Meet the Project 1.27 Team

MEET THE TEAM

SHELLY RADIC
President

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
As President and CEO, I have so many favorites! I am excited to watch Project 1.27 programs support churches, families, and volunteers providing life-changing support to children and families involved in the foster system. It’s amazing to meet the generous people who give to make those programs happen. I am blessed to work with an incredible board and staff who care deeply about offering Jesus' redemptive love to bring hope and healing to children in foster care. Networking with other leaders across the country provides an opportunity to see God working through churches, businesses, and caring people to provide more than enough resources and support to vulnerable children and families.

What brought you to Project 1.27?
When I came to Project 1.27 in January of 2013, I already had a life-long personal connection with foster care and adoption. My parents adopted one of my brothers from foster care and my husband and I fostered and then adopted two of our four kids from foster care. Before Project 1.27, I served for seven years at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International as Director of Ministry Life, Chief of Staff, and Interim CEO. Earlier, I was a middle school teacher, speaker and writer.

What song would you choose as your walk-up song?
Right now, I would say "God, Turn It Around" by Jon Reddick. There are so many challenges in the world today that are bringing pain, heartbreak and fear. God, Turn It Around is my heart's cry for our world.

Favorite childhood TV show?
I grew up with two brothers and we watched and re-enacted Batman and Robin. We learned about fighting evil, working for justice, having fun together and all those exclamatory words - Kapow! Blam! Zok!

MARILYN ROBINSON
Family Care Team Director

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
I'm the Family Care Team Director. I enjoy meeting our new families and providing training and support to them. It's important for families to understand child welfare, and with my experience I'm able to share in a way that is clear and understandable rather than cause a fear reaction. I also enjoy working with a team of dedicated professionals and foster and adoptive parents who bring with them exceptional skills as we join together supporting children and families.

What brought you to Project 1.27?
My experience includes 30 years working in child welfare as a social worker and a supervisor, as well as serving families of children with special needs. I've personally navigated the challenges of adopting from foster care and being a single mom.  My journey to Project 1.27 was due to meeting incredible friends throughout my professional career and successfully navigating the child welfare world. I was able to incorporate my skills and knowledge into my role at Project 1.27.

What song would you choose as your walk-up song?
I would choose "Before I Let Go" by Frankie Beverly and Maze. Being the youngest of 6 children, this song brings back memories of my siblings and I having house parties as teenagers and everyone dancing and laughing. It's such a happy song and when it's played everyone sings along and dances. I love the memory of being carefree and enjoying that moment in time.

Favorite childhood TV show?

BOBBI KLINE
Grants Manager

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
I am the Grants Manager for Project 1.27. It is an honor to work for a Christian organization that serves children and families in foster care. The grant writing process is always changing, and I am continually learning how to fine-tune each grant. Receiving a “Yes” from funders is the fun part of the job!

What brought you to Project 1.27?
A close friend of mine introduced me to Project 1.27. I liked the mission and vision and the organization’s commitment to foster families. Several of my family members and friends have adopted and/or fostered children, so I understand the support needed for foster/adoptive families. Prior to joining Project 1.27, I worked as an adoptive family caseworker/birth family counselor for an adoption agency, and before that, I managed a nonprofit parenting organization. I hold an M.A. in Human Services Counseling: Marriage and Family.

What song would you choose as your walk-up song and why?
My walk-up song is “Hope in Front of Me” by Danny Gokey. This song reminds me that God is holding us and there is hope in the hard storms of life.

Favorite childhood TV show and why?
My favorite childhood TV show is the Carole Burnett Show (I just aged myself). I remember the laughter around the living room as my family watched. My fondest memory is listening to my mom’s infectious giggles.

FRED ELLIOTT-HART
FamiliesCare Director

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
I am privileged to serve Project 1.27 as the FamiliesCare Director. I love that I get to be part of helping Christians serve beyond the walls of the church by coming alongside vulnerable families with the love of Christ. What could be better than sharing the love of Jesus with people?

