As mentioned, the California AfterSchool Network is excited to partner with the California Department of Education Expanded Learning Division to co-host this Strategic Design Process. Along with our teams, we hold deep gratitude to our Ecosystem Advisory Team and the Ecosystem Design Team. 

These two statewide teams serve as partners in shaping and guiding this work. They help sense into what we are hearing from communities, elevate what matters most, and uphold equity-centered and healing-informed design practices throughout the process.

*Special note: These teams are guides, not decision makers alone. 

Meet the Advisory Team

The Advisory Team, aka Ecosystem Advisory Team (EAT), consists of representatives from multi-sector organizations and trusted practitioners who reflect local and regional perspectives on whole-child well-being across California’s youth-serving ecosystem. They attend three large convenings (two in-person and one virtual), connect throughout the project year via virtual workgroups to build community and a coherent vision across multiple sectors and systems, and are responsible for translating selected statewide “Listening Strategies” into action within their own regions and spheres of influence. Ultimately, the EAT supports the final product: An Ecosystem Plan to Leverage California’s Expanded Learning Infrastructure (Strategic Direction)

• Akilah Byrd, Alameda County Office of Education
• Alicia Morales, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin
• Allison Haynes, Riverside County Office of Education
• Ally Lemmer, CA 4-H
• Amira Resnick, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Amy Ramos, PlayCV
• Andrea Nava, Sacramento Unified School District
• Andrew Michael Paul (preferred: Andy Paul), California Education Advisors
• AnhViet (Charlie) Nguyen, ChalkWild, LLC
• Anna Vue, High Performance Academy
• Anthony Chavez, Policy for Children & Youth (PCY)
• Anthony M. Unchangco, Oxnard School District
• April Jacobsen, Simi Valley Unified School District 
• Araceli Corral, Modesto City Schools
• Anthony Unchango, Oxnard Unified School District
• Beatriz Alcazar, Sacramento County Office of Education
• Ben Gucciardi, Soccer Without Borders
• Benjamin PláSan, Jacinto Unified
• Brazil McIntyre, Berkeley Unified School District
• Britanny Rodriguez, Youth Alliance
• Brooklyn Joseph, Lead by Learning, a Center of Northeastern University, Oakland
• Camillia Waller, Santa Maria Bonita School District
• Carolyn Ortiz, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin
• Chris Nguon, Flourish Agenda
• Christi Mayberry, Expanded Learning, Visalia Unified School District
• Cierra Robinson, The Children’s Initiative
• Claire Finders, AllSet Education
• Connie Cha, Fresno Unified School District
• Consuelo Zuluaga, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Leandro
• Coreen DeLeon, Glenn County Office of Education
• Corena Peters, ELOP, Columbia Elementary School District 
• Cory Georgopoulos, innovation network
• Darice Ingram, Foundation for Community Colleges
• Darius R. Parker, Youth Speaks
• Darrell Parsons, Expanded Learning Division, California Department of Education
• David Constancio III, the Center, Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center
• David Schnepp, MakerSquad
• Deidre Corwin, Glendale Unified School District
• Diana Carrillo, Arc Experience
• Dr. Kate Vincent, LCSW, Right At School
• Dr. Marie Pinto, ProYouth
• Dr. Rochelle Tawiah, Perris Elementary School District
• Ed De La Vega, William Penn Elementary School, Bakersfield City School District
• Elena Arias, After School All Stars, Los Angeles
• Emilia Ysabel Quesada Rocha, Boys & Girls Clubs of the LA Harbor
• Emilie Beecroft, California Montessori Project
• Emily Nathan, San Leandro Unified School District
• Enrique Plascencia, arc experience
• Erika Sanchez, Global ReACH Foundation
• Fahad Qurashi, Youth Leadership Institute (YLI)
• Gene Straub, The Children’s Institute
• George A. Hernandez, Central Coast YMCA
• Gerardo Jaimes Garcia, San Diego Foundation
• Gladys Gonzalez-Guzman, Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center “The Center”
• Heather Slimp, Catalyst Family Inc.
• Heather Tobler, Lake Elsinore Unified School District
• Hedy N Chang, Attendance Works
• Holly Bluhm, Scientific Adventures for Girls
• Ian Keiller, Roots Education
• Iqbal Badwalz, California Department of Education
• Jason Riggs, Extended Child Care Coalition of Sonoma County
• Jeanine Gaines, The Social Changery
• Jennie Hicks, SF City and County
• Jennifer Horan, Expanded Learning Divsion, California Department of Education
• Jennifer Messerschmidt, California Department of Social Services
• Jerry D Valadez, Fresno State / SAM Academy
• Jesus, High Performance Academy
• Jill Barnes, Napa County Office of Education
• Jill Riemer, High Performance Academy
• Jody Nova, Brains & Motion Education
• John Duran, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools 
• Jonas Mok, Bay Area Community Resources (BACR)
• Joshua Brady, California Department of Education
• Joshua Blecha, Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
• Jude Wood, Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe
• Julia Ma, Department of Human Resources, City and County of San Francisco,
• Dr. Juan Medina, LEARN
• Katina Smith, Boys and Girls Club of San Leandro
• Kelley Elrod, ELOP, Oxnard School District 
• Kelly Johnston, Solana Beach School District
• Kimberly Morrison, City of South San Francisco
• Kristen Raibon, Catalyst Expanded Learning
• Lacey Johnston, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
• Latavia Pineda, Coalition for Engaged Education
• Laura Wasson, Extended Child Care
• Lety Gomez Gong, Monterey County Office of Education
• Linda Lu, Evaluation Studio/Innovation Network
• Lindsey Castillo, Expanded Learning Division, California Department of Education
• Liza Flowers, San Diego County Office of Education
• Lorena Marroquin, FIND Food Bank
• Lupe Valdez, Expanded Learning, Siskiyou County Office of Education
• Lupine Reppert, California School-Age Consortium (CalSAC)
• Maddie Warner, LA STEM Collective
• Madeline Jayne Aguilera, San Joaquin County Office of Education
• Madison Holland, Prosperity Initiative
• Mara Welsh Mahmood, University-Community Links (UC Links) – UC Berkeley School of Education
• Mara Wold, Monterey County Office of Education
• Mariana Lopez Quintanilla, Bay Area Community Resources (BACR)
• Marianne Bird, University of California 4-H Youth Development
• Mario Balcita aka MarLYRIC
• Marissa Camacho-Aggarwal, Parentis Foundation
• Maya Hernandez, Youth Enrichment Program, Hayward Unified School District
• Melissa Castaneda, Think Together
• Melissa Mendez Ochoa, Oakland Leaf Foundation
• Michelle R. Perrenoud, Los Angeles County Office of Education
• Mike Taylor, San Rafael City Schools
• Miamah Reed, Sacramento Unified School District
• Mounir Tyler, The Hidden Genius Project
• Natalia Flores, Think Together
• Natalie Walrond, WestEd
• Nina Portugal, Lead by Learning, a Center of Northeastern University, Oakland
• Patricia Hernandez, Central & Milford School District
• Paul Hoang Nguyen, Rocketship Public School
• Paul Simpson-Jones, Expanded Learning Division, California Department of Education
• Precious James, Education for Change Public Schools
• Quan Gan, ZTAG
• Rahele Atabaki, Sacramento County Office of Education
• Ramon Garcia, Gateway Community Charters
• Rebeca Cerna, WestEd
• Rita Rasuli, San Joaquin County Office of Education
• RJ Hinojosa, Second Harvest Food Bank, Santa Cruz County
• Rod Hsiao, InPlay
• Roni Jones, Ten Strands
• Rosalinda Mancillas
• Rosalva Segura, Cabrillo Unified School District
• Sara Rogers, CDSS, System of Care Branch
• Sharon Ybarra, Santa Maria-Bonita School District
• Sheilah Brooks, Merced County Office of Education
• Shelby Gomez, YMCA Childcare Resource Service, YMCA of San Diego County
• Shelly Duncan, Catalyst Family
• Sonia Arreguin, Self-employed
• Stephanie Hochman, Bay Area Community Resources (BACR)
• Susan Prendergast, Expanded Learning Orange County STEAM Hub
• Tammy Scott, John Adams Academy
• Tanya Ayala, Flockworks
• Tara Ryan, City of San Diego Office of Child & Youth Success
• Tia Anzellotti, arc
• Tiphani Parnell, California Montessori Project
• Tom Gaim, California Department of Education
• Tommy E. Brewer II, Think Together
• Tracy Ulibarri, Project Life Impact, Inc.
• Vanessa Arteaga, Harmonium
• Vincent Chandler, South San Francisco Unified School District

Meet the Design Team

The Design Team consists of Expanded Learning and Out-of-School Time practitioners from across California representing diverse geographies, program models, and lived experiences. They serve as co-designers and thought partners, ensuring that participatory data-gathering methods are accessible and grounded in equity.

