Who We Are

We Are Waymakers

BOARD OFFICERS

ANN STAWICKI

President, Burnham Benefits Insurance Services

JOE MCCARTHY

Vice President, McCarthy Consulting Services

ABRIL TURNER

Secretary, Experian

ROXANE FULLER

Treasurer, Montgomery DME

BOARD MEMBERS

BRENDA BALSIGER

Orange County Business Journal

FRANCISCO BARAJAS

Adelante Partners Inc.

ISABEL BECERRA

Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers

RICH BRAKKE

Brakke-Schafnitz Insurance Brokers

Laura Chavez

Girls Inc.

DONNY DELFIN

Banc of California

PAUL S. FLECK

Atkinson, Andelson, Loyo, Ruud, and Romo

DANIEL GARCIA

A-Z Tech Support LLC

GUTHA "GK" KANNAN

Grifols

MARK LARSEN

Purus Wealth Management

DR. JAY LEE

Family Physician

EILEEN MCCOY

Pink Bra Project

JAMES PIKE

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

JASON SMALLWOOD

Flagstar Bank

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

ISABEL KLUWE

Program Director, Huntington Beach Youth Shelter

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

Our Mission

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.

History

Our History

1972
  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

2017
Waymaking Partners

Our Waymaking Partners

Ways To Volunteer

Our Mission made possible by your involvement

Ways To Donate

Transform your community through your generosity

Ways To A Career

We are stronger together, view our career opportunities

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