What brought you to Project 1.27?
I’m so happy to be part of the mission of Project 1.27 to serve vulnerable children and families. In my twenties, I got a MSW and had opportunities to work with incarcerated youth, supervising a group home for teenagers, and providing community mental health services to families in Jamaica. I then sensed a call to pastoral ministry, especially to help lead Christ-followers in reaching out to struggling people with the love and good news of Jesus. I got an M.Div. from Fuller Seminary and served a wonderful, racially diverse and economically diverse church in Boston. After thirteen years there, I felt the tug again to devote more of my time in mission and ministry beyond the walls of the church. After getting a certificate in Non-Profit Management and working with some other ministries, God opened the door to join Project 1.27 which seems like a perfect fit for me.

What song would you choose as your walk-up song and why?
This is a hard one. If I were going for pure hype it might be “Shipping Up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys or “All the Small Things” by Blink 182 (especially if I knew the crowd would sing along like at Avs games because that’s amazing). But I think I’ll go with “Step Up” by Papa San because it’s not only a good hype song, but it’s inspirational and a call to courage in God. Also, Papa San is Jamaican--my family lived there for three years and I miss hearing reggae everywhere!

Favorite childhood TV show and why?
I watched a lot of TV as a kid but, honestly, I like the shows my own children watched much more. My favorite is Phineas and Ferb. I love the humor, Phineas and Ferb’s creativity, Candace and her never-ending quest to bust them, the sinister but loveable Doofenschmirtz, and especially the incredible musical numbers.

SHARON BOUSE-FERRY
ECHOflex Program Director

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
I am the ECHOflex program director. My favorite part of my job is walking alongside families and offering encouragement in the trenches. I am amazed at how God shows up in the details of life, and humbled by the many experiences' families have shared with me. Another favorite part of my job is working with an incredible team who offer joy and hope in everything they do!

What brought you to Project 1.27?
My professional background is in Child Development/Early Childhood Education and Non-Profit Management. From teaching in the classroom, owning my own preschool, developing and managing volunteer and host home programs, directing homeless youth agency operations, and founding and chairing annual fundraisers, serving and advocating for youth has always been a part of my life and work. My personal experiences as a kinship foster parent led to my professional experiences in the nonprofit world. In 2015, I began volunteering for Project 1.27 as they were getting up and running on the Western Slope. In 2020, I became an official part of the Project 1.27 team.

What song would you choose as your walk-up song?
I would choose “Best of My Love” by The Emotions for my walk-up song. I love music from the 70’s so I had to choose a song from that era. This song is a good representation of the funk, passion, and love that I think make me who I am. You can’t help but smile and groove a little when you hear it!

Favorite childhood TV show and why?
One of my favorite childhood TV shows is Family Matters. I love the theme of family sticking together no matter what. Every episode was full of humor, challenges, and strength while family supported one another. I didn’t know I would become a foster parent back when I was watching Family Matters, but as I reflect on it now, I can see how God was shaping my heart for family and “sticking togetherness” way back then.

ALEX KUYKENDALL
Director of National Network & New Development

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
I am the Director of the 1.27 National Network and New Development. I lead a loose network of leaders working for bridge ministries around the country that connect their local churches to their local child welfare needs. I also help Project 1.27 build new relationships here in Colorado. Whether it's new friends to the organization, or new opportunities to connect our Colorado churches to vulnerable kids and their families, it's seeing where doors might be opening that we can walk through together. My favorite part of my job is the people. I am inspired by the sacrificial service of those I work with. Whether it's leaders in other states doing their good work, families here in Colorado committed to thriving kids, or financial donors who want to do their part to make the work happen, I get to see the intersection of God's mission to care for our neighbors with the people making it happen. It is a gift to me every day!

