Alex Wong is the Community and Government Relations Manager for Kaiser Permanente. Growing up in Virginia, he volunteered for a governor’s race and became hooked on politics ever since. After working in campaigns, Capitol Hill and the California State Legislature, he also volunteers in a number of organizations that work to build more housing, make streets safer, and promote public schools. BA, Government, University of Virginia; MA, Public Policy, Johns Hopkins University.

Amanda Katz serves as the Program Officer at Crankstart, a philanthropy based in San Francisco. In her role, Amanda works to advance the foundation’s grantmaking strategies to enable greater economic mobility in the Bay Area. Prior to Crankstart, Amanda served as Associate Philanthropic Advisor at the San Francisco Foundation. Amanda holds a B.A. in Psychology & Labor Studies from University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago. Amanda lives in San Francisco.

Andrea Kraus is a Principal Product Manager within PG&E’s Grid Research, Innovation & Development department. She currently focuses on strengthening the nearly-120 year old utility’s R&D practices, with the vision of making Northern California’s electric grid safer, cleaner, and more resilient through the rapid evaluation, development, and adoption of new technologies. Originally from Texas, Andrea’s path toward the Bay Area and the electric grid was shaped by Peace Corps service supporting energy access in rural Panama, the University of Michigan’s dual MBA/MS program focusing on Sustainable Energy Systems, and the dream of rooting down in a diverse urban area that celebrates and protects its interconnection with the natural world.

Breeanna Decker is a 4th-generation Oakland native, having built her early career serving the communities in which she grew up.  As a Senior Initiative Officer at the San Francisco Foundation (SFF), she directs the Partnership for HOPE SFSF, a partnership between SFF and the Mayor’s Office for Housing and Community Development, to positively impact the persistent cycle of poverty that has historically displaced the Black and Indigenous communities of Bayview/Hunters Point and Sunnydale.  This work is seen through Place to Prosper, a guaranteed basic  income pilot for HOPE SF residents and our Small Grants Program, funding resident-led, community projects that uplift and create healthy communities for children and families.  Breeanna holds a B.S. in Sociology and Political Science from Santa Clara University.  She also holds a Master of Public Affairs degree from the University of San Francisco.  

Chance Cutrano is the Director of Programs at the Resource Renewal Institute (RRI), where he works on large landscape conservation projects, from the preservation of wildlife and public trust resources in National Parks to the restoration of biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems. In addition to his work at RRI, Chance is an elected Council Member and former Mayor of the Town of Fairfax, California. Chance serves on the board of directors of the Sierra Club’s San Francisco Bay Chapter as well as International Rivers, the only international organization with the sole mission of protecting rivers and defending the rights of communities that depend on them. Chance received a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Political Science from Saint Xavier University; a Master’s Degree of Public Administration in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School.    Chance is the recipient of the 2023 J.M.K. Innovation Prize, Acterra’s inaugural Champion of Promise award in Food Sustainability (2021), and Sierra Club California’s inaugural Emerging Leader award (2018) for outstanding contributions to California conservation and politics by someone under the age of 30. 

Chase Richardson brings over a decade of experience in communications and partnerships to his role as Manager of Strategic Communication at the Asian Pacific Fund (APF), a position he assumed in April 2023. In this role, Chase is responsible for developing and implementing APF’s strategic communications strategy, messaging, and marketing. Prior to joining APF, Chase worked for the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC), raising awareness and support for the organization’s work with the City of Boston and Boston Public School Students.

Before moving home to the US, Chase spent eight years with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in the Philippines, where he honed his skills in branding and communications. During his tenure with WFP, he played a pivotal role in the communications work for notable emergency response efforts such as Super Typhoon Haiyan, the Bohol Earthquake, and the Marawi Crisis. 

Originally from Fairfax, Virginia, Chase is of Filipino American descent. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies from De La Salle University – Manila.

Claire Michaels is a career and talent development leader who has worked in government, with small businesses, and within higher education for the past 15 years. Claire loves building innovative, high performing programs that create a more equitable economy. She lives in Oakland with her partner and daughter, and she is an alumni of the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, UPenn, and Coro’s WIL program 2020.

Cynthia Villamizar serves as the Director of Marketing & Communications at SF New Deal where she works towards the vision of a vibrant San Francisco with thriving small businesses and strong neighborhoods. Her passion for this work is inspired by her Colombian and Ecuadorian parents who got their start in the US working for small businesses – her mother as a cake decorator and her father as a jeweler.     Cynthia earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and Spanish at Vanderbilt University. She was also a Fulbright scholar in Mexico City and lived in over 10 cities around the world before starting to build in San Francisco, where she’s lived for eight years, working at Bay Area companies, including Google and Cookies.

