Michelle Wingate is a mom of 6, 4 of her children came to her through foster care and adoption. Michelle and her husband, Chase, have been foster parents for over 5 years, serving over 20 children in multiple capacities.

Michelle studied Human Development at Azusa Pacific University and completed her Masters in Family Studies at Texas Woman’s University. Michelle is passionate about supporting youth with complex unmet needs, and those who love and care for them. She currently serves as the Learning Ambassador for Omni Family Institute.

Talysha Teh is a wife and mom to four beautiful children. She is also a published author who enjoys writing children’s books on real topics that affect our children. She is an ordinary woman who loves to share her story about an extraordinary God and the journey which brought her to truly discover Him.

Keith Fortier is a foster and adoptive dad of over ten years and currently serves with Agape of North Carolina as their Director of Advancement, where he builds networks of generous, sacrificial advocates committed to protecting North Carolina’s most vulnerable children. He and his wife live in Raleigh with their six children.

With a background in education and trauma-informed care, Keith spent 12 years as a kindergarten teacher before transitioning into direct support roles within the foster care system. He is a TBRI® Practitioner, Behavioral Health Partner, and community connector.

Keith is passionate about equipping the Church to be a light in the foster care system—mobilizing communities to not only welcome children into their homes, but also create sustainable support structures that allow families to thrive. Whether training parents, speaking at churches, or coaching ministry leaders, Keith brings deep empathy, practical insight, and a clear vision for long-term transformation in the lives of vulnerable children and those who care for them.

Elizabeth Summers is a mom, wife, daughter, friend, and clinical social worker. Her world of work started in Erie County, PA working on permanency plans for children in the foster care system and has continued to be focused on relationships and connection since then. She has a private practice called Growth Therapy, LLC in Apex NC to support humans in personal, relationship, and family growth. She is also an adult adoptee and holds a big space in her heart for all parts of the adoption triad.

Kristen Thomas, a former foster youth, is licensed through the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors as an LCMHCA (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counseling Associate). She has received specialized training in TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention), ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), and TheraPlay.