About Us
Mission
Beyond Foster Care is a community-driven organization dedicated to uplifting the narratives, strengths, and resilience of individuals with foster care experience. We connect young adults to mentorship, resources, and supportive networks that foster personal growth, educational attainment, and career success.
Vision
We envision a future where foster youth and former foster youth are empowered to define their own narratives, pursue their passions, and realize their full potential. We strive to cultivate communities where young people are understood, valued, and supported, and where their experiences are recognized not as limitations, but as sources of strength, resilience, and excellence.
Kayla Murillo
Founder & Executive Director
Beyond Foster Care was founded by Kayla Murillo, a former foster youth, nonprofit leader, and advocate dedicated to expanding opportunities for young people with foster care experience.
Her journey in foster care began, at the age of ten, at a point where her mother’s immigration status and mental circumstance intersected. These experiences inspired a lifelong commitment to creating spaces where foster youth are connected to resources that enable their ability to pursue their passions and full potential.
Kayla earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Chicana/o/x Studies from UCLA and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management at the University of Southern California. Her professional experience spans mentorship, college access, resource navigation, and program leadership supporting foster youth across Southern California.
Through Beyond Foster Care, Kayla seeks to build a community of care where young people can access opportunities, cultivate meaningful relationships, and share their stories with confidence, helping them move beyond survival and into opportunity.
Jania Llerenas
Operations Coordinator
Jania Llerenas is currently studying Political Science and hopes to work in the legal field someday. She is passionate about changing the foster care system and the intersecting systems that impact young people because she knows firsthand the struggles foster youth go through and how much these systems need to change. She loves meeting new people, exploring new places, and connecting with organizations and communities that support youth and help them thrive. Jania believes every foster youth deserves access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.
Arisbeb Campos
Operations Coordinator
Arisbeb Campos Gonzalez holds a Master’s degree in Social Welfare from UCLA. She is deeply passionate about supporting youths in the areas of education, mental health, and access to resources. As a first-generation undocumented college graduate with experiences similar to many students, she understands the challenges of navigating higher education. Although she faced these obstacles on her own, she was fortunate to have a strong community behind her, and she is committed to providing that same support and encouragement to future generations. Her aspiration is to become a school counselor, where she can mentor youth from all backgrounds, assist with college admissions, and promote mental health and well-being. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring new coffee and matcha shops with friends, spending time in nature with her family, and relaxing with her favorite sitcoms.
Meet the board
Travon Williams
Secretary
Khalil Small
Treasurer
How we support youth
Access. Belonging. Connection.
Through mentorship, resource navigation, and storytelling, we empower current and former foster youth to build brighter futures, strengthen community, and realize their full potential.