WEIKART CENTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager, Field Services
With an enthusiasm for details, Adrienne provides training and technical assistance to partners across the country engaged in continuous quality improvement.
Job Titles:
- Director of Executive Operations and Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
- Director of Executive Operations Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
Ali provides support to the CEO and COO in a myriad of capacities to maximize organizational efficiency and productivity in moving our mission forward.
Job Titles:
- Consultant, Big Picture Approach Training & Consulting
Alyssa is the administrative assistant at the Weikart Center where she provides support to the vice president and executive team. She also provides logistical assistance while working across teams to support our work with clients. Alyssa recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and a minor in Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture. During her university experience, she has volunteered abroad as an English tutor in Italy and taught a youth summer education program in Ecuador. In her free time, she enjoys writing creative short stories and exploring nature.
Job Titles:
- Communications & Engagement Specialist
Job Titles:
- Training Content Specialist
Barbara Hillaker's work centers on developing or improving measures, assuring that they are aligned with developmental science and are valid & reliable.
Ben is in the 21st CCLC and MDE projects. His role as a data associate is to support the ongoing efforts of many Weikart programs and data analysis efforts.
Job Titles:
- Certified Professional Coach
- Field Consultant
bob maureen is a Certified Professional Coach, skilled facilitator, speaker and the founder and CEO of Coaching Leaders. bob spent the last 25 years shifting youth spaces so young people can reach their potential. bob has worked with local community centers, marginalized communities, outreach, outdoor and inner-city school programs, nationally affiliated programs as well as local community-based programs throughout the USA and Canada. In addition, she has spent the last 12 years coaching and facilitating workshops and conversations among leaders and organizations to help grow their intercultural competencies and leadership skills. It's not uncommon for people to walk out of one of bob's trainings saying, "That was the best; everyone needs to have this experience!" For more information on bob's work, visit www.WeAreCoachingLeaders.com.
Job Titles:
- Agent
- Field Consultant
- Professional Development Trainer
Brodrick Clarke is an agent for social change with 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Clarke is committed to improving outcomes for youth nationally by actively working with educators, parents and students, providing them with the tools, skills and competencies to survive, grow and thrive. He has extensive experience working with the K-12 student population primarily in an out-of-school time setting. Clarke has recruited and trained hundreds of youth workers and volunteers. He has personally trained hundreds of Washington, DC teachers in the art of teaching and reaching youth. Clarke has a relentless focus on Youth Work Methods, Advancing Youth Development and fostering the 40 Developmental Assets in youth. These three frameworks used in tandem empower him to meet the needs of students regardless of their perceived limitations.
Clarke is a seasoned professional development trainer. His facilitation style is unconventional. He incorporates research and best practice with interactive simulations to engage his audience in dynamic learning experiences. Clarke served an 18-month tour of duty with the Muhammad Ali Center directing their domestic and international youth development initiatives and currently serves as the principal trainer with his consulting firm. Clarke holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Human Services and Management from the University of Phoenix.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair
- Executive Director of Chapin Hall at the University
- Vice Chair / Executive Director, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
Bryan Samuels serves as the Executive Director of Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, one of the nation's leading research and policy centers focused on improving the well-being of children and youth, families, and their communities. Under Samuels' leadership, Chapin Hall has continued to build its reputation as a center for excellence in data analysis, innovative research, and policy expertise. His tenure has been marked by a commitment to furthering the rigor and depth of Chapin Hall's research, and by fostering connections with partners around the University of Chicago, within Illinois, and throughout the nation. He has also helped establish Chapin Hall as a national leader on issues ranging from child well-being to youth homelessness. Before joining Chapin Hall, Samuels was appointed by President Barack Obama as Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF), making him from 2010-2013 the highest-ranking federal child welfare policymaker in the country. As ACYF Commissioner, he emphasized the importance of child well-being and the use of data-driven approaches to improve the welfare of vulnerable children and youth. Samuels has over twenty years of experience in child welfare, including having served as the Chief of Staff of Chicago Public Schools under Arne Duncan and as Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. He was also a lecturer at the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration from 1997 to 2003. He has a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Notre Dame and a master's from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.
Job Titles:
- Director of Strategic Storytelling and Co - Founder, SparkAction
A writer and journalist passionate about digital movement building & youth leadership, Caitlin runs the Forum's SparkAction.org and LeaderStories.org networks.
