Job Description LeQuandra Ballen comes to our Extension team with a 23-year career in Social Work and Education. She has been dedicated to empowering youth, families, and communities through leadership development, program management and collaborative initiatives. After obtaining her BSW from UNC Charlotte, she served in Gaston County Schools as a Middle School Special Education Teacher, and a School Social Worker for several high-priority schools. As the former Advocate Program Director at Durham Children’s Initiative (DCI), she provided essential support and supervision to a team of family advocates. Her career highlights include roles as an NC Guardian Ad Litem, Gang Outreach Prevention Specialist, and Youth Outreach Director & Director of Child Abuse Prevention for the YMCA of the Triangle.