FOCWJ is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

To know FOCWJ is to know our people

Here at Families Organizing for Child Welfare Justice, we are serious about surrounding ourselves with smart, experienced people who can help us grow our business and improve our processes. Our Board of Directors come equipped with a wide range of experiences, competencies and perspectives. In addition, we look for people who are passionate about our current mission, and can help us grow into a force that brings about significant change.

Meet Suzanne Sellers

Meet Suzanne

Executive Director Suzanne Sellers is a charismatic parent advocate who is dedicated and committed to the reform of the child welfare system and desires to see the amending of system's policies. Suzanne suffered from drug addiction and in 1999 her parental rights were terminated although she had been drug and alcohol free for 2 years at the time. Her experience made her an activist and gave her a purpose, which is to help families be reunified and have the justice they deserve.

Before founding FOCWJ in 2015, Suzanne served as a Parent Advocate volunteer at the Family Defense Center.

In addition to her child welfare reform and parent advocacy work, Ms. Sellers currently consults as a procurement manager at a corporation in the Chicago area. She holds several academic degrees including Associate of Arts in Business from Harold Washington College, Bachelor of Science in Commerce with a major in Finance from DePaul University, Master of Business Administration with a double focus in Operations Management and Entrepreneurship also from DePaul, and Master of Public Policy with a focus in Child and Family Policy from the Harris School at The University of Chicago, and the degree of Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Trinity International University.

Suzanne has a breadth of personal, professional, and academic experience that uniquely qualifies her to speak to issues of child welfare reform and advocate for change in the child welfare system. She draws from her experiences and uses those experiences to advocate for parents. At every opportunity that she is given, she speaks out about parent advocacy and justice for families in the child welfare system. As founder and executive director of FOCWJ, her hope is to inspire others to become child welfare reform advocates, especially individuals and families with past or present child welfare system involvement.

Selected Child Welfare Reform Public Speaking Engagements, Published News Articles, Talk Show Guest Appearances, and other Recognitions:

