JIT Foster Youth--Staff

Don Wells

Don Wells is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with degrees in Psychology, History and Political Science and certification to teach secondary education. In 2004, he also earned a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology.

Wells began his career as a high school history and psychology teacher before beginning an award-winning media career spanning three decades as an artist/animator, writer-producer, news director, project manager, and communications consultant. The one constant throughout the years has been his commitment to use his talents and influence to serve the community.

One example was using his leadership position at KGTV/ABC10 San Diego to help develop the very first My First Home makeover, giving JIT much needed visibility in its earliest years. Since then, Don has been a consistent supporter of Just in Time, joining the board in 2009 and assuming the duties of Executive Director in 2010.

Meredith Hall Praniewicz

Meredith Hall Praniewicz is a graduate of the University of California San Diego with a major in Political Science and minor in Literature. As JIT's first full-time Program Director and one of JIT's first recipients, Ms. Praniewicz helps guide former foster youth to create a stable home, achieve financial success, graduate from college, and navigate career options.

Meredith's personal experience with foster care, the adoption process, and several group homes has given her valuable insight into the challenges faced by the youth she serves. Her counsel reflects her own decision to turn the negative expectations of others into an unwavering commitment to work her way through college and toward a better life for herself. Meredith shares her stories and experiences with other transitioning foster youth as a living example of how one can overcome adversity with a lot of hard work and a little bit of support. She also works tirelessly to extend the opportunities she was granted to all JIT participants in need.

Meredith's impact has been undeniable since joining JIT in 2008 and she embraced her role with the intelligence, passion and unique perspective that has literally helped to change lives. In the process she has personally touched more than 1,000 lives and has been recognized numerous times in the community, including YNPN’s Outstanding Young Nonprofit Leader of the Year (2010), 2010 nominee for Women Who Mean Business, nominee for the Ruth Massigna Leadership Award (2009), and the Child Abuse Prevention Foundations Youth Leader Award (2007). Meredith is currently a graduate student at the University of San Diego where she is obtaining her Masters in Nonprofit Management & Leadership.

Candace Hoffman Tranter

Candace Hoffman Tranter is a graduate of Cal State University, San Marcos with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. As a former foster youth, Candace understands the challenges youth face as they age out of the foster care system. JIT fills a critical gap--the need for a strong support system to help youth develop into thriving adults. For Candace, that support came from the caring adult relationship she built with a JIT founder who eventually became her JIT family. She looks forward to helping youth navigate through this fragile time in their lives by connecting them with their own JIT family.

Candace began her career in tourism and hospitality at the age of 16 at a local golf resort. She went on to work at a variety of hotels and country clubs. Upon graduating, she was offered a position in the catering department and has been planning events ever since. Her most recent position at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park as an event coordinator offered her valuable experience on the internal workings of a large, local non-profit. As a former board member, Candace looks forward to contributing to the success of Just In Time!

Nicholas DeVico

Nicholas DeVico graduated in 2009 from Syracuse University in New York. He has a BS with majors in Communications and History.

From a young age, Nick has enjoyed speaking with and getting to know people from different backgrounds who have unique perspectives. Throughout his life he has worked in diverse communities and will use these experiences to assist his duties at Just in Time. In the summer of 2007, Nick traveled with a friend to Cape Town, South Africa to volunteer with children in the townships. While exploring this diverse culture and impoverished area, he recognized the importance of giving back to the less fortunate.

As the Volunteer Coordinator, Nick will help create and maintain the volunteer database, while recruiting and personally engaging all volunteers. These dedicated volunteers will become a part of Just in Time’s extended family, and will assist staff in providing the best experience possible for our youth.

Neil Blackman

Neil Blackman recently graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English. As one of JIT’s part time coordinators for the My First Home program and College Bound, Neil talks to youth on a day to day basis finding out what furnishings they need for their home, answering their questions regarding college and making sure the youth are happy with not only their lives but themselves. Neil also coordinates donations from the community to be delivered to youth’s homes and through this process helps to establish a meaningful youth/volunteer connection.

