ABOUT FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN - LOS ANGELES
Our Values
Our values guide us to achieve our mission. Each value applies not only to our youth, Friends, and program teams, but also applies to all Friends of the Children employees, volunteers, and partners. We use our values to make informed decisions; to hire, coach, and manage; and most importantly, we use our values to change the way the world treats and views our most vulnerable youth.
Put Children First
We intentionally serve youth who are facing the greatest obstacles. To help our youth discover their limitless potential, we foster their internal resiliency. We listen to our youth and base decisions on each youth’s needs and dreams. We prioritize self-care so that we bring our best selves to our work and focus on our youth.
Build Relationships on Love
We nurture long-term relationships from a foundation of love, acceptance, and culturally-informed practice. We don’t give up easily, and take a no matter what approach to our work. We commit for the long-term. We intentionally develop collaborative relationships over time with trust, empathy, and healthy communication. We believe that we build community through one-on-one connections that are authentic, respectful, and meaningful.
Commit to Empowerment
We leverage personal strengths to take ownership of our futures. We build relationships within the communities of our youth and families to strengthen social networks and provide bridges to new opportunities. We consistently inspire possibility through empathy, hard work, and fun. We model all of this for our youth, families and each other.
Pursue Goals Relentlessly
We celebrate all achievements, big and small. We are disciplined in our commitment to goals, while innovative in how we reach them. We believe that the definition of success requires intentional reflection and adjustment over time. We work together and hold ourselves accountable with data to achieve short and long-term outcomes.
Demand Equity
We acknowledge the historical and present injustices impacting marginalized communities. We demand equity from ourselves and from our community. We insist that all people have the necessary support to achieve all of their hopes and dreams. We amplify the voices of our children, families, and communities. We bring together different experiences, skills, and backgrounds to provide opportunities to overcome personal, systemic, and institutional barriers.
STAFF
Thomas Lee
Executive Director
Jorie Das
Chief of Staff
Alan Arce
Program Director Antelope Valley
Chessa Latifi Donaldson
Director of Development
Lora Cofield
Caregiver Engagement Specialist Antelope Valley
Johnny Lambour
Development Manager
Mary Beth Lattimore
Operations Manager
Janie Escalle
Professional Mentor
Victor Pinzon Gonzalez
Professional Mentor
Marquis Williams
Professional Mentor
Grisel Vasquez
Professional Mentor
ReAndra Francis
Professional Mentor
Jose Zelada
Professional Mentor
Jorge Pimentel
Professional Mentor
Elizabeth Wolf
Professional Mentor
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Peter Lizotte
Board Chair
Managing Principal, Executive Financial, Inc.
Los Angeles, CA
Annie Campbell
Founder, Annie Campbell Catering, LLC
Los Angeles, CA
Courtney Carter
Founder & CEO, The Carter Media Group
Camilo Echavarria
Board Secretary
Partner-in-Charge, Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP
Los Angeles, CA
Benjamin Evans
Co-Founder & National Fellowship Director, BMe Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Mary Jo Johnson
Board Vice Chair
Adjunct Professor, Pepperdine University School of Law
Los Angeles, CA
Raoul Ortega
Board Treasurer
Director of Finance, First 5 LA
Los Angeles, CA
Ilissa Samplin
Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Los Angeles, CA
Terri Sorensen
National President, Friends of the Children
Seattle, WA
Stephanie Wiggins
CEO, Metrolink
Los Angeles, CA
Robyn Young
Partner, Ernst & Young
Los Angeles, CA
Ambassador Board
Shalonda Baldwin
LA Metro, Deputy Executive Director
Mark Burchell
VP, Senior Private Wealth Advisor, US Bank
Annie Chang Long
Associate Director, Nonprofit Finance Fund
Anairis Chavez
Subcontracts Manager, Lockheed Martin
Melissa Costello
Area Manager, Umpqua Bank
Kaya Day
Brand Director, Copycat Copywriters
Robert Drewery
Senior Leasing Agent, Douglas Emmett Management, LLC
Moe Elias
Investment Management Specialist, Wells Fargo
Derrick Harris
Director of Corporate Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Marquisha Henderson
Linkage to Care Research Specialist, St. John's Well Child & Family Center
Michael Li
Associate, Monogram Capital Partners
Qiana Patterson
Vice President, Strategic Development, HopSkipDrive
Jasmin Schonherr
Project Manager, Learn4Life Network
Lisa Small
Senior Manager, Youth Justice, Liberty Hill Foundation
Tenise Taylor
Assistant Director, USC Black Alumni Association
Leonisha Stephan Tolbert
Realtor, Trust Properties USA
Megan Terilli
Senior Associate, PwC
Sixto Villacorta
Community Manager, Umpqua Bank
EMPLOYMENT
Friends of the Children is committed to the communities we serve, to equal employment opportunity, and to diversity in our workplace.
Employment Opportunities
We are currently hiring for a Program Director (Los Angeles), Professional Mentor "Friend" (Antelope Valley) and a Professional Mentor "Friend" (Los Angeles)
Please contact us for questions about upcoming opportunities.
Thank you for your interest in Friends of the Children.