My Blog

Shontell A. Benson is a Residential Care Coordinator with FAIR Girls. Shontell is a native Washingtonian. Shontell’s passion is to bring healing to people who have been through a traumatic and /or a stressful experience. Shontell’s future goal is to become a social worker in the mental health sector to help work towards ending inequities, human rights abuse and discrimination. Shontell believes that in a world often focused on individual achievement, the joy of helping others is a refreshing reminder that our true fulfillment lies in the well-being of those around us.

Natalie Clayton is the the new Executive Director of FAIR Girls.

Natalie brings a wealth of experience and a heartfelt commitment to her mission of making a positive impact on the lives of the vulnerable in our community. With 17 years of dedicated service in both legal and nonprofit leadership roles, she stands as a beacon of change and hope.

In her most recent role as Vice President and General Counsel at a distinguished nonprofit organization, Natalie led with unwavering passion. Her tenure saw remarkable achievements, from supporting young adults transitioning out of foster care to expanding marketing, communications, and development efforts. As a trusted legal advisor, she steered the organization through complex challenges, significantly reducing risk.

Natalie’s visionary leadership bore fruit in the form of concrete financial supports, the forging of critical community partnerships, and the development of highly effective programs that consistently exceeded anticipated outcomes.

Before her nonprofit leadership journey, Natalie honed her legal expertise as an attorney and trainer for the state of Florida. This early experience equipped her with a profound understanding of the intricacies of the legal landscape, setting the stage for her remarkable career in advocacy.

Natalie’s intellectual prowess is underscored by her educational achievements. She earned her undergraduate degree in law and sociology from American University in the heart of Washington, DC, and further fortified her legal acumen with a Juris Doctorate from the esteemed State University of New York at Buffalo.

Beyond her professional achievements, Natalie and her husband are shining examples of compassion and commitment. They selflessly served as therapeutic foster parents for 13 years, changing the lives of countless children. Their journey also includes the joy of adopting three children from the foster care system, a testament to their dedication to creating loving families.

Natalie finds solace in traveling and exploring diverse cuisines. Her love for experiencing different cultures reflects her innate curiosity and open-mindedness. Natalie’s journey embodies the transformative power of dedication, empathy, and unwavering commitment. Her life’s work has not only enriched organizations but, more importantly, has left an indelible mark on the lives of those she has touched.

Lejean N. Lancaster is a Residential Care Coordinator with FAIR Girls. Lejean has a passion and desire for saving lives. Lejean believes in teaching self-respect and self-reliance. By helping young women gain trust with grace, Lejean hopes to empower young women with the strength of compassion and instill the will for them to live their best lives through knowledge of prevention and self-care. Lejean is a Maryland native.

Izzy is a 2021 graduate of Shenandoah University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. Along with her studies, she played on the Women’s Soccer Team. Previous to FAIR Girls she was a Care Coordinator at Gateway Homes Inc. As a Care Coordinator, she worked with individuals who had mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, personality disorder, bipolar disorder, Autism, Tourette’s syndrome, etc. Before stepping into the role of a Care Coordinator, since the age of 14 her background includes athletic training, physical therapy, and nursing. Izzy enjoys working within the medical field because her goal is to help, provide care, and impact as many lives as she can. She strives for happiness and peace every day, and to continue being an influence in the medical field to create the positive changes our world needs.

Lola Maraiyesa is a Case Manager Coordinator (HOPE Court) for FAIR Girls. Lola obtained her M.A. in Global Affairs, International Security from the American University in Cairo and her B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She began working with FAIR Girls in the fall of 2020 as a Volunteer Outreach Advocate and has also worked as a Residential Contractor at the FAIR Girls Vida Home. Lola is working with Fair Girl to be part of the solution and a resource to others.

Lola’s personal and professional purists, primarily focus on anti-human trafficking and victim outreach and advocacy efforts. Her long-term goal is to work in this field back home in the West African region. Her hobbies include traveling, running, eating, reading, singing, dancing, and watching historical (and current) dramas and documentaries.

Tameika joined FAIR Girls, Inc as the Sr. Housing Manager in April 2022. She has served as a mentor for girls in middle and high school for over 10+ years. Tameika is a very strong and determined advocate for young ladies using their voices and being heard when told no one cares or no one will listen. She works closely with her community and the churches there as well. Tameika joined FAIR Girls to make a positive impact on women who are trying to regain their strength and trust back into the community. She feels it is important to encourage our survivors to believe in themselves, to know that they matter and are important, and to show that genuine people do care.