His experience in the foster care system helps reach out to many youth who feel they’re alone and unable to cope with the difficult struggles life throws at them. With a bright smile and optimistic outlook on life Neil helps youth feel like even the darkest days have some sunlight. Neil was taken at the age 9 and ever since then school has been significant in his life in sustaining some sort of stability while growing up. He thrives to help motivate youth to stay in College and through his role at Just in Time he aims to support youth in any way possible to reach this goal.

Before Just in Time Neil reached out to a small group of emancipating youth in Temecula to help advocate the benefits of graduating High School and going to College. During The Temecula Foster Youth Task Force’s 1st annual Viewpoints 2011 seminar Neil shared his college experience with twenty youth, answered any questions they had regarding the application process and shared his story growing up as a foster child.

Shontá Battle

Shontá currently attends San Diego State University and is expected to graduate in May 2012 with a degree in Gerontology and a minor in Social Work. She came to JIT in June of 2006 as a College Bound recipient and has been volunteering ever since. Shontá came aboard the Just In Time staff in November of last year as the Financial Fitness Program Coordinator, and with her personal experience of being a foster youth herself; she is able to connect with youth on a different level that many would not otherwise be able to.

Bellamy Walker

As a dedicated mother, Bellamy remained committed to improving her life and the life of her family through hard work and education. Bellamy graduated high school at age eighteen and enrolled into Palomar Community College where she earned her Associates of Arts degree in Liberal Studies while working and raising her three young sons.

Upon graduation, Bellamy knew that she wanted to further her education so she went to Cal State San Marcos where she earned a double BA in Sociology with an emphasis in Critical Race Theory, as well as a degree in Criminology and Justice Studies. As a result of Bellamy’s above average achievement, she was granted the Honor Cords of Distinction and was inducted into the National Sociological Honor Society of Alpha Kappa Delta.

More recently, Bellamy spent five years working at the Public Defenders Multiple Conflicts Office as an Investigative Intern where she received the County of San Diego Board of Supervisor’s Volunteer of the Month award for her hard work and dedication to the clients that she worked with. After leaving the Public Defender’s Office, Bellamy decided that she wanted to pursue a law degree. Bellamy is now in her second year of law school at Taft and is preparing to take the Baby Bar in June.

Jamie Inarda

Jamie Inarda is a graduate of Cal State University, San Marcos with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies. Jamie’s passion for service began when she was 11 after her seventh grade class signed up to volunteer at a soup kitchen. That volunteer experience as well as spending time in New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina left a lasting impact on Jamie and has driven her to dedicate her life to service.

Jamie spent the last two years serving with another AmeriCorps program called the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. AmeriCorps NCCC is a residential, team based program for 18-24 years olds who get the opportunity to travel and work for 4 to 5 different non-profits a year. The last two years changed her life and led her to Just in Time. With being allowed to serve one more term in AmeriCorps she wanted to serve at an organization that truly believed in their mission and that made personal connections with the people that they serve. That is what she has found here at Just in Time. As an AmeriCorps VISTA Jamie will be working on Volunteer Development.

Max Ellorin

Max Ellorin is a graduate of San Diego State University with a degree in Information Technology. He is passionate about instilling social change and ensuring social justice. After resigning from a lucrative career in IT with a Fortune 500 corporation, Max then decided to focus his efforts on community service. As a result, through AmeriCorps partnered with the non-profit organization TKF, he became a mentor for 20 at-risk youth in a San Diego inner city middle school. The experience left him with a resolve to advocate for under-represented youth.

JIT has provided Max with an avenue to leverage both his technical ability and most importantly his passions for youth and social justice. As an AmeriCorps VISTA for JIT, he is tasked with communication, outreach and tracking of youth. He is a firm believer that for anything to achieve greatness it must start from within. Max is looking for innovative ways to improve JIT’s internal communication to better serve San Diego’s former foster youth.