Carly Gjolaj
Volunteer Management Vista

Carly Gjolaj has a BA in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MA in Museum Studies from the George Washington University in Washington D.C.During her graduate program Carly interned at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. She was hired full time at the Museum in the fall of 2005 as a Museum Educator.In her time at the Museum, Carly managed public programs featuring Holocaust survivors, trained volunteers to lead tours of museum exhibitions, created a continuing education program for museum volunteers, served on the creation team for new exhibitions, and assited in educational resource development.

Carly recently moved to the Miami area with her husband, who has a fellowship at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Carly will be working on volunteer management for her VISTA year of service.

Laura Ramsey Kennedy
Community Partnerships Vista

Laura Ramsey Kennedy was born, raised and educated in Raleigh, North Carolina.  In May of 2010 She graduated from North Carolina State University (Go Pack!) with a B.A. in Anthropology.  During University, her main academic interest was travel and tourism from an Anthropological perspective.  After graduation, she moved to Miami to work as a tutor, mentor and role model with the AmeriCorps organization City Year.  She will be serving as the Community Partnerships VISTA here at Educate Tomorrow.

Emily Louwsma
Fund Development

Emily Louwsma grew up in Everglades City, Florida. She moved to Miami in 2007 to attend the University of Miami, where she studied Elementary Education and Spanish. I have previous AmeriCorps experience working with low-income elementary school students at both Maya Angelou Elementary and Comstock Elementary here in Miami and will now be working in fund development with Educate Tomorrow. She is very passionate about educational issues and am excited to work to improve the lives and educational experiences of foster youth in Miami. 

Farah Cadet

Farah Cadet serves as the Office Administrator for Educate Tomorrow. She has a BA in both Sociology and Interior Design. She has a passion for design, education and children, and is committed to exposing youth to new experiences to further broaden their horizons. Raised in Miami since the age of 5, Farah is familiar with many of the communities in South Florida. She joined Educate Tomorrow to be part of an organization making a positive impact in these local communities.  Her primary duties at Educate Tomorrow are behind the scenes, helping with the day to day operations. Farah's favorite activities include travelling, photography, and spending time with family.

Jimi Shopade
Program Coordinator

Before joining the Educate Tomorrow family in 2010, Jimi spent time teaching English to elementary school students in rural Costa Rica.  A graduate of Georgetown University, Jimi’s childhood was split between growing up in Miami and schooling in Nigeria, West Africa.  Upon graduating college, he began working for the Attorney General of Florida; while there he led a team of analysts conducting investigative research and analysis in Miami.  Jimi brings to ET a passion for giving back to his community as well as a love of travelling and experiencing different cultures.  As a Program Coordinator, Jimi works to build the mentoring program while managing mentor-mentee relationships.

Lamar Martin
Program Coordinator

Lamar Martin moved to Miami in the summer of 2010. Prior to joining Educate Tomorrow, Lamar was an educator of students with special needs in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. He earned a Masters degree in Education from the University of Saint Francis in Indiana, and his undergraduate alma mater is Ohio University.

Lamar has had a mentor since he was 11 years old and would like to increase awareness of the value of mentors. He has a passion for education and understanding why youth from certain circumstances struggle. Lamar also has an extensive football background as a coach and player. As a Program Coordinator with Educate Tomorrow, Lamar manages mentor and mentee relationship.

Yael Glick
Program Coordinator

Yael Glick has been an educator since 2004 when she graduated from New York University with a master’s degree in English Education. She has taught English, social studies and photography to 16 - 25 year olds in a variety of educational settings including internationally. Yael brings her educational philosophy to her work at Educate Tomorrow. She believes strongly in education and collaboration to broaden perspectives and create opportunities.  At Educate Tomorrow Yael manages mentoring relationships as well as creates trainings and programs.

Robyn McLymont
Program Director

For the last fifteen years Robyn McLymont has dedicated her career to serving youth.  A native Californian, Robyn graduated cum laude from Alabama State University with a degree in Education and taught school for several years.

As Program Director, Robyn manages all aspects of the mentoring and life skills program.  With a staff of four Program Coordinators, she provides training, guidance, and support to mentors and youth participants in the program.  She oversees volunteer recruitment and community partnerships, working to raise the visibility of the issues faced by foster youth as they transition into adulthood. 

Prior to joining Educate Tomorrow in 2011, Robyn was a program director at a large not for profit in Los Angeles, where she was the head of the Enrichment Program Division.  There she managed a multi-million dollar state and federally funded after school enrichment program, serving 1,400 students daily.  She successfully managed a staff of 75 by creating a program culture centered on high performance, caring, and pride.  During her tenure at Options, she significantly expanded the program, doubling the number of students served and staff hired.  

Robyn lives in Sunny Isles with her husband and two sons.

Shawn Joost
Executive Director

Shawn Joost began her tenure as Executive Director in March 2010 after four years as a volunteer and Board Member for Educate Tomorrow.  As Executive Director, Ms. Joost is excited to transform the lives of foster youth by guiding them on the path of higher education.  She oversees all aspects of the organization, particularly emphasizing fund development and community partnerships.

A California native, she has called Miami home since 2004.  A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, Ms. Joost practiced law in the area of complex commercial litigation for ten years.  She later managed a travel club for senior citizens at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust.