iFoster’s TAY AmeriCorps program trains and hires transition-age foster youth in the Bay Area and LA County to serve as peer navigators. Each year, up to 100 current and former foster youth serve over 10,000 of their peers. Members connect youth to needed resources, support the development of How Do I’s, trainings and workshops, and mentor their peers.

camille@ifoster.org / (213) 986-9511

Camille is a PHA TAY AmeriCorps Supervisor for iFoster, and she couldn't be more pleased to be part of a team that helps guide youth to succeed in what they do. She's not just helping them; she's helping them thrive on their journey to self-sufficiency. Camille grew up in a family of women who work in the medical field–this is where she gained a passion for caring for and helping others.

Fun Fact: She likes to create music or help others with theirs in her spare time. She's always been passionate about music and loves listening to different genres–but making it herself is even better!

Elizabeth@ifoster.org / (213) 223-7472

Elizabeth is iFoster’s PHA TAY AmeriCorps Manager and is based in Los Angeles where there are over 10,000 transition-age foster youth. Elizabeth has over 20 years working with youth and young adults. She worked over 12 years with transition-age foster youth at South Bay Workforce Investment Board. She worked as a Senior Case Manager where she had the opportunity to train and place foster youth in paid work experience and vocational training. Additionally, Elizabeth worked with low-income, probation youth, dislocated workers, re-entry population and veterans. She had the opportunity to build various partnerships with private and public education; public and private sectors.

jill@ifoster.org / (646) 330-5131

Jill is iFoster’s East Coast Director and is leading the expansion of iFoster into the east coast. Prior to joining iFoster, Jill was in the Child Welfare and Family Services Division of the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) for the past 11 years where she started as a supervisor in the Teen Foster Care unit grew her career to Manager of Special Projects for the Division. Jill is passionate about seeing foster youth succeed and has dedicated her life to social work.

https://youtu.be/pjZdn15sdSw

As Communications Project Manager, Claire's role involves maintaining smooth communication and meeting objectives within the organization as well as engaging the public in events and initiatives to support iFoster's mission. She holds degrees in Telecommunications Media Studies and French from Texas A&M University and has extensive experience in operations and project management, including previously serving as the Director of Operations for a local nonprofit that provides free music lessons to children in foster care. Claire is also a former music instructor, has volunteered at a number of organizations focused on helping disadvantaged youth, and is a foster parent herself, all of which have given her a passion for driving positive change and empowering children and youth to feel supported and achieve their goals.

tim@ifoster.org / (213) 788-4519

Tim is one of iFoster’s Trainers and is responsible for both facilitating our training curriculums for our iFoster Jobs Program and TAY AmeriCorps. He coaches our TAY AmeriCorps members to develop their professional skills and build their careers. Tim is Certified CalSAC Trainer with over 10 years of experience helping opportunity youth achieve their full potential.

https://youtu.be/BA0xJyTGaQo

aren@ifoster.org / (614) 324-2251

As the Ohio Regional Lead, Aren will utilize a network of resources and relationships to support iFoster’s members as they transition to successful adulthood. After graduating from The Ohio State University, Aren developed professionally and has worked with transitional-aged youth as a Community Behavioral Health Worker—spearheading support services at a housing program to reduce housing insecurities for youth. He has seen through his work the impact that a community of support and care can have on a young person’s life and is excited to expand the iFoster community wherever needed.

rebekah@ifoster.org

Rebekah has dedicated her life to supporting children and youth in the Los Angeles community. She finds great fulfillment and joy in educating, mentoring, and assisting them with personal and professional development. Throughout her career, she has partnered with several nonprofit organizations and educational systems to help improve the lives of our youth and guide them in reaching their goals.

https://youtu.be/O--lGLMjs-I

Mahesh Chand is the Chief Architect and Developer of iFoster’s unique online platform. Mahesh directs ongoing development and continual management and maintenance of our .net platform. As the founder of C# Corner, one of the most popular online communities for Microsoft developers and programmers, Mahesh is uniquely able to work with Serita’s “visions” for the iFoster web platform and never says something can’t be done. Mahesh is an 11x Microsoft MVP Developer.

