We are overjoyed to introduce the three newest members of our JBAY board of directors. Meet Carmela Clendening, Director of State & Local Government Affairs & Public Policy at BlackRock, leading the firm’s efforts in the Western U.S.; Thor Kaslofsky, Executive Director of the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure, overseeing the development and economic revitalization of the Transbay, Mission Bay, and Hunters Point Shipyard/Candlestick Point neighborhoods in San Francisco; and Gail Yen, Program Officer at The California Wellness Foundation, advancing the health and wellness of individuals and families across the state.
Each of these leaders brings a wealth of professional expertise and personal insight. We were grateful for the opportunity to ask them about the reasons and aspirations behind their decision to join our efforts.
JBAY: Of all the worthy causes and organizations you could turn your time and attention toward right now, what stands out about John Burton Advocates for Youth?
Thor: I have always believed that to improve the future, you have to invest in young people. JBAY intrigued me because of the legacy of John Burton’s advocacy and how JBAY has been able to leverage that into smart legislative initiatives and impactful programs for foster youth.
Carmela: I started as a staffer for Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi in 2005. Senator John Burton’s reputation for advocacy and his get-it-done attitude preceded him. I was shocked at his use of ‘colorful’ language in the office—Congresswoman Pelosi never curses!—and awestruck at the tone and clarity of his thoughts. No matter the topic, he always had an opinion and a plan, and that’s why he and Pelosi got along so well. When I found out John Burton cared about foster youth, I knew those kids had a powerhouse fighting for them. He and the board have built a diverse coalition of long-time policymakers, civic leaders, and others to support JBAY’s goals, and I am honored to be asked to serve to help shape the next phase of this esteemed organization.
Gail: JBAY is committed to challenging systems that aren’t serving young people well. Whether it’s housing, higher education, or financial stability, they look at the full picture of what young people need to thrive. They push for systemic changes and back it up with solid research and action. As a former foster youth, I’ve lived through the gaps they are trying to close, and I’m honored and excited to support their work.
JBAY: What do you wish more people understood about youth who’ve been in foster care or who have experienced homelessness?
Gail: We are resilient, creative, and capable of so much when given the right support. What holds us back are often the systems that weren’t built with us in mind. As we move through those systems, we’re carrying a lot: responsibilities, trauma, and often survival skills that most adults would struggle with. More people should understand that our experiences don’t make us weak; they shape us into some of the most driven and dedicated people you’ll ever meet.
Carmela: I wish more people understood the trauma young people go through the moment they are taken away from their families. I’m very appreciative of the foster families who share their lives and open their homes. But I often think of how different it would have been for my sister and I if we were sent to live with relatives or others we were close with, instead of complete strangers. Strangers who were kind, but didn’t share our culture, religion, or even hygiene practices. I will never know if my mom was asked about kinship connections. As an immigrant and a domestic abuse survivor herself, I cannot fathom the stress and confusion she was going through at that time. My mom was able to get us back within a year, but the trauma that she, my sister, and I all felt has lasted a lifetime.
Thor: Former foster youth and youth who have experienced homelessness have overcome challenges requiring strength, perseverance, and an optimistic outlook that tomorrow could be better. These are the very same attributes found in the top leaders of the world. Foster youth and youth who have faced housing instability have tremendous gifts to offer the world.
JBAY: What would you most like to see change as a result of JBAY’s efforts?
Carmela: I am interested in seeing policies that would support kin-first placement. It’s already enough that the family is undergoing major upheavals due to things outside the kids’ control, placing them with strangers furthers the trauma and deepens feelings of insecurity and powerlessness. I am interested in ways we can increase the number of foster families, with a focus on recruiting kin; and I would love to see more incentives to increase the recruitment, training, and retention of social workers who are often overworked and underpaid. Last, but not least, it’s critical we figure out ways to better support LGBTQIA youth in the foster care system, many of whom come from tough home situations and experience homelessness at a higher rate. We have to figure out ways to give them the love and acceptance they need to become fully functioning members of society.
Gail: The biggest change I’d like to see is a future where no young person ages out of foster care into homelessness. Where young people feel supported, not alone, when they’re trying to figure out life after care. That means affordable housing, access to college with financial supports, living wage jobs with benefits and supports, and a strong network of people who will have their backs and help them thrive.
Thor: I’d like to see foster and homeless youth recognized for their unique strengths and the tremendous value they have.