Angela Blackshear currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at United Friends of the Children. She is responsible for oversight of the administrative, programmatic, evaluative, and HR functions within the organization. Angela joined United Friends in (2017) serving as the Senior Director of Housing where she was responsible for the operational success and development of the Transitional Housing Program (THP) for former foster youth, ages 18-24, experiencing homelessness. Working within the field of human services and nonprofits for nearly two decades, Angela has extensive executive leadership experience in the sector with a record of success in strategically aligning organizational goals with programmatic outcomes. Throughout her career, she has worked with a myriad of vulnerable populations including at-risk youth, transitional-age youth, gang intervention/prevention, human trafficking, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, mental health and has spent the last decade serving individuals experiencing homelessness.

Prior to joining United Friends, Angela led the affiliate chapter of Back on My Feet as the Executive Director. Under her leadership, the organization became a viable community partner in serving veterans, women, and children experiencing homelessness in the Greater Atlanta Area. She then went on to serve as the Director of Residential and Case Management at Covenant House of GA, where she led the successful implementation of the Youth Coordinated Entry System framework with the emergency shelter and transitional housing programs, serving young adults (18-24 yrs.). Angela holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California (USC) and a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications from California State University, Northridge (CSUN).