Jordan@ifoster.org / (606)910-5115

Jordan has built networks to improve the lives of disadvantaged populations throughout KY, focusing on outreach in Appalachia. During his past role as Communications & Engagement Director with Hindman Settlement School, he assisted with compliance, recruitment, member support, service site management, and program implementation to ensure the success of Hindman Settlement School’s budding AmeriCorps Program and ReadingCorps. In Jordan’s role as the Kentucky Regional Lead, he will serve as a resource to transition-age foster youth and give them the tools to be successful during and after their service with iFoster. Jordan is fully committed to making a positive difference in the lives of the TAY he serves and helping them prepare for their bright future ahead.

eleah@ifoster.org / (213) 459-1289

Eleah is one of iFoster's PHA TAY AmeriCorps Supervisors and is excited to guide young lives and help them succeed. Eleah comes from a family all in the educational field, which gives her a deep passion for helping others to help build their professional growth. She is proud to be a part of the iFoster team and looks forward to helping make a difference and supporting youth to achieve their full potential. 

Fun fact: Eleah graduated from film school in Santa Barbara, California and has also worked on a set for a show for Netflix.

serita@ifoster.org / (530) 550-9645

Serita is responsible for strategy and programs. As the driving force behind iFoster, Serita brings to bear her personal experience with foster care, devoted commitment to a number of youth development initiatives, and over a decade of experience in executive-level management in Silicon Valley, corporate strategy consulting and non-profit strategy consulting. Despite all this corporateness, she is also the person “most likely to be hugged” by a client. For her work with iFoster, Serita has been recognized as a White House Office of Social Innovation Citizen Innovator, an Echoing Green Fellow, and an American Leader of Change.

https://youtu.be/UtsjoreRMkY

reid@ifoster.org / (530) 550-9672

Reid is responsible for partnerships and financials. Reid provides over a decade of experience in executive-level management, investment banking, business development, financial reporting and corporate communications. Reid has come a long way from a two room school house in rural Canada and is a first generation college graduate. For his work with iFoster, Reid has been recognized with the AARP Purpose Prize.

https://youtu.be/fmdpj9oUkXg

tyree@ifoster.org / (213)805-5286

Tyree is a former TAY AmeriCorps Ambassador who served four years before joining iFoster as a Member Specialist! At 15, Tyree entered both foster care and the juvenile justice system. At this crucial point in his life, Tyree was determined to turn adversity into motivation and worked tirelessly to graduate high school. Today he is currently enrolled at Mt San Antonio College. Tyree seeks to use his life experiences navigating systems often void of youth perspectives to help forge change in these systems and guide other youth to self-sufficiency.

https://bit.ly/3VCezM0

melissa@ifoster.org / (530) 314-7743

Melissa supports and case manages youth in the iFoster Jobs Program and TAY AmeriCorps Program. She works on not only helping them get a job, but makes sure they have all the resources they need to be successful. Melissa meets youth where they are and helps them get on the right path to success.

https://youtu.be/4XCqZZmere4

timothy@ifoster.org / (443) 569-7889

As iFoster's Digital Marketing and Communications Director, Timothy leads communications strategy, messaging and creative development. He is responsible for ensuring that iFoster's communication efforts support our mission of closing the resource gap and supporting youth self-sufficiency. His previous experience includes working as Digital Communication Director for U.S. Congressman Sander Levin (MI) and as a Senior Manager & Lead Designer at America's Promise Alliance. Timothy earned his B.A. from Pepperdine University in Political Science.

robyn@ifoster.org / (530) 562-4206

Robyn is responsible for overseeing all of iFoster’s training programs and making sure that each training with the iFoster name attached to it is delivered with fidelity. Robyn first worked with iFoster to develop the Jobs Program as part of a collaborative of non-profits. She’s now come full circle to join the iFoster team to support and train all our Jobs Program trainers across the state. Robyn also develops our TAY AmeriCorps training curriculum and supports the youth’s professional development. Robyn spent the last 5 years working as a college and career counselor for transition-age foster youth. Her passion is helping people overcome barriers to success.

