White House Author

Sparky Harlan has been CEO of the Bill Wilson Center in Santa Clara, California since 1983. Under her leadership, the Bill Wilson Center builds connections for youth and families to housing, education, employment, and emotional well-being. Ms. Harlan’s expertise includes working with runaway and homeless youth, foster youth, and youth involved with the juvenile justice system. Ms. Harlan recently recruited other nonprofit, community and corporate leaders to work together in a county-wide initiative focused on ending youth and family homelessness by 2020. She holds a Masters in Nonprofit Management and is a nationally recognized leader in youth services, receiving the Executive Leadership Award of Excellence from the National Network for Youth and the Outstanding Agency Administrator Award from National Safe Place.