What brought you to Project 1.27?
I believe the Church is called to serve our most vulnerable neighbors. Project 1.27 equips churches to do that very thing! Early on in my career I worked in community engagement for ministries and government agencies. This work allowed me to translate policy decisions to the people impacted. Then I was on staff with MOPS International creating resources for leaders and churches to support moms and their children. Most recently I've spent my time writing books, speaking to faith-based groups, and starting a network of Christian women leaders called The Open Door Sisterhood. I see my work as the intersection of communications, leadership development, and loving our neighbors within the context of Christian faith. Being part of Project 1.27 and the 1.27 National Network is a natural extension of these combined passions.

What song would you choose as your walk-up song and why?
I'd choose "Glorious" by Macklemore. I love the energy and the themes of redemption and living fully. It's a tribute to life as a gift.

Favorite childhood TV show and why?
My favorite TV show was 8 is Enough. As an only child I loved watching the family dynamics of a big family and imagined what it would be like to have so many siblings.

RHONDA DENISON
Metro Relations & Support Manager

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
Serving as the Relationships and Support Manager for the Denver Metro area, I love partnering with churches to see where they can best serve vulnerable kids and how Project 1.27 can serve alongside them. My absolute favorite thing about my job is when I see a family within the church choose to open their home to vulnerable children- what a beautiful display of the Gospel.

What brought you to Project 1.27?
I attended Mesa State College in Grand Junction, where I earned my degree in counseling psychology. Our family is an adoptive family both through private adoption and through foster care. Our family was trained, equipped and supported through Project 1.27. The vision of having a family waiting for every child (instead of waiting children) was something I could really get behind! When we jumped into the world of foster care, I couldn't look away. After the adoption of our 2 youngest kids, I knew that I still wanted to be involved in caring for vulnerable kids. I'm so thankful that I get to walk alongside churches and people in the community to care for vulnerable children.

What song would you choose as your walk-up song?
"ME!" by Taylor Swift- It's fun and about being unique. I like to think I'm fun and unique!

Favorite childhood TV show?
I used to come home every day in middle school and watch Saved by the Bell. Would Zack and Kelly end up together? What silly thing would Screech do this episode to try and woo Lisa!? It was just a fun and silly show.

JENNY WATSON
Director of Communication and Events

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
As the Communications Manager, my favorite part of my job is finding creative ways to recruit, support, and inspire foster families, as well as designing all of the fun pieces we need for events, social media, and newsletters.

What brought you to Project 1.27?
My husband and I were certified as foster parents in 2013 through Project 1.27. Over the years, we have fostered 8 children, one of whom we adopted. I have worked with multiple non-profits in the Denver area in communications, fundraising, event planning, and web design. I served as the Director of the Justice Run for the last 12 years, raising money for victims of human trafficking. When my family decided to take a break from fostering, I wanted to find another way to serve children and families in foster care which led me to joining the Project 1.27 staff.

What song would you choose as your walk-up song?
I would choose “Buy Dirt” by Jordan Davis. I’m a country girl at heart and I love the lyrics and feel like it’s a great picture of my life, family, and purpose.

Favorite childhood TV show?
I loved Full House, Family Matters, Step By Step and Boy Meets World- all of the TGIF shows! I loved that we could watch them as a family and that they were wholesome, taught good lessons, and funny!

LISA McGINNETT
Western Slope Director

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
As the Western Slope Director, I connect with local churches to help build a foundation for collaboration between the Christian community and the child welfare system. Additionally, I provide state-approved training for families that desire to become licensed foster families. Once a family is licensed, I maintain a relationship of support as they go through their journey of fostering children. I get the most pleasure from engaging with families and encouraging or providing physical needs that may arise as they begin to open their homes to kids from hard places.

What brought you to Project 1.27?
Prior to joining the Project 1.27 team, I was a medical assistant in a local surgical clinic. While my husband and I have fostered children for more than 20 years, we have always had careers that were service-oriented. Working with this amazing organization allows me to inspire folks to step into this sacred space for children.

