OUR STORY
Oakland Leaf was founded in 2001 by a collective of East Oakland educators intent on empowering youth voice. At the time, Oakland was experiencing a surge in crime and violence, the country was about to enter a war, and many kids in Oakland didn’t have an outlet or a platform to examine and express their fears, anxieties, hopes and dreams. Oakland Leaf’s first program was the All Oakland Youth Talent Show. More than two decades later, we have evolved into a highly regarded leader in the fields of youth development and out-of-school time learning.
OUR TEAM
OAKLAND LEAF STAFF
Melissa Mendez Ochoa
Executive Director
Kamilah Henderson
Director of Finance and Administration
Isabel Gonzalez
Director of Programs
Cindy Mora
Intern Director
Nayeli Melchor
Development Operations Manager
Samantha Liapes
Development Director
Jocelin Pulido
Administrative Assistant
Blanca Bustamante
LWL Afterschool Program Manager
Alana Reyna
Bret Harte Afterschool Program Manager
Ana Pena
ICS Afterschool Program Manager
Ma-Rya Reyna
Think College Now Afterschool Program Manager
Jake Tane
Cleveland Afterschool Program Manager
Merone Eckert
Love Cultivating Schoolyards Manager
Tania Gutierrez
Encompass Afterschool Program Manager
Keenan Isaacs
Ascend Afterschool Program Manager
OAKLAND LEAF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Marina Ortega, Board Co-Chair
Physician Assistant, UCSF Health
Monica Guzman, Board Co-Chair
Vice Principal, Mt. Diablo Unified School District
Leo Kremer, Treasurer
Co Founder, Founders Restaurant Table Group
Kim Bronson
Sourcing Manager, Genentech
Shaelyn Dawson
Attorney, Morrison & Foerster
Kim Duff
Director of Product Marketing, Rally Health
Liz Kim
Investment Banker and M&A Advisor
Jose Luis Rodriguez, Alumni
Project Manager, Growing Together
Scott Sillers
Board of Trustees, Health Professions Education Foundation
Steven Tindall
Partner at Gibbs Law Group LLP
Lindsey Williams
Administrative Director, UCSF Medical Center
Audrey Yang
User Experience Research Consultant
Emeritus Board Members:
Debra Levinksy, Founding Board Member
Retired Medical Doctor, Private Practice
Stephen Walrod, Founding Board Member
Retired Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice
Melissa Mendez Ochoa, Executive Director
Melissa grew up in Napa Valley and made the move to the East Bay when she decided to attend the University of California, Berkeley. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a minor in Education and in 2020, Melissa earned her Masters in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. As an undergraduate she became involved with many different organizations targeted to change the educational system and help students of color reach higher education. Upon graduating from UC Berkeley, Melissa decided to stay in the East Bay and began working with Oakland Leaf. As an Administrative Assistant and later HR and Finance Director, she developed the infrastructure and direction of the organization and programs. Melissa planned and hosted Oakland Leaf’s 12th and 13th Annual All Oakland Youth Talent Showcase. In the of Spring of 2019, Melissa became Oakland Leaf’s Executive Director. In her free time, Melissa is in active alumna of TRENZA UC Berkeley and an avid sports fan of the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco Giants, and San Francisco Niners.
email: [email protected]
Sara Rousseve, People and Culture Manager
Sara comes from a family of educators, artists and social service professionals. Being the oldest of three, she spent many days in her backyard creating spaces for curiosity and play for her siblings. These early experiences planted the seeds for her lifelong love of learning and teaching. Sara earned a BA in Liberal Studies with a minor in Theatre Arts from Loyola Marymount University. Upon graduation, she joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, where she worked as a middle school After-School Program Assistant in an environment that centered social justice, creative expression and social-emotional development. This experience motivated her to earn her MA in Education, with an emphasis in Cognitive Development and Arts Integration, at UC Berkeley. Since 2006, she has been working with youth and families in the Bay Area as a teacher, reading intervention specialist, literacy coach, and consultant with children who have learning challenges. She is a proud mother of her daughter Mayla, and adores the time she gets to be a “kid” again with her, whether in the form of an impromptu dance party or pretending to be talking dragons while on a local hike.
email: [email protected]
Kamilah Henderson, Finance and Operations Manager
Kamilah grew up in Hayward and Oakland, CA and earned a B.A. in Education Studies and a minor in Sports and Recreation Management from Ashford University. After 10 years of working with youth in schools and in educational programs, Kamilah decided to earn a M.A. in Education, specializing in Curriculum and Instruction from Ashford University. Her experience in education and youth work drives her passion for Oakland Leaf’s community impact. As a parent, and former after-school instructor, she knows how much families rely on quality out-of-school time programming. When she’s not at work, Kamilah enjoys road trips, beach days, and studying music.
email: [email protected]
Isabel Gonzalez, Director of Community Programs
Before transitioning into her current role, Isa served as the Program Manager at one of Oakland Leaf’s afterschool programs. As a minority in Oakland she has been labeled as a female who is statistically designed to fail, and lives in a city labeled as a “malignant place.” But Isa refused to let others define her, and always was eager to realize her dreams. Isa discovered her passion for equity in education and Feminism through an Oakland Leaf critical media afterschool program. In 2011, she attended the University of California Santa Cruz as an undergraduate scholar and in 2015 received her Bachelor’s degree in Feminist Studies. Isa is a life-long learner and is passionate about sharing her knowledge with those who surround her. At Oakland Leaf, Isa continues her mission of providing youth with the resources that they might not be able to attain elsewhere, and gives them the tools to be active agents of change in our communities.
email: [email protected]
Audacious Wilson, Director of Afterschool Programs
Audacious has over 15 years of experience in nonprofit program development, creative arts, and social justice work. She has a Bachelor in Sociology from Rust College and Master of Fine Arts degree in English and Creative Writing from Mills College. As an educator, writer, and program director, Audacious has provided services and leadership for programs of Girls Inc. of Alameda County, Oakland School for the Arts (named Greater Bay Area Teacher of the Year, 2016), Mills College and, most recently, the YMCA of the East Bay. In her role with the YMCA, Audacious led the daily operation and success of six Before and After School Programs in the West Contra Costa School District. Audacious fosters a creative educational, team building, hands-on, and visionary approach to leadership and learning. In her spare time, Audacious enjoys spending time with her family, watching basketball, reading poetry, jamming out to some good music and catching a sale at Nike Town.
email: [email protected]
Samantha Liapes, Development Director
For nearly a decade, Samantha served as the Development and Communications Director at Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth in San Francisco, a leadership development and community organizing institution focused on education equity. Before working at Coleman, Samantha was the founding Director of a national alliance of progressive youth and student organizations working to build power in communities of color. Early in her nonprofit career, Samantha served in several staff leadership positions at the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, including Project Director of both Bay Area PoliceWatch and NYC PoliceWatch and National Development Director. As an independent fundraising and communications consultant and a certified co-active and somatic coach, Samantha has provided capacity building and leadership development support to dozens of nonprofit organizations and leaders. She has also served on several volunteer committees that helped to launch housing justice, immigration rights, and other social change organizations. Samantha is the mother of twins who teach her daily lessons about what it means to live life courageously and unselfconsciously, and to feel (and in their case, loudly express) all the feelings.
email: [email protected]
Nayeli Melchor, Development Operations Manager
Dureana Murphy, Operations Manager
Erika Cardona, Learning Without Limits Afterschool Program Manager
Erika is currently the Site Manager at Learning Without Limits. She has been with the Oakland Leaf as of 2016. Erika has over 10 years’ experience in academic development, programming and implementation in the public sector, particularly in under-served communities. Erika also served as a liaison for non-English speaking families; her responsibilities included assisting with academics, implementing new programs to develop Youth Empowerment, leveraging community relationships, and developing the potential of young people while maintaining and operating an After School Program serving over 160 students daily. Erika continues to pursue her passion, to encourage and support the public by cultivating, welcoming, supporting, and being inclusive to all communities. When she’s away from LWL Erika enjoys reading, taking trips, and spending time with her family.
email: [email protected]
Genesis Rodriguez, Roots Program Manager
Genesis earned his Bachelors Degree in Communications from California State University, East Bay. He was raised in Oakland and is extremely proud to work in the community that supported and inspired him to live his life with passion and purpose. Genesis is motivated to help youth in his community develop valuable skills that will help them achieve success in their future and overcome the socioeconomic barriers that they face daily. He is thrilled for the opportunity to lead a brand new high school internship that will instill confidence in the youth of his community. Genesis has a deep knowledge of Oakland Leaf programming- he was an after-school program participant, a Love Cultivating Schoolyards (LCS) intern, an After-School Program Instructor, a Program Assistant for LCS, and is now the Program Manager of Roots.
email: [email protected]
Ana Pena, ICS/TCN Afterschool Program Manager
Jake Tane, Cleveland Afterschool Program Manager
Ma-Rya Reyna, Think College Now Afterschool Program Manager
Before transitioning into the role of Program Manager, Ma-Rya served as an Oakland Leaf Program Instructor and Restorative Justice Facilitator for almost five years. Born and raised in Oakland, she knows firsthand the critical importance of youth programs that provide a sense of safety and community and promote voice and leadership. Ma-Rya is an older sister to seven siblings and has always been driven to be a positive role model and advocate for young people. Outside of work, she enjoys being a mom, spending time with family, and getting outside, especially to places that are close to water.
Merone Eckert, Love Cultivating Schoolyards Co-Manager
Merone Eckert started her career in sustainable food systems and agriculture when she was in high school by volunteering at a local organic farm and garden. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sustainable Food Systems and Food Anthropology from Green Mountain College in Vermont, which won awards and recognition as the most sustainable college in the nation because of its organic farming and renewable energy programs. After moving back to California, Merone expanded her professional interests by working in the field of mental health and trauma- informed care. After working in a classroom setting for a year as a mental health counselor, Merone found herself wanting to return to gardens and teaching youth about plants and conservation.
Cherry Arellano, Love Cultivating Schoolyards Co-Manager
Alana Reyna, Bret Harte Afterschool Program Manager
Jocelin Pulido, Administrative Assistant
Cindy Mora, Intern Director
Blanca Bustamante, LWL Afterschool Program Manager
Tania Gutierrez, Encompass Afterschool Program Manager
Tania has a Masters in Education from Stanford University and many years experience as a teacher and leadership coach. Her first job in education was teaching English to middle school students in Compton, CA. Her experience working with parents, students, administrators, and teachers in diverse communities fuels her commitment to Oakland Leaf’s mission and her belief in the value and impact of out-of-school time programming. When she’s not at work, Tania enjoys road trips, beach days, and writing poetry.
Keenan Isaacs, Ascend Afterschool Program Manager
Born in Berkeley and raised throughout the East Bay, Keenan is a Bay Area Native through and through. With over 6 years of experience working with Bay Area non-profits in the field of youth development, they have always sought to provide a supportive and nurturing environment for youth and families living in marginalized communities. Keenan utilizes a combination of trauma-informed practices and restorative justice to foster a safe space where each individual has an equitable opportunity to learn and grow. They are very passionate about being an agent for positive change in communities similar to the ones they grew up in.