  • Guest Speaker , "The Pregnancy to Prison Pipeline", The Laura Flanders Show, KCET/LinkTV – 9410, Dish Network, New York City, NY, February 15, 2019. Television. Watch
  • Guest Speaker , "Why does child welfare system continue to separate families, especially black families?" WPPZ 107.9fm, Philadelphia, PA, February 15, 2019. Radio.
  • Guest Featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer Opinion Editorial titled , "Why does child welfare system continue to separate families, especially black families?" OpEd, February 9, 2019. Radio. OpEd
  • Guest Speaker, "Suzanne's Story" Let's Do Life, weekly online talk show hosted by Spoken Word Fellowship Church, Christian Family Radio Network, February 8, 2019. Video
  • Guest Featured in The New York Times Letter to the Editor written in response to , "Slandering the Unborn" OpEd, January 5, 2019. Letter to the Editor
  • Guest Featured in The New York Times Opinion Editorial 8-part series titled , "A Woman's Right's", Article #4 titled "Slandering the Unborn", December 28, 2018. OpEd
  • Guest Speaker ,"Foster Care Placements on the Rise."" WNYC 93.9fm, New York City: 15 August 2018. Radio.
  • Workshop Facilitator, Workshop titled "Being Well and Feeling Good" at Girls Speak Out event hosted by Sankofa Safe Child Initiative, July 28, 2018.
  • Guest Interviewee, News Article titled "Our Foster Care System Shouldn't Separate Families Either", The Nation online news journal, July 26, 2018. Article
  • Guest Speaker, Workshop titled "The Benefits of Global Travel" on weekly online show named Let's Talk About It, Rev. Tina Ward Ministries, July 12, 2018.
  • Webinar Facilitator, Webinar titled "Celebrating National Reunification Month", presented to the Birth Parent National Network, hosted by Casey Family Programs and the National Alliance of Children's Trust Funds, June 28, 2018.
  • Meeting Facilitator and Panelist, Annual Virtual Convening of the Birth Parent National Network, Casey Family Programs, Chicago, IL, November 30, 2017.
  • Meeting Facilitator and Panelist, Communications Strategy Webinar for the Birth Parent National Network, Casey Family Programs, Chicago, IL, October 12, 2017.
  • Closing Plenary Speaker , 5th Annual Parent Attorney Conference of the American Bar Association, Topic: The Need for Better Parent Representation, Tysons Corner, VA, April 26, 2017.
  • Discussion Group Leader , American Bar Association, 5th Annual Parent Attorney Conference of the American Bar Association, Topic: The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, Tysons Corner, VA, April 25, 2017.
  • Panelist, Families Organizing for Child Welfare Justice, 1st Anniversary Celebration, Theme: New Beginnings in Child Welfare Reform, Chicago, IL, October 27, 2016. Watch
  • Panelist, Illinois Parent Attorney's Network of the Chicago Bar Foundation, Webinar: What Parents Need to Know about DCFS's 5-year Strategic Plan, Chicago, IL, October 21, 2016. Watch
  • Panelist, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, 1st Annual Transformation Summit, Workshop: Permanency for All: Family Finding and Fictive Kin, Itasca, IL, October 18, 2016.
  • Panelist, Child Welfare Braintrust of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Topic: Black Families Matter: Challenges and Opportunities, Washington, DC, September 16, 2016. Watch
  • Presenter, Chicago Coalition for Battered Women, Chicago, IL June 30, 2016, Topic: The Cross Section of Child Welfare and Domestic Violence.
  • Radio Presenter. "Parents Torn Asunder, Then Reunified". WBEZ 91.5fm, Chicago: 17 June 2016. Radio.
  • Panel moderator and Event Leader, National Reunification Day, co-sponsored by Families Organizing for Child Welfare Justice and The Family Defense Center, Chicago, IL, June 11, 2016.
  • Keynote speaker, 10th Annual Birth Parent Institute, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, June 10, 2016, Topic: Suzanne's Story: Hope for the Future.
  • Guest speaker, IL-7th Congressional District Working Group on Child Welfare and Women’s Issues, April 21, 2016, Topic: Foster Care and the Need for Reform.
  • Guest speaker, Illinois Parent Attorney’s Network of the Chicago Bar Foundation, April 15, 2016, Topic: Termination of Parental Rights and the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997.
  • Presenter, presentation to Birth Parents Council, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Englewood Regional Office, Chicago, IL, November 12, 2015, Topic: Remaining Strong During the Holiday Season.
  • Presenter, presentation to Office of Public Defenders, Cook County Juvenile Court, Chicago, IL, October 23, 2015, Topic: Birth Parents Can Change.
  • Presenter, Presentation to Birth Parents Council, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Englewood Regional Office, Chicago, IL, October 8, 2015, Birth Parents Can Change.
  • Presenter, Presentation to Office of Public Defenders, Cook County Juvenile Court, Chicago, IL, October 8, 2015, Topic: Birth Parents Can Change.
  • Presenter, Award Acceptance Speech as Recipient of Parent Advocacy Award, 10th Anniversary Celebration of The Family Defense Center, Chicago, IL, October 7, 2015, Topic: A Call to Action in Child Welfare Reform. Watch
  • Testimonial Provider, Congressional Testimony on foster care and kinship care at the Congressional Testimony Listening Tour, Community Forum on Child Welfare, hosted by the Honorable Congressman Danny K. Davis (IL-7th), Chicago, IL, October 2, 2015.
  • Workshop Presenter, American Bar Association, Washington DC, 4th Annual Parent Attorney Conference, July 23, 2015, Topic: Legislative Policy Advocacy for Parents in the Child Welfare System.
  • Discussion Group Leader, American Bar Association, Washington DC, 4th Annual Parent Attorney Conference, July 22, 2015, Topic: ASFA’s 20 Years of Broken Ties.
  • Recognition Recipient, Recognized as a National Reunification Day Hero of 2015 by the American Bar Association, Washington, DC, June 2015. Download
  • Guest Speaker, Weekly Community Forum of the Illinois African American Family Commission, Chicago, IL, July 14, 2015, Topic: The Need for Child Welfare Reform.
  • Panelist, "Turning Your Stories into Advocacy", National Reunification Day, Chicago Public Library, Logan Square Branch, Chicago, IL, June 6, 2015 for Family Defense Center.
  • Panelist, "The Journey to Becoming an Advocate", National Reunification Day, Chicago Public Library, Logan Square Branch, Chicago, IL, June 7, 2014 for Family Defense Center.
  • Performer, Comedic Monologue Performance - Solo, "My Life", National Reunification Day, Chicago Public Library, Logan Square Branch, Chicago, IL, June 7, 2014 for Family Defense Center.
  • Panelist, Mother’s Defense Breakfast for Family Defense Center, held at Kirkland and Ellis, Chicago, IL, May 2014. Watch
  • Performer, Monologue Performance - Solo, "My Life", Mother’s Defense Breakfast for Family Defense Center, held at Kirkland and Ellis, Chicago, IL, May 2014.
  • Performer, Monologue Performance - Solo, "My Life", Second City Training Center, Chicago, IL, Writing Your Story course, November 17, 2013.
  • Guest Speaker, 20th Anniversary of Forever Free Recovery Home for Women, Chicago, IL, on July 10, 2010.
  • Conversationalist, provided conversational input as an attendee at the 1st Annual Parent Empowerment Conference at New York University in New York, NY, September 2008.
  • Guest Speaker, March Forth on March 4th: Parent Speak-Out Conference, sponsored by Family Defense Center, Chicago, IL, on March 4, 2008, Topic: The Need for Child Welfare Reform.

