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Community Engagement
The Academy Project at 1115 Venice Blvd. in Pico-Union has supported the community for over ten years. Our priority is to promote well-being and growth by collaborating with local groups to provide art enrichment, educational support, and essential services for youth to thrive academically, emotionally, and creatively.
Empowering Futures: Our Vision
The Child Welfare System struggles with high caseloads, staffing shortages, and limited resources. Los Angeles has over 30,000 children in foster care, representing a significant portion of California's total. Stronger support networks are crucial to help these youth transition to independence. TAP aims to create a community where they can access resources and skills for positive life changes.
At Our Core
We establish a supportive foundation where every TAP youth is acknowledged. Our commitment to transparency and accountability ensures that action is based on trust and responsibility. By fostering honest relationships, we provide reliable care for at-risk youth and their families. We equip young individuals with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to manage their future. By promoting independence and self-confidence, we help them build a strong basis for lifelong success.
About Us
Meet The Team
Lauren Costa
Executive Director & Founder
Lauren founded The Academy Project as a result of her passion for and career working with foster youth.
She attended New York University where she graduated cum laude with a degree in Theater and Psychology.
She has been a lifelong advocate for foster youth and continues to work to strengthen the relationships between the systems and organizations that support foster youth.
Sheila Cutchlow
Board of Directors
Sheila came from a strong family foundation. Her mother, Shirley, was a kindergarten teacher, and spent her weekends as a Sunday school teacher. Education and activism were a priority, and these experiences instilled the values of community service, generosity, and care for others. Sheila’s work with The Academy Project is a reflection of this commitment. As a board member, Sheila seeks to lend a creative, collaborative, and knowledgeable presence to address the challenges facing foster care today.
She brings an expertise in fundraising, strategic planning, and public relations to help TAP achieve their mission to impact and disrupt the burdened cycle, and build a stable environment where foster children can progress and thrive with the emotional, physical and financial support they need. Above all, Sheila is honored to be on The Academy Project Team and looks forward to all we can achieve together.
Michele Kawamoto Perry
Board of Directors
Michele is the Founder of The Forward Project, a Los Angeles-based consultancy that designs powerful culture transformation, leadership development, and high-performing teams programs to help organizations discover new ways to grow revenues, strengthen their culture, and accelerate their impact.
She is an angel investor, a Certified Sommelier, and a lover of travel, food, languages. Most of all, she is deeply passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of foster youth.
Morgen Campbell
Youth Program Director
Morgen has devoted her entire professional career to fostering the potential of young individuals. In her spare time, she serves as an audio engineer for various artists and musicians at a studio in North Hollywood. Additionally, she composes her own music, focusing on vocal production, songwriting, and mixing/mastering. In recent years, Morgen has successfully merged her passion for music with her dedication to youth collaboration, as making a positive impact on others remains one of her primary objectives.
She studied Music Business at Cal Poly Pomona and attended Garnish Music Production School, where she obtained an Apple Certification in Logic Pro X. Furthermore, she has gained valuable hands-on experience through her connections with prominent musicians, engineers, and artists within the industry. Morgen's enthusiasm for youth collaboration and creativity aligns perfectly with the ongoing mission of The Academy Project.
Mary Gastineau
Board of Directors
Mary has had a long and established career as a critical care and research RN.
Wanting to have a more active role in changing and shaping current situations, and events. Mary left the nursing role and went on to become an entrepreneur who has been a significant part of starting several successful businesses in the pharmaceutical and retail arenas.
During all of her jobs and endeavors she has maintained being an advocate for people’s rights.
Tammy Watson-Smith
Board of Directors
Tammy Watson-Smith is a Principal and the Operations Leader for Mercer in the West Market.
She is responsible for managing improvement processes and communication activities as well as project scoping and planning to ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget.
She acts as a strategic thinking partner with the Market CEO on new initiatives, business issues or concerns. Mercer is one of the operating companies of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
Claire Conley
Board of Directors
Claire Conley joined The Academy Project in 2019 as a volunteer with the co-op where she cultivated a strong passion for the organization and community it serves.
She attended UCLA where she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Political Science.
In addition to the work with The Academy Project, she sits on the tribal council for the Gabrielino-Tongva Indians of California and has developed a professional career as an M&A analyst.
Maria Koutsoukalis
Board of Directors
Maria Koutsoukalis, originally from Metro Atlanta, graduated from Kennesaw State University with a B.Sc. in Psychological Sciences and a minor in Applied Statistics & Data Analysis.
Since December 2021, she has been a key member of The Academy Project, working closely with the Board of Directors on various initiatives.
Celia Botet
Treasurer
Treasurer