This team plays a key role in reviewing data and development engagement strategies, and in ensuring the plan reflects the voices of our young people and adults in relation to youth-serving work across sectors (health care, behavioral health, workforce, nutrition, housing, advocacy).

• Develop and refine the overall process for the strategic plan.
• Organize and activate regional listening sessions.
• Co-Design and support inclusive events, convenings, and work group sessions.
• Create statewide listening strategies centering youth, families, the workforce, and community leaders.
• Build and sustain partnerships across the youth-serving ecosystem.

Region 1:

• Melea Meyer, ASAPConnect 

Region 2:

• James Hall, Lassen County Office of Education

Region 3:

• Gionovan Bean, Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center
• Sarah Billingsley, Foundation for California Community Colleges
• Elle Grant, California Alliance of Child and Family Services
• Navdeep Purewal, Sacramento County Office of Education
• *Daniela Solley, California Department of Education

Region 4

• Delia Fitzpatrick, The Good Rural & Our Kids First
• Jim Hollis, Calculus Roundtable
• Laila Jenkins-Perez, Oakland Unified School District
• Maria Ramirez, Partnership for Children and Youth

Region 6:

• Catalina Kaur, San Joaquin County Office of Education
• *Nat Rosales, California Afterschool Network 

Region 7:

• Jade Mcafee, The JoyCore Project
• Jessica Vera, Madera Unified School District 

Region 8: 

• Dr. Ginger Shea, Oxnard School District 

Region 9:

• Theresa Davis, Harmonium Incorporated
• Corie Sandor, Base Programs 

Region 10: 

• Erica Williams, Nuview Union School District

Region 11:

• Laura Beebe, LA’s Best
• Suzanne Hill, Los Angeles County Office of Education & System of Support for Expanded Learning Member
• Carla Lavelle Trinh, Full Bloom Group
• Danny Salas, Woodcraft Rangers 

Statewide:

• Jaclyn Aviles, THINK Together
• Kimberly Cabais, CalSAC
• Jason Willis, Senior Policy Fellow, WestEd

Applicants Were Considered Based on the Following:

• Commitment to Equity + Systems Change- A demonstrated commitment to equity and credibility as a trusted messenger embedded in the community with authentic, non-performative relationships that support systemic transformation across youth-serving sectors.
• Skills + Experiences- Relevant experience in facilitation, policy, community engagement, program design, or other areas that support whole child, family, and community wellness (health care, behavioral health, workforce, nutrition, housing, advocacy)
• Intergenerational + Cross-Sector Collaboration- Experience working across generations and/or sectors, with a commitment to shared leadership and inclusive decision-making.
• Capacity for Generative Conflict + Experimentation- Willingness to build capacity for generative conflict, challenge existing norms, and explore healing-centered practices to shape systems transformation.
• Commitment to Participation + Collective Care- A dedication to active engagement, attending at least 80% of meetings, and contributing meaningfully between sessions to support the work.

Learn more about the Design Team.

We encourage applicants who are dedicated to intergenerational collaboration, ceding power, experimentation, generative conflict, and compassionate systems work.

For Questions, Contact: Vanessa Hernandez, Senior Specialist, Policy and Outreach at vhernandez@afterschoolnetwork.org

Meet the Core Team

The Core Team — This team consists of CAN and the California Department of Education’s (CDE) Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) staff members. These folks meet twice a month to continuously reflect and determine the steps necessary to move the process forward effectively. This team will also serve as a “refining team” to reduce the final document to a reasonable number of pages.

• Michael Funk, Expanded Learning Division, California Department of Education
• Lindsey Castillo, Expanded Learning Division, California Department of Education
• Jeff Davis, California AfterSchool Network
• Heather Williams, California AfterSchool Network
• Tiffany Gipson, California AfterSchool Network
• Vanessa Hernandez, California AfterSchool Network