Youth Leadership Council (YLC)

Picture
The Youth Leadership Council is a select group of mentees who serve as youth ambassadors and leaders within the BEST Kids program. YLC members participate in leadership development sessions, assist with events, model positive behavior, and represent BEST Kids within the community. The council focuses on building leadership skills, communication, accountability, teamwork, and civic engagement while empowering youth to take ownership of their growth and impact.
Tyius
YLC Youth Leader
x

Tyius

YLC Youth Leader

Tyius Franklin is a senior at Digital Pioneers Academy and has been a member of the BEST Kids Youth Leadership Council for the past 18 months. In this role, he has met with members of the Washington, DC City Council to advocate for BEST Kids and support opportunities for young people. Tyius is also active in the Washington Urban Debate League and Music Club, where he focuses on music production.
Matthew
YLC Member
x

Matthew

YLC Member

Matthew Addison is a senior at Digital Pioneers Academy and a member of the BEST Kids Youth Leadership Council. He enjoys music production, crocheting, gaming, and problem-solving. He has been accepted to several colleges, including New York University, the University of the District of Columbia, the University of Wyoming, the University at Buffalo, and Hofstra University. Matthew plans to major in computer engineering, computer science, or electrical engineering, and is actively involved in extracurriculars such as music production, soccer, and Anime Club.​
Maylon 
YLC Member
x

Maylon

YLC Member
Coming Soon!
Tyshaun
YLC Member
x

Tyshaun

YLC Member

Tyshawn Harris a senior at Digital Pioneers Academy and a member of the BEST Kids Youth Leadership Council (YLC). He is a confident, engaged leader who is passionate about youth voice, leadership development, and community impact, and he contributes ideas and collaborates with peers to help shape programs that empower young people.
Academically motivated, Tyshawn is preparing for college and has earned multiple acceptances and a scholarship. He plans to pursue studies in software engineering, law, and artificial intelligence, reflecting a strong interest in innovation and future career success.​​
Mircale
YLC Member
x

Mircale

YLC Member

Coming Soon!​
Royal
YLC Member
x

Royal

YLC Member

Coming Soon!​
Nori
YLC Member
x

Nori

YLC Member

Nori C. is a student at DC Prep and currently in 6th grade. She enjoys reading and writing and is proud to be a BEST Kids mentee and a member of the Youth Leadership Council (YLC), where she continues to build confidence, leadership skills, and strong connections with peers.
Outside of school and BEST Kids, Nori enjoys staying active and having fun through cheer, skating, and volleyball.​

Board of Directors

Overseeing the fiscal and programmatic health of an organization like BEST Kids is no easy task. We are thankful for our diverse team of executive board members that bring their dedication, expertise, and commitment to our mission to ensure our agency's success.
Warren
​Anderson
Chair
x

Warren Anderson

I am the son of a military family, first coming to the DMV area when I was 6 years old. I grew up predominantly in the Northern Virginia area quickly making friends and joining the county football league. I earned a Bachelors in Economics from Salisbury University. I started my career at a growing federal government contracting organization before joining Deloitte & Touche LLP within their Risk & Financial Advisory practice. Professionally, I assist our clients in uncovering the total cost of ownership for the activities they operate within their organizations and equipping them with the tools to monitor and control their spend. In my time away from the office I enjoy being with my wife, my beautiful daughter, and all of my local family and friends. In between date nights and ballet recitals, I spend time running, swimming, and cycling to remain healthy.
Daniel
​Boyce
VICE Chair
x

Daniel Boyce

Vice Chair
Daniel Boyce is Practice Manager for Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the Global Governance Practice of the World Bank. Themes addressed by the Governance practice include those related to Justice Reform, State Owned Enterprises and Public Financial Management.  Previously he managed the Bank’s Financial Management unit for Latin America and the Caribbean. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in California and holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Dan has been a BEST Kids volunteer mentor since 2012 and joined the BEST Kids Board in 2015.  
Ray D. McKenzie
Secretary
x

Ray D. McKenzie

SECETARAY
Ray D. McKenzie joined the Best Kids Board in 2023. He is co-founder of a boutique law firm, WTAII PLLC, which specializes in white collar defense, investigations, and compliance. Prior to his current position, Mr. McKenzie served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, a litigation associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, and Flom US LLP, and a law clerk to the Honorable James R. Spencer (retired), former Chief United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia. Preceding his law career, Mr. McKenzie was a public-school educator in Virginia, teaching language arts and social studies to fifth and sixth graders.

