Emmerald Evans is from San Francisco, California and is currently based in Sacramento. She is passionate about economic justice, family permanency and finding ways to prevent children from entering the foster care system.

She has dedicated her time as a Policy Associate at End Child Poverty California (ECPCA), where she leads the California Cradle to Career coalition in their policy efforts, focused on place-based strategies, and systems as solutions to address poverty in the state. Prior to ECPCA, Emmerald was an advocate for John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), where she played a key role in impacting housing, education, and health policies for foster and homeless youth throughout California. Emmerald is also one of the founders of the Youth Advisory Board with Seneca Family of Agencies, a Bay Area program that provides a broad continuum of permanency, mental health, education, and juvenile justice services.

As a foster youth alumni, Emmerald found her passion in child welfare and mental health advocacy, to create change in a system she once endured. She is a foster youth advocate and consultant and continues to advise various projects and programs surrounding youth engagement & empowerment. She remains dedicated to increasing resources and opportunities for marginalized communities to thrive and be successful.

Beyond her advocacy work, Emmerald enjoys traveling, serving at her local church and spending quality time with friends and family. Oh, and drinking matcha!

Emmerald received her Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento.