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About Us
We were founded in 2018 with a vision to strengthen foster families and their communities through training and collaboration. Our first initiative, the Babysitting Collaborative launched in partnership with 4 child-placing agencies. Since then, 27 additional agencies have joined the collaborative, and 800+ babysitters have been equipped to provide quality, trauma-informed support for families parenting children in the foster system.
In August 2020, we launched a city-wide strategic initiative to mobilize Houstonians to address the various social issues facing their neighborhoods. Today, we are a collaborative network of agencies, congregations, nonprofits, school districts, and passionate individuals working together to transform the foster care system in Houston.
Watch the video below to learn more.
Our Team
Amber Knowles RN, CPNP
Founder & Executive Director
Amber is a mother of 4, including 2 adopted through foster care. She has a BSN from Baylor and an MSN from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Prior to founding The Riverside Project, Amber worked as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in pediatric community health and school-based healthcare. She is also a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) Practitioner, and her husband, Drew, is a pastor in the Houston area.
amber@riversideproject.org
Kathleen Cowie LMSW
Director of Agency Partnerships
Kathleen earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Houston, following a degree in Family and Human Services from John Brown University. She has served as a research assistant focusing on child welfare, as a direct care provider at an emergency shelter for children and youth in foster care, and as a Therapeutic Case Manager for the homeless population. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) Practitioner.
kathleen@riversideproject.org
Chandler James
Director of Church Mobilization
Chandler earned his bachelor’s degree in Religion from East Texas Baptist University and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Houston Christian University. He has experience on staff with local churches as a Student & Next Gen Pastor and is passionate about mobilizing the church to meet needs within their community. Chandler and his wife, Caitlin, are licensed foster parents.
chandler@riversideproject.org
Evert Gonzalez
Church Mobilization Specialist
Evert Gonzalez is passionate, driven, and eager to make a positive impact in Houston as a Church Mobilization Coordinator. Evert brings a diverse skill set and strong passion for community engagement. In addition to organizing community events and promoting awareness of social issues, Evert is an uprising songwriter and worship leader. He was born in El Salvador under difficult circumstances and is a living testimony of God’s goodness.
evert@riversideproject.org
Caitlin Simpson LMSW
Director of Community Resources
Caitlin is the Director of Community Resources at The Riverside Project. She has previous experience working in the developing world addressing the intersection of human trafficking, poverty and violence. Prior to her work at The Riverside Project, Caitlin worked as a social worker in pediatric emergency medicine and labor/delivery. She is a licensed social worker and TBRI practitioner.
caitlin@riversideproject.org
Anna Rice
Community Resources Coordinator
Anna grew up in Mexico as a missionary kid. She studied International Relations at the Universidad Autónoma of Guadalajara. Anna has experience working with local churches through organizing, event planning, and community assistance. She currently lives with her husband in The Woodlands, Texas where together they pastor a youth group in a Hispanic community.
anna@riversideproject.org
Board of
Directors
- Colleen McKnight – President
- Rachel Lake – Vice President
- Gina Metzler – Secretary
- Weston Yaw – Treasurer
- Lisa Ortega
- Ryan Taylor
- Jackie McCoy
- Nate Richards
- Laura Wheless