Meet Tamalani Barnett | Executive Director & Children’s Attorney

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tamalani Barnett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tamalani, what do you want your legacy to be?
I would love for people to remember me as someone who honored God by loving those who did not feel loved and by taking risks to care for the true needs of the vulnerable.

What should our readers know about your business?
It’s my joy to lead a nonprofit organization for youth aging out of the foster care system.

For many years, I was an attorney for children who are in the child welfare or foster care system. Often my clients had a need, but there was no one to pay for it. My friend, Dawn, and I decided to start a fundraiser to raise money for youth and foster care to participate in activities that any youth would want to do. For instance, our youth want to participate in sports, orchestra, they want to go to college, but they need their textbooks paid for, they want to go to cosmetology school, they need special medical devices, or they have a severe need for orthodontia.

My friend and I put this fundraiser on for a couple of years and then decided to incorporate into a nonprofit organization, and RaisingHOPE was created. The organization is designed to meet the true needs of youth who are aging out of the foster care system through resources and relationships. We have a coaching and mentorship program, we teach life skills, we have a housing navigator, and we help with transportation. Our goal is to move foster youth from dependence on the child welfare system to stable independence.

I eventually left my law firm to focus on leading RaisingHOPE full-time. The biggest challenge at first was twofold: first, I was a lawyer, not a fundraiser. We hosted many events where we did not even ask for donations. I kick myself now! I have been too many workshops and seminars over the years to learn this art and I am still learning. Second, I was not getting paid to do the work. That put a huge burden on my family and my husband. However, we made it work, and God provided exactly what we needed along the way.

I’ve learned that leading a nonprofit takes a lot of patience. My timeline is never the timeline in which a goal is accomplished. I’ve learned that it’s important to have opposing views on your team because it makes you a better organization. And I’ve learned that people are the most important thing. Business is great, and there are strategies and workshops. You can take to learn how to run a great business, but people are what matters. If you let people know they are valued and accepted, they will soar.

I would love the world to know that RaisingHOPE values the dignity of youth aging out of foster care. We don’t attempt to provide services that are not requested or needed by the youth themselves. I would also love for the world to know that youth who are in the child welfare system are incredible. They have such potential and often times they only need one stable, caring adult, who believes in them and won’t give up on them to be successful.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m terrible with this question because I rarely get to go out. Work and kids feel most of my time.

However, if I had a friend visit from out of town for a week, I would definitely take them to a Mexican restaurant. I would catch up with them over chips and salsa. I would also also take them to Phil’s on Thousand Oaks Blvd. because their pappardelle pasta is amazing. I would have said C&O Trattoria in Venice Beach, but I understand it has closed down, which makes me so sad.

We might go to 3rd St., Promenade and walk around and head down to Zuma Beach. I’ve always wanted to go to Griffith Observatory, and actually go into the observatory. I’ve only ever hiked up there.

Then we would probably sit on my patio and watch the sunset and just catch up. The older I get, the more I enjoy the simple life.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I give a major shoutout to my husband, Clark, who has supported me through my entire journey from the end of law school through starting a nonprofit (and making no money doing it!) until now when we have better work/life balance and we get to raise our two amazing kids, Colton & Keilani, together.

Website: https://RaisingHOPE.org

Instagram: @raisinghopeinc

Linkedin: I can’t remember this one!

Twitter: @raisinghopeinc

Facebook: @raisinghope4kids