https://youtu.be/eMbESKyPovs

keira@ifoster.org / (408) 313-7874

Keira a former iFoster TAY AmeriCorps member who has joined iFoster as a team member. She works with Christina to ensure everyone who calls, emails or texts into iFoster receives the support and resources they need. Keira is also co-host of iFoster Futures with iFoster’s CEO, interviewing highly successful people who started out as disadvantaged youth. Keira is passionate to work at iFoster because we provide so many amazing resources for foster youth that she wishes she had when she was a in foster care. Keira has just graduated with a degree in theater and performing arts.

https://youtu.be/aF2oymIEZi0

Meredith@ifoster.org

Meredith joins iFoster as Chief Operating Officer, focusing on and being responsible for iFoster programming, staff management, cross-functional collaboration, innovation, and culture.  Meredith most recently served as the Chief Program Officer at Year Up, a national workforce development Program with a mission of closing the opportunity divide by connecting Opportunity Youth to career pathways with living wages. Meredith has extensive experience leading and managing large teams to achieve consistent, high-quality results with a focus on people development. She spent much of her early career doing crisis intervention and intensive therapy with children and families in Chicago, where she could implement holistic interventions with multi-disciplinary teams. Meredith received her Masters in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago with a specialization in nonprofit Leadership and Management and a Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame, where she was a member of the women's lacrosse team. Meredith is based in Chicago, where she lives with her two young sons, who are 9 and 10 years old.

Shake@ifoster.org / (213)712-8422

I recently joined iFoster as the Government Benefits Counselor, where I will use my knowledge and experience to help foster youth access the resources and support they need to succeed. As a first-generation Armenian immigrant, I have a deep passion for helping others and positively impacting the world around me. With a Master’s degree in Educational Counseling from the University of Southern California (USC), I have worked in the educational field and tried to create opportunities for students and community members, supporting them in their personal and professional growth. Whether I was advising a student on their academic path, developing a new program to meet the community’s needs, or simply lending an ear to someone in need, I always found great fulfillment in my work. With a deep commitment to empowering youth and helping them achieve their full potential, I want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of foster youth, providing them with the tools and guidance they need to thrive and become self-sufficient members of society. As a self-proclaimed "foodie," I believe that just as every dish needs the perfect combination of ingredients to be truly great, every individual needs the proper support and resources to reach their full potential. I am committed to helping provide those ingredients to foster youth as a Government Benefits Counselor at iFoster.

Mike@ifoster.org /

As Controller, Mike is responsible for managing iFoster's day-to-day financial operations. Mike comes to iFoster after 30 years in public accounting and technology and is thrilled to be working for an organization that is laser-focused on improving the lives of young people. He is a Certified Public accountant with a Bachelors and Masters degree of Accountancy from Brigham Young University.

Angelina@ifoster.org / (213)296-2744

Angelina is a former TAY AmeriCorps Ambassador who served for four years and has joined iFoster as a Member Specialist! She is passionate about helping underserved populations and making a difference in her community. She enjoys being an iFoster team member, assisting and supporting youth through her experience in Americorp and the foster care system.

https://bit.ly/3TUl1hP

arely@ifoster.org

Arely is a Former TAY AmeriCorps member who has joined iFoster as a Member Support Specialist. Arely works with the team to obtain new resources and provide those resources to our youth and community. As a former foster youth, Arely has dedicated herself to assist “at-risk” youth as well as serve her community ever since she joined iFoster as a TAY AmeriCorps intern in 2019.

