natasha

doan-motsinger

As a Washtenaw County resident, Natasha enjoys making a difference in the lives of people in her community and is eager to find new and exciting ways to serve our foster care population. In her previous work as the regional director for Excel Employment Options in Washtenaw and Livingston counties, she led the transitions, employment, therapy and ABA services, fueling her passion for working with transition-age youth and she's excited to bring that experience to Our House. She is a frequent speaker on transition services, is active on multiple county committees, and a member of the board of directors for the Michigan Rehabilitation Association.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling.

executive

director

Alyssa

silletti

Alyssa grew up down the street in Canton, MI and attended Hope College where she received her undergraduate degree in social work. She completed her Master's of Social Work at the University of Michigan and has had a variety of positions working with young people. Alyssa 

worked with college students at the University of Michigan multicultural center, ran a child care center for school-aged youth in Seattle, and most recently managed a grant which focused on suicide prevention and substance use awareness for Native youth in Detroit. 

program
director

ANNA

DiGiovanni

Anna's interest in foster care began at age seven when three of her four brothers joined her family from California's foster care system.

While earning her degree in Sociology from the University of Iowa, Anna worked as a resident assistant for two years where she found enjoyment mentoring students in their transition into young adulthood. Her Penn State master's thesis explored sibling placement in foster care.

Anna is eager to step back from studying people on paper and return to working with transition-age youth in daily life by joining the Our House team.

Program
Manager

mary
buzzard

Mary grew up in Washtenaw County and has always had a love for Michigan and the people in it!

After graduating from Spring Arbor University, she found her passion working for non profits Washtenaw and Jackson Counties. Her work took her to Illinois where she worked in a residential school for youth needing a safe and healthy space to call home. Working and living with the youth she cared for, she taught and modeled independent living skills, and loved seeing her students grow and learn. Now back in her home state, Mary is excited about the opportunity to work with Our House. 

​

Mary lives in Ypsilanti with her husband and daughter. She loves reading, cooking, art, and finding ways to engage with the community and people around her. 

Volunteer
coordinator

jasmyn
tooles

Jasmyn has a commitment for working with others to gain a better quality of life. Her variety of experiences and social work background create a great foundation and she is excited to grow with Our House.

After working in a variety of roles at EMU's Bright Futures supporting, engaging, and empowering K-12 youth, Jasmyn interned at EMU's Family Empowerment Program doing case management work. She also participated in CloseUp, a theatre troupe focused on sharing real life/college experiences and getting people to think, feel, & engage. In 2020, she obtained her 200 hour yoga teacher certification and focuses on self-
healing and self-love.

Jasmyn has a bachelor's degree in Social Work from Eastern Michigan University and a master's degree in Social Work, focused on Children, Youth & Families, from the University of
Michigan.

youth
coordinator

Edward Goldman, JD, is a full time faculty member in the University of Michigan Medical School Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology working in the Center for Reproductive Rights. He is also a Professor at the University Of Michigan Law School where he teaches courses in health law and the legal and ethical aspects of research. He was head of the Health Systems Legal Office at the University of Michigan 1978 to 2009.

Ed

Goldman

president

Gini Harmon's career included 35 years with Michigan’s public and mental health systems as a clinician, a program manager, and an executive within the Dept. of Mental Health (now DHHS). As Deputy Director with the Michigan Dept. of Community Health (MDCH), Gini spearheaded many of Michigan’s earliest Permanent Supportive Housing efforts and served as the liaison with state and federal housing agencies. She chaired inter-agency initiatives and worked with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to initiate and manage the state’s Supportive Housing programs. She also worked in an inter-agency capacity on foster care and licensure issues. After retirement, she provided consulting for struggling housing developments and partners. Gini later served as a court-appointed child advocate (CASA) and co-coordinated the Washtenaw County CASA program.

virginia

harmon

vice president

Jeff has practiced public accounting for 20 years during which he has provided audit, accounting, tax and consulting services to clients in many different industries. He is president Stefforia, Petik & Associates, P.C., a licensed CPA in the State of Michigan, and a graduate of Walsh College.

​

Jeff is a member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Washtenaw Estate Planning Council. He has been the treasurer and vice-chair of the Alzheimer's Association, and treasurer of The Neutral Zone, an Ann Arbor teen leadership development organization.

jeff

stefforia

Treasurer

Lisa Markman is a board certified Pediatrician and Child Abuse Pediatrician. She has been caring for children and advocating for children and their families for over 20 years. She obtained her medical degree at Wayne State University in Detroit and completed her pediatric internship and residency at The Children’s Hospital in Denver, CO.  She was the Associate Medical Director of the University of Michigan children protection team from 2008-2016 where she provided clinical evaluation and treatment for suspected victims of child maltreatment as well as providing education and training for both medical and non-medical professionals on child maltreatment. Currently she is an outpatient pediatrician with a special interest in adolescent health care in childhood mental health.

