Christa Sharpe speaks about system reform in Cambodia in this screen shot from an International Justice Mission YouTube video from 2015

CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties on Tuesday announced Christa Sharpe as its new executive director, tasked with guiding the nonprofit in its mission to help the community’s most at-risk community as advocates for foster children.

Sharpe comes to Fresno with global experience, including anti-human trafficking work in Southeast Asia leading multi-disciplinary teams in criminal investigation, crisis care, legal support and survivor advocacy, according to a CASA news release.

She is the successor to the retiring Wilma Hashimoto, who has served as executive director since 2018.

Sharpe is a seasoned executive and social worker with 20 years of experience “advancing child protection, justice system strengthening, and nonprofit impact,” according to the release.

Sharpe began her career in direct service, supporting immigrant and refugee communities, survivors of sexual violence and youth mental health care at organizations such as the Marjoree Mason Center and former Cedar Vista Psychiatric Hospital in Fresno in the early 2000s, as well as Young Life, the U.S. Senate and Catholic Charities.

She and her husband, Ben, and their 8-year-old son, Isaac also look forward to returning to the Central Valley to be near family and reconnect with longtime friends, according to the release. She comes to Fresno from the Washington D.C. – Baltimore Area as interim chief of staff for the global, Christian relief group World Hope International, according to her LinkedIn profile.

“I have long admired CASA Fresno and Madera Counties’ vital work supporting children and youth in foster care,” said Sharpe. “I am thrilled to join this dedicated team of staff, advocates, supporters, and youth to continue making a meaningful impact in our community.”

From 2005 to 2008, she served as director of survivor support for the International Justice Mission, a non-governmental organization that works with local authorities across the globe to help remove people from situations of extreme violence. That position took her to Cambodia, where she worked with local authorities to reduce the commercial sexual exploitation of minors.

Among her achievements, she helped reduce child trafficking by 72% across three Cambodian cities in two years through collaboration with government and community partners, according to the release.

Her executive leadership includes additional roles with International Justice Mission as regional president for Asia Pacific, as well as interim chief of staff at World Hope International, strengthening operations, increasing revenue and enhancing program alignment, according to the release. Christa holds a master’s degree in social science administration from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio and a B.A. in political science and Africana studies from Tulane University in Louisiana.

Hashimoto’s retirement date from CASE of Fresno and Madera Counties is Sept. 26. A chance meeting with Paula De Young of De Young Properties, a CASA board member, led to Hashimoto joining the board in 2010. She was appointed executive director in 2018, and now oversees a full-time staff that supports more than 250 advocates. These volunteers help guide more than 300 abused and neglected children in the foster care system of Fresno and Madera counties, according to the website.