Staff

The California Youth Connection (CYC) team is committed to advancing the leadership, rights, and well-being of young people in foster care. Many members on our staff have lived experience in the foster care system, and some were CYC members themselves. We value lived experience and believe that the strongest solutions are created alongside the youth leaders driving change.

Interested in joining our staff? Check out our current employment opportunities.

Employment
California Youth Connection Executive Director

Carolyn Reyes

executive director

JEANNETTE BARTIDO

Events and Outreach Manager

Janel
brown

Director of OPERATIONS

KENNETH BROWN

CONFERENCE Manager

KATE BURCH

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Mariah Corder

Community Advocacy Coordinator (Bay Area)

MELISSA CORTEZ

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Vanessa
Davis

Director of Programs

Emily Gifford

director of development

QUIJAI JOHNSON

Project MANAGER

YAASMIN MAURIS

director of Human Resources

ALEXIS
OBINNA

Community Advocacy Coordinator Assistant (Los Angeles)

Aaron Polanco

Community Advocacy Coordinator (SoCAl)

Mercedes Parker

Community Advocacy Coordinator (Northern)

CAITLIN RADIGAN

STATEWIDE POLICY Manager

Kate
Teague

Lead Community Advocacy Coordinator (los angeles)

Devin Williams

Community Advocacy Coordinator (Central Valley)