LISA

mARKMAN

secretary

Matt Bellamy is a recent graduate from the University of Michigan with a Ph.D in English Language and Literature. Prior to his post-graduate work he earned a M.A. in English, also from the U of M, and a B.A. in English and Psychology from Vanderbilt University. As a part of Teach for America, he taught middle school science and coached track and field in Jacksonville, FL.

His passion for youth advocacy and education has led him to grant writing work in the nonprofit sector, both locally and abroad. He is a current lecturer in the department of American Culture at the University of Michigan.

matt

Bellamy

director

Tawanna has been a mentor with Our House from nearly the beginning and brings to the board an understanding of the challenges of both our youth and our mentors.

Currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan's School of Information, she also has a courtesy appointment with the  Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department. Her research focuses on understanding the use of technology for those that stand the most to gain from it and she works to design, build, enhance, and deploy innovative technologies that solve real-world problems, particularly in underserved communities.

​

Tawanna holds a M.S. and Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University, a M.S. in Computer Science from the Oregon Graduate Institute School of Science and Engineering, and a B.S. in Computer Engineering from NC State University.

Tawanna

Dillahunt

director

As the adoptive mother of two young men who began their lives as survivors of abuse/neglect and the foster care system, the plight of children in foster care has a special meaning for Cheri Dunn. In 2007 she joined the board of Friends of CASA, serving as Marketing Chair throughout her tenure and was elected Vice President of the board in 2011. Later that year, she resigned from the board to serve as Friends of CASA’s Executive Director. In 2012, Cheri helped found Our House and served as board Vice President until 2015 and President until 2020.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing/Management and a Master’s degree in Business Administration, has over 20 years of experience in marketing across a variety of industries and has also launched three businesses. She is currently the Sales and Marketing Manager for the Alpha Management Group.

cheri

dunn

co-founder/director

JENNIFER
mONAHAN

director

Jennifer has spent the last 17 years of her career helping men and women who are incarcerated receive their secondary education credentials and enter the work force, working with both Federal and State grants to facilitate this work. She has been involved with AmeriCorps, local literacy initiatives, Dawn Farms, and grant writing to fund afterschool education programming in local housing communities. Most recently, her work focuses on transition age young adults exiting the judicial system and returning to the community and families. 

As a young adult and a single mother, she faced homelessness and is now a proud first-generation homeowner. She also raised six children, three of which were not her biological children. She is most proud of her children’s success as they have entered the world of higher education and employment. Her oldest daughter is now in the process of becoming a foster parent herself.  

Dorene Markel is the Director of the Brehm Center at the University of Michigan Health System. She has been on staff at the UM Medical School since 1984 and has held a number of lead administrative roles and has a faculty appointment in the Department of Medical Education. She also serves as a coordinator and mentor to the Brehm Scholarship programs for undergraduate and medical students at the UM. Active on the State of Michigan Department of Community Health Scientific Advisory Board and numerous committees and taskforces locally and nationally, she was honored to be an elected member of the UM School of Public Health Alumni Board of Governors. She has Master's degrees in Human Genetics from the UM Medical School and in Health Services Administration from the UM School of Public Health. 

dorene

markel

director

Olushola Samuel is the Division Administrator of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes at Michigan Medicine, where he oversees division finances, human resources, clinical operations, research administration, and faculty affairs for its 65 faculty members.

In his health care career, he has also worked at Beaumont Health, where he was the administrator for Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Henry Ford Health System, where led special projects in population health and performance improvement. 

Olushola holds a B.A. in Public Policy from the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and an M.P.H. in Health Management and Policy from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

olushola samuel

director

Michael became acquainted with Our House as a facilitator for a Second Saturday program presented to our young men. During the week, he serves as the Program Director for the Michigan College Advising Corps for the Center for Educational Outreach where he has led external partnerships and field programs and managed the k-12 outreach initiative. He currently consults U-M faculty, staff and department leads regarding best practices when exposing, engaging, and inspiring K-12 populations to post-secondary education. Over the last 12 years, Michael has developed expertise in community development, knowledge of U-M, K-12 and parent/guardian outreach and engagement, and working with at-risk youth.

Michael holds a Bachelors of Fine and Performing Arts with an emphasis on Theater from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Social Work from Eastern Michigan University.

michael
turner

director