Meet Sharon Love-Williams

Meet Sharon

Director Sharon Love-Williams has a wealth of experience in working with disadvantaged children and families. Since 1994, Sharon has been employed with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago in a number of progressively responsible roles. Sharon is currently Program Director of two of Catholic Charities' Interim Housing Programs. The Our Lady of Solace Interim Housing program is a program which operates at an 81-bed facility and the St. Francis de Paula Interim Housing program is program which operates at a 38-bed facility. Her management responsibilities are numerous and includes assisting homeless persons with various needs including domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse, and involvement with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Sharon began her career in social work at Catholic Charities as a Case Manager at the Forever Free Recovery Home for Women. In this role her duties included providing court advocacy and domestic violence and relapse prevention services. When promoted to Program Manager, Sharon was the liaison between the Program Director and the agency's clients and staff. When promoted to Program Supervisor, Sharon provided supervision to case managers, intake specialist and case aides. When promoted to Program Director, she supervised the entire residential facility and its programs, servicing clients with an array of needs including mental Illness, substance abuse, poverty and involvement with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. A total of 14 employees and 4 volunteers reported to Sharon in her role as Program Director at the Forever Free Recovery Home.

Sharon holds the degrees of Master of Social Work from Loyola University and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Southern Illinois University. In addition, she holds numerous certifications and licenses including but not limited to Certified AODA Counselor (IAODAPCA) and Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC).

Meet Jennifer Moore

Meet Jennifer

Board Treasurer and Interim Secretary Jennifer Moore is an astute, dedicated and highly motivated accounting professional with over 13 years of progressive experience in corporate financial reporting. She is currently employed at the Kraft Heinz Company as an Accounting Manager in the Corporate Controllers Group, where she manages the accounting and reporting of all marketing expenditures. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Accountancy from Devry University. She also plans to obtain the CPA license upon completion of the Master's program.

Jennifer has a strong passion for community involvement and continually looks for opportunities to serve and make an impact. Over the past 15 years, she has volunteered with several nonprofit organizations in various capacities including, mentoring college students with the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), providing free tax assistance to low income families with NABA's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, participating in social activities with disabled adults at Ada S. McKinley Services, supporting youth during summer basketball camps at Moody Bible Institute's Hoops for Hope Program as well as participating in service projects with the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Chicago Urban League.

Jennifer is an advocate of child welfare reform. She strongly supports the mission of FOCWJ and its efforts to improve child welfare system and educate families currently impacted by the system. Jennifer believes the child welfare system has some flaws, and children do not always benefit from the system's policies. Jennifer believes child welfare policies should be amended to better support keeping families intact and ensuring that children grow up in a safe and stable environment that promotes their well-being.

