WE PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR WORK AND LIFE

Omar is a San Francisco native and a graduate of McAteer High School and California State University Long Beach. As a first-generation college graduate, he is heavily influenced by his personal journey. He is passionate about equipping youth with the tools and resources that they need to become agents of change within their communities and committed to disrupting structures and systems that foster and support inequality. Omar is an American Express Leadership Fellow at the Campaign for Black Male Achievement. He has been recognized as the KQED Local Hero and also earned the State Farm Community Achievement Award.

Mark oversees New Door Ventures’ social enterprises Ashbury Images and Pedal Revolution in addition to finance, human resources, administration and organizational learning functions. He also leads planning and development of key strategic initiatives. Mark served as the organization’s operations manager and then its COO from 2001-2008, when he left the organization to work for a national disease advocacy organization. He returned to New Door as COO in 2011. Mark received his B.A. from the University of Washington. He holds master’s degrees in business administration and healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Seminary.

As Chief Program Officer, Lilly oversees New Door’s programs in San Francisco and the East Bay, as well as our advocacy and field-building work. Before joining New Door, Lilly spent three years as a Director of School Partnerships at Seneca Family of Agencies as part of the Unconditional Education team. Prior to that, she spent seven years at Reading Partners, where she ended her service as the VP of Regional Operations, and was part of the leadership team that scaled Reading Partners from a small, community-based organization, into a national organization serving 8000+ children across 10 metropolitan areas. Lilly is passionate about program sustainability and impact evaluation, with extensive experience in strategic planning, organization/staff development and fundraising. She earned her BA from UC Santa Cruz, a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University and a Masters in Education from Bank Street College.

Christine is responsible for the administrative, finance and accounting operations across the organization.  She comes to New Door Ventures with over 13 years of experience in non-profit finance.  Most recently she managed the $16 million budget for Teach For America – Bay Area.  She is the proud mother of two girls and when not executing on the logistics of their extracurricular activities she enjoys reading and baking.

Joanna builds and sustains New Door Ventures’ individual and community giving in support of organizational goals. She has eight years of experience raising funds and awareness for high-growth nonprofit organizations and has raised more than $15 million to support local communities during that time. Prior to New Door, Joanna grew and diversified revenue for Tech Exchange, an education organization working to close the digital divide for low-income students and led development and communications for Reading Partners SF Bay Area, a children’s literacy organization. Joanna is passionate about connecting donors to the transformative work of high-impact youth programs like New Door. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison and enjoys reading, cooking, hiking, yoga and travel.

Annie manages all aspects of the HR function within New Door, supporting New Door’s hardworking front line staff behind the scenes. She began her career in Human Resources and has continued this work (including staff development and hiring) throughout her career. Within New Door Annie is very excited to be focused on the part of her work she likes best: hands-on staff engagement with a focus on equitable and inclusive practices. Annie spends her time outside of New Door learning about the world from her own children and cheering them on in school, the arts, and athletics.

Joel manages all youth development operations and supports Youth Development staff to work effectively with disconnected youth. Joel loves to solve problems big and small that come each day working with New Door youth and staff. In addition to his work at New Door Ventures, Joel is an accomplished composer for dance and film.

Amanda is responsible for supporting young people in attaining their goals and employment/life skills through case management and workshop facilitation. Before joining New Door, Amanda case managed LGBT identified youth experiencing homelessness in San Francisco. In her free time, she enjoys watching stand-up comedy, attending baseball games, meditating, doing yoga, and reading articles about issues related to social justice.

As Development Manager for Institutional Giving, Cathleen works to extend and diversify New Door’s core funding base, taking strategic leadership and tactical ownership over institutional funding sources at New Door. Cathleen’s development background includes five years of progressive experience working with foundation and individual donors, as well as managing the digital fundraising, P2P, and direct mail programs at Make-A-Wish Illinois. Cathleen enjoys new outdoor adventures, reading, and traveling as much as she can.

As a youth development specialist for New Door in San Francisco, Dejeiner is responsible for providing case management, skill building, and support to young people. She has worked with at-risk youth in San Francisco for over three years. In her free time, Dejeiner enjoys listening old school Hip Hop and 90’s R&B.

