Meet the Team and Board Members
at Fostering Futures Foundation

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Mr. Reginald Brown

Board Member | Veteran | Community & Civic Leader

  • Reginald Brown is a lifelong servant-leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to faith, family, education, and community empowerment. Since relocating to Lawton, Oklahoma, he has devoted himself to caring for his mother while actively serving local organizations that strengthen families and neighborhoods.

    His community involvement includes leadership and volunteer roles with the Center for Creative Living, Beal Wood Community Builders, Embrace Hope Collaboratorium, Bethlehem Baptist Church’s Financial Empowerment Ministry, the Knights of Columbus, the Pregnancy Resource Center Men’s Ministry, and the 9th & 10th Cavalry Association Buffalo Soldiers. He also serves as a civil mediation volunteer and participates in multiple citizen academies to deepen civic engagement and public service.

    Prior to 2021, Reginald held numerous leadership roles across Louisiana, including community center program manager, civic association treasurer, prison ministry team member, workforce development leader, and Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) board chair supporting children and families in need.

    A retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, Reginald’s professional career spans military leadership, higher education instruction, school administration, and nonprofit management. He holds an MBA from Cameron University, a Bachelor of Science in Finance from DePaul University, and additional executive leadership training through the U.S. Army.

    Grounded in faith and guided by service, Reginald brings wisdom, integrity, and a heart for community to the mission of Fostering Futures Foundation.

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Dr. Leonard Goldstein

Assistant Vice President for Clinical Education Development, A.T. Still University

  • Dr. Leonard Goldstein serves as the Assistant Vice President for Clinical Education Development at the A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, Professor of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at the ATSU School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (SOMA), and Professor of Dentistry at the ATSU Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (ASDOH), and the ATSU Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health (MOSDOH).  He earned his Doctor of Dental surgery (DDS) degree from Case-Western Reserve University and a PhD from the City University of Los Angeles. 

     

    Immediately following graduation from dental school, he served in the U.S. Army as a Captain in the Dental Corps during the Viet Nam Conflict for two (2) years on Active Duty.  After Military service, Dr. Goldstein was in his Dental Practice from 1969 to 2000.  Prior to joining ATSU, he was an Assistant Dean at Touro College of Health Sciences, and Director of Clinical Education and Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine.  He has published over 200 Peer Reviewed articles in Medicine and Dentistry, as well as a Sedation Textbook; and has presented and continues to present at numerous national and international Medical and Dental Conferences.

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Mr. Anthony Hurst

Co-Founder

  • Mr. Anthony Hurst dedicated 24 years of service to the Chicago Transit Authority. In addition to his professional career, he served as a volunteer Bible Study Assistant Coordinator in the South Shore community on Chicago’s East Side.

     

    Mr. Hurst is also the co-founder of the South Shore Dog Team, a community service organization that honors a proud legacy of athletics, health promotion, and civic engagement among South Shore residents. The Dog Team’s initiatives include hosting an annual block party at South Shore High School, as well as providing grass-cutting services and home repairs for residents with distressed properties.

     

    A proud alumnus of South Shore High School, Mr. Hurst was a standout football player (#41, Running Back) and also attended Horace Mann Elementary School. Today, he is a devoted husband and father to a blended family of eight children and two grandchildren, including daughters lovingly adopted from foster care.

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Mr. Emmanuel Hurst

Board Member | Real Estate Professional | Community Partner

  • Emmanuel Hurst is a licensed real estate broker based in Chicago who brings a strong commitment to service, relationship building, and community engagement to both his professional work and his role with Fostering Futures Foundation.

    With years of experience helping individuals and families secure safe, stable housing, Emmanuel understands that a home is more than a place to live — it is the foundation for opportunity, dignity, and long-term success. His work has given him firsthand insight into housing insecurity and the barriers many families face when trying to build stability.

    This perspective is especially meaningful to the mission of Fostering Futures Foundation. Each year, more than 23,000 youth age out of foster care nationwide, and thousands experience homelessness or housing instability. Emmanuel’s background in real estate allows him to advocate for practical solutions that promote housing security and community connection for the young people and families the foundation serves.

    In addition to his professional career, Emmanuel is a father of three.  He supports outreach and partnership-building efforts that strengthen local networks of care and resources. Through his leadership on the board, he contributes a steady, service-centered approach rooted in trust, stability, and empowerment — helping ensure every family has the opportunity to build a secure and hopeful future.

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Mrs. Cynthia “Princess” Hurst Gamble

Board Member | Community Leader & Service Advocate

  • Mrs. Cynthia Hurst Gamble (affectionately known as “Princess”) dedicated 40 years of distinguished service to the Illinois Department of Employment Security before retiring in 2014. During her tenure, she served as a manager and facilitator of employee training programs, earning respect for her professionalism, leadership, and commitment to excellence.

     

    Outside of work, one of Princess’s greatest joys was interior design. She had a natural talent for creating beautiful spaces and enjoyed staging homes for real estate agents, turning ordinary rooms into inviting showcases.

     

    Princess also devoted countless hours to community service. Her journey began in the 1970s as a “candy striper” — a high school volunteer who assisted patients in healthcare facilities while wearing the iconic red-and-white uniform that distinguished them from nurses. Later in life, she served as a compassionate companion to homebound seniors, becoming their self-described “window to the world.”

     

    With the assistance of a dear friend, Princess organized weekend excursions and cultural outings for disadvantaged children from Chicago’s South Shore community, where she lived. Through partnerships with local businesses, including McDonald’s, she secured transportation and meals for memorable trips to the beach, zoo, skating rinks, and museums.

     

    A proud alumna of South Shore High School, Princess attended the University of Illinois at Chicago (Circle Campus), where she studied Psychology. She is also a devoted wife, happily married to Mr. Ron Gamble, a retired Cook County Sheriff.

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Ms. Gwen Jones Robinson (Hurst)

Board Member | Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Trauma-Informed Care Advocate

  • Gwen Jones-Robinson, LCSW, brings over a decade of experience delivering trauma-informed, harm reduction, and client-centered services to underserved communities. Her work has supported diverse populations, including minorities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people experiencing homelessness, active substance users, and those living with chronic mental and medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS and breast cancer.

    Previously, as a psychotherapist, Gwen created safe and affirming spaces for women of color to explore identity and address intergenerational and societal trauma. In leadership, she has advanced innovative policies and procedures to strengthen quality assurance and clinical documentation practices.

    Gwen holds a BA in Social Work from Northeastern Illinois University and an MSW with a specialization in mental health from Loyola University Chicago. She currently serves as an adjunct instructor at Northeastern Illinois University, teaching Advanced Field Practicum seminars that complement students’ internship experiences. Additionally, she works as a Government Programs Care Manager, providing care coordination through telephonic and field-based management, conducting comprehensive health.

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Reginald Slaughter

Board Member | Community Advocate | Justice Reform Supporter

  • Reginald Slaughter is a dedicated community advocate whose life reflects resilience, accountability, and transformation. Motivated by a deep desire to rebuild and strengthen his relationship with his daughter, Reginald began a personal journey of growth, faith, and service that reshaped the course of his life.

    After overcoming significant personal challenges and involvement with the justice system, he committed himself to becoming a positive presence in his family and community. Today, he uses his lived experience to mentor others, particularly youth and individuals seeking second chances, helping them recognize their worth and potential.

    Reginald’s advocacy centers on restoration, responsibility, and hope. Through outreach, mentorship, and community engagement, he works to ensure that others have access to the guidance and opportunities that helped him rebuild his own path.

    As a board member of Fostering Futures Foundation, Reginald brings an authentic and powerful voice for healing and redemption — demonstrating every day that change is possible and that strong families and supportive communities can transform lives.

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Dr. Cheryl Slaughter Hurst

Co-Founder | Educator | Author

  • Dr. Cheryl Slaughter Hurst is an educator, public health professional, and lifelong advocate for youth and families impacted by foster care. She holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Organizational Development from Grand Canyon University, a Master of Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Illinois University.

    A published scholar and national presenter, Cheryl has dedicated her career to advancing educational equity and opportunity. As a former Executive Director of a youth organization in the South Bronx and a Certified Fundraising Professional, she has led transformative initiatives and raised more than $8 million to support under-resourced communities.

    As the mother of a blended family of eight—including daughters adopted through foster care— Dr. Slaughter Hurst has lived the very journey she writes about in her debut book, Memoirs of an Adoptive Mother’s Meltdown: Motherhood, Mayhem & Mental Health. What began as a personal story of love, resilience, and healing has become a vehicle for change, with proceeds supporting scholarships and therapeutic writing opportunities for youth with foster care experience through her foundation.

    Through leadership, storytelling, and service, Cheryl remains committed to fostering hope, healing, and brighter futures for the next generation.

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Mrs. Gwendolyn Slaughter Sharkey, Co-Founder

Co-Founder | Administrative Leader | Community Service Advocate

  • Gwendolyn Slaughter (Sharkey) brings more than 30 years of leadership and service in higher education, healthcare administration, and community programming. Throughout her career at the University of Illinois at Chicago, she served in multiple roles supporting student success, including Administrator and Acting Director for Student Affairs, where she oversaw admissions, registration, academic records, and graduation processes while managing multimillion-dollar budgets and coordinating major institutional events.

    In addition to her administrative leadership, Gwendolyn worked as a certified medical coder and played a key role in credentialing physicians and supporting students’ placement into residency programs—helping future healthcare professionals successfully launch their careers.

    Her commitment to service extends well beyond the workplace. She has supported workforce reentry programs for older adults, organized community initiatives for seniors and youth, and continues to volunteer through the Chicago Police Department’s Domestic Violence Subcommittee, helping lead neighborhood events, holiday drives, and family-centered outreach efforts.

    A devoted wife, mother, and proud grandmother, Gwendolyn’s life has always centered on strengthening families and uplifting communities. Her steady leadership, compassion, and dedication to opportunity for all are foundational to the mission of Fostering Futures Foundation.

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Dr. Wade Hudson

Bishop | Veteran| Community Leader

  • Commander Wade Hudson is a 20-year Army Veteran. He served in Desert Storm and the 9/11 War on Terror. He was deployed three times for war. He is a lifetime member of the American Legion for over twenty years. He is also a lifetime member of Amvets.  Commander Wade Hudson was one of the first African American that worked for the Department of Amvets as a service officer. He ran five locations helping veterans at the hospital. He assisted with processing claims. He is also the proud son of an Air Force Veteran. Many family members have served in the Armed Forces.

    Commander Wade Hudson served as a Commander at the Harold Washington post where he started his American Legion membership. He was asked by the Department to create a new post and become the commander for that, which is Millennium Post 2017. He started the post with 27 members, and it increased to 95 members in the first year. The post has been kept at 100% membership or over up to this day. The post is the top post in the district. He is about teamwork and listening to others for improvement. He held the chair for Senior Vice for 3rd district, 1st Division last year. He and the Junior Vice and the Commander worked diligently together to build the district.

    Commander Wade Hudson is the Pastor of the Moses Temple International Holiness Church of Deliverance. He was elevated to Bishop while serving as pastor. He is a seasoned Pastor who came from an international ministry. His passion is to mentor troubled youth, assist homeless veterans and feed the hungry. He graduated from college with a Doctorate in Theology. He retired from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

    Commander Hudson has started a non-profit organization to help the community. One thing the organization did was host a stop the violence conference in 2020 for three days at McCormick Place located on King Drive. The event was free for community members. During that time, many doors have been opened with the organization.

    He has partnered with the NAACP ACT-SO program to assist youth. He started AA meetings at the church. He is also active with Washington Park activities, the Chamber of Commerce, the Neighborhood Housing in Englewood, with Don Doty and his HIV program and he attends all the CAPS meetings for the ministers each month. He provided a testing location and vaccination site for COVID-19.

    Commander Hudson has many ideas to improve the 3rd District, 1st Division of the American Legion. He is actively looking for ways to help veterans and youth in the community. Commander Hudson is currently the 1st Division SAL Commander and 3rd District American Legion Commander.