Meet our Executive Assistant, Sara Merditaj!
December 12, 2024
The center or zen
My name is Sara Merditaj, and I’m the Executive Assistant at Kalasho Education & Youth Services. I’m truly grateful to work at MINDgarden — a space filled with calming energy and purpose. When I need peace, I often retreat to the Cherry Blossom Library.
In 2024, I started a book club focused on self-care, healing, and mental health. Coming from an Albanian immigrant family where mental health was often stigmatized, these books have helped process generational trauma and better understand my past. One that deeply resonated with me was You Can Heal Your Life
by Louise Hay. Her quote, “You’re not a helpless victim of your own thoughts but rather a master of your own mind,” stays with me every day.
As someone who struggled with body image growing up and felt the weight of cultural expectations, I find MINDgarden’s mission especially meaningful. It offers the kind of support I wish I had as a child — especially for youth from immigrant or refugee backgrounds. I’m proud to be part of a place that nurtures healing and growth.
Hi! My name is Melissa Schreiber. I am a Recreational Therapist here at Kalasho Education & Youth Services. I’ve always believed that meaningful work starts with connection. It’s about understanding, supporting, and helping people grow—not just in their skills, but in their sense of purpose. That’s what drew me to MINDgarden, and it’s why I’m so passionate about what we do here. When I first started, I was inspired by our goal of creating spaces where kids can feel safe, valued, and empowered to share their ideas. In a world that often feels chaotic and disconnected, MINDgarden feels like a sanctuary where children can truly thrive. Being a recreational therapist has been an incredibly fulfilling and transformative journey. From the moment I stepped into the field in 2021, I knew it was the perfect fit for me. It is a career where I could combine my passion for helping others with my love for activities and mental health. I have the ability to use recreation as a therapeutic tool to enhance the physical, emotional, and social well-being of individuals facing various challenges. Through activities like group games, fitness, arts and crafts, and purposeful conversations, I help clients not only improve their mental health but also foster meaningful connections and build their self-esteem. As I look ahead, I am eager to keep moving forward and growing in this role.
Hi! My name is Anna Smolinski. I am a Social Worker here at Kalasho Education & Youth Services. At MINDgarden, I specialize in working with children and adolescents, offering therapeutic support that helps them rediscover hope and inner peace. My work is centered around offering a strengths-based approach, integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Play Therapy and Trauma-Focused Therapy. As part of our comprehensive approach, we provide a variety of services, including individual therapy, group sessions, life skills training, art therapy and equestrian therapy. It’s truly a remarkable place where children can come in and relax utilizing different spaces. My favorite one is the library as you immediately feel relaxed seeing the cherry blossom trees and comfy bean chairs. Makes you want to sit and read. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work at MINDgarden is witnessing the transformative impact of Play Therapy and being able to relate to children on a personal level. As someone who has personally experienced the challenges of adapting to a new country, I can deeply empathize with the struggles that many of these children face. Culture shock and adjusting to a new world can be difficult. At MINDgarden, children get the opportunity to utilize a space that feels more like a sanctuary to come in and relax and utilize play therapy to talk through challenges. I feel truly honored to be a part of that. "Enter into children's play, and you will find the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet." — Virginia Axline.