Meet The Board of Directors

Carolyn Cureton Foster is the Chair of the Board for My Friends House, Inc. 501(c)3 (MFH), Los Angeles.   A 12-year board member, she has worked diligently and thoughtfully bringing financial resources to MFH through her philanthropic contacts, assisting weekly with food collection and distribution and serving as a ‘guiding light’ as MFH sets its annual goals and objectives.  She has been quite instrumental in the continued expansion of MFH and its ability to serve those in need.  Through her efforts MFH established a 2nd site in Inglewood.
 

Mrs. Foster also serves as the President of the African Descent Lutheran Association – Los Angeles Chapter (ADLA), which is comprised of 13 affiliate congregations throughout the Southland.   ADLA – Los Angeles provides intercessory assistance for those for whom the challenges of life are overwhelming and that hope seems distant and dismissive.  This 501(c)3 is one of eight municipal chapters across the country, all are ethnic-specific extensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  This chapter has a stellar history of providing uninterrupted services of aid and assistance addressing food insecurity, chronic illness support, prison ministry, and homelessness services while providing scholarships for aspirant clergy, leadership training for women and skills empowerment among its 140 members.   ADLA – Los Angeles continues to do God’s work with our hands in so many ways. Black History Month celebrations with its affiliate, California Lutheran University (CLU).
 

Mrs. Foster holds a Master’s degree in Negotiations, Conflict Resolution, and Peace-building from California University Dominquez Hills (2007) and a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.   She is the Chairperson for the Women’s Issues Commission, City of Carson, and a resident of the city for the last 42 years.  She a retired Senior Staff Analyst, LAC-Department of Health Services (33 years), having managed an arbitration unit with annual receipts collected of $63M.  She is married with three adult children and four grandchildren.
 

Judith Joined the My Friends House Board in 2010 after retiring from teaching and administration at several schools in and around the Los Angeles and South Bay area. 
 

Judith has a commitment to being a good neighbor and a supporter of community activities, especially regarding food insecurity and acknowledging the lack of proper food store agencies/vendors/health food stores/and wellness programs at little to no cost. 
She has had several positions on community boards, within church organizations and charter schools. After a brief stint as the My Friend House Board Chair, she relented that position and focused more on operations and soon became the Operations Manager. 
Her operational style has lead My Friends House to seek recognition with the Nutrition Pantry Program, a national organization, and after a nine month intensive study of self reflection and operational changes, My Friends House was awarded a Gold status.
 

Judith and her husband reside in Los Angeles They have two adult children and three grandchildren.

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insurance executive focusing on managed care.

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Marqui Lyons, a University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University alumna, is a marketing and communications expert specializing in digital strategy and brand partnerships. With a proven track record, she recently led Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion partnerships at Twitter before founding Marqui Ventures LLC. As the founder, she consults with organizations on marketing goals, prioritizing partnership strategy, project management, and experiential events—all while championing DEI. Lyons is dedicated to forging genuine connections, promoting diversity, and driving collective success in the ever-evolving business landscape.

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