What song would you choose as your walk-up song?
"This Girl Is on Fire" by Alicia Keys. A coworker chose this song for me. I appreciate that she sees something in me, therefore, I will keep this song as an inspiration to live up to.

Favorite childhood TV show?
Mork and Mindy. I think I loved this show because of the silly humor. The work we do with kids from hard places is so hard, that I find I need more silly in my life.

EMILY KEMPTON
FamiliesCare Manager, Mesa County

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
I am the FamiliesCare Manager in Mesa County and I love that I get to help be on the preventative side of foster care to help keep families together!

What brought you to Project 1.27?
I was on the receiving end of care as a foster parent during a particularly hard season and fell in love with the mission and the people behind it!

What song would you choose as your walk-up song?
I'd choose "Neon Light: by Blake Shelton because I am a country girl at heart and love good summer anthems like "Neon Light: that make me smile! Not the words, just the beat and the melody. The world can be tough, but country music reminds me that God gives us simple pleasures we just have to remember to pay attention to them!

Favorite childhood TV show?
Clarissa Explains it All or Boy Meets World. I grew up in the 90s and didn’t every girl love Clarissa Explains It All or have a crush on Shawn next door from Boy Meets World?

KYM SCHNITTKER
FamiliesCare Manager, Arapahoe County and Neighbor Program Manager

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
I am the FamiliesCare Manager for Arapahoe County and the Neighbor Program Manager. I love getting to know so many volunteers and families and helping families.

What brought you to Project 1.27?
After raising my family and volunteering for non-profits for the last 18 years, I was ready to return to the workforce and chose to work in the non-profit sector focusing on caring for children.

What song would you choose as your walk-up song?
“Jump" by Van Halen. I'm a child of the 80's and it's a fun song!

Favorite childhood TV show?
Dukes of Hazard. Was there a better how in the 80's?!?

BRANDON ALVERSON
FamiliesCare Manager for Weld County

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
I am the FamiliesCare Manager in Weld County. My favorite part of my job is the goal we are working toward of keeping families together by providing a community of support and encouragement through the local church. I also love having the opportunity to build relationships with pastors, families, and social workers in the community and networking those relationships together.

What brought you to Project 1.27?
My wife and I are Project 1.27 adoptive parents. I have a Bachelor of Ministry Degree from Christian Leaders College and I am Associate Pastor of Primal Church in Johnstown, CO. The heart of Project 1.27, to meet the incredible need of kids in foster care by calling the church to stand in the gap, resonated with me. After adopting our daughter, I knew we were at the end of the season of bringing more kids into our home. However, I felt God telling me I was not done serving in this arena. My wife and I have volunteered as a parent panelist at trainings sharing about our journey and I have also helped facilitate training, as well. When the FamiliesCare Manager position became available I was excited to see how my passions, gifts, and experiences lined up.

What song would you choose as your walk-up song?
My walk-up song would be "Livin' On The Edge" by Aerosmith. There is something wrong with the world. We know what it is. I want to see people through God's eyes and not respond in fear and go running. I want to live on the edge and help by pulling people back up and stop others from going over.

Favorite childhood TV show?
That is a tough question, but I have to go with Knight Rider. A car that could drive itself, talk, and could be controlled with a watch, and could drive into the back of a semi while going down the highway, what is there not to love. It all seemed so impossible.

JANINE WESTLUND
Family Care Manager

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
As a Family Care Manager, I am privileged to walk with families on the foster care and adoption journey. It is an honor to listen and care for each family as we help to meet their individual needs. I really enjoy facilitating training with the families as they learn the details of being a foster family. During training we start building relationships which to me is the best part!

What brought you to Project 1.27?
I have known about Project 1.27 since it first started. I have prayed for and shared the mission and vision of it for years. As a birth mom, my heart and passion for adoption is apart of my personal journey and now has become a part of my professional journey as well. I have been in education for over 30 years with a focus on behavior management and social/emotional development including time living in Mozambique, Africa as a missionary. As I entered my 50’s, I was led to complete training as a spiritual director at Denver Seminary. Through all of these years, my interest has always been about children, in all aspects of their life. Joining the Project 1.27 team is a natural fit as we partner with families on their faith journey, support them with their child developmental needs, and care for the well-being of each family.

What song would you choose as your walk-up song?
Goodness of God by CeCe Winans! The words speak of my faith journey in trusting what God has for me, even when I am not sure or feeling alone.

Favorite childhood TV show?
I loved watching “Little House on the Prairie”. Growing up in Minnesota, I was able to visit Walnut Grove and see the real home where Laura Ingalls grew up. It made the show more fun and personal to watch!

KRISSIE YAMAGUCHI
ECHOflex Support Manager

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
I am the ECHOflex Family Care and Support Manager. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with foster and kinship families alike on mental well-being. It’s hard to be in the trenches and I look forward to getting into the trenches with each family!

What brought you to Project 1.27?
I’ve worked in social work for several years now, and am working on a Masters in Social Work. I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Project 1.27 staff in my previous jobs. I loved how they were so good at resourcing, at creating relationships with the families, and bringing God into it all. As I explored Project 1.27, I fell in love with their mission and focus. I felt God truly was calling me in the last year to do more work with foster and kinship families and Project 1.27 was the way He lead.

What song would you choose as your walk-up song?
It’s so hard to choose because I love music, but I had to go with Carrie Underwood's "Southbound”. “Southbound” is my summertime jam!

Favorite childhood TV show?
Honestly, I watched a lot of Disney shows and movies. However, my favorite show was Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The two big reasons for this were: heroine that was fighting the forces of darkness (which to me mirrors the fights we sometimes have with spiritual warfare) and it was a weekly time my father set aside to spend with me watching an episode a week for 8 years until I graduated high school.

RACHEL BARRIENTOS
Office Manager

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
I am the Office Manager, I help make sure everything runs smoothly by
keeping everything organized and help with small but important details!

What brought you to Project 1.27?
I have always loved working with kids and have volunteered and directed
at many children's camps/programs, through this I have gotten to know a
lot of Project 127 Families. I am known for my administrative mind and
have worked as an Office Manager in the past. Project 1.27 has allowed
me to combine what I love doing into one Job!

What song would you choose as your walk-up song?
“Suddenly I See” By KT Tunstall. I love the song because it's super-catchy and reminds me of 90's movies.

Favorite childhood TV show?
I love Little House On The Prairie because my family and I would
watch it together when I was kid.

HOPE FORTI
Neighbor Program Founder & Director

What is your position and what is your favorite part of your job?
I am the Founder & Director of our Neighbor Program. I most love
introducing people who have something to offer each other, but would
never cross paths without our matching program. Isolated families and
our Neighbor volunteers offer each other friendship to outlast any
program or stressful life season. It's like matchmaking, but for
families!

What brought you to Project 1.27?
I started the Neighbor Program from my kitchen table in 2017. As a
foster mom wanting to help both foster and bio families stick
together, I knew that a nourishing meal and no-matter-what friendship
makes the hardest days survivable. After matching 350 families with a
volunteer Neighbor, we joined Project 1.27 in 2023. I love Project
1.27's agility and creativity to respond to unique
family needs, while maintaining professionalism to influence the
system. We are a team making connections and innovations for the
well-being of children.

What song would you choose as your walk-up song?
"It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" reminds me I don't have to
look far to find joy. Relationships are the most important part of
life, and a beautiful neighborhood garden stroll is my favorite way to
start the day.

Favorite childhood TV show?
I loved Mister Rogers because he helped me feel calm. He showed me how
to teach children about the challenges of life without scaring them. I
still feel cozy watching his shows with my kids. I grew up in a rural area and always wished for a life where a neighbor would pop by for a chat. Now, I have wonderful next door neighbors and bonus siblings for my kids!
My daughter's favorite is the opera about Priscilla Cow who wants to be a potato
bug. She has it memorized!