Staff
FBCYICN staff members are responsible for maintaining and overseeing FBCYCIN programs and services. All staff members support FBCYICN mission and values and its role in supporting youth (14 – 24) in and from government care. They must be knowledgeable about issues facing youth in and from care and are committed to on-going and long-term support for these young people.
Directors and Administration:
Lorena Pilgrim
Interim Executive Director
Although I have only been with the Federation since 2009 I am not new to networking. I was involved in setting up locals in Nova Scotia and also sat on the board of directors for the National Youth in Care Network. As an alumni of care, I am very passionate about empowering other youth in/from care to improve their lives as well as the lives of their brothers and sisters of care; I am excited to be working at the Network where I get to make this a reality.
lorena_pilgrim@fbcyicn.ca
778.389.9492
Colleen Danes
Administrative Coordinator
In my job, I am usually the first face people see at the office. I work closely with Jocelyn, and handle the accounting, Network-related inquiries, general administrative duties, working on the database, and keeping our members updated through email, Facebook and mail-outs. I am also the lead staff in planning the Steering Committee Meetings.
I have been involved with the organization since 2003. I began having lots of experience working with youth (at-risk youth in particular), but not very much history working with youth in care. Thanks to the young people involved at the Network, my passion for working with youth in and from care has grown and given me so much drive and dedication to the Network. The young people inspire me to do more and to be better in all aspects of my job and my life. Watching the members grow and fight for what they believe in keeps me loving my job. Helping young people have their voices, opinions, and ideas heard is so important to me and watching the changes that have occurred in the system keeps my passion growing.
I have been so lucky to have become a part of the Network family and feel so privileged to be let in and considered family to the members.
info@fbcyicn.ca
604.353.3508
Managers and Coordinators:
mia amir
Local Development Coordinator
I joined the Fed in Dec. 2011! The primary focus of my work will be in coordinating and supporting the A-Team as well as collaborating with fellow Local Development Coordinator Paula in the development and support of the Fed’s Locals throughout BC!
I bring 15 years of work in grassroots groups and not-for-profit organizations as a program developer, coordinator, facilitator and arts-based educator. I have primarily worked with youth and adults from (im)migrant, refugee, Indigenous, GBLTQI, Two Spirit and “at-risk” communities, using arts as a tool for empowerment, skills building and social change.
I’m also a writer, vocalist, and co-parent to the most amazing 8-year-old I know.
Chris Buchner
Youth in Care Program Manager
I joined the Network in 2009 and my main focus has been managing the Support Programs: this includes providing skills-development opportunities to young people, assisting young people transitioning out of care, as well as assisting the staff team to deliver one-on-one support to members. I will also be one of the lead staff developing and supporting Local Youth in Care Networks across BC.
For the past seven years I’ve dedicated my work to improving the lives of young people in various ways and I feel so fortunate to get to work with such incredible youth and staff team here at FBCYICN.
My other passion is music. I’ve been playing the french horn for more than 15 years and studied horn performance at McGill University. I play in the West Coast Symphony, and the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as freelance around the lower mainland.
604.353.3521
Jessica Chu
Youth Participation Coordinator
As your Youth Participation Coordinator, my role is to provide members with meaningful opportunities to be engaged at FBCYICN and ensure young people’s voices and opinions are heard. I strive to do this through our Membership and Volunteer programs; first by drawing young people into the Network, and then by connecting them with each other and different opportunities to participate at all levels of the organization.
The best part about what I do is being able to connect with young people and being inspired by their fearlessness to dream, to overcome adversity, and create change in their community. I’ve worked with young people since my first job as a camp counsellor, and I truly feel grateful and privileged to be working in an environment where the needs, issues, and ideas of young people are included and represented. Please be in touch, I’d love to get to know each one of you better!
604.353.3495
Paula Knowles
Local Development Coordinator
I’m brand new to FBCYICN and so happy to be here! mia amir and I will be sharing the role of Local Development Coordinator. Having just moved to B.C. from Nova Scotia, I feel privileged to have been invited to join the dedicated FBCYICN team. My previous work has been as a teacher, facilitator, team-builder, consultant and program designer. I’ve worked with youth, and specifically youth-in-care, in many contexts – from rural to urban, wilderness to institutions, national conferences to tiny groups, often with youth-adult partnerships. I’m excited to get to know the youth engagement and advocacy environment here and to be part of such important work.
My focus will be to support the Federation’s “Locals,” which are the community youth-in-care teams and their supports, located around the province. I will be here to help you connect and share your stories, experiences, challenges and successes in creative and meaningful ways – sometimes in person, sometimes long distance and sometimes through our conferences and retreats. I look forward to connecting with you all!
Lisa Mickleborough
Communications & Project Coordinator
I’ve been involved with the Fed since March, 2009 when I came on board as a communications consultant. I did things like produce Power Pages magazine, manage the website redesign, and kept our communications materials up-to-date and edited. I became a full-time, permanent staff member in January, 2011.
My role now also involves working with our members, staff and board to create and oversee a long-term communications plan. This includes things like: communicating with media, agencies and the public about our organization; creating swag like t-shirts and buttons; public awareness campaigns about issues facing youth in and from care; supporting partners on other campaigns like MCFD’s BC Child and Youth in Care Week and SCY’s Child rights campaign; and supporting staff to create program materials.
I have a degree in philosophy and have worked as a writer, editor, journalist and communications specialist since 2007 in the print journalism and political campaign fields; I’ve also worked with youth off and on since 2000. I’m pretty happy to be working for an organization so outspoken and passionate about young people and their needs, issues and ideas. Never have I met so many informed, confident young advocates. I feel lucky to be an ally in their movement and treasure the relationships I’ve developed with some incredible young people and adult allies.
604.353.3525
Sam Pothier
Youth in Care Program Manager
Although I have been an Alumni member with the Federation for several years my support for improving the lives of youth in care has not changed. In my position at the Network I am responsible for overseeing the Dream Fund and enhancing the education and career objectives of our members, as well as developing and overseeing our leadership program. Over my career I have worked with and for the Network, volunteered with the National Youth in Care Network, and worked in group homes to make sure that I am always in touch with the needs, issues and ideas of youth in care.
778.389.9491
On Special Contract:
Chris Bentzen
Graphic Design Consultant
Angie Cross
Volunteer Engagement Consultant
Lynn Curtis
Human Resources Consultant
Tara Gibbs
Website Consultant
Shannon Pawliw
Graphic Design Consultant
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