For incoming board president John Garcia, the mission of John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) is personal. As a boy growing up in Oakland, his neighbor and best friend, also named John, was in foster care. He fondly recalls spending time together, as ‘the two John’s’ playing and just being kids.
One day, his friend was suddenly gone. John was never told where he went, just that he was in foster care and had to move. Over 30 years later, it’s a loss John can still recall. It was also a harsh introduction to a system that often requires children to change homes, schools and, as in the case of John’s friend, best friends.
“I recall learning the term foster care and trying to understand a system that would take a kid away from his family. I often wonder what John is up to. Many years later, when John Burton asked for my help, I jumped at the opportunity to help foster youth.”
John has put his commitment to improving foster care to work as a board member at JBAY since 2016 and before that, as an advisory board member of JBAY’s precursor, the John Burton Foundation, since 2005.
John earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University, Hayward. He worked as a field representative for United States Congressman Pete Stark, where he worked closely with John Burton and his staff. He later joined Kaiser Permanente, where he worked for over 25 years, retiring in 2022 as the Vice President of Government Relations. He is active in his community and has also served on the boards of directors and advisory boards of other organizations, including Children Now, the Latino Community Foundation and the Monterey Jazz Festival.
According to JBAY Executive Director Amy Lemley, John’s experience in government relations at Kaiser is a critical asset. “John appreciates the power of public policy. He understands that by advocating for better policies for young people, we can make large-scale improvements that transform their lives and provide an opportunity to live a safe, secure adulthood.”
“It’s been extremely gratifying to see how much JBAY has accomplished over the years,” says John. “This year JBAY has had tremendous legislative successes, securing more funding for housing, education and economic security programs for youth.”
“JBAY values its partnerships with the public and private sectors. I look forward to strengthening and expanding those relationships, and we are grateful to JBAY’s foundation, corporate and individual donors, who help to make the work possible.”
John’s childhood friend would indeed be proud to know of his leadership with JBAY and the laws that have been enacted to improve the lives of youth who have been in foster care or homeless.