Current Board Members
Our board is made up of active community leaders with a variety of backgrounds. They are individuals who are each passionate and knowledgeable about the issues facing young people in/from care in BC who bring a variety of professional skills to the table.
Lynell Anderson
I am a UBC researcher by day and an advocate by night. All of my work (and much of my play!) focuses on children, youth and families, with a particular interest in how organizations and governments make decisions about spending priorities. As a professional Certified General Accountant who has worked in business, government and non-profit organizations, I also bring over 30 years of financial management experience to the Network. I like to use financial information to inform, engage and empower. I so value the enthusiasm that Network members bring to discussions about their organization’s governance, and I am delighted to serve and support your vision as your board chair.
Sandy Cooke
Past Chair
I have been working for more than 40 years with and for high-risk youth, including sexually exploited children, street youth and youth in government care. A sought-after authority on street youth, I have provided expert testimony in the courts, and am a founding executive director of Covenant House Vancouver. I have also sat on the Greater Vancouver Regional District Steering Committee on Homelessness and the Youth Sub-Committee as well as on the board of the Child Welfare League of Canada. I chaired FBCYICN Board of Directors for almost 2 years and am now Vice-Chair; I am loving being involved here at the Network!
Kate Hodgson
I am the Executive Director at the Network of Inner City Community Services Society, providing services for children, youth and families in Vancouver. I have worked in inner city neighbourhoods in both Winnipeg and Vancouver through grassroots and non-profit organizations, and have served on a number of community boards of directors. I have a BA (Hons) in Anthropology and Women’s Studies and have enjoyed training and learning on my job. I have worked in the Downtown Eastside for since 2000, and am a mother of two and passionate about working with youth.
Hilary Ramadanovic
I have been involved with the Network for more than 7 years. In that time, I have watched the Network grow and change in many different ways, and I have seen the amazing strength and resilience of the organization and the young people that are its members, its heart and soul. During that time, I have also grown. I have completed my education, including a degree in law from UBC. I currently work full time, outside the system. Since my first contacts with the Network it has inspired me, rejuvenated me and grounded me. I have been privileged to be welcomed by its members.
I am committed to ensuring that the youth driven nature of the organization be strengthened; that members’ voice be central to all decisions. I think the Network is a strong advocate for young people in and from government care, and particularly for the central place of their own voice and expertise in shaping the experience of care. I also believe that coming together, creating a safe place for young people in and from care to belong and to work together to amplify their voices is of incredible value.
Jessy Auger
My name is Jessy Auger. I am 24 years old and I’m from a small town in the caribou region of BC called Quesnel. If you’ve never heard of it that’s ok you really don’t want to be there. I’m a full time student in the social work program at NVIT in Burnaby; it’s my last year so I’m pretty excited. I also just started a new part time job in August working overnights in a group home. Some things I like to do for fun are read, hang out with friends, try to make people laugh, play some video games, watch movies, oh and I just recently started going to roller derby practices I can’t really skate at all yet but it’s really awesome! Just thought I’d mention I am a little shy so sorry if I don’t say “hi” right away, it’s not because I don’t like you.
I’m running for the board of directors because I want to be able to represent the youth voice on the board level. I am a former youth in care and have been involved with the fed for almost 10 years; wow does that ever make me sound old. I think my years with the fed and taking part in as much as I could over the years has given me some of the experience I need to be able to represent the youth of this organization. I am really passionate about this organization and would like to be a part of helping it strengthen.
Summer Rain Bentham
My name in Summer-Rain and I’m 28 years old and Coast Salish, from the Squamish Nation. I grew up on the Capilano reserve and in the Ministry’s care as a temporary ward (which is supposed to mean “short-term” but most of us know that isn’t true). I went
in and out of 15 foster homes and five group homes, none of them being what I needed or right for me. When I was 11, I ended up on the streets of the Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside where I quickly found my home and a temporary family. I decided early on that I wanted to make a difference for other young people growing up in government care, whether that be through youth detention, mental health facilities or MCFD/VACFSS. I started school for my BA in social work only to find out that I was just a working ant in a huge system and realized that, although I may be able to make a small difference in a few young people’s lives while they were on my case load, in the end I had few teaching opportunities and little control over how I could help them. Within FBCYICN though, I had an opportunity to have my voice be heard and to make change.
Rachael Raven Wright
My name is Raven Wright; I am Métis; Cree from Clear Lake Manitoba. My journey with the foster care system began at age 13 when I advocated for myself to anyone who would listen. I was heard and placed in a foster home where I was exceptionally fortunate to stay, explore and express my vulnerabilities and possibilities.
Now, at age 30, I strive to give back with thanks to the many people who believed in me, and the stepping-stones that have helped me along the way.
With help, I’ve graduated college as a child and youth care counselor. I’ve advocated on behalf of YIC with the FBCYICN as a youth and council member, project staff, alumni and adult support. I’ve worked to improve care and express the needs issues and ideas of children and youth in family centers and shelters, foster & group homes, behavioural and psychiatric homes. Currently, I work with the Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents and the Vancouver School Board to improve education and access to cultural and traditional resources.
I seek to share in experience, making and taking every opportunity, personally and professionally to work in hand, heart, mind and spirit with all who strive to enhance the experiences of youth in and from care.
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