Arlae Alston
Director of Programs , Puente de la Costa Sur
Arlae Alston has worked with children and families for more than 25 years, dedicated to advancing early childhood education and community wellbeing. She holds an M.A. in Human Development with a specialization in Leadership in Education and Human Services from Pacific Oaks College and an ECE degree from Cabrillo College. For the past 11 years, she has served at Puente de la Costa Sur, including five as Director of Programs. Arlae has also taught at Cabrillo College, trained at the Pikler Institute in Budapest, and worked in Nicaragua and El Salvador. She lives in Santa Cruz with her husband, Anthony.
When not working: When I’m not working, I love hiking and spending quiet time with mother earth. I enjoy creating with my hands—collaging, embroidering, or any craft that keeps me grounded. I also love reading and discussing books with my husband, dancing, singing, thrifting, and sharing time in community with people I love.
Micheal Bray
Director of External Affairs, Rocketship Public Schools CA
Micheal Bray, CSM serves as the Director of External Affairs at Rocketship Public Schools California, leading charter renewal strategy, advocacy, and community partnerships. With over a decade of experience in K–8 education—as a teacher, principal, and nonprofit leader—he has dedicated his career to advancing educational equity and family engagement. Before joining Rocketship, Micheal worked with KIPP Metro Atlanta, strengthening external affairs and community initiatives. His background in school leadership and agile project management enables him to bridge education, policy, and community to drive lasting impact across the public education landscape.
When not working: I love being outdoors—whether by the water or on a new trail—recharging with friends and family, and finding purpose through community service and spaces that bring people together.
Nicole Chiu-Wang
Executive Director, Pathwise (formerly DreamCatchers)
Nicole Chiu-Wang is a nonprofit leader, advocate, and mother of two committed to advancing representation and equity in education. She serves as Executive Director of Pathwise and chairs the Education Committee for the NAACP San Jose/Silicon Valley branch. Dedicated to serving her community, she contributes her time and leadership to the Palo Alto Chinese Parents Club, Palo Alto Woman’s Club, Reproductive Freedom for All, South Palo Alto Food Closet, Silicon Valley APA Democratic Club, and her children’s PTAs. Nicole is a licensed attorney, certified Bar Method Instructor and was formerly a tech entrepreneur, small business owner, and Google strategist.
When not working: Nicole loves staying active with Bar Method and Peloton, exploring near and far, and spending time with her children and husband—whether at the playground, pickleball courts or anywhere sports are played. She enjoys baking, hanging out with friends, and turning life’s lemons into lemonade—most times literally, sometimes figuratively!
Diego Constantakis
Expansion and Capacity Manager, English Together
A former technology consultant, Diego Constantakis brings an analytical and systems-focused approach to nonprofit management. He serves as Expansion and Capacity Manager at English Together, a Bay Area nonprofit that helps Spanish-speaking workers build the practical English skills needed to succeed at work and in daily life, while connecting learners with English-speaking volunteers to foster mutual understanding, confidence, and community. Diego supports the organization’s growth by strengthening partnerships and infrastructure to expand this model of connection and shared learning.
When not working: During my free time, I like to travel to new places and spend time with my friends and family. I’ve also recently gotten back into reading for fun, and I am always looking for new recommendations!
Melissa Gonzalez
Chief of Staff, Latinas Contra Cancer
Rooted in equity and systems-level thinking, I lead with strategic rigor and deep community insight. As Chief of Staff, I apply over eight years of nonprofit leadership to build scalable infrastructure, align stakeholders, and drive measurable impact. My dual master’s degrees in International Marketing and Business inform a disciplined, mission-driven approach. I champion health justice through culturally responsive initiatives and root-cause solutions that address environmental harm, food insecurity, and structural inequities. With a background in integrative nutrition, I believe true wellbeing begins where people live, work, and play, and that leadership must reflect the communities we serve.
When not working: When I’m not working, I love traveling, experiencing different cultures, and spending time with the people I love. I also enjoy reading, especially about functional medicine and nutrition. Exploring how food, environment, and lifestyle impact health at a root-cause level fascinates me, and I’m always looking for ways to apply that knowledge to both personal wellbeing and community-centered care.
LaKesha Preston-Roberts
Associate Director, Ecumenical Hunger Program
LaKesha is Ecumenical Hunger Program’s Associate Director overseeing EHP’s Direct Service Programs. Her desire to serve those in need started at a young age volunteering at EHP. After earning her BA in Mathematics and Education from Bryn Mawr College, LaKesha realized her passion was to help the marginalized and at-risk populace in EPA. She has spent over a decade with EHP, from her promotion to the Food Program Coordinator, then to Donations Manager before her current position as EHP’s Associate Director. LaKesha is excited for opportunities to continue to develop her current skills and add new leadership development to further assist in building partnerships and finding ways to better serve her neighbors in need.
When not working: When I’m not working (and she allows), I enjoy spending time with my adorable 2-year-old. I love getting nostalgic and channeling my inner child by playing board games, solving puzzles, and accepting a challenge in a game of pool; love getting lost in a good book, listening to an inspirational podcast or hitting the gym!
