CEN Leaders Institute Class XVII
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Gini Bossenbroek
President, Junior League of San JoseAbout Gini (she/her):
Gini has an undergraduate degree from Arizona State University. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she is a lover of the trees but enjoys the sunshine here in California. She lives in Willow Glen with her husband and two children. They spend their spare time at kid activities like baseball and gymnastics, enjoying the outdoors by reading or hiking, and renovating their 1932 Spanish bungalow turned moody modern farmhouse. About the organization: Junior League of San Jose's mission is advancing women's leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. |
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Eunice Chun
Executive Director, Korean American Community Services, Inc
About Eunice (she/her):
Eunice Chun is the Executive Director at Korean American Community Services (KACS) and has been working for the agency for a decade. Prior to joining KACS, she began her advocacy work by assisting Korean women and families who were in danger due to domestic violence, having also worked at various non-profit organizations throughout the Bay Area. For the past decade, Eunice has been actively advocating for immigrants and underserved populations, including seniors and low-income families. She strives to increase access to existing community resources and create opportunities for community involvement and civic engagement. Currently, her work focuses on amplifying the voices of marginalized community members and advocating for equal opportunity and access to resources for all. Under her leadership, KACS has organized and led various events, convening over a hundred Korean and AAPI leaders in the Bay Area, with a focus on critical issues such as the Census, AAPI Hate Prevention, and Capacity Building for non-profits. About the organization: The mission of KACS is to improve the quality of life for all Korean-Americans in Santa Clara County, with a focus on those who are vulnerable including seniors and low-income individuals. KACS accomplishes this mission by increasing access to existing community resources and providing opportunities for community involvement and civic engagement. |
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Jean Cooper
Chief Impact and Strategy Officer, GLIDE Foundation
About Jean (she/her):
Jean Cooper is currently the Chief Impact and Strategy Officer at GLIDE, having served previously as the Acting Chief Finance and Operations Officerand Chief of Staff. Her career at GLIDE began in 2005, as Program Manager for the Daily Free Meals program. She became Director for Community Building and then Strategic Initiatives. With her management and research experience, Jean established her own consulting firm for nearly a decade. She supported national nonprofits to develop and implement innovative programs and projects through thinking partnership, operational capacity building and change management. Jean is a passionate nature lover and equestrian. About the organization: Glide's mission is to create a just and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty. |
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Imène Ghernati
Founder, STEAM Learning Institute
About Imène (she/her):
Dr. Imène Ghernati is the founder of the STEAM Learning Institute. She has over 25 years of education experience preparing students, teachers, and leaders for diverse classrooms. A former veterinarian and scientist, she has spent the past 15 years in urban education in the Bay Area. She is also the co-founder of the Summer Academy Program, a partnership between Gateway Schools and the University of San Francisco, where she directed the program for two years and started a Makerspace. Imène is from the Algerian Diaspora and has lived in the Bay Area since 2008. She is the proud mother of two multicultural boys. About the organization: We envision a world where all learners have equitable access to the emergent power and potential of Liberatory STEAM Education. |
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Stephanie Gibson
Coordinator of Enrollment, San Mateo-Foster City School District
About Stephanie (she/her):
Stephanie’s early career in education began as a small child, when she would teach lessons to her stuffed animals. Her professional career in education began at Abbott Middle School in San Mateo as a teacher of History, Leadership, and AVID. She is currently serving in an administrative role as the Coordinator of Enrollment for the San Mateo-Foster City School District. Her work in the classroom and as an administrator has focused on supporting educational access for students and their families. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, a Single-Subject Teaching Credential in Social Studies, a Master of Arts degree in School Administration, and an Administrative Services Credential. About the organization: The San Mateo-Foster City School District provides rigorous, high-quality, and equitable education while partnering with our families and community to support all students to achieve their full academic, social, and emotional potential. |
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Justin Hu-Nguyen
Co-Executive Director of Mobility Justice, Bike East Bay
About Justin (he/him):
Justin Hu-Nguyen (he/him) joined Bike East Bay as Co-Executive Director of Mobility Justice in February 2023. He identifies as a second-generation Vietnamese American, born and raised in Milpitas, CA. Justin and his family have called Oakland home for the past 6 years. He started his career at the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus in the California State Legislature before entering into the mobility justice realm, first through leading community engagement for Bay Area bikeshare expansion and creating the Equity Policy team at Lyft. Most recently, Justin served as the Director of Advocacy for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC). Justin is extremely excited to be part of the movement in creating a more equitable, resilient, and thriving East Bay. In his new position at Bike East Bay, he looks forward to bringing the joy, freedom, and empowerment of biking to all communities. About the organization: Bike East Bay promotes healthy, sustainable communities by making bicycling safe, fun and accessible. |
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Julie Hutcheson
Executive Director, Green Foothills
About Julie (she/they):
Julie works in partnership with the board and staff to ensure the development and implementation of Green Foothills’ strategic direction, fund development, governance, and financial operations. She leverages expertise, persistence, partnerships, and community engagement to achieve conservation victories. A resident of southern Santa Clara County, Julie always took a deep interest in protecting the open space and farmland of that area through responsible growth. This is what originally led her to learn of and become involved in Green Foothills’ work. Having served Green Foothills for over a decade, Julie brings to bear deep experience with every aspect of the organization’s work. She first joined Green Foothills as an Organizational Coordinator (2008), then as a Legislative Advocate (2010-17), and then as Director of Impact (2017-23), before becoming Executive Director. As an Advocate, her work helped protect thousands of acres in Santa Clara County, and as Director of Impact she oversaw marketing and administration, helped reimagine the Leadership Program, and guided staff in adopting a data-driven approach that helped gain increased institutional funding. As Executive Director, she is working on new opportunities to scale Green Foothills’ impact, broaden partnerships, and create a more inclusive local conservation movement. As Green Foothills’ representative (2010-2021) on the Santa Clara County Food System Alliance, Julie co-authored two publications on agriculture in the Santa Clara Valley: “Small Farms, Big Potential: Growing a resilient local food system” (2020) and “Santa Clara County Food System Assessment” (2013). She holds a M.A. in Slavic Linguistics from the University of Virginia. About the organization: Green Foothill's mission is to protect the open space, farmland, and natural resources of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties for the benefit of all through advocacy, education, and grassroots action. |
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Brian Kavanaugh
Chief Executive Officer, Families and Youth Innovations Plus
About Brian (he/him):
Brian Kavanaugh currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Families and Youth Innovations Plus (FYI+). He holds an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice, concentrating in Juvenile Justice, from Grand Valley State University as well as a Master of Public Administration from New Mexico State University, where he was inducted into the International Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. He presently sits on the Dean's Advisory Council for the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation at NMSU, serves as Board Member of the Dona Ana County Juvenile Justice Continuum, and Finance Chair for the Las Cruces Partnership for Community Schools among other community involvements. Since joining FYI+ in 2004, Mr. Kavanaugh has served in various roles of increasing responsibility and has been the agency’s CEO since 2015. Mr. Kavanaugh firmly believes in developing an interconnected continuum of complementary programs and services to address changing community priorities with innovative community-based solutions. He values cross-sector collaboration and partnerships and believes in the strength of collectively focused and shared expertise and resources to tackle complex issues. Married with two children, Mr. Kavanaugh dedicates his career to creating opportunities for youth, adults, and families to explore and experience rich opportunities and to discover and follow more positive alternative paths in making their decisions and choices in life. About the organization: FYI+ has been a trusted provider in Southern NM since 1977. FYI+ was awarded the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) grant in 2022 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). FYI+ is well on its way to become the first CCBHC in New Mexico. CCBHCs provide an integrated approach to healthcare, with the goal of helping people navigate behavioral healthcare, physical healthcare, social services, and the other systems in which they are involved. FYI+ offers a range of innovative programs and services, delivered with evidence-based and trauma-informed care for participants of all ages, who are experiencing mental health and/or substance use-related conditions. The “Power of the Plus” Team is dedicated to ensuring everyone gets the care they need, including individuals from underserved populations, such as those who identify as LGBTQ+, systems-involved youth, veterans, and others. |
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Alex LeeNataliExecutive Director, Health Connected
About Alex (she/her):
Alex LeeNatali has been in education for over a decade. She began her educational journey with Teach For America and taught in a Title I school for multiple years, during which she served as a master teacher for a pilot teacher residency program. Additionally, she served as both an Operations Manager and Site Director for a six week intensive teacher training program with Teach for America to help train incoming corps members. Following her time as a classroom instructor she became Principal at Five Keys Charters and Schools in the San Mateo county jails helping adults earn their high school diploma. In 2016, she joined Building Excellent Schools and founded a 5-8th grade middle school in Downtown San Jose. As of July 2022, Mr. LeeNatali has been leading Health Connected, a sexual education organization, as their Executive Director. Ms. LeeNatali earned a BA in Law and Social Justice, as well as a BS in Psychology, and Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials from Loyola Marymount University. About the organization: Health Connected equips young people with information, skills, and support to make thoughtful choices about their relationships and sexual health throughout their lives. |