Dawna Williams serves as the Executive Director for Defy Ventures NorCal, a branch of the national nonprofit dedicated to reshaping perspectives and providing individuals with criminal histories the opportunity for a fresh start through entrepreneurship, career readiness, and personal development initiatives. With a background primarily focused on addressing family homelessness in the San Francisco Bay Area, Dawna transitioned to Defy Ventures to champion second chances and foster positive transformation within communities. Outside of her professional endeavors, Dawna dedicates her time to nurturing two businesses she established during the pandemic, balancing her commitment to social impact with entrepreneurial pursuits.

Denise Miles serves as the Executive Director and Tech Community Regional Leader at Wells Fargo. In her current capacity, she spearheads the development, implementation, and execution of workplace strategies to enhance employee engagement within the technology group. Recently, Denise’s responsibilities have expanded to impact all employees across the SF Bay Area. With over two decades of tenure at Wells Fargo, Denise has dedicated the majority of her career to philanthropy and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives. She has been instrumental in building numerous national programs focused on affordable housing, small business growth, financial capabilities, and sustainability. Prior to Wells Fargo, Denise worked for San Francisco’s Mayor Willie L.Brown, Jr. as the Community Liaison for District 6 and the Filipino community, and KTVU as an Assignment Editor. Born and raised in the SF Bay Area, Denise and her husband call Concord home, where she enjoys indulging her passion for sewing dresses and baking during her spare time. 

Itcelia Segoviano-Ramirez is the Chief of Operations at Stiles Hall, a private non-profit organization focused on increasing pathways for higher education access and student retention through mentorship, strategy and community. Itcelia’s involvement with her work at Stiles Hall began as a mentor during her undergraduate years at UC Berkeley where she earned a Bachelor’s in Legal Studies and a minor in Education. Throughout her college years, she demonstrated a passion for community service and education. As her commitment deepened, she took on roles of increasing responsibility, evolving from a program coordinator to Director of Community Service Programs. Later, she managed the Experience Berkeley High School Program, helping underrepresented students of color submit a competitive UC application, thereby increasing their chances of admission to UC Berkeley.

Jee eun “Jen” Kang is a Prevention Program Analyst with the County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department. Her role involves creating and sharing messages to raise awareness about suicide prevention and implementing public awareness campaigns. Jen also serves as a Co-Chair of the Older Adult Suicide Prevention Workgroup, coordinating collaborative efforts to address the unique challenges of older adults. Jen has a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science and a Master’s in Public Health. Jen has worked in various healthcare settings, including public health, behavioral health, and academic research. With her education and experience, she aims to promote mental wellness and save lives in the community.  Jen immigrated to the US from Korea when she was 15 and has been living in the Bay Area ever since. In her free time, she enjoys camping with her family.   

Joetta Farrow is a dedicated professional with a wealth of experience in the field of affordable housing. With 18 years of service at the Oakland Housing Authority, Joetta has consistently demonstrated her commitment to improving housing accessibility and affordability for families in need.    In her current role as Assistant Director in the Leased Housing Department, Joetta uses her passion for leveraging technology to enhance efficiencies and has been instrumental in streamlining processes and maximizing resources.  Joetta is known for her innovative approach and willingness to embrace new ideas. Joetta holds a deep commitment to professional development and is dedicated to staying abreast of industry trends and advancements.

Jonathan Stern is a development & planning professional steeped in affordable housing & public-private partnerships.  He spent five years at BRIDGE Housing, a non-profit builder, leading efforts to acquire, entitle and build permanently affordable housing.   Before joining BRIDGE he served 10 years in the public sector, leading major real estate transactions and public/private partnerships in the University of California system and at the Port of San Francisco. Previously, he was a  Principal at BAE Urban Economics  – an economic consultancy – evaluating demographics, markets, and real estate feasibility.  He lives in Berkeley, CA with his wife and (occasionally) three young adult children.

Kelly Krag Arnold currently leads Oakland Unified School District’s Office of Charter Schools, which oversees the one third of public schools in Oakland that are independently run charter schools. At OUSD, her team develops policy recommendations, implements state legislation, develops strategic plans, and works closely with the OUSD Board of Education to be at the forefront of equitable and proactive charter school authorizing in California. Prior to her work at OUSD, Kelly worked in strategic planning for the New York City Department of Education’s Office of District Planning, and as a high school teacher in New Orleans. Kelly is a proud fourth generation Bay Area native and graduate of California public schools from kindergarten through college.