Vanessa@ifoster.org

Vanessa is a former TAY AmeriCorps Ambassador who served for 3 years and has now joined iFoster as a new team member! She enjoys being an iFoster team member where she gets to help youth with her experience in the foster care system by providing them with the support they need.

https://youtu.be/p5m1McMk2hw

tonique@ifoster.org

Tonique has worked with youth for twenty years, eight of which have been with Transition Age Youth (TAY) which, is her passion. The population she serves is “at-risk” youth that have been impacted by the probation system and foster care. She has worked directly with youth one-on-one providing support and guidance in helping them achieve important life skills. Tonique has completed many workshops to enrich her skills and ability so that she can be resourceful in the way she delivers services to TAY.

https://youtu.be/JT0au0cKwhg

Ivette@ifoster.org

. Ivette was an iFoster TAY AmeriCorps Ambassador for three years and eventually transitioned to an iFoster Member Specialist. She earned her associate degrees in psychology and general studies and recently graduated with her bachelor’s degree in psychology. Ivette aspires to use her educational background and experience in the foster care system to help foster youth navigate self-sufficiency . 

https://youtu.be/CzHYs20MD0k

shellsea@ifoster.org / (818)614-9917

Shellsea is a former iFoster TAY AmeriCorps Intern who has joined iFoster as their new Digital Engagement Lead. She is responsible for content development, strategizing around digital marketing, and increasing iFoster’s presence across all social media platforms. As a former foster youth, she is dedicated to iFoster, and its mission. She also recently graduated with her Bachelors degree in Psychology with plans to pursue a Masters Degree in Digital Marketing. She is also a certified foster parent and proud guardian to her sister.

https://youtu.be/no9E0bxK634

summer@ifoster.org / (213) 429-7015

Summer is iFoster’s West Coast Director and is based in Los Angeles where there are over 10,000 transition-age foster youth. Summer brings a wealth of experience to iFoster having worked with transition-age foster youth to help them achieve independence at St. Anne’s transitional housing program for pregnant and parenting youth, recruited and partnered with employers to hire young people in internships at one of LA’s most successful One-Stop Business and Career Centers, and been a college counselor to low income students helping them apply to and pay for college, many of whom were first generation college applicants.

https://youtu.be/lcXlEb6cSBI

kathryn@ifoster.org

Kathryn is one of iFoster’s Trainers and is responsible for both facilitating our training curriculums for our iFoster Jobs Program and TAY AmeriCorps. Kathryn is also a college counselor and as such supports our in college and college bound clients as they enroll into and persist in higher ed. Kathryn has 10 years of experience assisting youth and young adults with reaching their goals.

https://youtu.be/vSQ9UoXkrq4

amandau@ifoster.org

Mandi is thrilled to be stepping into her new position as Member Support Supervisor.  She is excited to help youth receive the support and resources they need to become successful, independent adults. Both current and former foster youth are encouraged to reach out to her and her team if they are ever in need of guidance in navigating how to access resources, filling out applications for college or scholarships, as well as employment and technology needs.  

https://youtu.be/KC1CGox08VA

 jennyw@ifoster.org / (206) 274-5418

Jenny has dedicated her career over the last 20 years to pursuing a stronger community by building relationships, advocating for equitable access to housing and food stability while empowering every individual to grow and thrive. Prior to joining iFoster, Jenny worked as a Program Director overseeing a 54 bed low barrier shelter, guiding clients and staff in navigating and addressing barriers to secure affordable housing. Jenny is passionate about building community partnerships and has a strong understanding of the impact that community can have on an individual's life. She serves on the local counties Human Trafficking Task Force and volunteers with local Pride events. 

sarah@ifoster.org / (213)-421-8835

Sarah is excited to transition to a new avenue and opportunity in her career with iFoster.  She has a desire to see youth thrive, succeed and reach their full potential to help their dreams, visions, and goals come to fruition. As a Resource Management Supervisor, Sarah will help bridge the resource gap by getting Tech and other useful resources in the hands of TAY.

https://youtu.be/gdvq1UBUgv0

christina@ifoster.org / (646) 330-5131

Christina represents iFoster in the New York office as a Member Support Specialist. She spends her days helping youth apply for iFoster resources and finding new ones to assist them. As a former foster care youth, she is dedicated to iFoster, and its mission. Christina loves to help others and is thrilled to be a part of iFoster’s team in her city. She graduated with Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice Cumulative, May 2018, interned at New York Administration for Children Services (ACS) where she learned about iFoster and was determined to work for an organization she wished she had helping her when she was aging out of care.

https://youtu.be/lgvOIZlEESU