Our Staff
The Forum was founded in 1998 by Karen Pittman and Merita Irby, two of the country’s top leaders on youth issues and youth policy. The Forum’s diverse staff includes researchers, educators, policy analysts, youth work practitioners, business professionals, advocates and communications specialists.
Executive Staff
- karen@forumfyi.org
Karen is the Executive Director of the Forum for Youth Investment.
- merita@forumfyi.org
Merita Irby is the Managing Director of the Forum for Youth Investment, which she co-founded in 1998 with Karen Pittman.
Program Staff
- nicole@forumfyi.org
Nicole Yohalem is a Program Director at the Forum for Youth Investment where she oversees work related to out-of-school time, youth action and bridging research, policy and practice.
- elizabeth@forumfyi.org
Elizabeth Gaines is a Program Manager at the Forum for Youth Investment where she oversees the Forum’s work related to state and local policy and manages the partnerships with national membership organizations such as the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Governors Association and KIDS COUNT.
- alicia@forumfyi.org
Alicia Wilson-Ahlstrom is a Program Manager at the Forum for Youth Investment where she oversees national and regional projects related to policy development, strategic alignment and general technical assistance on youth-focused policy and programmatic initiatives.
- ian@forumfyi.org
Ian is a Senior Program Associate at the Forum for Youth Investment where he engages the Forum’s work related to state and local policy and manages the partnerships with national membership organizations such as the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Governors Association.
- nalini@forumfyi.org
Nalini is a Program Associate at the Forum for Youth Investment.
- thaddeus@forumfyi.org
Thaddeus Ferber is a Program Director at the Forum for Youth Investment where he oversees work related to policy.
Charles is the director of the Center for Youth Program Quality, created through a joint venture between the Forum and the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation.
- shanetta@forumfyi.org
Shanetta Martin is a Senior Program Associate at the Forum for Youth Investment where she oversees work on youth and community engagement connected to state and local youth policy efforts. Shanetta joined the Forum in 2004.
Communications Staff
- laura@forumfyi.org
Laura is the Communications Associate at the Forum for Youth Investment.
Information Systems/Office Management Staff
- rachel@forumfyi.org
Rachel is the Finance and Human Resource Administrator at the Forum for Youth Investment.
- galen@forumfyi.org
Galen is the Information Systems Manager for the Forum for Youth Investment.
- rosa@forumfyi.org
Rosa is the Information and Operations Assistant at the Forum for Youth Investment.
Rosa joined the Forum in 2002. She is responsible for entering incoming publications into the electronic library catalog, as well as organizing and shelving such publications in the Forum library. Rosa also helps to maintain the cleanliness and smooth operation of meetings at the Cady-Lee.
Executive Support Staff
- livia@forumfyi.org
Livia is the Special Assistant to Karen Pittman, Executive Director of the Forum for Youth Investment.
- andrea@forumfyi.org
Andrea is the Special Assistant to Merita Irby, Managing Director of the Forum for Youth Investment.
- demonta@forumfyi.org
DeMonta is the Administrative Assistant at the Forum for Youth Investment.