Meet the Members of Our 2012 Next Generation Leaders of Color Program

In January, CompassPoint launched the third cohort of our Next Generation Leaders of Color Program (NGLC). At a two-day kickoff retreat, twenty emerging leaders of color from organizations across the Bay Area took an intense, deep dive into leadership and coaching frameworks, management practices, and get-to-know-each-other activities.

2012 NGLC Cohort Member Bios

We’re so grateful to get to know and work with amazingly talented nonprofit professionals through this program. Read the leadership stories of five of our new cohort members:

Read all participant bios…
 

Jamie Brewster, Asian Neighborhood Design

Jamie has over 9 years of experience in case management, conflict resolution, and group and addictive processes. He is a Certified “Roots of Success” Environmental Literacy Trainer (a nationwide Environmental Justice green curriculum) and holds certificates in Dual Diagnosis, Criminal Justice, Domestic Violence, STEP Parenting, Anger Management, Relapse Prevention, and HIV Awareness. Jamie is ideal in his position as Employment Training Center Site Manager at Asian Neighborhood Design as he comes from a social and economic background similar to the organization’s client population. Most recently, Jamie accepted a seat on San Francisco’s Workforce Investment Community Advisory Committee.

“I spent the majority of my 20's incarcerated because I was addicted to drugs. After 5 trips to prison, I finally was able to put my demons behind me. I was released from Corcoran State Prison on Aug. 9, 2000, and at that time decided that I wanted to commit my life to assisting at-risk youth to avoid the pitfalls life has to offer. I began my social work career at Walden House in February 2001 and have never looked back. The satisfaction that I get from helping young people is immeasurable.” Jamie’s hobbies include skateboarding and making music.

Diana Jauregui, Somos Mayfair

Diana Jauregui is Senior Manager of programming at Somos Mayfair. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from San José State University. She began her community involvement work at SIREN (Services, Immigration Rights, and Education Network) first as a volunteer and then as Administrative Assistant. While working towards her degree, Diana interned with Somos Mayfair and was hired as a Lead in 2007. Currently, Diana co-manages programming to ensure Early School Success and Family Wellness across the Mayfair neighborhood of east San Jose. She believes that community empowerment is done by working side by side with the community. Diana is a mother of two children under the age of 5. She is committed to health and is looking forward in participating in a ½ marathon in 2012.

Michelle Nobori, Rubicon Programs, Inc.

Michelle J. Nobori was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She currently works as Quality Assurance and Program Manager for Rubicon Programs based in Richmond, CA. Michelle holds a BA in Sociology from the University of California, Davis. Immediately after graduation, she began work as Program Assistant for the Bridges to Home Program at Rubicon. Michelle led an employee workgroup in developing, implementing, and maintaining a full set of outcome measures that comprehensively tracks Rubicon’s impact on its consumers. She has consistently been at the forefront of developing new practices and procedures for Rubicon’s Mental Health and Wellness division with a strong focus on improving services for individuals with mental illness. Michelle recently became the Program Manager overseeing Resource Services – a program whose highest priority is to assist individuals in finding and maintaining permanent low cost housing through financial literacy education and collaboration with case management programs.

Raquel Saunders, Canal Alliance

Raquel Saunders is the director of the Youth Scholarship Program (YSP) at Canal Alliance in San Rafael, California. As YSP Director, she works with her staff to design and implement curriculum to support undocumented and first generation Latino secondary and college students to overcome root barriers to educational success and self-sufficiency. This includes academic support, leadership development, parent engagement, and family case management.

Raquel joined Canal Alliance in 2008 as a Youth Education Coordinator, working directly with middle school youth. As a youth education coordinator Raquel engaged students in projects that required them to connect with their community both locally and globally through projects such as public service announcements and a letter exchange with refugee youth in Liberia. Raquel continues her vision of conscious leadership in her director role. In November, YSP students completed a mural and were integral to every step of the process, including speaking to the city council, the city planning team, and gathering community support.

Raquel received her B.A. in International Relations from Tufts University, concentrating in Global Conflict, Justice, and Cooperation. She lives in San Francisco and enjoys traveling, reading and yoga.

John Torres, Youth ALIVE!

John Torres has worked to reduce community and youth violence for 15 years, providing direct service, building coalitions and often helping to bridge communication gaps between community and institutions.

Currently, he is the Deputy Director for Oakland-based Youth ALIVE! This agency mission is to reduce youth violence and build youth leadership. In his position, John oversees Youth ALIVE!’s three operational programs: Teens on Target (TNT), a school based peer education program; Caught in the Crossfire, a nationally recognized hospital-based intervention program; and the Khadafy Washington Project, a crisis response program, supporting families of homicide victims. Youth ALIVE! celebrated its 20 year anniversary in November 2011.

Previously, John was the Citywide Coordinator for San Francisco’s Community Response Network (CRN) Initiative, where he oversaw violence prevention and intervention programs, and established cohesive systems for nonprofit agencies and local government to work collaboratively in addressing public safety issues. He has also served youth in San Francisco’s Mission District through various community-based organizations including Arriba Juntos, Community Bridges Beacon Center, and the Real Alternatives Program (RAP).
 

2012 NGLC Complete Participant List

Jamie Brewster, Asian Neighborhood Design

David Burnett, Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco

Katherine Contreras, Community Health Partnerships

Ivan Dia, TriValley Haven for Women

Maria Duzon, Shelter Network

Jamila Edwards, Children’s Defense Fund California

Blanca Hernández, Youth Enrichment Strategies(YES)

Diana Jauregui, Somos Mayfair

Leann Juan, Women's Crisis Support ~ Defensa de Mujeres

Renu Karir, Homeless Prenatal Program

Annette Lewis, West Coast Contra Costa Youth Service Bureau

Janet Massite, International Child Resource Exchange Institute

Jamila McCallum, Edgewood Center for Children and Families

Stephanie Montgomery, East Bay Community Recovery Project

Michelle Nobori, Rubicon Programs, Inc.

Tiffany Puckett, First Place for Youth

Patricia Salazar, Centro Legal de la Raza

Raquel Saunders, Canal Alliance

Tejal Shah, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation

John Torres, Youth ALIVE!

Our special thanks to The California Wellness Foundation, The California Endowment, and the S.H. Cowell Foundation whose support of NGLC makes it possible for us to serve a diverse mix of communities, organizations, and causes through these thoughtful, committed leaders.

For more information about NGLC contact Erin Lingren at erinl@compasspoint.org or visit the NGLC program website.

Resources for Next Generation Leaders

Next Generation Leaders of Color Program

Next Generation Leaders of Color 2010 Initiative Pilot Evaluation Report

Report: Ready to Lead: Next Generation Leaders Speak Out

Workshop:  Management 101: Skills Building for Nonprofit Managers and Leaders

Workshop: Executive Director 101: Management Training for New Nonprofit Executive Directors