Ty Gerald Burrell, son of Sheri Rose (Hauck), a teacher, and Gary Gerald Burrell, a family therapist, earned a BA from Southern Oregon University and an MFA from Penn State. His credits include: Black Hawk Down, Dawn of the Dead, Law & Order, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Finding Dory and Rough Night. Most notably, Ty received 5 Emmy nominations and 2 wins, for his popular role as Phil Dunphy on Modern Family.

​In 2019, Ty was the inaugural recipient of the Gary Burrell Humanitarian Award, named in honor of Ty’s father’s selfless service in social work in support of foster youth.

Despite being born the daughter of a poor sharecropper and a maid, Joni Bovill went on to become the first in her family to graduate college. The multi-talented Mississippi native is best known for her recurring role as Ida in Amazon’s hit show, Bosch. Additional TV and film credits include All Rise, How to Get Away with Murder, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS LA, Shameless, Animal Kingdom, Life in Pieces, Sony Pictures’ Concussion and Netflix’s Come Sunday. 

Joni has been married to fellow actor, Kirk, for 26 years. Both are devoted foster care advocates and licensed foster caregivers.

Joni starred alongside our youth in the 2023 film, Speak.

Justin Michael Cornwell began his professional acting career at Chicago Shakespeare Theater after studying theater at the University of Louisville. He moved to Chicago after college, quickly earning stage roles and appearing on shows like Chicago P.D. and Empire. In 2016, he was cast as a lead in CBS’s Training Day, launching his Hollywood career. He has since appeared in Jingle Jangle, The Umbrella Academy, and Bel-Air. In 2025, he stars in Netflix’s Havoc with Tom Hardy and Forest Whitaker. A KITS supporter since 2022’s The Good Life, he also appeared in Rose Tinted Nostalgia.

Nadine Ellis is an actress, known for films Hairspray, Iron Man 2, Live Free or Die Hard and for the Fox drama, Our Kind of People.

Nadine’s TV credits also include Let’s Stay Together, Shameless, Country Comfort, Stuck with You, Jane the Virgin, NCIS: Los Angeles, Greenhouse Academy and Lucifer.

​Nadine also starred alongside our youth in KITS short film, Love Just Is.

David Mahmoudieh is a director, writer and producer. His production company, Alpha Wolves TV, doesn’t fear the impossible, but embraces it. David was selected as one of 15 directors for 2022’s Sony Diverse Directors Program. Some of David’s directorial work includes: Ringo Starr: Let’s Change The World, Superman & Lois, Snake Dick, Lovebug, Furry Bastards, Exorcist Academy, Coldplay: Lost, Davina Leone: Up All Night, Worth, and Rain.​

​David has directed The Good Life, Bully, Parallel, Kurupted, Death’s Possessions, and Answer That for Kids In The Spotlight.

Will McFadden is a writer, actor, and clinical therapist who has been with KITS since 2023. He wrote and starred in Doubting Thomas, a feature that screened nationwide and sparked dialogue about race in America. The film won Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Feature at festivals including Tallgrass and Dances with Films, and is streaming on Amazon and Apple TV. His TV credits include Scorpion, Castle, and Gang Related, with film roles in Takers and Repo Men. He mentors at KITS, directed Rags 2 Riches (2024) and Patient Zero (2025), and acted in Our Father (2025).