Maria Kelley (Aoki-Chavez) Email & Phone Number

Pittsburgh, Pa

- Advocating for a variety of social justice issues (e.g. funding allocation, trauma-informed approaches, and data equity analysis) through national agency technical assistance webinars.- Disseminating digital and educational tools to 501-3(c) partners in focus areas regarding child-welfare, authentic youth collaboration, and under-resourcing in the houseless community.- Researching and inputting FYSB data through Excel to adequately assess target populations and corresponding need areas. - Facilitating bi-weekly meetings with YCT young adults, engaging in bi-weekly leadership meetings with YCT staff and conducting one-on-one monthly check-ins with team members.- Scoring and noting national and state grant opportunities within the Housing Justice, Building Community, RHYTCC and OJJDP sectors.- Facilitating in the 2021 and 2022 RHYTTAC national trainings and the 2022 Youth Housing Justice Conference.

Washington Dc

- Interning in the office of Congressman Grijalva of Arizona's seventh district- Writing and publishing a policy report on Interstate Sibling Connections in the Foster Care System that is to be presented at a congressional briefing, White House briefing, and Department of Health and Human Services briefing. - Writing correspondence to constituents of Arizona’s seventh congressional district on Paid Family Leave, IVF, telehealth access, and air pollution.- Other internal correspondence includes: policy reports, memos, press releases, co-sponsorship reports, e-Dear Colleague “pink papers”, and briefing notes

Washington Dc

Interns with CCAI's Foster Youth Internship publish and testify on a policy report of choice, engaging with key federal curriculum and stakeholders throughout its development. Interns gain hands-on policy and administrative experience while working in a U.S. Senator's office throughout the summer of 2024, meanwhile, weaving their lived expertise throughout the larger federal landscape.

Hartford, Connecticut, United States

Researching best practices and system designs for adolescent services in the child welfare system, meanwhile, learning from child welfare stakeholders to inform the work.

- Working full-time with quasi-governmental organization, The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity.- Completing two Emerging Women's Leadership Graduate courses per semester.- Participating in alumni panels to support current undergraduate BOLD Scholars.

Hartford, Ct

- Collaborating with each Sub Comission to identify research priorities, explore emerging trends, and address knowledge gaps pertaining to specific social issues occurring in CT. - Assisting the development and implementation of innovative bi-partisan approaches to connecting communities to policy change- Researching, charting, and writing comprehensive research briefs by leveraging analytical tools, information databases, and primary sources.

- Partnered with the Department of Labor and Marissa Cardona to create the 2023 DOL Youth Summit Event, where 30 high school students engaged in professional and personal development workshops. - Ideated and facilitated two focus groups with the Department of Children and Families. Youth voices were uplifted to build upon the pre and post summit survey questions (i.e., Survey Monkey), and to tailor the event around their needs. In other words, direct co-designing and leveraging with youth as key stakeholders. - Met with child welfare and non-profit sister agency administrators 5+ hours a week to center the event around diversity, equity, and inclusion standards such as accommodation recommendations (e.g., disability and accessibility accommodations).- Developed the event itinerary which consisted of building relationships with non-profit agencies such as Unashamed Inc. to facilitate the Summit workshops.

Hartford, Connecticut, United States

- Managed all summer program mediation and facilitation cases through data entry on case logs, and email correspondence on Microsoft platforms (i.e., Access, Outlook, Teams, and Excel).- Coordinated six and observed three fact-findings and mediations for CHRO staff.- Assisted in preparing court documents and performed in-house administrative written work using platforms such as Microsoft Sharepoint.- Participated in trainings on corresponding subjects such as, but not limited to, discrimination complaints, whistleblower retaliations, and affirmative action.- Co-created and helped moderate the virtual 2021 Summer Symposium on Inmates Rights and the State of Connecticut Correctional Reform.- Scored and selected essay winners for the 2021 Kids Court competition, in conjunction with facilitating two workshops with breakout discussions for the Kids Court Academy.

Storrs Center, Connecticut, United States

- Assisted and mentored 17 high school foster students with the college application process and their senior year responsibilities.- Tutored students in high school level English and SAT/ACT preparation during two weekly two-hour study halls.- Organized monthly ‘Academic Days’ and developed incentive materials to maintain student engagement.- Researched existing models of college initiatives for foster youth, and applied ideas to university advocacy projects (e.g., implementing an on-campus food pantry). .- Presented to UConn departments about the disparities that exist on-campus for students of independent status and how to serve independent students through trauma-informed approaches.- Analyzed and reviewed external feedback to assess the effectiveness of current university food and housing insecurity measures.

Master'S Degree, Public Policy

Graduate Certificate, Emerging Women’S Leadership

Individualized Major, Law, Social Justice And The Family

High School Diploma, General