Meet Elka Nelson

Meet Elka

Board President Elka Nelson is a social justice activist and organizer who is dedicated and diligent with outstanding communication, client service, and relationship management skills. A licensed Illinois attorney, Elka has over 30 years' experience in providing legal counsel and advisement to individuals and corporations.

Elka currently serves as Legal Counsel at Byline Bank in Chicago, IL. In that role, Elka provides legal support on a broad range of commercial and retail banking matters pertaining to real estate, operations, lending, leasing, retail banking, legal compliance and regulatory, human resources, facilities and marketing. Elka also assisted Byline in completing its initial public offering (IPO)land several acquisitions. Prior to her role at Byline Bank, Elka served for over 25 years as Founding Partner of Elka Geller Nelson and Associates, a law firm concentrating in business transactions as well as transactional real estate, real estate consulting, and real estate development.

In addition to her role in private practice Elka has publicly served as Town Council President in Porter, Indiana. In addition to serving as Redevelopment Commission member overseeing grant funding and TIF funding as well as various economic development projects - ranging from strategic business and development planning, development of hiking and biking trails, and ADA accessibility improvements. Rounding out Elka's work in the Town of Porter was her service as President of the Town of Porter Police Commission and Duneland Economic Development Commission. Elka was a proud attendee of the 2018 Obama Foundation Summit.

Elka holds a Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Management from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Elka is passionate about child welfare reform advocacy and believes that the family unit is foundational to a well-functioning society. Elka is a proponent of families remaining together when it is safely possible.

Meet Sharon Love-Williams

Meet Sharon

Director Sharon Love-Williamshas a wealth of experience in working with disadvantaged children and families. Since 1994, Sharon has been employed with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago in a number of progressively responsible roles. Sharon is currently Program Director of two of Catholic Charities' Interim Housing Programs. The Our Lady of Solace Interim Housing program is a program which operates at an 81-bed facility and the St. Francis de Paula Interim Housing program is program which operates at a 38-bed facility. Her management responsibilities are numerous and includes assisting homeless persons with various needs including domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse, and involvement with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Sharon began her career in social work at Catholic Charities as a Case Manager at the Forever Free Recovery Home for Women. In this role her duties included providing court advocacy and domestic violence and relapse prevention services. When promoted to Program Manager, Sharon was the liaison between the Program Director and the agency's clients and staff. When promoted to Program Supervisor, Sharon provided supervision to case managers, intake specialist and case aides. When promoted to Program Director, she supervised the entire residential facility and its programs, servicing clients with an array of needs including mental Illness, substance abuse, poverty and involvement with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. A total of 14 employees and 4 volunteers reported to Sharon in her role as Program Director at the Forever Free Recovery Home.

Sharon holds the degrees of Master of Social Work from Loyola University and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Southern Illinois University. In addition, she holds numerous certifications and licenses including but not limited to Certified AODA Counselor (IAODAPCA) and Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC).

Meet Nicole Sloan

Meet Nicole

Director Nicole Sloan is a Social Justice Advocate extraordinaire. For nearly a decade, Nicole has devoted her life to helping children and families. As a mother of 5 and a grandmother of 4, Nicole believes in the concept of "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child" and she embodies the strength, fortitude, and compassion needed to help her own family and others.

Nicole currently holds the dual role of Truancy Case Manager and Social, Emotional, Learning Specialist for the not for profit organization named A Knock At Midnight. Her service in these roles places her at venues such as the Chicago Public Schools and the Illinois Department of Corrections. At CPS, she facilitates trainings on character development, serves as a mentor and guidance coach to children, and trains on constitutional rights – specifically the 4th, 5th and 6th amendments. At IDOC, she provides information and referrals regarding various programs available in the community.

Nicole's past roles include but are not limited to Prevention Specialist and Attendant Case Manager at major not for profit organizations. In addition to professional trainings, Nicole has completed college course work in Social Science and has plans to pursue a social work degree.

A tireless advocate for social justice, Nicole participates in marches and rallies with well-known community activists and she has assisted with political campaigns as an organizer.

Nicole believes in the mission of Families Organizing for Child Welfare Justice and as a board member, will apply her skills and expertise to help families succeed.

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