H.E.L.P. FOR YOUTH, INC.

Joshua Olatunde

Mr. Olatunde has worked consistently in the edutainment field since 2000.  His past employers include The National Theatre for Children, True Colors Production Company, Chamber Theatre Productions and The Children’s Theatre Center of New Jersey.  

Mr. Olatunde has worked Off-Broadway as a Producer/Playwright as well.  His production credits include One Life: The Sidney Poitier Story, 25 Days in Kuwait, Dutchman, The Dawning and Salvation-The Musical.  He has also appeared in several major motion pictures including My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Phobic, The Cellar, Prime and Water.  Academically, Mr. Olatunde has worked as an ESL & Information Technology Instructor in Namibia through Harvard University’s Center for International Development.  He’s also tutored youth grades 4-12 in New York City’s public school system and has worked as a Program Coordinator for The Educational Alliances Art School.  He’s a graduate of the City University of New York at Hunter College, where he was an Honorary Student. 

JOlatunde@help4youth.org

Christa R. Shelton

Ms. Shelton is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University with a degree in Theatre Arts.  She has also received theater training at the Musical Theatre Project of Tampa Florida and the Oxford School of Drama in Oxford, England.  She has performed in numerous stage plays as well as appearing in a short film entitled B.B. gun for Showtime’s Black Filmmaker Showcase. 

Ms. Shelton has worked with youth in both professional and volunteer capacities for many years.  She has served as a Children’s Program Advocate providing enrichment programs for the children in transitional housing at the Jenesse Center; a domestic violence intervention program in Los Angeles, a site director for the YMCA summer camp and as a teacher for Knowledge Learning Corporation (KinderCare) implementing a specialized phonics program for children.  She has also served as a mentor for WriteGirl; a writing program for underserved females in Los Angeles, a volunteer for Unusual Suspects; a theater program serving males in Central Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles and a Character Development teacher for the All Stars Project’s Youth Onstage program in New York City.  Ms. Shelton is also a poet and has self-published a book of poetry entitled Dawning of a New Day.