Mr. McKenzie was educated in the Richmond City Public School System. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature and a Master of Teaching in Elementary Education from the University of Virginia, where he was a scholarship member of the ACC-Champion football team. He also earned a Master of Divinity from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. Following his tenure in the public schools, Mr. McKenzie earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law, where, in his final year, he served as editor-in-chief of the Virginia Journal of Social Policy & the Law.

Mr. McKenzie is an ordained Baptist minister and has served several churches in various ministerial capacities. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Statesmen College Preparatory Academy for Boys Public Charter School in D.C. He enjoys spending time with his lovely wife and three kids.
William Laubach
Treasurer
x

William Laubach

TREASURER
Will Laubach, CPA, is a Senior Manager in the audit department at BDO, a public accounting firm. He joined the BEST Kids Board in August 2019. As part of his work with BDO, he serves various industries and businesses, including non-profit organizations. At BDO, he helps his clients navigate grants and contracts from federal and state agencies. Will holds a B.S. in Accounting from West Virginia University. ​
Lauren Corcoran
Director
x

Lauren Corcoran

DIRECTOR
​Lauren Corcoran has been a member of the BEST Kids Board of Directors since 2023. She has been a resident of DC since 2012 and is eager to invest in her community in new and impactful ways. Lauren earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science, History, and European Studies from the University of Delaware and a Master’s in Security Studies from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. She started her career on Capitol Hill working for the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security then went to the private sector to gain experience in public safety communications, cybersecurity, project management, and defense policy. Lauren transitioned back to public service in 2020 when she began working as a Program Analyst at the Department of Defense.
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spending time with her closest friends in DC and scattered throughout the U.S., traveling to new places whenever she can with her husband or whoever wants to join her, and spoiling her black lab mix named Luby.
Jackie
Craig​
Director
x

Jackie Craig

DIRECTOR
Chef Jacqueline “Jackie” Craig is the District Campus Executive Chef for Sodexo at Howard University. Along with her current position, Chef Jackie also serves as Sodexo’s District Executive Chef. Chef Jackie brings 32 years of culinary experience to her career, Chef Jackie worked with the District of Columbia Public Schools System and many premier restaurants in the District of Columbia before joining the Sodexo team 16 years ago. Being a Native of Washington, DC, Chef Jackie loves having access to the many different cultural, ethnic and trendy cuisines that help expand her creativity and allow for continued growth. 
Laila Sharafi Gatt
Director
x

Laila Sharafi
​Gatt

DIRECTOR
Laila Sharafi joined the BEST Kids Board of Directors in October 2025. She currently serves as Employee Service Center Strategy Manager at General Motors, where she leads operations quality, training, and business transformation initiatives across global HR operations, with a focus on continuous improvement. Over more than nine years at GM, Laila has held a variety of transformation and strategy roles spanning payroll and timekeeping, data strategy, and finance. Her professional background also includes leading process improvement efforts and driving cross-functional alignment within the manufacturing and construction industries.Laila holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Duke University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan. After many years in Michigan, she returned to her hometown of Washington, DC, in 2022. Outside of work, Laila enjoys playing tennis, reading, hosting events for friends and family, and exploring the DC area with her husband, Justin. She is expecting her first child in April 2026.
Julian Gonzalez​
Director
x

Julian Gonzalez

DIRECTOR

​Having worked as a finance professional from multi-national corporations to start-ups, Julian Gonzalez brings an expertise in finance optimization and business development that covers the full life cycle of the organization. His specialties include operational controlling, budget & forecast implementation, financial modelling, and strategy alignment, to name a few. His ability to understand the objective and facilitate its achievement through the alignment of operations has helped position customers for continued sustainable growth.
​
Julian has worked as a Financial Planning & Analytics professional for &pizza, Liquidity Services, Inc.
and Volkswagen Group of America in various roles. Before that he worked as an Equity Researcher at Oppenheimer & Co, Inc.
Mike
​Lints
Director
x

Mike Lints

DIRECTOR
Mike Lints has been a mentor with BESTKids and a DC resident since 2017 and a board member since 2019. He moved to DC after spending 13 years in New Orleans, where he volunteered with local non-profit organizations mentoring students and supporting his community through other programs. Mike earned a Bachelors in Finance and Music from Tulane University and a Masters in Business Administration from Loyola University of New Orleans. He has worked at Deloitte, Lockheed Martin, and Pratt & Whitney (current; a subsidiary of RTX) in roles of increasing responsibility. He also works with Keller Williams Capital Properties as a licensed real estate agent in DC, MD, and VA (please reach out if I can help you with real estate in the DMV!). In addition to his specific work experience, he holds several business certifications. Mike enjoys hanging out with Maddie (his wife), Asher (his dog), and Tina (his cat); playing music and attending festivals and concerts; and working in the garden and cooking. Maddie and Mike are expecting a daughter, their first child, in Spring 2024.
Duane J. Wallace II​
Director
x

Duane J. Wallace II​

DIRECTOR
Duane J. Wallace II, DrPH, MPH, PMP, CPH, CHES is a public health professional and two-time graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the School of Public Health, and a Doctor of Public Health from Morgan State University. He serves as an adjunct faculty member teaching Public Health at Morgan State University and has held leadership and membership roles with APHA, SOPHE, MWPHA, CUGH, and AABHE. He applies his doctoral training and professional certifications to participatory research and program evaluation and currently works as a Proposal Manager in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, supporting federal and state government contracting efforts in public health and human services.

Advisory Board

BEST Kids has utilized an Advisory Board since the early planning stages and incorporation of the agency until the present. Our Advisory Board is made up of volunteers who are experts in various fields such as child and adolescent psychology, behavior analysis , educational advocacy, and legal issues. These advisors provide technical support and input throughout all aspects of our programming in order to help ensure BEST Kids is current with the latest research and that our program model designed in a way that allows us to make the most positive impact possible. ​

​Scott Cooper
x

Scott Cooper

Scott Cooper joined the BEST Kids Board of Directors in 2015. He began serving as a mentor with BEST Kids in 2014. He works as the National Security Outreach Director at Human Rights First, an independent advocacy and action organization that challenges America to live up to its ideals. Prior this this, Scott spent a career in the Marine Corps, flying the EA-6B Prowler, serving five tours in Iraq and two in Afghanistan among his tours of duty. He holds a B.S. in Political Science from the U.S. Naval Academy and an M.A. in International Affairs from the University of Maryland at College Park.

Carol Gross​
x

Carol Gross

Carol Gross is a graduate of the University of Penn. undergraduate and  George Washington University graduate school with degrees in Child Development, Elementary Education  and Special Education. In addition she has worked for a research neurologist for almost 40 years; and has served in a variety of roles in many different cities including working in Montgomery County Public Schools for 15 years.  Carol also maintained a private practice of tutoring and diagnosing children who were having difficulty learning. Mrs. Gross has worked tirelessly with BEST Kids over the years to advocate for educational services on behalf of mentees and to provide educational assessments. 

​Richard Gross
x

Richard Gross, M.D.

Dr. Gross is a clinical professor of psychiatry at The George Washington University’s School of Medicine and a lecturer in child psychiatry at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He is a former president of both the Washington Psychiatry Society and the Washington Council on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He also teaches at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and is Board Certified by The American Board in Psychiatry and in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
​
​Jillian Klarman
x

Jillian Klarman

​Jillian is a program monitoring, evaluation, and learning specialist with over eight years of experience working for nonprofit, public, and private organizations.  She has analyzed and reported on programs across various fields within international and community development, including humanitarian relief, conflict resolution, public finances, education, environmental conservation, refugee services, and counterterrorism.  In addition, Jillian has been a mentor with BEST Kids since 2016 and was awarded the Mentor Match of the Year award in 2022.

​​Djinge Lindsay
x

Djinge Lindsay

Djinge Lindsay, MD, MPH currently serves as Deputy Director for Policy and Programs in the Community Health Administration (CHA), District of Columbia Department of Health. CHA promotes healthy behaviors and healthy environments to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities in the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the District. CHA focuses on nutrition and physical fitness promotion; cancer and chronic disease prevention and control; access to quality health care services, particularly medical and dental homes; and the health of families across the lifespan.  In her role, Dr. Lindsay provides direction for program and policy development, implementation and evaluation. Working with her team, her day to day work focuses on community engagement and partnerships, quality improvement, coordination of clinical and community-based services, and ongoing evaluation. Prior to joining DC Health, Dr. Lindsay practiced primary care within the largest integrated health care delivery system in the nation. Dr. Lindsay completed her residency with the Georgetown University-Providence Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program. She holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD) Degree from George Washington University School of Medicine, a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Care Management and Policy from Harvard University School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemistry from Howard University. Dr. Lindsay lives in the Shaw neighborhood in Washington, DC and enjoys spending time with her husband and twin boys.