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Tiffany Murphy
Executive Director, Consumers Self Help Center
About Tiffany (she/her):
Tiffany C. Murphy, Executive Director of Consumers Self Help Center, possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services and a Master’s Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. She has 15+ years of experience working in the Health and Human Services field supporting Consumers with advocating and obtaining appropriate and beneficial services with their treatment, housing, and overall wellness. Tiffany’s service to the community has been groomed by the motto “nothing about us without us”. Additionally, her experience in Behavioral Health has ranged from statewide advocacy within the intersections of mental health and criminal justice to wellness and recovery services, Peer support, training service providers, elevating the usage of the Mental Health Services Act, and providing wrap-around services to both youth and adults. As the Executive Director of a long-standing Peer-run organization, ensuring that Peer services, skillsets, and subject matter expertise is nurtured, elevated, and amplified is the daily mission. This is done in an effort to support the community at-large with services reflective of our diverse populations, identities, experiences, tools, and solutions. While her professional experience has nurtured her fervor and enthusiasm working within the Public Mental Health System, her personal journey to wellness has afforded her genuine empathy and commitment to quality and equitable services that cultivates a well-rounded understanding of the improvements needed for consumers impacted by stigma, displacement, and discrimination within the mental health system and in the community. About the organization: Consumer Self Help Center provides support for people facing behavioral health and other life challenges by sharing the success, skills, and lived experience of others that lead to productive and sustainable personal choices. |
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Keisha Nzewi
Woman in Charge, Black Californians United for Early Care and Education
About Keisha (she/her):
Keisha (kay-isha) Nzewi (en-zay-we) is a co-founder and Woman in Charge of Black Californians United for Early Care and Education, and President of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District Board. With vivid memories of her family raising money for Jessie Jackson’s run for president, going to the voting booth every election as a child, and watching Eyes on the Prize every February from its debut for at least 3 years after, Keisha couldn’t help but to spend her career standing up for what is right and just. After spending a year as a VISTA volunteer organizing and training communities to use data to advocate for what they need in Sacramento, CA, she worked for several years as an alcohol policy advocate. At the American Heart Association, where she worked as Director of African American Programs and Advocacy Director, she worked on policies such as tobacco control, menu nutrition labeling, and the Affordable Care Act. She then took her advocacy, policy and community organizing expertise to the Alameda County Community Food Bank, where she organized community members around anti-hunger and anti-poverty issues. After 7 years, she joined the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network as the Director of Public Policy. At the Network, she honed her child care policy expertise, in an environment and culture that prioritizes being anti-racist. Because of the support of the Network, and the courageous fellow co-founders, Keisha is the first leader of BlackECE. Keisha earned her BA in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley, where she played piccolo in the Cal Band. She earned her Master of Public Health from San Francisco State University. Keisha is mom/dance mom/stage mom to a Sophomore musical theater artist, and wife to a geologist. About the organization: Frustrated with an early education system based on racial hierarchies and social constructs that under-serve and under-represent Black people, we are committed to disrupting and abolishing over 400 years of intentionally designed institutional and systemic racism. Guided by a 10-point policy framework developed in response to deficit-based narratives of Black children and their families, we work to ensure California’s ECE system is culturally affirming for Black children, their families and the Black early educators who care for and nurture them. |
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Beatriz Ramos
VP of Emergency Services, HomeFirst Services
About Bea:
Beatriz joined HomeFirst in May 2016 and presently holds the position of Vice president of Emergency Housing. In this capacity, she oversees the Emergency Housing, Emergency Interim Housing and Street-Based Outreach services spanning across Santa Clara and Sonoma County. Beatriz spearheaded initiatives that facilitated the launch of the inaugural Bridge Housing Community and Emergency Interim Housing programs in San Jose, CA. Currently, she is responsible for the oversight of six distinct EIH/BHC sites and seven emergency shelter sites that provide access to 1,000+ beds on any given night. A native of San Jose, Beatriz has dedicated two decades of her professional career to the service of low-income and marginalized communities, her area of expertise encompasses at-risk youth, families impacted by Department of Family and Children Services and individuals and families grappling with housing insecurity and homelessness. About the organization: Every day HomeFirst works to end homelessness by providing a full spectrum of services to help people find a home, improve their lives & stay housed. |
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Jean-Paul Renaud
