Gilgen, Executive Director
Serving the Brooklyns is an honor I have had since 2013. I came to the BBA with a background in community practice social work, community organizing, youth development, strategic planning, evaluation, community based participatory research, expanding diversity, equity and inclusion practices and organizational development. I am a certified Technology of Participation facilitator and a qualified Technology of Participation trainer, and IDI Qualified Assessor. I'm passionate about igniting energy, capturing consensus and building momentum for groups to solve problems and take action together. I have an undergraduate degree in Sociology from University of Wisconsin - Madison and a Masters of Social Work (Macro Practice) from the University of Minnesota.
Fun facts about me - I love singing karaoke, dancing and taking walks around Lake Nokomis with my two fantastic kids, and my amazing partner.
Crixell Shell, Youth and Community Engagement Initiatives Coordinator
Crixell Shell (she/her) brings decades of experience in racial healing, trauma awareness, and restorative practices to her work with the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth (BBAY). A nationally respected trainer and facilitator, she is a Certified STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience) practitioner who has supported thousands of community members and professionals working to understand the impacts of harm and interrupt systemic violence. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that healing is collective and that young people deserve safe, joyful spaces where they can lead, grow, and thrive.
At BBAY, Crixell helps shape healing-centered practices across systems serving youth in Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park. She partners with young people and adult allies to build environments rooted in racial equity, emotional wellness, and belonging. Whether facilitating dialogue circles, developing staff trainings, or advising on systems change, Crixell’s work centers youth voice, cultural identity, and the power of community to transform harm into possibility.
Chia Xiong, Data, Evaluation and Youth Participatory Action Research Coordinator
Previous to the BBAY, I worked at Three Rivers Park District for several years in outreach, community engagement, program development, and focus on equity. My work in community and equity alongside knowledge and experience in GIS systems will be vital in bringing equity and engagement practice into BBAY’s data work. I have a Master of Public Health degree from the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Community Health Education from the University of St. Thomas. Grown up in the Brooklyns, I graduated from Champlin Park High School. My educational background and various experiences in community engagement, equity, and GIS brings a unique lens to the BBAY.
I enjoy spending my free time with family, exploring the outdoors, playing video games, and working on DIY projects.
Rachel Warren, Reimagine Black Youth Mental Health Coordinator
I am excited to be a learner and contributor in the Brooklyns! Prior to joining the BBAY, my creative and culturally responsive planning, programming, and implementation have proven both engaging and effective for youth, families, and communities. My deep understanding of equity and justice has also made me instrumental in elevating organizations’ processes to better serve people. I have initiated and carried out high-quality programming with system-involved/impacted young people, and I have designed curriculum to deepen learning and skill-building aimed at equipping people to establish and sustain anti-oppressive workplaces. My experiences in Minneapolis, Chicago, Anacostia, and Madison have given me perspective on how to actualize necessary change in big ways.
I am results-driven, solutions-oriented, and consistent in my above-and-beyond approach to building authentic relationships that cultivate joy and move us toward new and healed ways of doing things.
I am a graduate of North Park University in Chicago where I earned a B.A. in Nonprofit Management, a B.A. in Sociology, and a Minor in Spanish. I was then an Advanced Opportunity Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where I earned a Masters of Social Work.
I enjoy reading, being active and outdoors, traveling, and spending time with the people I love.
Kennedy Erickson, Grants and Project Specialist
I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with BBAY and the amazing communities of the Brooklyns. Prior to joining the team in September of 2023, I provided case management to youth experiencing homelessness or at-risk as well as leading independent living skills groups for youth in foster care. I obtained my Bachelor of Social Work degree in 2022 from St. Cloud State University and my Master of Social Work (Community Practice) in 2024 from the University of Minnesota.
In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, listening to vinyl, thrifting, and reading. I also love to take community ed classes to explore other hobbies. My most recent adventure was ceramics.
Mitch Vosejpka, Youth OnBoard Coordinator
Before joining BBAY, I spent my years building a career in Mentorship and Community Building. With over 10 years of experience working in community nonprofits and working with young people; I’m absolutely stoked to be joining this incredible program and supporting this fantastic community. I deeply believe that the potential of young people is best tapped into when they are guided towards skills and strengths they can use to power themselves and their futures.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts revolving around Youth Therapy and Guidance using Theatre. I love to motivate and energize young minds through exploration and creativity, exposing people to their own power. I feel so grateful to be able to use arts and psychology to help people the way it helped me growing up.
In my own time I love to involve myself in theater as an actor around the Twin Cities. I also love dancing and watching movies. Game nights and camping trips are big hobbies of mine and I love getting together with friends and family whenever I can. Life is about joy and that’s the goal day to day for me.