Staff

Offering a premium program to teach at risk teens to advocate for themselves and take control of their futures requires a team approach that values creativity, inclusion, and concrete outcomes.

Betsy Krebs, Esq.– Co-Founder & Executive Director
BKrebs@youthadvocacycenter.org
Collaborating with teens, child welfare professionals, advocates, lawyers, and professionals in the private sector, Betsy has led the development of YAC’s program to help teens succeed through self-advocacy education for over ten years. In 2005 she was elected to the Ashoka Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurs, in recognition of her vision and work at Youth Advocacy Center. Before starting Youth Advocacy Center, she worked as an attorney representing foster care children. Betsy has authored columns, articles and publications for and about teenagers in foster care and about self-advocacy. Ms. Krebs received her JD from Harvard Law School.

Paul Pitcoff, Esq.– Co-Founder & Director of Education
PPitcoff@youthadvocacycenter.org
Working with teens and a range of professionals at YAC, Paul developed and oversees the implementation of the Getting Beyond the System self-advocacy education model. Paul has forty years of experience working with young people, as a college professor, filmmaker and attorney. Paul is founding chair of the Department of Communications at Adelphi University, where he held a tenured position for 20 years and produced dozens of award-winning documentary films. Paul’s interest in self-advocacy and teens developed after he graduated from Cardozo Law School and briefly worked as an attorney representing foster care children. Paul produced and directed Beyond the System, 2004, a video about YAC's informational interview.

Ann L. Shalof, Esq.– Associate Director
AShalof@youthadvocacycenter.org
Ann joined the Youth Advocacy Center in August 2008. She is a former publisher and small business owner, having run Allerton Press, Inc. for more than twelve years. Her experience in business provides her with a first-hand understanding of how to help young people learn to connect their needs with those of their employers. Ann is a graduate of Harvard Law School and, prior to joining Allerton Press, practiced corporate law in New York. Ann initiated and directs Youth Advocacy Center's GBS Seminars at Harvard Law School and Columbia Law School.

Annalisa Ortiz– Program Assistant
aortiz@youthadvocacycenter.org
Annalisa is actively involved in supporting Youth Advocacy Center's efforts to empower teens to prepare for the transition to adulthood and to bring the Getting Beyond the System® Self-Advocacy Seminar to transitioning youth. Annalisa graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences.

Kendall Franklin - Youth Outreach Coordinator
KFranklin@youthadvocacycenter.org
Mr. Franklin graduated from the GBS Self-Advocacy Seminar in the spring of 2005 and then became an intern at Youth Advocacy Center. Kendall joined the staff in 2007 and has been an integral part of Youth Advocacy Center’s outreach efforts. His efforts are geared towards helping Youth Advocacy Center reach and benefit even more of America’s youth. Kendall is a recent graduate of Hunter College and holds a B.S. in accounting.