ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Liberty (Barrett) Thompson – Founder, Executive Director

Liberty grew up in the Boise, Idaho, area as the third of seven siblings.  From a young age, she demonstrated a concern for the orphans and forgotten and pursued friendships with those overlooked by others.  In 2008, Liberty founded JEMfriends with the vision that each youth aging out of foster care would have opportunities to flourish in a society that understands their adversity and supports them in becoming loving adults.  Currently, Liberty serves as the Executive Director for JEMfriends, leading several programs that support aged out youth and increasing awareness about the needs of these youth in the community. She also  engages many youth in the community through personal mentoring and coaching. She is enthusiastic, motivated, and creative in her leadership of the JEMfriends community.  Her life goal is to passionately serve others as Jesus did and to love without overlooking anyone. She enjoys spending time with her husband Daniel and daughter, Jaynah

Alexis Flores – Community Engagement Coordinator

Alexis was born and raised in Texas and moved to Idaho when she was a freshman in high school. She graduated college in Salem, Oregon, with a degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Trauma and Addictions and Children and Family. Alexis loves to spend time with friends and family, go for drives listening to music way too loudly, meeting others for coffee to share the joys and struggles of life, and being in the sun outside whenever she can! Alexis is excited to be part of the JEMfriends team because of how JEMfriends serves to be a support and friend to those who need it. She firmly believes that everyone needs one person in their life who makes them feel seen, heard, cared for, and worthy of love. Alexis believes anyone has the ability to make a difference in their community and is passionate about getting people involved. She has personally experienced the change in her life through relationships and desires to be a JEMfriend wherever she can!

Debbi Evans – Programs Coordinator

Debbi was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She now lives in Southeast Boise with her husband and dog Buddy. Debbi started her education at Joliet Jr College in Illinois to be a chef. She later earned a BFA in sculpture and illustration from Boise State University. Debbi is passionate about helping others and has been a volunteer with the Big Brother Big Sister program. She has substantial experience as a nanny, service coordinator, and activity director for aging adults. Debbi is passionate about life, loves the Lord, and enjoys gardening, painting, cooking, and trying new things!

Mercy Sorich – Operations Manager

Mercy was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. After graduating high school she opened her Piano Studio as well as pursued work experience in a variety of fields. She has been involved with JEMfriends in various capacities over the last 10 years. She is very motivated by seeing improvement and accomplishing goals. She enjoys making the JEMfriends leadership’s vision for growth a reality, especially when she can use spreadsheets and flowcharts. In her free time, Mercy enjoys playing the piano, hiking, baking, drinking coffee, and spending time with her husband.

Kalyssa Boswell – Social Media & Design Specialist

Kalyssa is a young adult who enjoys playing basketball, training in Krav Maga, reading a good fiction book, writing, designing tattoos and stickers, acting, hiking, skiing, riding horses, and dancing. She grew up in Boise after her family moved here to plant a church. Kalyssa first got involved with JEMfriends at the age of 13 as a volunteer and started working as the Executive Assistant in the Fall of 2021, later to add graphic designer and social media manager into her role. She currently has an internship with a church plant she is involved with in the Treasure Valley and is a published author. Kalyssa will be going overseas this summer to be a missionary and help in a refugee program in Greece. She loves outdoor activities with her family, friends, and two dogs. Kalyssa is always up for an adventure and anything life throws at her.

Faith Miller – Giving Specialist

Faith grew up in a large Christian, homeschool family. She enjoys doing pretty much anything with a friend or family member whether that’s coffee dates, volleyball, skiing, studying (reading a book or studying God’s Word together), walking, or serving our King together. Some of Faith’s goals are to follow God faithfully, serving Him cheerfully, and obey His Will for her life diligently. She would also love to be a mom someday, whether that is biological children, a foster mom, or a dog mom; to play guitar, and to become fluent in American Sign Language.

YOUTH ADVOCATE SPECIALISTS

Ashlyn Miller

Ashlyn grew up in Alaska, but lived in Idaho for two years and then Colorado for a year before moving  back to Idaho in the fall of 2022. While living in Colorado she and her husband worked at a church leading the youth group. She has always had a heart for kids and teens who need someone to walk through life alongside them, as she was in Foster Care and then adopted by an amazing family. Ashlyn loves coffee, meeting friends to encourage each other, and adventures with her husband, daughter, and dog Jaxon.

Renea Prindle

Renea’s family moved around the Pacific Northwest a few times before settling in Idaho when she was 8. She has since left and returned home twice: from 2005-2009 for college in Minnesota, and from 2019-2022 for work in Nebraska. During her years in Nebraska, Renea and her husband served as a Family Teaching Couple to 32 boys (ages 12-19) in Boys Town. Renea has a passion for helping youth overcome adversity and achieve success. Moved by the JEMfriends mission and eager to get involved, she strives to be a support to JEMyouth as they transition into adulthood. Renea enjoys outdoor adventures with her family, reading, writing, baking, and photography. She loves Jesus and serving her church. A long-term goal is to complete a family discipleship training school, alongside her husband and two children.

Volunteer Staff

Cheyenne Ortega – Volunteer Specialist

Cheyenne and her family have been a part of the JEMfriends community since 2014. Her parents loved the mission of this organization, and she is happily following in their footsteps. Cheyenne is looking forward to getting to know the volunteers that help keep this organization running smoothly! Currently she is attending Bradford Christian College, majoring in Biblical Counseling. Cheyenne’s prayer is that one day she can use her degree to benefit JEMfriends and their youth. She loves using her creativity through art of any kind and reading while sipping on a cup of tea. She can’t wait to see how God uses her in the JEMfriends community!