Alexander

Mentor

Alexander is a native of Chicago, Illinois. He is a 2010 graduate of Howard University and has plans to obtain his Masters in Human Resources Management within the next year. He currently contracts for the U.S. Department of State and is an active member of Alfred Street Baptist Church (Alexandria, VA). He joined the BEST Kids program because of the great influence his mentors have had, and continue to have, on his life.

Aubrey

Mentor

Aubrey McCormick is a native of Orlando, Florida and has lived in DC area for 2 years. She is a professional golfer and is working hard to “green” the golf industry. She is currently a Coordinator at Green America, working on a project that will educate youth and bring the game of golf to local communities around the world.  Aubrey is a contestant on The Big Break  which airs on the Golf Channel in May.

Brandon

Mentor

Brandon was born in Washington, DC, but grew up in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a degree in Business Organizations & Society. After graduation, he lived in Moldova where, through a local microfinance institution, he worked with entreprenuers and small businesses to grow and become sustainable. He currently lives in Arlington and works as a consultant at the Office of Management and Budget. He is a big time Redskins & Caps fan… even though sometimes he wishes he wasn’t! He enjoys playing any sport, photography, and can’t wait for the opportunity to be a mentor with the Best Kids program!

Bruce

Mentor

Bruce joined best kid in August 2010 since moving to the Washington DC area to work with the Federal Highway Administration. He believes that giving to a child can be one of the greatest contributions to society that you can ever make. You never know how big of an impact the little things that you do and give can have on a child.

Caitlin

Mentor

Caitlin was born and raised in Washington, D.C. and currently works at Fannie Mae.  She received a BA from Georgetown University and an MBA from Northwestern University. Caitlin’s experiences growing up in a very close family cultivated her belief that everyone should have someone to lean on, rely on, and learn from, which influenced her decision to join BEST Kids.

Cedric

Mentor

Cedric works as the Mentor Recruiter at BEST Kids and is also a mentor. He likes to scat when he’s happy and moonlights as a ninja. As an avid skier and expert on fun, Cedric shares his talents as a LivingSocial Experience Coordinator.  A big Nat’s fan, he loves any opportunity to go to a game at the Stadium. As a former teacher, he loves working with youth and serves as a great role model with his sense of humor, A-list style and excellent taste in socks.

Christine

Mentor

Christine is 25 years old and lives in Southern Maryland. She graduate from Towson University with a degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. She currently works as a federal contractor at the Department of State. Christine has 3 brothers, all in different age groups and a mom who’s a third grade teacher. She is a big dog lover and has a Boxer named Cash who is 3 years old. Christine’s favorite TV show’s are Bones and Law & Order because she loves mystery and science; and Glee because she loves music and the arts!

Corey

Mentor

Corey is originally from St. Louis, Missouri and has been a Best Kids Mentor since 2011. He moved to the Washington, DC area in October 2010 after living in Seattle, Washington and Houston, Texas, respectively. He received his BS degree in Computer Science from Alabama A&M University and currently works as a Senior Software Engineer for Accenture. In his spare time he enjoys going to the movies, reading, hanging out with friends, and visiting new restaurants.

Dawn

Mentor

Dawn lives in Alexandria, Virginia and has broad experience in volunteering with Non-Profit Organizations.  She has a Master’s of Social Work from Temple University, served in the Peace Corps in Romania, and currently works in medical device sales.  Additionally, she has traveled extensively and participate in a medical mission to Nigeria focusing on rural medicine, surgical care, and child-maternal education.  In her free time she likes to work out, swim, and spend time with friends.

Dru

Mentor

Dru joined BEST Kids in March 2007 and currently works at the US Patent and Trademark Office. He is originally from Apple Valley, Minnesota and earned his BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004.  His goal is to impart to his mentee and other youth the hope, belief, and optimism that they can become anything they want to be.

Emily

Mentor

Emily has lived in the DC area for 4 years since graduating from college with a degree in Spanish. She currently helps to coordinate an internship program in Northeast DC for undergraduate students. Emily became a BEST Kids mentor to learn more about foster parenting, but also because she gets a lot of fun out of being with kids. She also gets a thrill out of beekeeping, contra dancing, and making exorbitant amounts of food out of discount produce!

Gail

Mentor

Gail is originally from Reading, PA.  She graduated from Millersville University with a Mathematics Degree and now works as a software test manager on a federal government contract.  After moving down to MD, she searched for an opportunity to work with children and to make a difference within the city she loves, D.C.  The thrill Gail gets of putting a smile on a child’s face led her to Best Kids.

Gretchen

Mentor

Gretchen became a BestKids mentor because she believes in the power of one-on-one investments in children.  She also plans to foster children one day and wanted an opportunity to work with kids currently in that system.  She works at Georgetown University Medical Center in strategic planning and enterprise development, pursuing a master’s degree in biomedical science policy, and earned an undergraduate degree in history from Brigham Young University.  A native of Chicago, she loves the White Sox and looks forward to taking her mentee to a few baseball games.

Jo

Mentor

Jo is originally from Northampton in the UK.  She has been a teacher in the UK since 2001 and moved to DC in 2007 to work at the British School of Washington and loves living in the USA.  Jo joined Best Kids as a way to work with students who were less privileged than those in her own school.  In her spare time she enjoys going to the movies, watching Rugby, eating out and travelling.

Joy

Mentor

Joy grew up in southwest Michigan, and graduated from Grand Valley State University with a BA in Public Relations. Before moving to DC in 2011, She served two years in  AmeriCorps NCCC, working with nonprofit organizations throughout the Midwest and Gulf Coast. She now works in the Political Affairs & Advocacy division of the American Medical Association.

Larissa

Mentor

Larissa is originally from Arkansas and has been with Best Kids since 2010. She moved to Washington, D.C after graduating from Tennessee State University with a BS degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. When she’s not exploring a new place with her mentee, she enjoys bowling, cooking and singing with her band. She loves being involved with Best Kids mostly because she believes that even if you can’t do everything for everyone you can always do something for someone.

Lauren

Mentor

Lauren is a native Washingtonian. With education in international business and global management Lauren has a career with an agency in acquisition and business development. Some of her interests include the arts (performing and visual) and attending sporting activities. After years of work related to education, Lauren sought out BEST Kids as a way to make a difference in the lives of those around her. She is excited for the opportunity to serve as a BEST Kids mentor.

Lauren

Mentor

Lauren is originally from Columbus, Ohio.  After graduating from Butler University seven years ago, she moved to Washington, D.C. to work on Capitol Hill.  She is still very involved with her alma mater and is President of the Butler University Alumni Association in Washington, DC.  She loves yoga, running outside, Butler basketball, reading, and most of all, traveling.  She currently works at Fannie Mae in the Government Affairs Department. Lauren has always loved working with children and feels that as a Best Kids mentor, she is able to be a positive role model for children most in need.

Lindsay

Mentor

Lindsay is a Virginia Tech graduate from Luray, VA. She is a Public Policy Associate at CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) and enjoys reading, politics,  and Hokie football. She is currently training for a marathon with her brother! Lindsay got involved in BEST Kids because she wanted to spend her free time giving back to her community and being a positive role model for foster youth.

Lotte

Mentor

Lotte would like to be a foster parent one day but joined BEST Kids about a year ago because she did not want to wait to make a difference in  a child’s life. Though she admits that mentoring has its challenges, she is always consistent and enthusiastic and has had an incredibly positive influence on her mentee’s life.

Lyle

Mentor

Lyle has supported BEST Kids since its inception. He became a mentor almost four years ago and has since mentored two different youth and been extremely involved in peer group meetings. He attributes much of his mentoring success to his ability to empathize with the youth he works with –  Lyle attended more than 20 different schools before obtaining his high school diploma and is able to relate to BEST Kids youth in many ways.

Mark

Mentor

Mark is originally from San Antonio, Texas and misses wearing flip flops in the winter. Nonetheless, he loves living in DC and working as an Academic Advisor at the University of the District of Columbia. More importantly, he loves helping the DC community and believes that Best Kids is a great way to do precisely that.

Marveen

Mentor

Marveen is a metropolitan area native having been raised in the suburbs of Arlington, VA.  She has spent her career at United Way Worldwide as a nonprofit executive, currently serving as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the United Way network.  Marveen joined the BEST Kids family after raising a strong, successful young man, now in college, and wanted to make an impact on a young girl’s life because of her belief that strong families, communities and nations are built when you empower, support and cultivate women.  Marveen values her family, friends and good food and drink!

Misty

Mentor

Misty signed up to become a mentor as soon as she found out she was moving to DC from Indiana in 2010.  Her goal is to be an extra set of eyes and ears for her youth, identifying and acknowledging adversities and opportunities others may not be able to see.  She is currently a stay-at-home mom, which happily allows her to cook and eat well, two things she could not live without.

Molly

Mentor

Molly is a graduate of the University of Virginia from Arlington, Virginia.  She currently works as an investigator for the Department of Labor.  She decided to get involved with BEST Kids in 2009 as a way to give back to the DC community and to be a caring and dependable role model in a foster kid’s life.

Nadia

Mentor

Nadia is originally from Palatka, Fl.  After graduating from Florida State University she moved to Washington, DC to pursue a career in politics.  She enjoys visiting the Smithsonian museums and is an avid sports fan. Nadia got involved with Best Kids in 2011 to serve as a positive influence in the life of a child.

Natasha

Mentor

Originally from New Jersey, Natasha first moved to the DC area to attend college. She received her bachelor’s degree from Howard University and master’s degree from the University of Delaware. Natasha is a huge sports fan and enjoys working out. She takes joy from being a mentor with BEST Kids and playing an active role in a child’s life.

Phyllis

Mentor

Phyllis is a native of Florida but she served in the military for 20 years where she mentored hundreds of young people. She graduated with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice, a Masters in Management and is completing her Doctorate in General Human Services this year. She currently works at the Department of the Treasury and loves reading and running. She joined the BEST Kids program because she knows firsthand how a positive influence in young people’s lives can help them succeed.

Tamara

Mentor

Tamara has always been passionate about giving back to the community and helping others. She got involved with Best Kids in 2009 as a way to make a difference in a child’s life while at the same time having them make a difference in hers. Tamara received her BS in Computer Science from the University of Virginia and works as an IT Consultant for Red Hat. She loves outdoor activities, dancing, and trying different foods.

Tisha

Mentor

Tisha joined BEST Kids in November 2011. Tisha moved to DC in 2010 to work at the National Institutes of Health. She has a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She grew up in a tiny town in Missouri. She joined BEST Kids because she believes mentorship can help children be resilient in even the most difficult situations. Her goal is to be a reliable source of support and encouragement for her mentee.

Brandi

Mentor

Brandi is originally from Pittsburgh, PA.  She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a BS degree in Elementary Education.  After changing careers and moving to the D.C. area, she wanted to find a way to have a positive influence on the life of a child again.  So, she became a mentor with BEST kids.  In addition to volunteering, Brandi enjoys traveling, theater, comedy, and of course cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Megan

Mentor

Megan is originally from a small town in Mississippi but moved to Washington, DC to work for the government.  She is now working and going to school to get her Master’s in Forensic Psychology.  She loves to shop, travel, and exercise.  She decided to join Best Kids in 2010 because she would like to adopt one day and, until then, she wanted to make a positive difference to a young boy or girl.