Executive Director, Canopy
About JP (he/him):
Jean-Paul “JP” Renaud (he/him) was appointed as Canopy’s Executive Director by the Board of Directors in August 2023. JP has more than 15 years of public and nonprofit leadership experience at the local and international level, mainly in the communications sector. Previously, he served as Chief Communications Officer for TreePeople in Los Angeles, where he led a team that told the stories of trees and communities in order to build support for southern California’s largest environmental nonprofit. Prior to TreePeople, JP served in the United States Peace Corps as an Organizational Capacity Building Specialist in Ukraine. JP also served for five years as Executive Director of Communications for the UCLA College of Letters and Science, the largest academic unit in California. During some of his time at UCLA, he also served as Executive Speechwriter to the UCLA Chancellor and Executive Vice Chancellor. Born in Cuba, JP and his family emigrated to Paris, France before settling in Miami, FL. He graduated from the University of Miami with a double major in journalism and political science and later received his Master’s in Public Administration from FIU. After graduating from college, he worked as a journalist for more than 5 years, including at the Miami Herald, the South Florida Sun Sentinel and the Los Angeles Times. About the organization: Canopy's mission is to grow urban tree canopy in Midpeninsula communities for the benefit of all. |
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Yasmeen Richards
President and Co-Founder, Chromatic Brass Collective
About Yasmeen (she/her):
Yasmeen Richards is an accomplished professional based in Baltimore, distinguished as an administrator, musician, and horn teacher at the prestigious Peabody Preparatory at Johns Hopkins. She earned her Master of Musical Arts degree from the esteemed Peabody Conservatory in 2019, following her Bachelor's degree from UCLA in 2013. With an impressive musical background, Yasmeen has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Chance the Rapper, Kirk Franklin, and Marin Alsop, making notable appearances on the 57th Annual Grammy Awards and Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen. Beyond her musical achievements, Yasmeen is deeply committed to creating inclusive musical environments for black and brown musicians. She serves as the President & Executive Director of the Chromatic Brass Collective, an organization she co-founded in 2020, dedicated to fostering equitable opportunities in the music industry. In the realm of administration, Yasmeen has showcased her leadership prowess. She previously held the position of Manager of Leadership Programs for the Sphinx Organization, planning and programming their 2023 SphinxConnect annual convening. Currently, Yasmeen excels in her role as Program Manager for RepresentEd Leadership, where she continues to be an advocate for young professionals from underresourced communities. About the organization: Chromatic Brass Collective, founded by Black women, is an organization for brass musicians that celebrates, performs, mentors and educates in an effort to increase the visibility of racially and ethnically underrepresented women and gender non-conforming people throughout the brass world. |
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Chun-See Tsao
Co-Director, RAY Fellowship Program
About Chun-See (he/him):
Chun-See Tsao is co-director of the Roger Arliner Young (RAY) Fellowship Program at the Environmental Leadership Program. He grew up exploring the U.S. and Hong Kong countryside and marveling at hidden wonders from the smallest tree leaf to the enormous, eon-spanning geologies of mountains. With a background in environmental education, he uses his interdisciplinary experiences in sciences and humanities to bring people together in conversations of climate change and environmental justice. He is committed to supporting emerging environmental leaders and shifting organizational cultures towards more just and equitable outcomes. Before joining the RAY Program, he served as State Program Director for TerraCorps. He also previously served on the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition Young Lands Professionals Committee, Madison Community Cooperative Board, and founded community-led art-commissioning startup CrowdArt. He is also an exhibition curator (Ecology in the Making: A History of Amateur Naturalists in Hong Kong) and book editor (The Pulse of Nature – Mid-Levels West, an interdisciplinary exploration of locality, space and place). He holds a B.Sc. Chemistry & Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a M.Sc. Environmental Management from The University of Hong Kong and a Nonprofit Finance Certificate from Rice University. Chun-See is also an ELP Senior National Fellow (2021). In his free time, he enjoys reading, drawing, birding, herping, volunteering on local lands and taking meandering side-adventures into cultural histories. About the organization: The lack of racial diversity within conservation and clean energy fields is a persistent problem that is becoming increasingly recognized. Recognizing that diversity is a value important to the conservation and clean energy sectors and that we have not always made the progress we strive to make, we seek to work together to help rectify this shortcoming by striving for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in conservation and clean energy. Not only is it intrinsically incumbent upon our sector to change practices that contribute to the lack of people of color, but addressing this problem will also make our work more relevant, accessible, and successful. To this end, the Roger Arliner Young (RAY) Diversity Fellowship focuses on increasing opportunities for emerging leaders of color to learn about, engage with, and enter the conservation and clean energy NGO sectors. The Fellowship is designed to attract and support recent college graduates of color with exceptional promise and demonstrated accomplishment who seek to be leaders in these sectors. |