Jeanette Manning
x

Jeanette Manning

Jeanette Manning is an attorney with the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). Ms. Manning has practiced law previously in both the private and public sectors as an associate at Cozen O'Connor and as an assistant attorney general with the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia in the Family and Public Safety Divisions. She is a graduate of the American University Washington College of Law. ​

Kristy Lee Park
x

Kristy Lee Park

Dr. Park is an Assistant Professor at George Mason University with a focus in Schoolwide Positive Behavior Supports (SWPBS), function-based interventions, and Applied Behavior Analysis. She is currently working with families with Autism to teach socially relevant goals, collaborating with school districts to provide professional development in the application of behavior management principles, and working with the state of Virginia to merge initiatives such as Response to Intervention and SWPBS.

​Chanelle Rollins 
x

Chanelle Rollins, LICSW

Ms. Chanelle Wijesinghe is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a focus on children and adolescents.  She has been working in the social service field since May 2013. She has experience in foster care, as well as the mental health field. She has over 3000 hours of direct service clinical experience, predominantly with children and adolescents. She has national and international experience; having worked at The National Institutes of Health and the US Department of State. Chanelle currently works in the Office on Trafficking in Person at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Chanelle graduated from The Catholic University of America in May 2013 with a Masters in Social Work. She has been a Licensed Social worker in Maryland since June 2013 and in the District of Columbia since February 2014. Chanelle was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka and moved to the United States in 1997. She enjoys traveling, reading and is an avid football fan.  ​

​Arturo
Romero
x

Arturo Romero​

Arturo Romero is the Founder of Energy Healing Yogi and a Principal Consultant at SAH & Associates, where he integrates over 20 years of experience in business strategy, leadership development, and holistic wellness. He specializes in helping individuals and organizations achieve sustainable growth, business expansion, and overall well-being through a balance of strategic insight and mindful practice.
​
At SAH & Associates, Arturo partners with nonprofits, small businesses, and membership-based organizations to strengthen strategic planning, operations, financial management, and leadership capacity. His consulting approach emphasizes purpose-driven performance, organizational health, and transformational leadership.

As the founder of Energy Healing Yogi, Arturo offers energy healing, mindfulness coaching, and wellness consulting—helping professionals and teams cultivate clarity, resilience, and alignment in their work and lives. A certified yoga instructor through the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, he integrates yoga philosophy and energy alignment into his leadership and wellness frameworks.

Arturo studied at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California, and currently resides in Northern Virginia, where he continues to advise and empower clients nationwide.​

​Martine Solages
x

Martine Solages, M.D.

Dr. Solages is a child psychiatrist and pediatrician in academic practice. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and her medical degree from the Yale School of Medicine. She provides psychiatric consultation to medically hospitalized children in the Washington, D.C. metro area.  Dr. Solages’ professional interests also include reducing healthcare disparities and increasing access to mental health services in primary care and community settings.

​Robert Stradtman
x

Robert Stradtman

Bob is a principal in Deloitte Transactions and Business Analytics LLP and leads the Government & Public Services (GPS) Regulatory & Legal offering portfolio and joined the BEST Kids board in June of 2021. He has more than 20 years’ experience in financial advisory, compliance management, forensic investigations, creditor and lender advisory, financial management, financial operations, program integrity, cash management, business operations, and business model and process modernization, and with agencies that extend credit, and financial regulatory agencies. Prior to Deloitte, Bob led aspects of the capital markets function for a US-based Top 10 bank, executing more than 200 public and private securitization and other structured finance transactions. In addition, Bob has led and/or supported significant aspects of banking mergers and acquisitions and other financial services transformation initiatives. Outside of Deloitte, Bob is a member of the American Bankers Association, the American Securitization Forum, and the Professional Risk Management International Association. He also is a devoted husband, dad, and Buffalo Bills fan! 

​Letaria
Weaver
x

Letaria Weaver

Letaria Weaver is an experienced Executive Assistant with a strong background in administrative support and a passion for community-focused work. She currently supports the Chief Operating Officer at the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation, an organization committed to making tennis accessible and fostering community through sport.
With over five years of experience in the non-profit sector and a foundation in early childhood education, Letaria brings a unique blend of organizational expertise and heart-centered service. Her professional journey began as a teaching assistant, and later expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic when she created a virtual after-school program to keep middle school students engaged. She also participated in a structured mentoring program, guiding students from elementary through high school. This experience sparked her dedication to creating empowering spaces for young women to grow, learn, and build confidence as they navigate the complex expectations of adolescence.
Letaria holds a B.S. in Women’s Studies with a minor in Business Communication from Towson University. She remains deeply committed to uplifting youth and contributing to meaningful, mission-driven work in her community.