Simone Tureck Lee has dedicated over two decades to advancing the well-being of transition-age youth who have experienced California’s foster care system. Beginning her career within foster care, mental health and youth development in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, Simone transitioned to statewide advocacy and systems-change in 2009 when she joined John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY). Simone served as the Executive Director of the Alameda County Foster Youth Alliance from 2014 to 2016, before returning to JBAY where she now leads the organization’s housing, health, and economic mobility initiatives. Simone has successfully championed millions of dollars in state investments in housing for youth who have experienced foster care or homelessness, along with key policy reforms. Simone was born and raised in the Bay Area and holds a Master’s Degree in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley, with a concentration in Management and Planning.
John Burton Advocates for Youth improves the quality of life for youth in California who have been in foster care or homeless by advocating for better laws, training communities to strengthen local practices and conducting research to inform policy solutions.
