Jana Karp was born and raised in Massachusetts. She graduated from Union College in 1999 with Honors in English. After graduating, she went on to teach third and fourth grade at St. Patrick School in Roxbury from 1999-2009 and continues to mentor former students. Ms. Karp started a Girl Scout Troop in Roxbury in 2003; the troop has since transformed into a Female Empowerment Group and currently serves former troop members now in their teenage years. In 2006, she received her Masters in Education from Lesley University, where she now sits on the Board of Trustees. Ms. Karp worked as a home-based Case Manager in Dorchester, MA from 2010-2011 where she coordinated services for children with mental health issues and their families. In 2013, Ms. Karp joined The Board of Trustees for The Steppingstone Foundation. In that same year, she also received the Elizabeth Seton Community Leadership Award. In 2014, Ms. Karp became a member of the Crossroads for Kids Board of Directors. In 2015, Ms. Karp was selected by the Boston Chamber of Commerce to receive a TOYL (Ten Outstanding Young Leaders) Award for her work founding Boston Youth Sanctuary. In 2016, Ms. Karp joined the Saint Patrick School Board. Karp’s work in Boston’s inner city over the past seventeen years has allowed her to communicate directly with families about their needs and the types of services they find most helpful; this work is what led her to found Boston Youth Sanctuary, Inc.
In 2011, Ms. Karp founded Boston Youth Sanctuary, Inc. Boston Youth Sanctuary is a therapeutic after school program for youth ages six-twelve that have experienced trauma and reside in Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan. Boston Youth Sanctuary, Inc. is the first program of its kind, providing clinical support, after school care, case management, educational advocacy and creative therapeutic models in one center. The trauma specific focus and innovative program model provides youth with a safe space to process their experiences, receive social, educational, and emotional support, and build the life skills necessary for long term success. Ms. Karp was particularly interested in working with children who have experienced trauma because of their demonstrated resiliency when they are able to receive trauma specific treatment. As Executive Director of the program, Ms. Karp is directly involved with the daily implementation and management of this innovative model.