Goals & Team

Youth Development Team group photo

Montgomery County Recreation's Youth Development Team is generating an enhanced and vibrant approach to service delivery that reaches out to all young people.

Our Goals:

We use recreation to ensure young people are productive, healthy, and connected during out-of-school time. Our positive youth development strategies include opportunities, programs, and services which emphasize health and wellness, youth leadership and social equity, workforce development, and connection to caring adult role models. The Recreation Department is built on a foundation for serving youth, and we are committed to building on this tradition.

It is our aim to ensure the Recreation Department is a place where young people:

  • Make friends and maintain healthy relationships
  • Gain a sense of independence and rely less on adults
  • Build teamwork skills and become more effective in groups
  • Foster attributes important to being a members of family and community
  • Perceive competence and believe they can be successful
  • Acquire an interest in exploration and are eager to learn new things
  • Develop a sense of responsibility and learn to be accountable
  • Enhance their affinity for nature and attraction toward the outdoors
  • Grow confidence and try to solve problems on their own
  • Establish a connection and feel safe and welcomed in their environment

Our Team:

The Youth Development Team within the Department of Recreation has generated an enhanced and vibrant approach to service delivery that enables the mobilization of resources, thus casting a wider net and growing the number of young people who are productive, healthy, and connected. The Youth Development Team uses recreation as a means to improve outcomes and increase Developmental Assets for all young people. Positive youth development strategies include supports, opportunities, and services which emphasize health and wellness, youth leadership & social equity, connection to community, and connection to caring adult role models.




group team goals

Marhonda Williams, Manager

What I like about my job: Inspiring smiles and making a positive difference in young lives on a daily basis!
Hobbies: Making Cakepops, Enjoying the company of family, friends and my boxer puppy Duke!
My Theme Song: "Just Keep Swimming" by Dory of Finding Nemo!

Recreation Supervisors

Nina Bersabal, Recreation Supervisor

What I like about my job: I like making connections with the youth we work with, helping them to build on the strengths they already possess to be resilient in all their future endeavors.
Hobbies: Playing soccer, flag football, reading and hiking with my four huskies.
My Theme Song: "One Step at a Time" by Jordin Parks

Recreation Specialists

Shawn Alvarez, Recreation Specialist

What I like about my job: I like what I do because daily I get to inspire the future leaders of tomorrow and make the world a better and more fun place to be!
Hobbies: Fitness, Music, travel, video games and anything outside!
My Theme Song: “I Feel Love” REMAKE- Sam Smith (original by Donna Summer)

Recreation Coordinators

Sarah Berardo, Recreation Coordinator

What I like about my job: I like exposing youth to new perspectives and enabling them to pursue their interests and goals regardless of disabilities or barriers.
Hobbies: Traveling, Hiking, Camping, Climbing, Reading, and anything sport related.
My Theme Song: "These Are My Friends" by lovelytheband

Administrative Staff

Carla Ayala, Office Service Coordinator

What I like about my job: Giving back to the community I grew up in and being part of an extremely amazing team that provides the best programming to the youth of Montgomery County.
Hobbies: Exploring the world with my family, trying out new places to eat and working out.
My Theme Song: "Burn it up" by Janet Jackson