
Danielle Green-Welch
Biography
Danielle Green-Welch is a compassionate educator and community program director with over 20 years experience in educational programming. As an advocate for those touched by social service systems, Danielle focuses on programming serving youth and young adults who are multi-system engaged.
Position
As the Outreach Program Director, Danielle leads the team of the Fostering Pathways for Bright Futures program. This access program provides academic inroads, life skills support, career exploration, leadership development and social-emotional wellness engagements for individuals 14-24 years old with gang experience or impact. Additionally, Danielle is the director the ¾ÅÓÎÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø Foster Care Initiatives. The First Star ¾ÅÓÎÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø Academy serves middle and high youth with foster care or child welfare exposure. The Purple Umbrella Network is a community of support and resources for KSU students with foster care or out-of-home placement experience.
Experience
In addition to founding her own outreach program, DreamKeepers in 2003, Green-Welch worked in the Maple Heights City School District for several years as the coordinator of the 21st Century Community Learning Center. She has also worked for the Ohio Department of Youth Services and served as the Emancipation Unit Supervisor for Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services. In an effort to help programs serving transition aged youth (TAY), Danielle has presented at multiple national conferences sharing strategies to engage caregivers, develop sustainable housing models for TAY, support permanency and service delivery for multi-system engaged youth.
Direct Reports
Robert Alexander, First Star & Purple Umbrella Network Program Coordinator
Monica Moening, Fostering Pathways for Bright Futures Resource Specialist
Yolanda Saunders-Polk, Fostering Pathways for Bright Futures Resource Specialist
Education
M.Ed, Curriculum and Instruction, University of Phoenix
Ed.S, Curriculum and Instruction, Liberty University
Ed.D. – Interprofessional Leadership: Curriculum & Instruction; ¾ÅÓÎÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø – (Doctoral Candidate – Dec. 2025)
Awards/Achievements
- First Star Brilliance Award (2022)
- First Star North Star Director’s Award (2023)
- Bessie’s Angel Foundation Community Engagement Award (2021)
- National Council of Jewish Women of Greater Cleveland Advocacy Award (2019)
- Purple Project Foster Care Advocacy Award (2017)
- Cuyahoga County Division of Children & Family Services Social Services Supervisor Award (2016)