Boards & Staff

Meet Our Team!

Statewide Youth Leadership Board 2025-2027

Facing Foster Care in Alaska is led by a Statewide Youth Leadership Board (YLB) of foster youth and alumni, elected every two years by FFCA Members aged 15-24. The YLB plans and facilitates statewide youth leadership retreats and conferences, training for child welfare staff and caregivers, offers support and mentorship to members across the state, and sets the tone of policy advocacy efforts on behalf of FFCA.

From top left: Madison Brewer Anchorage Representative, Terrance Enoch Western Representative, Kxlo Stone Anchorage Representative, Lotus Nickoli Northern Representative, Mya Shadley Northern Representative. 

Bottom Left: Katie George Western Representative, Deko Harbi Anchorage Representative, Maryann Fawcett Southeast Representative, Trinity Beltz Southeast Representative

Board of Directors & Staff

The FFCA Board of Directors and Staff oversee non-profit operations and follow the direction of the Youth Leadership Board and FFCA Membership. FFCA Youth Leadership Board and Members often develop skills to transition to roles with the Board of Directors.

President/Treasurer

Monica Hinson-Wilson Lives in Juneau Alaska. She joined FFCA as a youth member. She served as Southeast Representative on the Statewide Youth Leadership Board hosting statewide retreats, engaging in advocacy at the state and nations capital, and leading Juneau regional events before being elected to the Board of Directors. Monica is the President and Treasurer of the FFCA Board of Directors. She volunteers as an advocate pushing child welfare reforms with the National Foster Youth Institute in Washington D.C., contributed to the indigenous connectedness research of Dr. Jessica Ullrich and recently presented findings at the National Indian Child Welfare Conference in 2023. She works at APICDA Joint Ventures in Juneau, AK.

Vice President

Eva Denison lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, and is originally from Valdez. After aging out of foster care in Fairbanks, she joined FFCA eager to make a change. Eva served an extended term as the Northern Regional Representative on the Statewide Youth Leadership Board before being elected to the Board of Directors and appointed Vice President. Passionate about policy, Eva serves on the FFCA Legal Committee. She has held multiple roles giving back to her community and remains committed to supporting and advocating for others 

Board Member, Secretary

Sean Gaither was born in San Francisco, California, and moved to Alaska in 2007. After spending many years in retail, where he built strong skills in operations, sales, and team leadership, Sean discovered his true calling: helping people in need, especially vulnerable youth and young adults.

This passion led him to leave retail and dedicate his career to supporting those experiencing homelessness and transitioning from foster care. At Covenant House Alaska, Sean has served in key roles including Associate Program Coordinator and Director of Housing. He works directly with young people to provide safe housing, life skills, stability, and pathways toward independence and success.

Deeply committed to making a difference, Sean brings both professional expertise and genuine heart to the Facing Foster Care in Alaska (FFCA) Board. As Fundraising Committee Chair, he is passionate about expanding resources and opportunities for Alaska’s foster youth and ensuring every young person has the support they need to thrive.

Deputy Secretary

​DJ was born in Juneau, Alaska & is a part of Tlingit tribe in Southeast Alaska. She is a Sealaska & Goldbelt Shareholder as well as a member of Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes. DJ has worked with Covenant House Alaska for over 5 years as a case manager & she’s worked with foster care youth facing homelessness within Alaska & has helped youth connect with Office of Children's Services & Office of Public Assistance to find the support & services needed for their circumstances revolving around being homeless while in foster care. DJ is also the owner of her own local photography business that focuses on sharing Alaska’s scenery, wildlife & mystique via Social media.

Board Member, Legal Committee Chair

Barb worked as a child advocate attorney for more than 25 years, with a particular

interest in advocating for older foster youth. After “retiring” she worked for the court system developing a training curriculum for judges, lawyers, child advocates, child welfare staff, and tribal representatives involved in the child protection system. Barb has been involved with FFCA since its beginning, and credits FFCA youth with educating her and making her a better advocate. She is constantly inspired by the youth’s stories, their courage, their resiliency, and their commitment to making the child protection system better for the children and youth that follow them. She is proud to part of an organization that is truly youth-led. In addition to her passion for FFCA, Barb loves biking, snorkeling in exotic locations, and playing the electric bass guitar in a rock and roll band. She lives in Anchorage with her wonderful husband and their adorable cat.

Board Member/Special Projects 

​Angel, an alumnus of Alaska's foster care system, has been involved with FFCA for more than a decade, beginning her tenure as a youth member before being elected as an Anchorage Representative on the Statewide Youth Leadership Board. She joined the Board of Directors and was elected as Deputy-President before moving to serve two terms as President of the Board of Directors. Angel is passionate about improving child welfare systems through educating youth about their rights, resources, and raising community awareness. Angel has shared her own lived-expertise at the Local, state and national level with a focus on improved Permanency, Racial Equity, sibling contact, and the need for mentors. Angel has promoted advocacy through her work as an artist, being featured several times on the cover of National CASA, and the Anchorage Press. Angel worked as a trainer for the Sync mentoring program to match foster youth with mentors, she served on the Western Pacific Implementation Center, and she is a certified trainer for Fostering Futures with National CASA. Angel serves as Co-Chair of the Governor's Foster Care Collaborative Council.

Board Member

Executive Director

Amanda is an alumni of Alaska's foster care system. Amanda along with group of foster youth/alumni, co-founded Facing Foster Care in Alaska in 2003. Through her advocacy with FFCA She has led efforts to expand services and supports for foster youth across Alaska. Amanda is the former Director of the Child Welfare Academy where she oversaw training of child welfare staff, the Office of Youth Empowerment (OYE), a partnership of the Child Welfare Academy and FFCA and spent a decade managing the college fund for foster youth. She was a foster parent for 15 years and has adopted from foster care. Amanda has been recognized for her work to amplify youth voice and sharing her own experience. She received the Casey Excellence for Children Award, was named one of Alaska’s Top 40 Under 40, was recognized by Alaska Children’s Trust as a Champion for Kids, was honored by the YWCA as a Woman of Achievement, was named one of Treehouse Foundation's Champions for Re-Envisioning Foster Care in in America in 2020, and was recognized by the University of Alaska Anchorage as an Alumni of Distinction in 2021.

Associate Director

Sarah spent five years in foster care and joined FFCA at age 16 as a member. Sarah brings a wealth of lived-expertise and advocacy to FFCA. She successfully advocated for foster care re-entry and re-entered foster care herself after aging out to homelessness. She led efforts to restrict the use of Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (APPLA) the goal foster youth get when they age out.  Sarah has planned and coordinated hundreds of training, retreats, and youth empowerment events for foster youth/alumni statewide. She offers support and professional mentorship to FFCA members across the state. Sarah served as a FosterClub Allstar, and was a foster/adoptive parent to her own siblings in care. Sarah represented FFCA on the Governor's Foster Care Collaborative Council (chairing the youth voice subcommittee), She represents FFCA on the Court Improvement Program, the Alaska Impact Alliance, and the National State Policy and Advocacy Reform Center (SPARC).

Board Member, Youth Specialist

Anna spent 4 years in foster care and moved between 16 foster care placements. She joined FFCA as a member at age 14, eager to share her lived-experience to improve child-welfare. She has also served as a foster parent to her younger siblings. Anna was elected to serve an extended term as the Statewide Representative for the Youth Leadership Board before being elected to the Board of Directors. She is currently a Youth Specialist for FFCA offering assistance and peer support to members in need of housing, transportation, food, life skills development and helps with program planning and events.