Alexis Roman
Santa Clara County Director, Young Womens Freedom Center
Alexis is a proud first-generation Latina, born near the U.S.–Mexico border and raised across San Diego. She joined the Young Women’s Freedom Center in 2021, co-leading pilots that uplifted justice-impacted young mothers and survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. Now Director of the Santa Clara County site, Alexis draws on her own experiences to champion the leadership and self-determination of systems-impacted youth. She believes that investing in young people through storytelling and narrative shift not only transforms their own lives, but also the futures of their families and communities—breaking cycles of harm and building pathways for generational freedom.
When not working: When she’s not working, Alexis enjoys long runs, dancing, exploring new coffee shops, and caring for her plantitas.
Michael Sierra
Outreach Program Manager, Pacifica Resource Center
Starting at community college, I discovered a passion for service that led me to transfer into a dual degree program. That journey inspired me to launch my own nonprofit, Myriad, while continuing to serve my community. I now work as a project manager at Pacifica Resource Center, where I lead homeless outreach services and initiatives focused on equity, access, and empowerment. Deeply committed to community work, I also fiscally sponsor, mentor, and volunteer with organizations throughout the Bay Area to support grassroots change.
When not working: When I’m not organizing or working, I enjoy biking and hiking with my dog, supporting bay area food outreach efforts, and leading community art projects/events. My passion for creative, grassroots change drives both my professional and personal life, blending service, expression, and connection across the communities I serve.
Payal Sinha
Director of Stratergic Partnership and Community Relations, Tahirih Justice Center
Payal Sinha is the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement at the Tahirih Justice Center, leading national pro bono programs and community collaborations that expand access to justice for immigrant survivors of gender-based violence. A 2025 Public Voices Fellow (The OpEd Project/Blue Shield of CA Foundation), Women in Policy Fellow, and ABA Family Law Diversity Fellow, she helped draft CA AB 865 (CSEC training) and SB 493 (gender-based violence in schools), both signed into law. She also serves on the Santa Clara County Human Rights Commission
Christian Valdez
Director of Development and Impact, Building Skills Partnership
Christian Valdez, Director of Strategy and Impact at Building Skills Partnership (BSP), drives the organization’s vision and execution. With over a decade in nonprofit management, he leverages BSP’s labor-management partnership model to design programs that advance careers for property service workers and their families. He specializes in convening partners to establish high-road training models, fostering economic mobility and systems change through a holistic, two-generational approach. His commitment is personal: he is an immigrant and the son of cleaning workers. He holds dual BAs from UCLA.
When not working: When I’m not working, I’m with my family, including my wife, son, and dog. We are avid campers, hikers, and backpackers, often exploring national and state parks. My wife and I also enjoy cooking together and traveling.
Facilitators
Curtis Chang
Founder and Director of Silicon Valley Next
Curtis leads Consulting Within Reach, a firm serving nonprofits and government in strategic planning, marketing, fundraising, and other consulting services. Clients have included multiple MacArthur “Genius Grant” winners, the U.S. State Department, Stanford University, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and hundreds of community based nonprofits. Curtis has won national recognition from the Obama White House for innovative work in the social sector. He is an adjunct professor at American University in Washington D.C. Curtis graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. summa cum laude in Government, and is a past winner of a Rockefeller Fellowship.
When not working: Curtis enjoys hosting parties with his wife Jody, doing crossword puzzles, playing pickleball, and learning to play the piano in his middle age (as repentance for short-sightedly resisting lessons when he was 9 years old).
Jody Chang
Co-Director of Silicon Valley Next
Jody Chang oversees SV2’s internal operations and supports SV2’s hands-on, collaborative impact investing and immersive learning programs. She guides SV2 Donor Partners in their engagement with SV2’s programming, designed to transform their personal giving and investing through deep learning about power, privilege, racial justice, and equity. Jody is also a Managing Director of The Campbell Foundation, a family foundation which makes grants focused on education equity. She holds a BA in History and Literature from Harvard University.
When not working: When not at work, Jody enjoys hiking, gathering groups of friends to connect over shared meals (and cocktails!), escaping to other worlds through novels and TV shows, eating at farm to table restaurants, and taking weekend getaways.
Brad Jung
Executive Coach for Silicon Valley Next
Brad helps clients maximize their programmatic impact and their marketing appeal. He is an expert in empowering organizations to grasp their underlying message and their various audiences, and then to devise the best strategy to make the connection.Brad leads product strategy for Decision Counsel – a marketing and sales consulting firm in Silicon Valley. He has served as the CEO of Resonate, a provider of application performance management solutions. He has also held senior management positions at Purisma, Diffusion, Compaq and Borland. Brad’s nonprofit experience includes serving as the president of the School-Force Education Foundation of Belmont-Redwood Shores.
When not working: I enjoy spending time with family and friends (I have grandkids!), serving in his church and being in the great outdoors. I’m also a sci-fi geek.
Kevin Friesen
Executive Coach for Silicon Valley Next
Kevin is a sought-after ambassador of Duarte and their vision to transform people and organizations through unparalleled communication. For 20 years, Kevin worked in the social sector developing people and programs to serve their communities.
Since joining Duarte in 2011, Kevin has influenced thinking and promoted change, leading over 800 workshops for thousands of individuals across the world. He helps awaken natural talents and builds confidence in communicators.
Kevin has a BA in Music and a Masters in Conducting from Golden Gate Seminary. He also completed the Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurialism from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
When not working: My wife and I love to host and entertain in our home. We embrace any kind of travel or adventure, especially those involving our kids and grandkids. And we enjoy the simple pleasures of food and wine and conversation…as well as the not so simple pleasure of playing golf.