Marlo Nash, who led external relations for the Milwaukee-based Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, is leaving the organization in January to become executive director of a start-up organization aimed at connecting policy makers with foster youth and families.
The National Foster Youth Institute was established in 2014 with support from Casey Family Programs and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
NYFI’s board of directors has already been established:
- Conway Collis, CEO of GRACE, a California-based Christian ministry
- Yolanda (Cookie) Parker, founder and president of KMS Software
- Clarence Lusane, a well-known columnist on race relations and professor of political science at the American University in Washington, D.C.
- Wendy Smith, associate dean of the University of Southern California School of Social Work
- David Herbst, former Los Angeles County commissioner and founder of public relations firm Vectis Strategies
- Nii-Quartelai Quartey, national manager of health equity for the American Heart Association
The board of directors began a national search for its first leader in March.
“My time working with the Alliance was one of the most delightful experiences of my career,” Nash said, in a statement released by the Alliance. “As I take on my new role, I look forward to continuing to partner and work with the tremendous leaders and advocates in the Alliance network to improve outcomes for children, families and communities.”
Before joining the Alliance in 2013, Nash served for five years as vice president of membership for the now-defunct Voices for America’s Children. Before that, she was vice president of national initiatives for United Way.
In addition to her board, Nash will answer to an advisory board that currently includes two members of the House of Representatives: Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Tom Marino (R-Penn.).
Nash takes over for Jenny Wood, a child welfare advisor to Rep. Bass that served as interim director during the board’s search. There are currently two staff on board at NYFI: Marketing Director Lisa Kurdziel and Program Director Donna Brown Guillaume.
John Kelly is an editor for The Imprint.