Job Titles:
- Digital Engagement Strategist
Job Titles:
- Director, Economic Policy Investments and Grantmaking, U.S. Jobs and Economic Opportunity, the Rockefeller Foundation
Job Titles:
- Social Impact Design Associate
Job Titles:
- Director of Design & Innovation
Dave returns to the Weikart Center as the Director of Design & Innovation with more than 20 years of experience in youth development and facilitation.
Job Titles:
- Director of Research
- Director of Research Operations, University of Chicago Consortium on School Research
David Stevens is the Director of Research Operations at the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research (UChicago Consortium), one of the nation's first education research-practice partnerships. In this role, he serves as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to the mission, growth, and internal management of the organization. David has more than 15 years of experience conducting education research and helping practitioners and policymakers use data in their improvement efforts.
Prior to joining the UChicago Consortium David worked as a Research Manager at Education Northwest, a non-profit education research and technical assistance center in Portland, OR. While there, he led state and regional research-practice partnerships through the Regional Education Laboratory (REL) Northwest program. David also served as a steering committee member of the National Network of Education Research-Practice Partnerships. He received his Ph.D. in sociology from Northwestern University.
Job Titles:
- Youth Engagement Strategist
Job Titles:
- Learning & Development Specialist
Edgar Gomez provides trainings and coaching as the Learning & Development Specialist here at the Weikart Center. For the last 10 years, Edgar has worked in the field of youth development, education and community organizing. He has spent most of his career advocating for youth voice and leadership within organizations, schools, and community. In his career, he has trained youth to become youth organizers to address education injustices within their school systems. Edgar enjoys facilitating in groups of any size but also values one on one relationship building.
Edgar's passion stems from his ideology that all youth regardless of their background deserve equal opportunities in their education and in life. His career journey has given him the opportunity to work with people of different backgrounds and identities. Edgar graduated from the University of Michigan - Dearborn with a bachelor's degree in Sociology.
Emet Bergman brings their passion for positive youth development and background in dynamic clinical intervention to their work as a school social worker and facilitator. Trained in clinical social work, Emet has been providing clinical services and therapy, as well as training and facilitation with youth programs for several years. Emet's commitment to active learning and engagement balanced with supportive counseling and safe environment coalesced at the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory and continues to grow throughout their career in the field.
Emet is particularly committed to using trauma informed principles and practices that attend to social location and intersectional oppression in supporting equitable best practice for all youth. Emet believes that SEL is deeply human and universal for adults and youth alike, and is committed to using clinical skills and knowledge to contribute to a more equitable world in which all youth have access to high quality school day and out of school time programming. In their free time Emet enjoys cycling, gardening, engaging in community initiatives, baking, boxing, boating, and participating in revolution.
Job Titles:
- Independent Consultant
- Independent Consultant / Managing Director ( Retired ), Accenture, Health and Public Service
Gary Glickman is an entrepreneurial, global senior executive with thirty years of experience providing leadership in both the public and private sectors, including in the fields of social finance, human services, cyber security, electronic banking and government efficiency. His prior roles included Managing Director overseeing Health and Human Service Consulting at Accenture, President and Chief Marketing Officer at Maximus, and CEO of Giesecke and Devrient Cadtech, the U.S. subsidiary of a multi-national manufacturing company. Glickman served for four years at the White House Office of Management & Budget and the U.S. Department of Treasury where he focused on work to develop new practices for financing public programs, including social impact bonds and "pay for success" initiatives. He has written and spoken extensively on the subjects of social impact bonds, integration of human services, electronic benefits transfer, biometrics, smart cards, and identity management. He is a successful entrepreneur and business leader as well as government and non-profit innovator.
Gerod manages the development of policy programs, agendas, & various campaigns focused on decreasing the Opportunity Gap & furthering the mission of the Forum.
Job Titles:
- Director of Outreach and Engagement
Ian is the point man for partners of the Forum. He manages communications efforts, working with staffers at both the Forum and partner organizations.
Job Titles:
- Field Coordinator for SAILS Math TN
- SAILS Field Coordinator, Tennessee Board of Regents
Job Titles:
- Digital Engagement Associate
- SparkAction 's Digital Engagement Associate
As SparkAction's Digital Engagement Associate, Jamal helps strategize and execute on content-driven campaigns, with a focus on equity, opportunity and justice.