De’Niel is dedicated to empowering young people by helping them identify their needs, set goals, and acquire skill sets that will benefit them in the workforce,  in addition to providing moral support. De’Niel has a background in grantmaking for non-profit organizations that focus on social impact in and around the Bay Area and on a national level. A San Francisco native, De’Niel cheers for his home teams, the Golden State Warriors and San Francisco 49ers. 

Born and raised in West Oakland, Eddie is thrilled to be in the Bay Area and at New Door as a Youth Development Specialist in the East Bay. Eddie has dedicated much of his young career supporting disadvantaged young people in Oakland overcome psychological and socioeconomical barriers. A former high school educator and colligate football coach, he helps youth to develop the skills and knowledge needed to navigate their educational and career goals. Eddie has been engaged in youth development work in Oakland, CA and Houston, TX for the past 4 years providing academic, athletic, and post-secondary readiness for young people faced with numerous obstacles that impede success in education and life. Is his free time, Eddie coaches high school football and enjoys playing pick-up basketball.

Emma has spent the last nine years working to increase the employability of high-risk youth. Prior to joining New Door in 2015, Emma worked for several years as a Program Coordinator and Instructor at San Francisco Conservation Corps. They have been involved in youth development in many capacities, including performing research and data evaluations for similar organizations. Their passion to teach life skills and professional development, combined with their relatability and desire to intentionally leave a positive impact on youth lives has paved their way to join the team at New Door. They maintain New Door’s library and loves to read and talk about comics. You can also catch them around SF playing drums with one of their bands!

Gabriella helps to recruit and support our New Door Ally partner sites. She is excited to work closely with our partners to create meaningful internships for our youth. In her free time, Gabriella enjoys reading and spending time with her dogs.

Heather plans and coordinates a range of activities designed to promote New Door’s mission and impact through online and print communications and events. She also manages volunteer recruitment and engagement. Heather started her career as a beat reporter for a newspaper in rural Maryland, but soon discovered that her passion for storytelling and making a difference was better utilized in the public sector- previous employers include the American Nurses Association and the U.S. Department of State. A long-time mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Heather is excited to dovetail her passions for youth development and digital marketing. She loves long walks through the city, live music, and her two cats, Cyrus and Penelope.

Imani Baylor is a Youth Development Specialist for the East Bay region and is committed to serving youth to successfully guide them in the workforce and navigate through life using case management support and skill development workshops. She has worked in many inner-city schools and programs throughout the Bay Area providing services, mentoring youth, and advocating for students of color. Imani enjoys doing pop up shops for her online boutique, Eccentric Vibes and binge-watching television shows.  

1. Jane is committed to supporting young people in New Door’s Education Program with individualized student plans and engaging curriculum. Jane is excited to return to the classroom where her education career launched as a middle school and high school teacher. Jane is passionate about hiking and traveling to new places – she and her family hope to visit all 58 national parks!

As an education specialist, Karina teaches in the classroom at New Door, supporting student success in their individual goals, and creates an engaging environment for all participants. Karina joins New Door’s Youth Development team after five years of teaching humanities and philosophy at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, CA. Karina is a practicing visual artist and musician.

Kelsey recruits and supports New Door’s 130+ Ally partnerships, as they provide meaningful work experience to young people across multiple industries. Previously, she led business development for a social enterprise that employed youth. She also managed operations for an internship-based study abroad program in San Francisco. Kelsey is passionate about designing innovative and sustainable solutions that both empower young people for their futures and strengthen the Bay Area’s workforce.

Lauren works alongside the Youth Development team to spread awareness about New Door Ventures’s resources and programs through outreach events like job fairs and visiting schools. She also greets youth when they come through our doors and informs them about the program before setting them up for an interview. Before New Door Ventures Lauren was heavily involved in social justice and environmental campus organizing, which eventually led her to her job at New Door. In her free time, Lauren likes to travel, hike and spend time with friends.

