About Us

Jyoti Gupta , Executive Director

Jyoti Gupta has been the Executive Director of Washtenaw Area Council for Children since 2008. Jyoti started her career as a Patent Attorney in India. However, she soon moved to the non profit arena and worked on a literacy project for social workers to train them on personal laws relating to women. After moving to the US, she worked in Chicago for Amnesty International USA, a human rights organization. Following her passion to work on women's and children's issues, she started working for SafeHouse Center in Ann Arbor, a non profit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault in Washtenaw County. Jyoti has been actively involved in this community and has volunteered for a number of causes. She is currently on the board of Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and Sparsh. Click here to send an email to Jyoti Gupta.

Marcia Dykstra , Program Director

Marcia Dykstra has been with the Washtenaw Area Council for Children for 12 years and currently serves as the agency's Program Director. She has a BFA from the University of Michigan and spent several years prior to her tenure at WACC serving as a volunteer with various child advocacy groups, including with WACC as a board member. As Program Director she is responsible for the design, development, direction and implementation of education materials and programs including our yearly luncheon lecture series and annual conference; Bubbylonian Encounter performances and teacher in-service trainings and parent informational meetings prior to the performances; Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness trainings; Safe Sleep for Infants Inititative; Internet Safety Program; and producing the agency newsletter. Click here to send an e-mail to Marcia Dykstra.

Kelly Boelter , Administrative Assistant

Kelly Boelter joined Washtenaw Area Council for Children December of 2009. She has many years of non-profit experience working in public relations and volunteer coordination with The Salvation Army and the Chamber of Commerce in S.E. Michigan. Click here to send an e-mail to Kelly Boelter.

Julie Olesko , Internet Safety Facilitator

Julie Olesko joined the Internet Safety Program staff in September 2009. She holds an MSW from the University of Michigan where she focused her studies on clinical work with children, youth, and families. Julie has experience as a direct care worker and clinical therapist, as well as, peer mentor group facilitator. Julie also has a BS in Human Resource Development, where she spent eight years of her career.

Robin Batten , Internet Safety Facilitator

Robin Batten joined the Internet Safety Program in November 2008. Robin has a BA in Psychology from Wayne State University. Prior to working for Washtenaw Area Council for Children she was a stay-at-home mother and worked for Wayne State University Libraries in various positions. She also worked for Vista Maria, a treatment facility for teen girls with behavioral and emotional difficulties and the Methodist Children’s Home Society as a Foster Care Licensing Specialist. Robin volunteers at her church as the Children’s Church teacher and coordinator. She also organizes her church Holiday Giving Program, which provides food, clothes and gifts to families in need.

Beth Chapman , Internet Safety Facilitator

Beth Chapman holds a Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She enjoys working within the community on youth-based projects and hopes to do more community education and collaboration in the future.

Julia Gilbert , Accountant

Julia Gilbert has been with Washtenaw Area Council for Children since 2008.