Alie Kriofske Mainella | Trinity Fellow 2004-06 | by Stephanie Harte
Despite graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing, Alie Kriofske Mainella didn’t know what career to pursue.
Subbing for Milwaukee Public Schools helped to pay the bills for the first two years after graduation. One morning Mainella received a call saying there were only openings in the system’s special education department. She was reluctant. She had no prior experience in the area, but needed the money. All of her anxieties lifted soon after she entered the classroom.
“Immediately I was like, ‘This is it!’” said Mainella, who had considered earning a living in social work. “I had never believed in the whole ‘calling’ thing before, but that day I had found my calling.”
The special-education students interacted with her instantly. They talked with her. They held her hand. The other teachers were taken back, saying the children never reacted to a stranger that way before. Word got around. Multiple schools started requesting Mainella to sub for their programs when they heard how well she worked with the kids.
After discovering this calling, she tried to change her Peace Corps placement as an English teacher in Estonia in Europe to working there in special education. However, the plan was already set and so she served in the corps from 2000 to 2002.
Mainella pursued a career in special education upon her return stateside by applying for the Trinity Fellows program at Marquette University. Trinity Fellows participate in the 21-month work-study program while earning a master’s degree. Each fellow has a demanding schedule that involves being assigned to a local nonprofit organization, in exchange for full tuition remission and a stipend to cover the costs of books, health insurance and other living expenses.
Through the program, Mainella worked with IndependenceFirst from 2004 to 2006. The agency dedicates itself to providing disabled individuals with the skills needed to become self-sufficient through classes and advocacy programs.
“If there are two stepping stones in my life to where I am now, it’s the Peace Corps and Trinity Fellows program,” she said. “While in the Peace Corps, I sought out people with disabilities to continue on that path. (It) gave me the self-actualization we are all working for in our twenties."
Trinity Fellows director Carole Ferrara said Mainella exemplified the ‘Trinity fit’ through her application. Ferrara and other members of the selection committee look for candidates who are agents of change, as well as display qualities of leadership, intelligence and dedication.
“She has a bright spark about her,” Ferrara said. “Her passions and interests shine when talking to her. She’s unconventional through always giving new insights.”
Through IndependenceFirst, Mainella worked as a legislative advocate and started the youth leadership program. She said the agency supports the aptitude of their employees in addition to their clients, allowing her to create the program on her own.
Lee Schulz, president and CEO of IndependenceFirst, has worked with Mainella since she started as a fellow. He thought she would be a good addition to the agency for her energy and experience working with disabled individuals overseas. “Alie has gained a lot more confidence, as well as a national reputation for what she is doing since starting as a Trinity Fellow,” Schulz said.
Mainella has been featured in the Milwaukee Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” series as well as Milwaukee Magazine. Schulz said these articles, as well as awards she has received in the community, have brought more attention to IndependenceFirst. He also admires her ability to serve as a role model to other employees.
IndependenceFirst recently promoted Mainella to youth leadership program manager. She supervises two employees, collaborates to make program decisions, teaches sexuality education classes and oversees support groups for boys and girls. “As the youth leadership person, it was just me working alone and deciding what was right,” she said. “It’s been a challenge to give up some of the things that were mine, such as the six classes I created, in order to complete all the new responsibilities.”
The classes Mainella created address nurturing healthy relationships, setting boundaries and sexuality. She believes parents of disabled children often ignore these issues, leading to harmful consequences if unaddressed. “One day I was at a school and the teacher told me to tell the students how babies are made,” Mainella said. “My first response was ‘wait what!?’ I then came to realize I was the first person to talk to these young people about sexuality ever.”
Mainella said there is a myth that young people with disabilities are not sexual at all, or that they will become over sexual if informed on the subject. She believes disabled children need to be exposed to this curriculum just like those without special needs.
“Alie has been the only staff member to ever embarrass me,” Schulz said. “The moment was during one of her classes which can get kind of graphic. However, the classes have helped her gain this national reputation and she receives a great report with the youth she works with."
Mainella travels to multiple schools to teach these classes. Lori Ramirez, a special education teacher at South Division High School in Milwaukee, previously worked with her. Mainella taught sexual awareness programs to Ramirez’s students. “Alie makes the kids feel empowered through the activities she creates and implements,” she said. “She acknowledges everything the kids have to say and talks to them just like a young adult without a disability.”
Ramirez said Mainella’s classes are well organized, but also allows the kids to have fun. Even though Mainella has had to step back due to her new responsibilities as a manager, Ramirez appreciates how she still keeps tabs on their program and provides suggestions for improvement.
Mainella also strives to educate her own children on sexual awareness. She jokingly recalled overhearing her 11-year old son Coen and 7 year-old daughter Lucy talking about a boy her daughter wanted to marry. When Lucy said she would rather marry a different boy named Josie, Coen replied by saying she could still use the other boy as her sperm donor.
“They are not learning like I did later on about gay rights and different families,” she said. “My kids are growing up with these concepts so they will always be seen as normal to them and not be an issue. I hope I am contributing to a new generation of children growing up in this way.”
Mainella hopes to expand IndependenceFirst’s youth program by adding more full-time staff as well as helping other independent living centers build their own youth units. “Having a disability can be a taboo topic that people don’t want to talk about,” she said. “I start with youth and try to get them to embrace their disability and get to the point where they want to become a part of our community.”
Subbing for Milwaukee Public Schools helped to pay the bills for the first two years after graduation. One morning Mainella received a call saying there were only openings in the system’s special education department. She was reluctant. She had no prior experience in the area, but needed the money. All of her anxieties lifted soon after she entered the classroom.
“Immediately I was like, ‘This is it!’” said Mainella, who had considered earning a living in social work. “I had never believed in the whole ‘calling’ thing before, but that day I had found my calling.”
The special-education students interacted with her instantly. They talked with her. They held her hand. The other teachers were taken back, saying the children never reacted to a stranger that way before. Word got around. Multiple schools started requesting Mainella to sub for their programs when they heard how well she worked with the kids.
After discovering this calling, she tried to change her Peace Corps placement as an English teacher in Estonia in Europe to working there in special education. However, the plan was already set and so she served in the corps from 2000 to 2002.
Mainella pursued a career in special education upon her return stateside by applying for the Trinity Fellows program at Marquette University. Trinity Fellows participate in the 21-month work-study program while earning a master’s degree. Each fellow has a demanding schedule that involves being assigned to a local nonprofit organization, in exchange for full tuition remission and a stipend to cover the costs of books, health insurance and other living expenses.
Through the program, Mainella worked with IndependenceFirst from 2004 to 2006. The agency dedicates itself to providing disabled individuals with the skills needed to become self-sufficient through classes and advocacy programs.
“If there are two stepping stones in my life to where I am now, it’s the Peace Corps and Trinity Fellows program,” she said. “While in the Peace Corps, I sought out people with disabilities to continue on that path. (It) gave me the self-actualization we are all working for in our twenties."
Trinity Fellows director Carole Ferrara said Mainella exemplified the ‘Trinity fit’ through her application. Ferrara and other members of the selection committee look for candidates who are agents of change, as well as display qualities of leadership, intelligence and dedication.
“She has a bright spark about her,” Ferrara said. “Her passions and interests shine when talking to her. She’s unconventional through always giving new insights.”
Through IndependenceFirst, Mainella worked as a legislative advocate and started the youth leadership program. She said the agency supports the aptitude of their employees in addition to their clients, allowing her to create the program on her own.
Lee Schulz, president and CEO of IndependenceFirst, has worked with Mainella since she started as a fellow. He thought she would be a good addition to the agency for her energy and experience working with disabled individuals overseas. “Alie has gained a lot more confidence, as well as a national reputation for what she is doing since starting as a Trinity Fellow,” Schulz said.
Mainella has been featured in the Milwaukee Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” series as well as Milwaukee Magazine. Schulz said these articles, as well as awards she has received in the community, have brought more attention to IndependenceFirst. He also admires her ability to serve as a role model to other employees.
IndependenceFirst recently promoted Mainella to youth leadership program manager. She supervises two employees, collaborates to make program decisions, teaches sexuality education classes and oversees support groups for boys and girls. “As the youth leadership person, it was just me working alone and deciding what was right,” she said. “It’s been a challenge to give up some of the things that were mine, such as the six classes I created, in order to complete all the new responsibilities.”
The classes Mainella created address nurturing healthy relationships, setting boundaries and sexuality. She believes parents of disabled children often ignore these issues, leading to harmful consequences if unaddressed. “One day I was at a school and the teacher told me to tell the students how babies are made,” Mainella said. “My first response was ‘wait what!?’ I then came to realize I was the first person to talk to these young people about sexuality ever.”
Mainella said there is a myth that young people with disabilities are not sexual at all, or that they will become over sexual if informed on the subject. She believes disabled children need to be exposed to this curriculum just like those without special needs.
“Alie has been the only staff member to ever embarrass me,” Schulz said. “The moment was during one of her classes which can get kind of graphic. However, the classes have helped her gain this national reputation and she receives a great report with the youth she works with."
Mainella travels to multiple schools to teach these classes. Lori Ramirez, a special education teacher at South Division High School in Milwaukee, previously worked with her. Mainella taught sexual awareness programs to Ramirez’s students. “Alie makes the kids feel empowered through the activities she creates and implements,” she said. “She acknowledges everything the kids have to say and talks to them just like a young adult without a disability.”
Ramirez said Mainella’s classes are well organized, but also allows the kids to have fun. Even though Mainella has had to step back due to her new responsibilities as a manager, Ramirez appreciates how she still keeps tabs on their program and provides suggestions for improvement.
Mainella also strives to educate her own children on sexual awareness. She jokingly recalled overhearing her 11-year old son Coen and 7 year-old daughter Lucy talking about a boy her daughter wanted to marry. When Lucy said she would rather marry a different boy named Josie, Coen replied by saying she could still use the other boy as her sperm donor.
“They are not learning like I did later on about gay rights and different families,” she said. “My kids are growing up with these concepts so they will always be seen as normal to them and not be an issue. I hope I am contributing to a new generation of children growing up in this way.”
Mainella hopes to expand IndependenceFirst’s youth program by adding more full-time staff as well as helping other independent living centers build their own youth units. “Having a disability can be a taboo topic that people don’t want to talk about,” she said. “I start with youth and try to get them to embrace their disability and get to the point where they want to become a part of our community.”