President Lauren founded The Academy Project as a result of her passion for and career working with foster youth. She attended New York University where she graduated cum laude with a degree in Theater and Psychology. She has been a lifelong advocate for foster youth and continues to work to strengthen the relationships between the systems and organizations that support foster youth.

Originally from Los Angeles County, Cheyenne has done extensive work in her community. She volunteers with her former group home, St Annes, talking to the residents and staff about what made her journey unique. She is also a YTP facilitator for the Y.O.U.T.H. Training project, an organization that speaks to social workers and public welfare workers on the challenges that foster youth face today. Her most important job is being a mom to her 5 year old daughter, Layla.

Claire Conly joined The Academy Project in 2019 and sits on the funding committee. She attended UCLA where she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Political Science. Currently living in Orange County, Claire works at Harvey & Company as a M&A research analyst. In addition to TAP, she sits on the tribal council for the Gabrielino-Tongva Indians of California and volunteers as a military caseworker for the Red Cross.

Clare is an experienced business leader with over 15 years of experience in developing high performing organizations. Clare first became involved with The Academy Project via a volunteer assignment on strategic planning. She quickly saw the need for a different approach to educating foster youth in LA, and continues to provide her expertise.

Tammy Watson-Smith is a Principal and the Operations Leader for Mercer in the West Market. She is responsible for managing improvement processes and communication activities as well as project scoping and planning to ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget. She acts as a strategic thinking partner with the Market CEO on new initiatives, business issues or concerns. Mercer is one of the operating companies of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., (“MMC”) a global professional.

Amy Christine is Los Angeles’s only Master of Wine, and one of only 12 female MWs in North America. She and her husband, Peter Hunken, own Holus Bolus winery in Lompoc, and she also works in sales for Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant. In addition, Amy is a partner at Wine Ring Inc, a wine centric technology company. Amy and her husband are parents to a 23 year old daughter adopted from the LA Foster Care System 2009, and are staunch advocates for children in foster care.

Mary has had a long and established career as a critical care and research RN. Wanting to have a more active role in changing and shaping current situations and events Mary left the nursing role and went on to become an entrepreneur who has been a significant part of starting several successful businesses in the pharmaceutical and retail arenas. During all of her jobs and endeavors she has maintained being an advocate for people’s rights.

Michele is the Founder of The Forward Project, a Los Angeles-based consultancy that designs and develops powerful mindset, emotional intelligence, and behavior-based leadership training programs to help organizations discover new ways to grow revenues, strengthen their culture, and accelerate their impact. She is an angel investor, a Certified Sommelier, and a lover of travel, food, languages, and making a positive difference in the lives of foster youth.

Maria joined TAP in Winter of 2021 and earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology graduating Magna Cum Laude within her major from KSU in Georgia. She has been an active member in community outreach in her home state through projects in environmental conservation. Now residing in Los Angeles, Maria attends Mann UCLA weekly for our Co-Op program designed for educational enrichment. Engaging our youth members in activities catered towards social and emotional learning.