Co-Founder & CEO
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
Co-Founder & CFO
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
East Coast Director
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
West Coast Director
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
Knowledge & Training Manager
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
Jobs Program Specialist
melissa@ifoster.org / (530) 314-7743
Melissa supports and case manages youth in the iFoster Jobs Program. Her focus in on youth in Northern California and support to the New York team. She works on not only helping them get a job, but makes sure they have all the resources they need to be successful. Melissa is also the internal keeper of iFoster standard operating procedures for key programs, she ensures all team members are trained on procedures and implement them with fidelity. Growing up in the Central Valley, Melissa is no stranger to the daily struggles our youth in foster care face. She meets youth where they are and helps them get on the right path to success.
Member Support Specialist
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.
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.
Marketing & Digital Comms. Coor.
shellsea@ifoster.org
Shellsea is a former iFoster TAY AmeriCorps Intern who has joined iFoster as their new Marketing and Digital Communications Coordinator. 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 Associate degree and is pursuing her Bachelor's Degree In Psychology. She is also a certified foster parent and proud guardian to her sister.
Director of Network Engagement
Jamie@ifoster.org / (213) 631-3944
Jamie is our new Director of Network Engagement and will be helping iFoster deepen and grow its network of youth, caregivers, and agencies. Jamie has spent the last ten years with the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, organizing young people in the nonprofit sector to advance equity and sustainable wages. She is passionate about building community and excited to be a steward for the wisdom and ideas of our members.
Jobs Program Director
carlton@ifoster.org
Carlton is an international educator with deep experience working with vulnerable youth. He has served around the world with the intention of expanding and protecting the rights of marginalized people. He is a vocal advocate for young adults supporting the idea that youth should have a place at the table for every level of national decision making and policy. As the iFoster Jobs Program Director, he ensures that growth is supported by organizational excellence.
https://youtu.be/A7qEgErZIBo
Life Coach
Shania@ifoster.org / (917) 838-2435
Shania is iFoster’s Life Coach and helps transition-age foster youth clients with managing their day-to-day lives. As a clinical MSW intern, she is an empathetic listener providing trauma and evidence-informed advice. Shania has a passion for self-care and incorporates this experience into iFoster’s self-care workshops.
Trainer
tim@ifoster.org
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.
amandac@ifoster.org
Amanda is one of iFoster’s TAY AmeriCorps Supervisors. She is new to our team and looks forward to using her extensive experience in Higher Education to guide and coach our TAY AmeriCorps members to develop their professional skills and build their careers. Amanda holds a Master of Science in Counseling with an emphasis in Student Development in Higher Education with over 10 years of experiencehelping youth reach their personal, professional, and educational goals.
rebekah@ifoster.org
Rebekah has dedicated her life to supporting children and youth in the Los Angeles community. She finds a great sense of fulfillment and joy in educating, mentoring, and assisting them with personal and professional development. Throughout her 17 years of experience, 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
chris@ifoster.org / (213) 631-7197
Chris has dedicated his life to supporting the youth and young adults of Los Angeles. He is one of iFoster’s Trainers and is responsible for both facilitating training curriculums and for implementing the TAY AmeriCorps program.
As a TAY AmeriCorps Supervisor, Chris is using his previous 13 years of experience working with youth to help guide, train, and empower TAY AmeriCorps members to be successful in life and ultimately reach their goals.
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.
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.
Member Support Supervisor
amandau@ifoster.org
Amanda is new to the iFoster Team and is excited to help nurture and train TAY AmeriCorps Members in their future employment skills. She is thrilled to have the chance to give back to the community and help positively change the course of a young person’s life.
Resource Management Supervisor
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
Members
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.
Advisor
jeffnewt0429@gmail.com
Jeff Newton is a business executive with 39 years’ experience in the food supply chain. Jeff has held several senior management positions with FHI, a national labor solutions company and SASR Workforce Solutions, a national staffing organization. Previously, Jeff served as COO for A&M Cleaning Products. He started his career with Food Lion, holding numerous leadership roles. Jeff is one of the visionaries who helped design and launch the iFoster Jobs Program, bridging the need for employees in the grocery industry with the untapped potential of foster youth in need of living wage careers.
System Development Team
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.