Kierla Jepson

Orenda Edmonton

With a genuine heart for youth and community, she brings warmth, connection, and a strong sense of belonging to her role as a mentor and facilitator with ORENDA. Her approach is grounded in a simple belief: every young person deserves to feel safe, supported, valued, and like they have someone in their corner.

She began working with children and youth shortly after graduating high school in 2018 and quickly discovered a passion for supporting young people and giving back to her community. Since then, she has continued to build experience with children, teens, and community-based programming, with a particular strength for meeting youth where they are, building trusting relationships, and creating spaces where they feel comfortable being themselves.

Her commitment to community extends well beyond ORENDA.

She also manages Fusion, a nonprofit organization in Morinville focused on giving back, bringing people together, and creating positive opportunities within the community. Her long-term dream is to create a youth centre in her hometown a welcoming place where kids and teens can spend time, find support, build meaningful connections, and know they belong.

At ORENDA, she hopes to be known as someone who is caring, approachable, and willing to listen without judgment. She believes that sometimes the smallest moments of encouragement and connection can leave the biggest impact.

Outside of her work, she loves travelling, exploring new places, cooking, trying new recipes, and sharing good food with the people she loves.

At the heart of everything she does is community and a belief that we are stronger when everyone has a place to belong.