Founder & CEO, Life Equip Group Inc.

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Alyssa Abernathy is a Licensed Master Social Worker, clinician, nonprofit leader, and Doctor of Social Work candidate with more than nine years of progressive experience across behavioral health, substance use treatment, supportive housing, crisis intervention, case management, and program leadership. Her professional and personal journey has shaped her commitment to ensuring that young people and communities have access to the information, education, resources, and opportunities needed to thrive.

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Alyssa is the Founder and CEO of Life Equip Group Inc., established in 2016 to empower youth and young adults through education, service, workforce development, leadership, and community-based programming. Through initiatives including LEGcares and the Brown Girls Learn Scholarship Fund (BGLSF), she has worked to create opportunities that connect young people with mentorship, educational support, community service, professional development, scholarships, and meaningful experiences designed to strengthen their pathways toward success.

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Professionally, Alyssa has built her career serving individuals and families experiencing complex social, behavioral health, and economic challenges. Her experience includes clinical assessment, psychotherapy, trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, program administration, staff supervision and training, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and community partnership development. She currently provides recovery-oriented clinical and mental health services as a therapist. Her previous leadership experience includes serving as a Program Director, Social Services Supervisor, and Social Work Supervisor, where she has led teams, strengthened service delivery, and supported individuals and families navigating complex systems.

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Beyond her clinical and nonprofit leadership, Alyssa is committed to civic engagement and community-level change. She serves on Brooklyn Community Board 5 and is a newly appointed board member of Inspiring Futures, a nonprofit organization supporting young people impacted by the child welfare system who are working toward high school completion. Inspiring Futures utilizes evidence-based approaches to provide academic and mental health support designed to improve educational outcomes and help young people successfully transition into adulthood.

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Alyssa earned her Master of Social Work from Long Island University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The College of New Rochelle. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Social Work at Tulane University with a focus on policy, further strengthening her ability to connect direct practice and community-based programming with organizational leadership, public policy, and systems-level change.

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Her commitment to service and leadership has been recognized through a Congressional Award, two Brooklyn Borough President citations, and Long Island University's Excellence in Field Work Award. She is also a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and V.I.D.A.

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At the center of Alyssa's work is the belief that sustainable community impact requires more than providing services—it requires equipping people with the tools, relationships, knowledge, resources, and opportunities to shape their own futures. That philosophy continues to guide the growth of Life Equip Group and its commitment to investing in the next generation.

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“Your success is designed and lived by you.”