Carmel Foster | Advocate | Entrepreneur | Workforce & Healthcare Innovator

Carmel Foster is a visionary leader, entrepreneur, and social justice advocate dedicated to health equity, labor rights, and workforce development. As the CEO and Co-Founder of the Early Kidney Detection Foundation (EKDF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and the Founder and CEO of My Character References (MCR), a women-owned, minority business, she has built a career advocating for healthcare access, caregiver training, and worker protections.

Bridging the Gap in Kidney Care & Workforce Development

Having lost her mother to polycystic kidney disease and supporting her sister through a kidney transplant, Carmel has firsthand experience of the challenges faced by kidney patients and their families. Through EKDF, she works to increase awareness, provide early detection programs, and train caregivers specializing in kidney health.

While working as a caregiver for kidney transplant recipients, she noticed a critical shortage of specialized caregivers for transplant patients. Determined to bridge this gap, she is developing an apprenticeship program to train caregivers in kidney transplant aftercare, ensuring that patients receive skilled, knowledgeable support post-surgery. This effort aligns closely with H.R. 5027, the Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act, which seeks to expand early detection programs, enhance research, and improve transplant patient care. Carmel has taken this fight to Washington, D.C., advocating for better healthcare policies that protect patients, caregivers, and those on dialysis.

Championing Labor Rights & Worker Protections

Beyond healthcare, Carmel is a leading advocate for labor rights. As the sole worker to testify for California Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), she exposed worker misclassification in caregiving, domestic work, and the gig economy, helping pass a landmark law that reclassified independent contractors to ensure they received fair wages, benefits, and workplace protections.

To further this mission, MCR provides workforce training, soft skills development, and labor rights education for domestic workers and non-medical caregivers. Through MCR, Carmel equips workers with critical skills such as communication, professionalism, patient care, and employment law knowledge—empowering them to demand fair treatment and protect themselves from exploitation by agencies and employers.

EKDF & MCR: A Holistic Approach to Workforce & Health Equity

Carmel’s work at EKDF and MCR go hand in hand, addressing both the shortage of skilled kidney transplant caregivers and the need for stronger worker protections. Through EKDF’s apprenticeship programs, she is training a new generation of specialized caregivers, while MCR ensures these workers are protected, educated, and prepared for sustainable careers.

In addition, MCR is expanding into home modification services for seniors, ensuring that elderly individuals live safely and independently by connecting them with professionals for essential repairs and accessibility upgrades.

A former moderator for Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a key player in the National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, Carmel has worked with unions, government agencies, and nonprofits to champion fair wages, legal protections, and dignity for caregivers and domestic workers. Her expertise in both healthcare and labor policy makes her a sought-after speaker and consultant on worker rights, health advocacy, and policy reform.

Carmel is also an ambassador for the American Kidney Foundation and a certified Kidney Coach, ensuring that EKDF and MCR remain at the forefront of healthcare advocacy, caregiver education, and labor rights.

A Legacy of Advocacy & Empowerment
 

With an unshakable commitment to justice, workforce empowerment, and healthcare access, Carmel continues to fight for those often unheard—ensuring that domestic workers, caregivers, and marginalized individuals have the protections, education, and resources they deserve.