Shaleiah Fox (Co-Founder) has used her personal experience with the foster care system to inform her years as a volunteer and advocate for children who are involved in the foster care system. She has a Masters of Social Work and a Masters of Public Administration and Policy and much of her graduate research addressed the Florida Independent Living Program (akin to Texas’ Preparation for Adult Living Program) and the gaps in services for youth who have aged out of the foster care system.
Meredith Takahashi (President) is an attorney and pastry chef in the Austin area. She has her own practice focusing in Family and Entertainment Law and she founded Mère Made Sweets, a catering group. Meredith obtained her diploma in baking and pastry arts at the Institute of Culinary Education, New York, NY. Meredith holds her BA from Boston College and her JD from the University of San Francisco, School of Law. After working in Washington, DC on human rights issues, she spent the majority of her law career as an attorney for the Legal Aid Society of NYC representing children in and out of foster care. As an Ambassador for the Miracle Foundation, a local nonprofit working to elevate the care of children living in orphanages in India, Meredith also worked in development.
Candace Clarkson (Treasurer) is a seasoned marketing manager who brings over 10 years of strategic leadership experience developing and managing complex programs and budgets for brands such as Dell, AT&T, Masterfoods, and Sara Lee. She is a native Austinite who is passionate about empowering the youth in our community. Candace enjoys running, going to live concerts, traveling and experimenting with new appetizer recipes.
Rachael Garbowski (Secretary) is the Development Director at Texas Land Conservancy, a statewide nonprofit land trust where she is responsible for all fundraising operations. In addition to her work with Texas Land Conservancy she does outreach and fundraising consulting for small nonprofits and has been the manager of the Give 5% to Mother Earth Campaign for the last two years. Prior to moving to Texas, she was the Programs Director of a community arts center and theater on an island in Maine. She received her B.A. from Bates College in 2009 and originally hails from an 80-acre vegetable farm in Door County, Wisconsin.
Lise Ragbir is an independent art consultant with over fifteen years experience in arts administration and non-profit management. Her work with national and regional grant-making foundations and community-based arts organizations has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of non-profit initiatives. From providing grants counsel to over 150 organizations, to developing a teaching-apprenticeship program for teens, the value of empowerment has been key to Lise’s work. Lise holds degrees in Art History and Studio Arts from Concordia University in Montreal, and is a graduate of Harvard University’s Museum Studies program.
Lauren Dimitry was born and raised in New Orleans and considers her most prized possession to be a cast iron skillet from her grandmother’s kitchen. Whether it was learning how to make gumbo, or watching her grandparents feed everyone seated at their table, she learned early on about the nurturing role food can play. Lauren welcomes the opportunity to help bring positive food experiences to youth in the foster care system. With a Masters in Public Affairs, she works as a state level policy associate to improve the health and nutrition of kids in Texas.
James Harkrider is the founder and managing partner of the architecture firm Studio D+FORM LLC based in New York City and Austin, Texas. Prior to founding the Studio D+FORM, James was a project Architect at Lawrence Jones Associates in New York City where he also taught and lectured at Parsons School of Design. Since founding Studio D+FORM, James has been the lead design principal on projects which have been featured in national publications such as The New York Times and Architectural Record magazine. James was raised in Midland Texas, is a graduate of Texas Tech University and currently resides in Austin with his fiancé Alexandra Gates and their daughter Keanna and their dogs Kiva and Ace.
Alexandra Gates is the Executive Chef and Food Services Director at the Hotel Saint Cecilia located in Austin, Texas. Prior to relocating to Austin, Alexandra resided in New York City where she managed two well established fine dining restaurants, was a private caterer and had the opportunity to train under a Michelin Star Chef. Being half Swiss, Alexandra attributes her early childhood exposure to European culture and cuisine from her mother and grandparents as being a strong influence on her current culinary style which she describes as being classic and refined. Alex was raised in Sunnyvalle California, is a graduate of San Diego State University and currently resides in Austin with her fiancé James Harkrider and their daughter Keanna and their dogs Kiva and Ace.
Christine Moline began her career working in the non-profit sector in 1998 at the YWCA of Greater New Orleans where she worked as a publicist and development assistant. Christine fulfilled leadership and administrative roles for New Orleans and Austin, Texas-based nonprofits and universities in addition to providing public relations and event planning services, serving Foundation Communities and United Way of Central Texas in development and serving on the board of Women and Their Work Gallery. She has volunteered in multiple capacities for Leadership Austin and Leadership Texas among other organizations. She currently serves as the director of communications and technology for the Austin Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers.