Mrs. Carolyn Foster presides over the largest of the ten, nationwide chapters as President of the African Descent Lutheran Association (ADLA) – Los Angeles Chapter.  The Los Angeles Chapter is comprised of thirteen Lutheran congregations and is affiliated with California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.  Its member congregations are located in Altadena, Bellflower, Carson, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Los Angeles, and Van Nuys.  In 2019 the Los Angeles Chapter received the “Chapter of the Year Award” from ADLA National for it Outstanding Commitment to the Aims and Mission of ADLA.

Mrs. Foster is serving her second, 4-year term as President and is most proud of the Chapter’s accomplishments in addressing the needs of those who reside on our streets and byways, the support rendered to the Ronald McDonald House in Long Beach, California, the collaboration of its membership in lending aid to African nations, providing support to educational scholarships for women seminarians and the establishment of an endowment in recognition of Black trailblazing pioneers.

Complementing her work with ADLA, Mrs. Foster serves the City of Carson on its Women’s Issues Commission as Chairperson, and is responsible at her home church, Community Lutheran, as its Treasurer and Property Manager.  She is a member of My Friends House Board of Directors and holds a Masters degree in Negotiations, Conflict Resolution and Peace-building from California State University, Dominquez Hills.

Mrs. Foster retired from the Department of Health Services where she was responsible for claims adjudication involving area organized Health Care Plans serving County patients.  The Department and the Los Angeles County Counsel equally acclaimed her for her work.  She is married to Randall Foster and has three grown children and four grandchildren.