We Are Waymakers
BOARD OFFICERS
JOE MCCARTHY
President, McCarthy Consulting Services
ABRIL TURNER
Vice President, Experian
DR. JAY LEE
Secretary, Family Physician
ROXANE FULLER
Treasurer, Montgomery DME
BOARD MEMBERS
BRENDA BALSIGER
Retired, Orange County Business Journal
FRANCISCO BARAJAS
Adelante Partners Inc.
RICH BRAKKE
Brakke-Schafnitz Insurance Brokers
LAURA CHAVEZ
Girls Inc.
DONNY DELFIN
Banc of California
SUZY ELLIOTT
Elliott Leadership Coaching
DANIEL GARCIA
A-Z Tech Support LLC
JONATHAN JUDGE
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
GUTHA "GK" KANNAN
Retired, Grifols
MARK LARSEN
Purus Wealth Management
EILEEN MCCOY
Pink Bra Project
JASON SMALLWOOD
Customers Bank
ANN STAWICKI
Burnham Benefits Insurance Services
BARBARA STEENSLAND
MAG-TROL Electrical Distributors
KRIS THORDARSON
K2 General Contractors, Inc.
GREG TIPPIN
Newmark
MANAGEMENT TEAM
RONNETTA JOHNSON
Chief Executive Officer
HETHER BENJAMIN
Chief Program Officer, Youth Development Programs
LITA MERCADO
Chief Program Officer, Victim Assistance Programs
MELINDA RAMOS
Chief Financial Officer
CAROL CARLSON
Program Director, Children's Crisis Residential Program
MARIEL CISTERINO
Controller
NANCY GALEANA
Program Director, Huntington Beach Youth Shelter
DAN GLEASON
Program Director, Project PATH
MICHELLE HEATER
Program Director, Victim Assistance Programs
RICHANNE MARSHALL
Program Director, Collaborative Courts Full Service Partnership
JENNIFER REED
Program Director, Victim Assistance Programs
VANESSA REYNA
Program Director, Victim Assistance Programs
HEATHER STOERCK
Executive Assistant
KRISTIN SUR
Program Director, Victim Assistance Programs
KRISTEN DIMEO
Program Director, GRIP
ADELA WRIGHT
Program Director, Youthful Offender Wraparound
BRITTNEY SCOTT
Program Director, Juvenile Diversion
LISA SAMAAN
Program Director, Transitional Age Youth Crisis Residential Program
ISABEL KLUWE
Program Director, Huntington Beach Youth Shelter
What We Stand For
Mission
We build safer communities by helping individuals make their way through conflict and crisis to a place of strength and stability.
Vision
Our vision is a safe community where individuals of all ages reach their highest potential, fostering lasting change and positive impact throughout Orange County.
Culture
Waymakers offers individuals, families and communities the steadiest, surest, safest pathways to promising outcomes. To clients, Waymakers is the stable home they never had. Their voice when they’re too fragile to speak. Their alternative to the juvenile justice system. Their path away from gang life, substance abuse and other destructive behavior. And their counseling support at a time of greatest need. Waymakers is their advocate, ally, voice of reason and mentor – the one who walks with them on the razor’s edge. The people of Waymakers are committed to supporting clients on their journeys and fostering lasting change and positive impact throughout Orange County.
Our History
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FOUNDED (1972)
A University of California, Irvine professor, a few of his students and a Costa Mesa Police Department captain recognized the need to provide diversion counseling for delinquent youth and their families. As pioneers working within local law enforcement agencies, their efforts led to the creation of a new non-profit serving at-risk youth in Orange County.
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MAKING OUR WAY (1978)
Victim Assistance Programs began as a collaborative project of criminal justice and community professionals. Opening first at the West Justice Center, volunteers and interns provided basic services to alleviate the impact of crime. Currently over 100 victim service professionals provide assistance at locations throughout the County.
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MAKING OUR WAY (1979)
The Youth Shelter program began in Laguna Beach providing a safe haven for youth at-risk for homelessness or running away from home, those who suffered abuse, and those struggling with mental health issues. Over time, the program expanded services through additional homes in Huntington Beach and Tustin. Each shelter provides comprehensive services in a setting conducive to healing and growth.
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MAKING OUR WAY (1980'S)
The 1980’s saw development of programs such as PATH, Sexual Assault Prevention, and Legal Awareness workshops which demonstrated commitment to creating safe and healthy communities through education, training, and technical assistance.
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MAKING OUR WAY (1990'S)
New projects in the 1990’s focused on providing support to families who were struggling due to violence, crime victimization, drug abuse, and conflict. Dispute Resolution Services and specialized services for victims of homicide and family violence were established during this period.
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MAKING OUR WAY (2000'S)
The turn of the century brought with it mass violence events, realization that human trafficking was a community issue, and needs of youth in trouble with law enforcement who were suffering from mental health issues. Faced with the increasing complexity of needs within Orange County, we worked with long term partners to establish a Community Crisis Response Team, the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, and wraparound counseling services.
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MAKING OUR WAY (2017)
Over our 45-year growth, we have evolved to serve youth, adults and families living in Orange County involved or at-risk of involvement with the justice system by designing and implementing some of the most respected prevention and intervention programs in Southern California. Our vision always focused on helping people make their way, and in 2017, we adopted a name fitting our purpose, promise and potential: Waymakers.
Our Waymaking Partners