Maddie is responsible for leadership of a Youth Development sub-team and implementing high quality youth development programming. Along with her team, she provides case management services for youth in New Door’s employment program and facilitates job training workshops. She also oversees the Alumni Leadership Council, working with New Door graduates to advise the program team and elevate youth voice and representation within the organization. She has spent several years volunteering with youth in San Francisco in a variety of capacities in addition to working in a supervisory and mentorship role on the staff of an undergraduate living and learning community, emphasizing career and vocational counseling. Maddie carries a lot of love for her hometown of Chicago, but has made a home in Oakland where she enjoys spending time on her bike, walking the hiking trails, and cooking meals in the company of good friends.

As New Door’s Development Associate, Mariah supports individual donors, general fundraising and event planning. She’s worked in the nonprofit sector for the last few years and directly before joining New Door she worked for an education travel company, bringing teenagers on meaningful trips around the world. She cares deeply about helping our young people achieve their highest potential and is passionate about sustainable and meaningful travel. She likes to spend her free time reading and cuddling her cocker spaniel, Muni.

Melissa is committed to supporting young adults by identifying their needs, strengths, creating new skill sets and providing them emotional support. Melissa has a background in supporting young adults who have experienced Teen Dating Violence as a Peer Counselor & Advocate in San Mateo County. Melissa considers herself a gourmet short-order chef, waffle connoisseur and loves spending time with her dog, Mr. Tibs.

Randy is responsible for providing case management support and skill development training for New Door Employment Program interns in San Francisco. He has been involved in youth development for over 8 years and has continues to support young people looking to to get connected to employment and education. In his free time, Randy loves spending time with his two dogs and watching Disney films.

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Rhea is thrilled to be back in the Bay Area and at New Door as a Youth Development Specialist in the East Bay. Rhea is dedicated to supporting young people with navigating oppressive systems and overcoming barriers. Through group workshops and intensive individualized support, she helps youth to develop the skills and access the resources they need to realize and pursue their educational and career goals. Rhea has been engaged in youth development work in New York City for the past 5 years providing academic, socioemotional, and post-secondary readiness and access counseling and workshops for young people faced with a myriad of barriers to success in education and employment. Outside of work, Rhea is an avid Yogi, dancer, and music-lover who spends as much time as possible in beautiful outdoor spaces and places.

An East Oakland Native., Roberto has had the pleasure of working with youth of all ages – from kindergarten to high school -for the past 14 years. Working with elementary kids gave him an up-close visual on how fast their lives can change as they get older and closer to being young adults. He’s excited to work with youth in Oakland to help New Door interns develop life skills and use them in a system that’s designed for us to fail. Outside of work he enjoys music, dancing, outdoors, and animals (a sucker for dogs).

“You are busy doubting yourself while so many people are intimated by your potential”

Steve has been with New Door’s social enterprise Pedal Revolution since 2005 managing the business and overseeing the youth internship program. He has 15 years of management experience in the bike industry. His prior experience in business management and youth-oriented afterschool art-related programs brought him to New Door Ventures. He is passionate about the bike shop being a diverse and welcoming environment that reflects the positivity of its unique social mission, and its role in the bike culture of San Francisco.

Taqwa supports the Evaluation and Learning Department and the Development Department by assessing and evaluating key business and program performance measures. She also creates recommendations to grow and improve New Door’s youth development program and social enterprises. During Taqwa’s service term, she plans to add valuable insight and ideas that will have a lasting impression here at New Door. She is graduate of Winston-Salem State University and enjoys generating spreadsheets and creating abstract art.

Tim documents and researches various aspects of operations and growth strategies, analyzes current branding, and supports preparation of strategic market analysis. With prior experience in wealth management and data analytics, he hopes to do whatever he can to support New Door’s mission. In his spare time, Tim enjoys traveling and rooting for the San Francisco 49ers, Giants, and Golden State Warriors.

Wade is responsible for New Door’s social enterprise Ashbury Images. He oversees the overall business and youth internship program. He has over 18 years of management experience in the printing and manufacturing industry. His experience in business management and coaching youth sports helped bring him to New Door Ventures. When he is not showing his passion for youth and their development, you will find him rooting for his beloved Chicago Cubs.