Welcome to Youtopia
Youtopia is a team of entrepreneurs, designers, educators, and community activists who share the belief that a dedicated group of creative individuals can make the world a better place. We are joined by a passion for thinking critically about our responsibility as citizens of the world, and have faith that the altruism in all people can build a just and vibrant society. This is the aspiration of Youtopia, to connect and magnify the actions of those who are dedicated to doing good for others. With Youtopia, creating social good is lifted up by the collective of volunteers, schools, universities, companies, and faith-based and community organizations working towards one common goal. This one goal is at the core of Youtopia: to change the world together.
About Youtopia
Our Mission
To optimize all social good.
Our Vision
Youtopia is a student engagement platform that provides instant access to plug-and-play gamification tools (points, badges, and leaderboards) that incentivizes students to become more engaged in their school and their community. Youtopia matures with students from kindergarten through college and beyond. Now educators have a fun and easy way to inspire their students to do all of the good things they want them to do; a way to acknowledge their hard work; and a way to reward them for going above and beyond.
Meet Our Team
Simeon was born to the first Peace Corps directors of East and West Africa. From a very early age they instilled in him the promise of Utopia. Internationalized with an inherent entrepreneurial bent on life, he has lived on multiple continents and found success across industries including, but not limited to, disruptive technology, green manufacturing, strategic consulting and, for the last decade, serving as President of a 501c3. As Youtopia’s CEO, he brings a depth of knowledge and experience inspired by the lives of the eastern mystics with whom he has studied and worked. For Simeon, Youtopia fuels his passion for creatively solving the important problems of the world through breaking the constructs of orthodoxy. He is humbled to be working among seasoned Youtopians while translating profitable game dynamics into real-world impact.
There was a point over the last two decades when Brett realized that he might have a chance to change the world. Maybe it happened while working as a Senior Designer at The Oprah Winfrey Show. The inspiration may have struck while serving as Creative Director of a design boutique servicing Fortune 500 companies. Or it might have happened while producing and directing Dot, the award-winning independent feature film. In all honesty, it was probably all of the above. These experiences taught Brett that changing the world requires collaboration. It’s more about being a professional, than about being the boss. It’s about leading by example and trusting that people will follow. This philosophy of orchestrating creativity rather than ordering results, has always validated his golden rule: the best idea wins. It works for him in his role as a father and as a husband, and it’s working for Youtopia.
Demian’s calling has always been storytelling. It’s what is important to him and it is the answer to who he is. He constantly searches for opportunities to inject a whimsical twist into the mundane. He finds joy in sharing a joke born out of truth, or an anecdote to help empathize with a friend. He lives to make a wry, disruptive observation or to craft a scene packed with enough subtly-honest details and unexpected moments that it requires a second look. As a Youtopian, Demian is distilling years spent working as a motion graphic designer for The Oprah Winfrey Show, into a new, dynamic visual style. He is bringing the full force of his talents as an illustrator and animator to bear on the enjoyable challenge of how to translate esoteric concepts into pictures. He is distilling his numerous credits as a producer of entertainment, both for stage and for film, into the engaging, social-media-infused story of Youtopia.
Nick believes that everyone has the power to serve the greater good. This belief is the embodiment of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words, “everybody can be great, because everybody can serve… You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” Nick began his career in the business world as the co-founder of a technology company. Despite its success, he realized that building technology generated results but lacked substance. This led Nick to drop everything to serve. He earned two M.A. degrees in education, effected change through teaching in an inner city school, worked with local organizations to improve the school’s community, and went on to become an accomplished school administrator. In this role, he leads through a mission of service, inspiring a new generation to understand the importance of nurturing both the mind and the heart. He is now returning to his technological roots to build a system of substance – a system that will inspire both children and adults to use their unique talents to improve, to help, and to serve.
Devin realized that he wanted to bring happiness to others at a young age. Growing up, he turned to community service as a means of creating change. Devin volunteered assisting the elderly and children with special needs, teaching at a community music school, and helping out at local soup kitchens and Habitat for Humanity projects. Devin graduated summa cum laude from DePaul University with a B.A. in Philosophy and a minor in Peace, Conflict Resolution and Social Justice. His studies focused on political, social and ideological structures and how to apply his theoretical explorations to create positive social change. Devin observed the inner workings of a community non-profit at the Chicago Freedom School over the past three years, where he worked with high school students planning social justice initiatives. These opportunities instilled in Devin the passion he brings to Youtopia for community service, education, and collaborating with others for the common good.
Jacqueline has been the driving force behind the Nettelhorst School’s dramatic turn around, a story that has been featured on Oprah & Friends, The Wall Street Journal, Redbook, NPR, CNN, 60 Minutes, Education Weekly, and in the local Chicago media. Jacqueline is a featured blogger on education reform for the Huffington Post and the co-author of How to Walk to School: Blueprint for a Neighborhood School Renaissance. She has consulted for school districts, civic groups, foundations, universities and parent organizations on how public schools and reformers can galvanize communities to improve public education. Before joining Youtopia, Jacqueline earned her bachelor’s degree and doctorate from the University of Chicago and taught political science at the University of Osnabrück in Germany as a Fulbright scholar. She resides in Chicago, with her two darling children, Maya and Zack.
An entrepreneurial spirit and an altruistic heart are at the core of Gina’s passions. In her late teens, she frequently joined her optometrist father on trips to Third World countries to distribute eye exams and glasses to the less fortunate. This inspired her lifelong desire to give back. To help fuel this charitable activity, she’s built a varied and profitable career as a seasoned sales professional with over 17 years’ experience closing, ramping up and maintaining large accounts. Entrepreneurial by nature, she’s worked for multiple starts ups, including her own, Go Promotions. Honesty, integrity, and consistency are the cornerstones of her sales philosophy. A classic “super-connector”, Gina thrives on networking and on creating beneficial relationships for her clients.
Cameron Croft’s professional focus is connecting major donors with charities through his company, the C2 Group. In the process of developing these relationships, he has developed several start-up ventures including non-profits that are now known globally. Recently, he worked with the world’s first “B-Corp” certified web-based fundraising platform to help schools fund ‘green’ projects. Mr. Croft studied engineering at the University of Illinois, served a two-year term as President of the Chicago Illini Club, and continues as their Community Service Director. He is known in Chicago’s “YP” community for hosting a wide range of charity events and galas and is Sponsorship Director at the Young Professionals of Chicago, VP of Lookingglass Theatre’s Junior Board and the President and Founder of the ChicagoTEN alumni club. Because he is so passionate about revolutionizing the US educational system, he volunteers with several education-focused NFP’s, speaks on U of I’s campus twice a year, currently manages the day to day operations of Alumni for Public Schools, and will open his first private pre-K thru 8 school concept in 2014. When he isn’t pursuing philanthropic interests, he stays very active with waterskiing, beach volleyball, soccer, golf and his newest interest, running. Cameron has finished two marathons, and is constantly training for his next challenge.
Bob Mallo deploys executive experience, honed over years of demanding operating roles with a major corporation, to advise Newport’s emerging and middle market clients. Over the course of a 35 year career at Follett Corporation, an almost $3 billion in revenues company that serves the global education market, Bob served in an impressive array of leadership positions. He was President of a major division and a Group President, compiling an outstanding record of achievements. For example, he led strategy and execution for three divisions with $500 million in annual sales, increasing profits substantially and spearheading acquisition of a competitor in an immediately accretive transaction. He helped grow e-commerce activity by spearheading release of upgraded websites for all business units. He also drove significant cross-business unit technology initiatives. Bob served on Follett Corporation’s Executive Committee and Corporate Capital Committee.