asmith@calsac.org

Allen Fernandez Smith is the Executive Director of the California School-Age Consortium (CalSAC), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the professional development of youth workers across the state through high-quality trainings, policymaking, and advocacy.

Al has been working in the field of youth development and afterschool since 2001. He first started as an Education Coordinator for middle- and high-school youth in Boston. From there, his calling moved him out West to California where he created and managed San Francisco's first-ever coordinated afterschool system, SF Afterschool for All. A ‘collaborator' at heart, Al brought together multiple stakeholders across the city's afterschool landscape to build a comprehensive system that served youth from all parts of the city.

Through the success of SF Afterschool for All, he moved on to the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Community Development to expand those lessons to a broader community development strategy. In his role as Senior Community Development Specialist, Al worked closely with local non-profits and businesses around workforce & economic development, community services, and strategic capacity building.

Al is a graduate of Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and now lives in Oakland, CA with his wife, Kay, and their son, Malcolm. Surrounded by a community of friends and family, he calls the Bay Area ‘home'. When you can't find Al at the office, he is either grillin' something good to eat in the backyard, out for a walk with his family, or shooting hoops at a local court.

"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be."

- Shel Silverstein

Direct Line: (415) 957-9795

ruthoj@calsac.org 

As Associate Director, Ruth oversees the internal operations of the organization and ensures programming is in-line with the organization's mission and strategic plan.

Ruth joined CalSAC in March 2008 and has overseen the CalSAC Trainer Network and coordinated CalSAC's Annual Spotlight on Afterschool Conference. Drawing upon her experience in community organizing and legislative advocacy, Ruth has also coordinated the California Afterschool Challenge, CalSAC's annual advocacy event in Sacramento.

Ruth holds a Masters of Social Work, emphasizing in community organizing and advocacy, from California State University, Fresno, and an American Humanics certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. Since relocating to the Bay Area in 2005 from the Central Valley, Ruth has organized statewide grassroots campaigns to increase access to higher education; mobilized youth voters with the University of California Student Association and has overseen a collaboration of state and regional Gay-Straight Alliance networks across the country.

"Me...We."

- unknown

Direct Line: 415-957-1781

marrambide@calsac.org

As the Director of Training & Capacity Building, Monica oversees the CalSAC Trainer Network and the Alameda County AB212 Professional Development and Retention Project.

Monica has over 15 years of community activism experience, including 7 years as Director of Programming for the sixth largest LGBT Center in the county. She opened the first LGBT youth drop-in center in the central coast of California and has worked directly with teachers, faculty and school boards to address safety and education for all youth. She re-established the Texas GSA Network, a statewide program which unites school-based GSAs student clubs to fight discrimination, harassment and violence in schools.

Monica was awarded the Lauren Wyeth Award for her work with LGBT youth and the Pacific Pride Foundation Award for her years of work with queer communities in Central California. She is a proud owner of a 5-pound Chihuahua who is the sparkle of her eye.

"When I dare to be powerful -- to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." -Audre Lorde 

Direct Line: 415-957-9789

jbrack@calsac.org

As the Director of Workforce Development, Jonathan oversees the workforce development projects that CalSAC is involved in throughout California.

Prior to joining CalSAC, Jonathan was the Program Director of the Berkeley Scholars to Cal (BSC) - a long-term, academic mentoring program designed to work with a cohort of African American and Chicano/Latino youth from their fourth grade year through their high school graduation. Jonathan began BSC is 2001 and in 2009 was proud to see 97% of the ‘Berkeley Scholars' onto college.

Jonathan holds a Masters of Education, from the Language, Literacy, Society and Culture (LLSC) Program at University of California, Berkeley's Graduate School of Education. Jonathan also received his undergraduate education at UC Berkeley, where he earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in History, focusing on African American culture.

As a child of former teachers, Jonathan has had a life-long passion toward education and working with youth. As the director of CalSAC's workforce programs, Jonathan brings that passion with him in developing a quality afterschool workforce throughout California.

"Those who say it can't be done are usually interrupted by others doing it." - James Baldwin

Direct Line: 415-957-9920

glima@calsac.org

As the program coordinator in the Training & Capacity Building Department, Gina supports the work of the CalSAC Trainer Network and the Alameda County AB212 Profesasional Development and Retention Project. Gina joined CalSAC in January 2009 after graduating as a International Relations major from San Francisco State University (SFSU). At SFSU she gained experience working in a primarily student-run tutoring center. There, her passion for advocating high-quality education emerged as she realized that afterschool support was often necessary for students to achieve their full potential.

Gina was born and raised in Daly City, California and she recently returned from one year of living abroad in Amsterdam, Holland. Nonetheless, she is still not use to the cold weather. Gina likes to tell jokes and bake, though she claims neither usually come out right. She also does Muay Thai kickboxing, plays tennis, and likes to debate politics.

"Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person." -Mother Theresa