A leader in her community, Linda Harris Forster has been an advocate for the under served, disenfranchised and the poor for over 25 years. Linda Forster is the proud daughter of renowned community activist “Sweet” Alice Harris. She and four of her sisters worked hand in hand to help their mother found the Parents of Watts Working With Youth and Adults Multi-Purpose Community Crisis Center in the early eighties. Linda believes there is only so much two hands helping individuals can do and that a greater impact can be made through legislation to improve the quality of life for the masses.

The basis of Linda’s good foundation is discipline, education and results. Linda attended Archdiocese of Los Angeles San Miguel Catholic Elementary School where she was the 1st African American student body president enacting programs and organizing events which enhanced the quality of life for students. Outside of school, Linda was a Los Angeles Police Department Explorer attending a twelve week academy training youth in first aid, narcotics, physical - fitness training, fire arms, communications, field searches for evidence, crowd control, search and rescue. Upon graduation, she was issued her law enforcement Explorer uniform and assigned to the South-East Police Station. Forster proudly represented the United States as a member of the USA Junior Olympic Basketball team traveling to Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, New Zealand and the Fiji Islands.

Linda’s insatiable thirst for knowledge caused her mom to enroll her in college during her junior year at David Starr Jordan High School.  It was a family affair when Linda, along with her mother and father, attended Compton Community College where she earned her Associate of Arts in General Education. Linda furthered her education by  earning a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California as well as a Masters of Social Work from California State University Long Beach.

Linda has been a champion for those who do not have the ability to ask for help.
She worked as an intern with The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Older Adults F.A.C.T.S. (Field Assessment, Case management, Treatment Services) Program.  She trained in providing specialized, culturally sensitive mental health services to older adults in their homes, apartments, subsidized housing, hotels, and motels residing in Long Beach, California.

Linda was the Caseworker Supervisor for a 24 hour California State Male Parolee Residential Treatment Facility.  Linda was responsible for rehabilitating 40 adult males within twelve months to prepare them for successful reintegration into society as productive members.   Some goals of the program included individual counseling, family counseling, group counseling, job training, job placement, educational programs, case management, and links with community services to reduce recidivism and drug dependence.

Linda was also the Director for the Diane Feinstein Home for Young Mothers located in Watts.  This was a residential facility for pregnant young adults who were homeless.  The goal of the program was to provide safe housing, education, health care, individual, family, and group therapy.   

While working on 3200 hours of required post master’s clinical social work experience, Linda chose to serve her neighborhood as a Clinical Social Worker at Martin Luther King Drew Medical Center. She conducted routine psycho social assessments to patients on the OB/GYN and SCN Units, investigated child abuse injuries of patients in pediatric unit, provided individual and family counseling for patients and families in the Trauma Center which included grief /bereavement counseling, crisis intervention, psychotherapy for substance abusers and counseling for prenatal substance abuse.  

Linda believes that the public should have a say in how funding is being spent in their community. Serving as Commissioner of the Los Angeles County Commission for Public Social Services, Linda supervised all matters relating to the provision of public social services, conducted studies on special projects and held public hearings to determine the attitudes and ensure that the public, both recipient and non-recipient, receive improved public social services.

Linda is known for her unrelenting pursuit to ensure children receive a safe place to grow and a strong head start. She served as Administrator for the Parents of Watts School Readiness Center with the overall responsibility for the management of the First 5 School Readiness Program. The First 5 CCFC allocated $206.5 million dollars over a four-year period to qualified organizations implementing programs that improve the transition from early care settings to elementary school and increase the schools’ and communities’ capacity to promote the success of young children. 

Linda was also the Administrator for the Parents of Watts Forster Family Agency.  Acting as Chief Executive Officer of the agency, her duties included setting and enforcing policy and procedures.  She coordinated all agency contracts, acted as liaison to the Community Care Licensing, overseeing operation of treatment programs, and supervising child care staff in the implementation of residents’ treatment plans.  

Linda completed a 48-hour leader certificate program from the Child Welfare Institute of Atlanta, Georgia named PS-MAPP (Partnering for Safety and Permanence- The
Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting.  This training develops five abilities that are essential for forster parents to promote children’s safety, permanence and well-being.  This certification allowed Linda to train and select perspective forster families to care for children who suffer from abuse, neglect, severe behavioral problems, parental problems, abandonment, illness (physical or emotional), incarceration, alcohol/substance abuse, and death.  

Linda strives to protect all of God’s creatures - big and small.  Linda was appointed by then Mayor Richard Riordan to the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services Board of Commissioners. The Commission advocates for people and animals living together in safety in the City of Los Angeles by setting policy for the Department through public hearings on critical issues, identifying the priority issues and making recommendations to the Mayor and City Council.

Linda was once again appointed by Mayor Riordan to the honored position of The Los Angeles City Animal Facilities Bond Program Citizens Oversight Committee.  Linda was elected President during the first meeting.  With knowledge in finance, construction management and community leadership, Linda spearheaded the new committee in reviewing projects, budgets, schedules, conducting public meetings for community input and advising the Mayor on the status of the program.

Linda is Founding Partner and President of Forster Company, Inc., a community relations and construction management firm specializing in business, economic development, community out reach, material testing, and project and construction management.  Linda founded the company over twelve years ago in Los Angeles, California.  Linda is responsible for all new business and the strategic direction of Forster Company, Inc.  She is the primary driving force in a team which strives to excel in exceeding client needs in creative and meaningful ways.
 
Linda served as a consultant to Pacific Pipeline Inc. Working in partnership with Texaco, Chevron and Southern Pacific Railroads to generate community and government broad based support of their $1.5 billion, 132 mile proposed pipeline designed to transport crude oil throughout Southern California. 

Linda has been an active member of the Democratic party for approximately 20 years. 
Linda was an elected Delegate for the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee (52nd District) which is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in the County of Los Angeles working in cooperation with the State and National Democratic Committees.  She served as a member of the Candidate Interview Committee for the Los Angles Democratic Central Committee which is crucial in the implementation of Democratic candidates.

Linda was also an elected Delegate for the 2004 National Democratic Convention in Boston, Massachusetts. The 553 member California contingent, chaired by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, was the leading state and the largest contingent present to nominate John Kerry as the party’s next candidate for president.

In 2005, Linda was elected a member of the 52nd Assembly Executive Board.  Linda’s active political presence continues to grow as she campaign to be a part of this Country’s next generation of leaders. 

Linda completed a 45-hour training certificate program from the Office of the Mayor Homeland Security & Public Safety Department to become a member of the Crisis Response Team.  Linda is activated by the L.A. Police and Fire Departments to provide immediate on-scene crisis intervention, emotional, support and referrals to victims and their families involved in a traumatic incidents such as homicides, suicides, drive-by-shootings, multi-casualty incidents, major traffic incidents, fires, natural deaths, and death notification assistance. 

Linda credits her strong moral roots and solid family values as the catalyst to becoming the accomplished woman she is today while growing up in the Los Angeles Watts area.   She has been married to her loving husband Egerton Forster for 17 years and they have 2 children. Their son, Aristacus is 16 years old, and is currently a sophomore at Verbum Dei High School located in Watts. Their daughter, Renaissance is 10 years old, and is currently in the 5th grade at 32nd  Street / USC MAST K-12 School located in LA.  Linda has been a faithful member of the Church of Christ for thirty one years.  She worships at the Watts-Willowbrook congregation. 
 
Some of the most noteworthy recognition for Linda Harris Forster extensive service to the community includes: