All posts by Mary Radovan
Social Services-Just In Time For Foster Youth, Additional Active
Don Wells is the Chief Empowerment Officer for Just In Time For Foster Youth, which helps to transition foster youth ages 18-26 to achieve self-sufficiency and well-being. He is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with degrees in Psychology, History, and Political Science, and a certification to teach secondary education. In 2004, he also earned a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology.
Don began his career as a high school history and psychology teacher before three decades in media as an award-winning artist/animator, writer-producer, news director, project manager, and communications consultant, including receiving the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. The one constant throughout the years has been Don’s commitment to use his talents and influence to serve the community.
Don was instrumental in the early formation of Just in Time for Foster Youth and used his leadership position at KGTV/ABC10 San Diego to produce a My First Home Extreme Makeover segment, giving JIT much-needed visibility in its infancy. Since then, Don has been a consistent supporter, joining the board in 2009 and assuming the duties of Executive Director (now Chief Empowerment Officer) in 2010.
Don loves being a catalyst for change in the world, learning new things every day and connecting with people in significant conversations. His work/life integration includes watching movies and playing games, being able to work, dance, and laugh with his wife Diane all week long, and spending his time being useful in any way he can.
Sidd Vivek, Michael Brunker and Alan Spector were his sponsors.
Social Services-Just In Time For Foster Youth
Diane Wells is the Development Director for Just In Time For Foster Youth. They engage a caring community to help transition age foster youth with critical resources and lasting relationships to achieve self-sufficiency and well-being as they become confident, capable and connected.
A graduate of University of Michigan, Diane was a sales representative for First American Title for 20 years. But prior to that, she was an English teacher, hitch-hiked across the United States, lived in a Zen Monastery on top of a mountain, then started a town paper in northern CA, but ended up joining a commune in southern CA, before deciding she had to actually make a living!
Diane found a way to further leverage her success in the corporate world for the greater good in 2003 when she co-founded Just in Time for Foster Youth, starting with a simple concept of transporting gently used furniture donated by her clients in Rancho Santa Fe and Del Mar to the empty shells of apartments occupied by young adults leaving the foster care system and who had accessed subsidized housing but lacked basic furnishings such as beds, vacuums, and kitchen supplies.
In 2014, Diane joined the staff of Just in Time and graduated from the Hudson Institute of Coaching with the specific intention to develop a coaching model to assist foster youth to heal from adverse childhood experiences and train volunteers to see themselves in partnership with youth who are creative, resourceful and whole. CA2M training has also been provided to other San Diego nonprofits, including Children’s Legal Services, National Charity League San Diego del Norte Chapter, and Community Resource Center.
Alan Spector, Judy Thompson and David Kvendru were her sponsors.
