The People Behind YouCan
We are a team of community members, mentors, and volunteers united by the belief that every student can build a brighter future.
From a Small Idea to Big Dreams
YouCan was founded on the belief that every student, no matter their background, can achieve their dreams. We serve young people who have faced trauma, abuse, or family separation, helping them discover their potential and build a path toward college and careers. We have proudly worked with students from Capital City Youth Services and Tree House Shelter.
Who We Are
Isabella Krizner
Founder
Justin Murphy
Director of Outreach
Justin is a freshman at Clemson University studying Business and Construction Management, where he's involved in Young Life and Ducks Unlimited. Back home in Tallahassee, Justin represented Maclay School as a Student Ambassador and Captain of the Varsity Football and Weightlifting teams, served Youth Studio Cafe weekly as the host and a lead interviewer, and volunteered regularly with Capital City Youth Services and Tree House Shelter. At YouCan, Justin coordinates workshops and seminars, builds partnerships with local nonprofits, and brings energy and enthusiasm to every event.
After several years of working with kids at local shelters, Isabella saw repeatedly that it was students' limited opportunities, rather than limited potential, that shaped how much they expected of themselves. Isabella founded YouCan to act as a bridge between these students and the people and resources that could offer a window to brighter and bigger possibilities in their lives. At Maclay School, Isabella is the founder and President of the school's DECA chapter, has served on the Upper School Student Council for four years, and serves on the Student-Athlete Advisory Board as the Varsity Volleyball representative. In Tallahassee, she helped launch Youth Studio Cafe, an intergenerational interview program connecting youth with community leaders, and serves monthly with Capital City Youth Services and Tree House Shelter.
YouCan helps high school students who have faced hardship see what's possible for their lives, and gives them the practical tools to get there.
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Many of the students we serve have experienced trauma, abuse, or family separation. Too often, those experiences shrink what a young person believes they can achieve. YouCan works to change that. Through hands-on workshops, we connect students in grades 9–12 with community leaders who started where in similar situation. We believe dreams matter, and so do the steps that make them real.
A future where every young person, no matter their background, believes in their potential and knows how to pursue it