Mary Lindebald-Fry grew up in rural eastern Washington state, slowly made her way down the West (Best) Coast residing in both Portland and Seattle, and is now settled in San Francisco. She’s currently serving as the Tribal Liaison for the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), where she works to improve tribal access to the state’s affordable housing programs. She previously worked as a consultant conducting performance audits and policy analyses for city and county agencies across the state, and was fortunate enough to have a front row seat to the idiosyncrasies of the Bay Area political scene. In her free time she enjoys attending her musician fiancé’s chamber music concerts, going to the movies (when there’s something good showing), and taking long meandering walks around Fort Mason. 

Mike Lee, born and raised in Oakland is the Deputy Director at Destiny Arts Center, with over 15 years of experience in social services and youth development. Holding a Social Work degree from San Francisco State University, Mike passionately champions investing in young people and creating secure spaces for creative expression. Since 2019, he has demonstrated adept strategic oversight at Destiny Arts, driving continuous expansion in impactful youth development programs. In addition to his role, Mike served on the Advisory Board for the Equitable Futures Project (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) and holds a board position for BlueSkies for Children Preschool, highlighting his commitment to community impact and education.

Rebekah Espino-Drobner has spent the last decade working in the general nonprofit sector, focusing on the children and youth of the Bay Area. She is currently working as Reading Partners’ San Francisco Bay Area Community Engagement Director, after previously holding the Community Engagement Associate role from 2018-2020. As the Community Engagement Director, she uses quantitative and qualitative data to drive strategy in order to recruit local volunteers, and build strong community partnerships. Rebekah was born and raised in Oakland, and is dedicated to working towards addressing the challenges facing the youth of the Bay Area. She is passionate about social justice, building community coalitions, and spending time outdoors. 

Ryan Babbitt, born and raised in Oakland, California, brings over 13 years of experience in the non-profit sector to his work. His journey began at the YMCA, where he dedicated over a decade to honing his skills in youth development and program design.

For the past three years, Babbitt has been serving as the Associate Director of Expanded Learning at the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, the oldest black non-profit organization in San Francisco. In this role, he is committed to equipping black and brown youth aged 5 to 24 with essential tools in STEM, financial literacy, leadership skills, critical thinking, and social justice. His goal is to empower them to become not only productive adults but also active citizens within their communities.

Babbitt has cultivated a strong bond with the local community, fostering meaningful connections and collaborations. Outside of his professional endeavors, he has a passion for travel, having explored Southeast Asia on four separate occasions and ventured throughout Europe.

Sheraden Nicholau serves as the CA State Council on Developmental Disabilities’ Regional Manager in the Bay Area, leading a regional team in the agency’s core work: advocacy, capacity-building, and systemic change. She’s held lead and individual contributor roles in cross-sector advisory committees, task forces, and collaboratives, effecting change in inclusionary practices and policy. Previously in her career, Sheraden served in nonprofit disability services and advocacy. She holds a MA in Sociology, focused on social justice, social capital, and human services. Additionally, she’s completed CA POST’s Academy Instructor Certification Course (AICC) and Intermediate Instructor Training Course (IITC) to provide crisis intervention training for law enforcement and first responders.

Silas Amaral is the Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Impact at Sunday Friends Foundation. He’s actively involved in launching an accelerator program tailored for family businesses run by low-income immigrants in the San Jose community his foundation serves. As a cross-sector professional, Silas thrives on crafting simple solutions to complex social and environmental challenges. Comfortable at the crossroads of industries, he has contributed to impactful initiatives in diverse positions from government to legal firms, small businesses and non-profits. Outside of work, he loves to travel and hike with his wife, read and work on his Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Ye-Htet Soe is a youth development professional and soccer coach dedicated to empowering young people with immigrant and refugee backgrounds. He resettled in Oakland, CA in 2000 and found solace in soccer, which sparked his passion for youth development. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a focus on youth development through sports at Southern New Hampshire University, Ye Htet became a mentor to countless Oakland youth. He realized that many with similar backgrounds lacked resources, inspiring him to dedicate his career to youth development. As a program manager at Soccer Without Borders, Ye Htet’s growth mindset and commitment to community inspire and impact the Bay Area’s future youth.