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager, Field Services
A "systems-thinker" at heart, Jennifer works closely with intermediaries on projects that focus on matters that directly impact out-of-school time programs.
Jo Ann works to advocate for policies that advance racial equity and social justice by connecting with policymakers & directly impacted youth and young adults.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Field Services and Vice President, the Forum for Youth Investment
Joe coordinates a team of field consultants and trainers to deliver training and technical assistance to support the development of quality improvement systems.
Job Titles:
- Senior Policy Manager, Children 's Cabinets
Jordan works to ensure that government and non-government stakeholders engage in policies that are horizontally and vertically aligned to promote equity.
Job Titles:
- Retired Executive Director, ASCD
Job Titles:
- Director of Budget and Finance
Kathy works on budgeting, internal controls, policies & procedures, financial system implementation, & leading the team on financial reporting & analysis.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality
- Executive Vice President of the Forum for Youth Investment
- Executive Vice President, the Forum for Youth Investment / Managing Director, Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality
Kimberly Howard Robinson, Ph.D., is executive vice president of the Forum for Youth Investment and the managing director of the David. P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality. Prior her to role Robinson served as Program and Evaluation Officer with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, one of the largest private philanthropic institutions in the U.S. Her work focused on developing and implementing continuous improvement processes to support programmatic strategy and effectiveness. Prior to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Dr.Robinson served as Interim Chief Accountability Officer as well as the Director of Research for Baltimore City Public Schools. Prior to Baltimore, she served as the Director of Data and Analytics for the New York City Department of Education.
She holds a doctorate from the University of Notre Dame in Developmental Psychology and has more than fifteen years of experience conducting applied research on schools, children and families.
Kim works to strengthen programs and practices that nurture the potential of youth with continuous improvement approaches that marry research and practice.
Job Titles:
- National Activist & Engagement Coordinator, Opportunity Youth United
Job Titles:
- Director, Research and Evaluation
Krista uses research & evaluation opportunities to partner with youth development organizations to identify, understand & communicate their pathways to impact.
Job Titles:
- Business Systems & Engagement Specialist
Job Titles:
- Acting Director, Big Picture Approach Training & Consulting
Laura brings extensive on-the-ground experience coordinating & supporting community change efforts to her role managing in-house operations for the BPA team.
Job Titles:
- Learning & Development Specialist
Leah provides coaching, training, and technical assistance to Weikart Center clients around the country.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Global Philanthropy
Job Titles:
- Director of Policy & Research
Mary Ellen works with stakeholders inside and outside of government to use policy and evaluation as tools to promote equity and help youth thrive.
Mishaela Durán President & CEO Mishaela serves as President & CEO of the Forum.
Job Titles:
- Director of Knowledge Management, Casey Family Programs
Job Titles:
- Finance Specialist
- Financial Specialist
Ora is a financial specialist, working on accounts payable, accounts receivable, and many other financial matters for the organization.
Job Titles:
- Learning & Development Specialist
Paige facilitates engaging training sessions that build and strengthen adult skills and provides coaching and technical assistance on CQI efforts.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Business Systems
As the Manger of Business Systems at the Forum, Paul oversees our online systems and provides guidance to the users of those systems.
Job Titles:
- Senior Research & Practice Specialist
Poonam primarily works with projects focusing on instructional and management practices, measure validation, and impact studies specifically around SEL.
Job Titles:
- Aspen Institute Education & Society Program
Sarah supports various network projects and clients as part of the Field Services team.
Job Titles:
- Meetings and Operations Manager
Shanell provides comprehensive meeting planning and logistics management for the Forum's convenings, including the annual Ready by 21 National Meeting.
Job Titles:
- Senior Learning & Development Specialist
Job Titles:
- Board Chair / Managing Member, Change Dynamics, LLC
Job Titles:
- Learning & Development Specialist
Tay's work centers around delivering training and technical assistance in support of continuous quality improvement.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President and Co - Founder, SparkAction
- Policy
Thaddeus works to promote evidence-based policies that help communities achieve equity for all youth and that incorporate youth voice.
Job Titles:
- Research and Evaluation Specialist
Trevor provides coaching and consulting services to the Weikart Center's clients, including Michigan's 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CLCs).