Partner Corner – FosterClub
Partner Corner – FosterClub
Written by Sarah Lorish
Introducing Partner Corner, where we spotlight one of our partner organizations and the hardworking people who make up their team. We thought it was only appropriate that May is all about FosterClub!
FosterClub is the national network for young people in foster care. Founded in 2000 with a mission to improve life in foster care, FosterClub is now recognized as a field-leader for youth engagement in the child welfare system with membership of 40,000 and 250 youth leaders.
The organization employs a Lived Experience (LEx)-informed strategy for driving change in the foster care system by engaging LEx Leaders to provide direct support to children who experience foster care.
The Team
Binley Taylor, MSW
Binley is the Director of System Change at FosterClub. He orchestrates 3 key areas: public policy, practice improvement, and public awareness. His team champions legislation to enhance foster care, supports organizations and public agencies serving these youth, and launches awareness campaigns emphasizing foster youths’ role in refining CW practices and systems. Boasting over a decade of experience in CW, Binley has been a foster care social worker, empowered emancipated youth as a program manager, enhanced congregate care for adolescent males as a clinical group home director, and graduated from The Catholic University of America. Binley will oversee FosterClub’s contribution to the Center supporting the inclusion of youth voice.
Cristina Tanzola
Cristina Tanzola is the Project Manager with the System Change team at FosterClub. Cristina is currently located in New York City. Cristina oversees the coordination and administration of all aspects of ongoing projects advocating with LEx Leaders. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, San Antonio and a Master’s degree in Women’s History and Gender Studies from Sarah Lawrence College. Her Master’s thesis focused on the issues facing undocumented women, the history of immigration law, and the challenges in reporting assault/abuse. Before moving to New York, Cristina worked at a state-funded nonprofit organization in Texas that provided scholarship funds to unaccompanied refugee minors and youth from foster care. Once Cristina graduated with her Master’s from Sarah Lawrence College in New York, she began volunteering at a local New York nonprofit organization that worked for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Cristina then started a role as a Bilingual Paralegal Advocate assisting clients with various family law and immigration law needs in both Spanish and English. In September 2019, she joined the Human Trafficking Program as Director to work with clients who were survivors of both sex and labor trafficking. Cristina worked closely with her team of case managers to provide services including financial benefits, referrals, and peer support groups for clients to feel supported and empowered.
Ares Epps – LEx Leader
Ares Epps is a former foster youth, currently enrolled at North Carolina State University double majoring in communications and film studies. Ares is a former NC State track and field student-athlete. Ares does advocacy around foster care issues, which consists of working for SAYSO (Strong Able Youth Speaking Out) as an independent contractor. He also works with TAY (Transition Age Youth), to help refine Medicaid and other important topics that relate to foster youth. Additionally, he is a motivational and inspirational speaker, using his own lived experiences and expertise to inform people about foster care. Ares is always looking for ways to give back to the foster care community and lead by example. He wants to be a role model that supports and encourages as many kids as possible to accomplish the goals and dreams that they have for the future.
Faith Sharp – LEx Leader
Faith is from Springfield, Missouri. She is a senior at Missouri State University, pursuing a Political Science degree with a minor in Nonprofit Leadership. Faith enjoys volunteering at her local food bank and is the fundraising chair of her college’s Model United Nations club. She says, “I would love to travel and learn about child welfare experiences around the world, and how best to improve the experiences of foster children everywhere.”