Franco Vega
Founder / CEO
Franco Vega is a visionary leader dedicated to empowering system-impacted youth in Los Angeles County. As an orphan and former probation youth, Vega uses his experiences to drive positive change for foster youth. After a traumatic childhood marked by abuse and neglect, Franco was orphaned at the age of 15, bounced in and out of juvenile hall, and attended ten different schools before enlisting in the U.S. Army. The barriers he faced and overcame as a young adult inspired him to create The RightWay Foundation to ensure every foster youth has the resources and community they need to build a prosperous future.
The RightWay Foundation combines culturally competent, healing-centered, trauma-informed mental health services, comprehensive job readiness training, and supportive housing for transition-age foster youth (TAY) in Los Angeles County. Through innovative programs like Operation Emancipation and Operation Second Chance, Vega is dedicated to reducing homelessness and ending the pipeline from foster care to prison and poverty.
Franco Vega builds partnerships across LA County to transform supportive services for foster youth leaving the system. In 2016, Vega, in collaboration with the City of Los Angeles' Dept. of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor's office, launched the Creative Career Pathway Program (CCPP). This program places emancipated foster youth in paid internships at significant cultural and creative institutions, allowing youth to explore the art world and launch their careers in the arts.
Vega began his career teaching Rights of Passage to foster youth with the Department of Children and Family Services. Before founding The RightWay Foundation, Vega created an employment center on Skid Row at the Midnight Mission, working with recovering addicts and the homeless—many of whom had come through the foster care system. He holds a degree in Human Services from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
He is a Commissioner & Co-Chair for the Los Angeles County Commission for Children & Families, appointed by 2nd District Board Supervisor Holly Mitchell. He is committed to propelling policy change and building a comprehensive community around the youth RightWay serves. Vega leads RightWay like an extended family, which provides a consistent safety net for transition-age foster youth.
Vega's dedication and impact have not gone unnoticed. For his work with foster youth, he has been featured in NBC Nightly News, the LA Times, and Youth Today. In recognition of his work, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the Lifetime Achievement Award from President Obama in 2016, and the Angels In Adoption Award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. In 2023, he was honored to give the commencement address at his alma mater, California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Read LA Business Journal Leader of Influence article here
Andraya Slyter Therapist / COO
Andraya is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Chief Operating Officer for The RightWay Foundation.
She earned a BA in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach and a Master’s of Social Work with a focus on Community Organizing, Planning, and Administration from University of Southern California.
For nearly 20 years, Andraya has been providing outpatient and field-based clinical services to families, children, and transition-age youth in residential treatment facilities, schools, and in the community.
Her passion for working with foster youth began when she was a Unit Leader for the National Family Life and Education Center, facilitating life skills and personal empowerment workshops to teens in the Child Welfare system.
In her current role, she oversees RightWay's core program Operation Emancipation and the mental health services program at The RightWay Foundation, which includes supervising Bachelor and Master of Social Work interns from CSULA, CSUDH, USC, and Columbia University.
Andraya also trains RightWay's employer and community partners in trauma-responsive best practices for supporting and mentoring transition-age foster youth. She is so grateful for her RightWay family.
“ I love spending time with my friends and family, especially my husband and three sons. I also enjoy rocking out to live music, spending time at the beach, paddle boarding, snowboarding, and cuddling with my cats!”
Nell Rutledge-Leverenz Impact & Strategy
Nell leads Strategy, Impact, and Advancement at The RightWay Foundation.
For over a decade, Nell has worked to increase access to resources and build community for foster and system-impacted youth in Los Angeles County. She oversees organizational strategy, program innovations, and advancement at RightWay. Nell collaborates with colleagues to shape key priorities, develop transformative initiatives, deepen RightWay’s mission, and widen its impact. With RightWay’s development and communications, she leads the team to build awareness and support for RightWay’s work and the needs of emancipating foster youth and probation youth.
Her drive to change systems and increase community support for foster youth began in high school. Prior to working for policy change and transforming systems in Los Angeles, Nell organized services to increase education equity in public schools in New York and Los Angeles, and helped implement early intervention services in Head Start programs. As a writer and organizer, Nell has worked with non profits and campaigns to engage communities. She received her B.A. in American Studies from Yale University.
“I believe it is our responsibility as a city, county, and nation to ensure all our children have the community and support they need to build stable, healthy lives in adulthood”.
Haley Ko Executive Assistant
Haley skillfully manages administrative duties and client relations for her colleagues at The RightWay Foundation. As Executive Assistant, she ensures the smooth operation of the organization while also providing support to her colleagues in fulfilling their ongoing professional development, training workshops, and presentations for RightWay youth.
Haley holds a BA in English Literature from California State University, Long Beach, as well as a teaching credential. Prior to joining the RightWay team, she worked in real estate as a Transaction Coordinator/Administrative Assistant and taught English Literature to 10th-12th graders. Working with adolescents/young adults has been a passion of Haley’s since childhood, and she works to provide the best support possible to The RightWay Foundation and its youth.
“A fun fact about me is that I’m trained in classical ballet and pointe work, and I danced competitively from middle school to college!”
Frank Curiel
Youth Development Specialist
(Workforce Development)
Before joining RightWay, Francisco “Frank” worked at Para Los Niños, managing partnerships to support youth with employment opportunities, such as Latinos in Finance, Latinos in Sales, a program spearheaded by Unidos US & Bank of America and Pepsi Co to provide robust training into entry level roles within financial institutions and Sales for youth.
Frank worked at Haven Neighborhood Services, where he trained financial coaches and provided capacity-building support, as well as at the Community Investment for Families Department, where he supported their Community Wealth Building portfolio, managed the Children’s Savings Account program Opportunity LA, and trained FamilySource Centers with financial empowerment.
Frank served as Program Manager for LIFT, empowering families to break the cycle of poverty. With years of experience in career development and designing educational pathways for underserved populations, Frank has served over a decade supporting low-and moderate-income communities to achieve career and financial security.
Frank earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a minor in Business Marketing at California State University, Dominguez Hills. He is a certified Financial/Career Coach with a lens on Diversity Equity & Inclusion to support BIPOC communities across the nation.
De’Jah Goodwin-Taylor
Youth Development Specialist (Housing Navigation)
De’Jah studied Sociology at Los Angeles Southwest College and received her Associates Degree in 2017 and is currently furthering her education at Grand Canyon University.
De’Jah first began working with homeless youth four years ago, starting at The Good Seed where she connected youth with shelters and provided ongoing case management services. Working with the TAY population is a true passion of hers, and she believes in operating as a family which is evident in her daily approach with RightWay youth, providing more than just case management and housing services but genuine care, empathy, and compassion as well.
De’Jah assists with closing the gap of homelessness for foster youth exiting the system, obtaining and maintaining housing, and providing case management at The RightWay Foundation.
“I love trying new foods, traveling, true crime shows, old sitcoms, and spending time with family and friends.”
Annissa Jimenez.
Youth Development Specialist
(Benefits Navigation)
Annissa, is a former ward of the state alumni of The Right Way Foundation. As a survivor of the child welfare system and homelessness Annissa is pursuing her higher education in Women’s and Gender studies. Annissa understands that both lived experience and education is needed to serve former foster youth. Annissa has spent the last 10 years advocating and serving former Foster youth and Victims of Crime. Her experience in case management, public speaking, victim advocacy, foster care advocacy, restorative justice advocacy,and disability advocacy has provided Annissa the tools and skills to serve a population that has fueled her passion in social justice reform.
Karen John
Administrator
Darlene Elias Admin Assistant
Interns
Josiah Green, Media and Marketing
Youth development
Juan Camacho, Benefits Navigation
Aimee Camacho, Benefits Navigation
Omar Bonilla, Benefits Navigation
Motivators/Facilitators - Guides
Keith Johnson
Daniel Castillo
La Mikia Castillo
Fidel Rodriguez
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Nick Crews, Esq., Board President, Managing Partner and President, Crews 1972
Janet Lee, Board Treasurer, Investor
Jasmine T. Plummer, Ph.D., Board Secretary, Director of the new St. Jude Center for Spatial Omics
Gary J. Perez, President/CEO, USC Credit Union
Stephen Alexander, Founder & CEO, One Word Consult
Tammara Anderson, Associate Dean of Experiential and Applied Learning, Dornsife College at USC
Whitney Leigh Morris, Founder & CEO, WLM Creative Co
Wayani Taylor, Esq., CEO, Law Office of W.J. Taylor
Franco Vega, Founder & Executive Director, The RightWay Foundation