Hyacinth Ahuruonye is the President of the Board, and Managing Principal of HCA & Co., a CPA and management consulting firm. Hyacinth has served on the board for over ten years and has recently focused his attention to reconstituting the board, restructuring the organization to enhance fiscal fitness and accountability, and expanding the important work done by the organization.
Sheila Arcelona, Business & Finance Manager with District Attorney Harris' Office, has been involved with the organization for well over 15 years; initially as a funder and now as a longstanding board member. Sheila believes in strength-based alternatives for marginalized youth and individuals and knows that the work of this organization has proven to be life altering.
Louis Garrett, a retired SF Unified School District Administrator, serves as the chair of the Fund Development Committee and has been on the board for over three years. Lou has always been committed to the academic achievement of disenfranchised youth. He worked his entire career, and now on the board, as a tireless advocate for the right of youth engaged with the juvenile justice system and other social institutions.
Gregory Michail, a Store Manager for Wells Fargo Bank, recently joined the board and is interested in providing community fund development to the organization with an innovate approach to diversifying the source of our support. Gregory also is active in teaching financial literacy to the youth we serve.
Jaime Rossi, Vice President of Barbary Coast Consulting, serves as the chair of the Board Development Committee and has recently joined the board. Jaime was a former school teacher and he has also championed many School to Career efforts. Jaime has a Masters in Public Policy and many contacts within the business and political community to assist with marketing and public relations.
Noelle Simmons is the Deputy Director of Policy and Planning at the San Francisco Human Services Agency. She previously served as Budget Director to Mayor Gavin Newsom and also has professional experience in the private and nonprofit sectors. Noelle has a Master's degree from the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. She is a long-time resident of the Bay Area; she and her husband currently live in San Francisco's Mission district.
Liz Jackson-Simpson serves as our Executive Director. She has been with the organization for over 20 years wearing all hats - from line staff to Board President, funder and back. She created and designed most notably the FOCUS Vocational Job Preparedness program that enables participants to obtain school credits as well as the Juvy Java, the youth directed business that is still operational and self-sufficient.
