Discover the experiences that inspired With Open Arms and the leadership journey that continues to guide its mission today. For more than two decades, Leslie Evans has dedicated her career to serving children, youth, families, and individuals facing some of life's greatest challenges. Her journey has never been defined by a single profession or title, but by a deep belief that every person deserves stability, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive. As Founder and CEO of With Open Arms, Leslie leads an organization committed to empowering children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness through housing support, educational advocacy, and pathways to lasting stability. The organization's mission reflects not only the needs of the communities it serves, but the lessons she has carried throughout her career. Where It All Began Leslie's professional journey began with the Los Angeles Unified School District, where she spent nine years supporting students and families through after-school programs and youth development initiatives. During those years, she witnessed how housing instability, poverty, and family challenges often became barriers to educational success. Those experiences planted the first seeds of what would later become With Open Arms. "I learned early that children cannot fully focus on learning when they are worried about where they will sleep, whether they have food, or if they'll have to change schools again." Learning Through Service Her career expanded into residential care, where she served girls in foster care, youth involved in the juvenile justice system, and adolescents living in residential treatment. These experiences deepened her understanding of trauma-informed care and reinforced the importance of consistency, compassion, accountability, and walking alongside people during difficult seasons. Expanding Her Impact Leslie later moved into affordable housing and federally funded housing programs, overseeing initiatives that supported individuals and families experiencing homelessness and those living with HIV/AIDS. Throughout her career, she has managed programs funded through HOPWA, Ryan White Housing, Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, Project-Based Voucher, Permanent Supportive Housing, and other housing stabilization initiatives. Working across education, housing, healthcare, and community systems revealed an important truth: families often had to navigate disconnected systems that were never designed to work together. The Turning Point When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted communities across California, those gaps became impossible to ignore. Leslie watched children attempt to learn while living in motels, doubled-up households, cars, and unstable living situations. Families struggled to find housing while keeping their children connected to school. She realized that housing stability and educational success could never be treated as separate issues. That realization became the foundation for With Open Arms. Building With Open Arms Founded in 2019, With Open Arms was created to bridge the gap between housing stability and educational success. Today, the organization partners with school districts, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders throughout San Bernardino and Riverside Counties to provide intensive case management, housing navigation, educational advocacy, and family stabilization services. Rather than simply connecting families to resources, With Open Arms walks beside them, helping remove barriers, strengthen support systems, and create pathways toward long-term independence. Leadership Beyond the Organization Leslie's commitment to strengthening communities extends beyond With Open Arms. She serves as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Banning and was appointed by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to the Inland Empire HIV Planning Council, where she chairs the Planning Subcommittee and serves on the Standards Committee. She also served for more than eight years as President of the Rialto Unified School District African American Parent Advisory Council (DAAPAC), advocating for educational equity, parent engagement, and student success. Looking Ahead Leslie believes solving homelessness requires more than housing, it requires collaboration, innovation, and communities willing to invest in children and families before crises become chronic. Her vision is to continue expanding partnerships with school districts, housing providers, healthcare organizations, and community leaders so that no child's education is interrupted because they lack a safe place to call home. "Lead so that people leave your presence believing more in themselves than when they first met you." — Leslie Evans