Board of Directors
Laurie Shakur, ZineOne
Co-Chair
Day-to-day Laurie is passionate about coaching, developing others and implementing creative HR processes and programs that are globally strategic, impactful, and scalable. Her practical approach includes demystifying communication, identifying, and then leveraging individual/team strengths and building grass root engagement that supports improving overall employee happiness. Career history Laurie is a global Human Resources leader with 20+ years of experience. Prior to joining ZineOne, a SaaS start-up, Laurie held several leadership positions with increasing responsibilities in technology, banking, utilities, and financial services industries. As a lifelong learner, Laurie has attended executive education programs at Cornell University, Stanford University and Dartmouth College. She is a certified Executive Coach. Alma mater Loyola University-Chicago, Bachelor’s Degree, Marketing. Of personal note When not working, Laurie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, hot yoga and hiking. She volunteers her time at Charlotte Maxwell Clinic, an Oakland, CA based non-profit providing complementary, integrative therapies to women with cancer. Additionally, she co-chairs the Oakland Museum of Children’s Art board of directors.
Reina Robinson, M.A.
Co-Chair
Reina Robinson, M.A., is a coordinator of services for San Francisco Bay Area justice-involved youth, a certified Community Resiliency Model (CRM) and Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) instructor, and the Executive Director of the Center for Urban Excellence (CUE). Reina became a scholar at California State University, East Bay, earning a B.A. in Ethnic Studies, Black Studies, Genders and Sexualities in Communities of Color minor, plus a Master of Arts degree in Communication. A child of teen parents, whose father was a murder victim, Reina uses Afrofuturism, poetry and songwriting to share her experiences with hope, healing and resilience to advocate for underrepresented groups.
Daniel Spinka, Sacramento USD
Vice Chair
Daniel Spinka is the Linked Learning coordinator at Sacramento City Unified School District. As a career-long advocate for equity and experiential learning, he has a diverse experience regarding the support of human development. As a teacher and administrator for Linked Learning and career academies since 2005, he worked to provide diverse experiences for all students in his programs. He worked for five years as a Career Technical Education coach for arts, media, and entertainment at Oakland Unified as well as a CTE teacher and lead for a visual arts academy. As a current doctoral student at the George Washington University, he is researching how districts address inequities in career academies through district planning. Prior to his doctorate work, his academic journey began with acquiring a Bachelors of art at San Francisco State University, a master’s in educational leadership and administration at the George Washington University, and the Education Leadership Academy at the University of Southern California. He has worked on the board of directors for the Museum of Children’s Art - Oakland and, over the years, volunteered for other nonprofits.
Tiffany Yang
Treasurer
Tiffany Yang is a service and interaction designer, now focused on building intuitive and innovative products at Google. Having worked closely with youth throughout her career, Tiffany cares deeply about building resilience and sparking inspiration within East Bay youth through arts practice and education. Tiffany is an Oakland resident and UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design alum, with a background in city planning and community development.
Dr. Lee Porsche Moore
Secretary
Dr. Lee Porsche Moore (pronouns: she/her/ella) is a fun-loving lifelong learner committed to walking with children, youth, and families as they reconnect with their inner superhero. Porscha lives in her intersectionality and navigates this world as a Black cisgender woman. Outside of facilitating and guiding trainings, Porscha juggles many hats, which include her role as Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing individual & group therapy and as a college instructor at various CSU, Private, and community colleges throughout the Bay Area. Porscha is a proud first-generation college graduate who has earned a bachelors in psychology from California State University San Bernardino, two Masters degrees in Social Work with an emphasis in community mental health, and Communications from Cal State East Bay, and a Doctorate in Education from San Francisco State University. Porscha communicates through laughter and sarcasm, as she challenges those she works with and serves to never stop challenging the status quo.
Thuy Thi Nguyen, Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP
Board Member
Thuy Thi Nguyen (Thúy Thị Nguyễn) is a Partner in Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP’s Alameda Office. She served as in-house general counsel to the Peralta Community College District for more than 11 years, commencing in 2003. In addition to her duties as chief legal counsel, she served as Acting Vice Chancellor for Human Resources for one year and as Strategic Planning Manager for two years. Thuy was an adjunct instructor teaching education law for several years at California State University, East Bay. Thuy served as interim general counsel for the California Community College’s Chancellor’s Office in Sacramento until July of 2016 when she was appointed President of Foothill College becoming the first Vietnamese American college president in the country – a position she served for over five years. In 2017, Thuy was honored as part of the Carnegie Corporation’s “Great Immigrants” tribute in the New York Times. The tribute is aimed at recognizing naturalized citizens who have helped advance society, culture, and the economy. Also in 2017, she was presented with the Trailblazer Award by the National Conference for Vietnamese American Attorneys. In 2019, she was named one of “100 Women of Influence” by Silicon Valley Business Journal, received Assembly Member Evan Low’s “Leadership in Public Service” award and was named one of the top 15 community college presidents in the country to follow on Twitter. Thuy was the founding Board Chair of California LAW Pathways. In 2016, for her leadership in creating the unprecedented community college pathway to law school initiative, Nguyen received the coveted Diversity Award from the State Bar of California – a statewide award given to an individual each year who has helped diversify the legal profession. Thuy is also the founding board member of Cal MEDICINE, a sister statewide initiative to diversify the medical profession in California. Thuy also recently served on the board of the American Council on Education. Nguyen co-published a book, “25 Vietnamese Americans in 25 Years,” showcasing the contributions of 25 distinguished Vietnamese Americans to mark the anniversary of the fall of Saigon. The book is archived in the Library of Congress and many public and university libraries across the country. (Library of Congress, No. 002283307) Thuy earned her B.A. in Philosophy from Yale University and J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, where she was a member of the inaugural class of the Public Interest Law and Policy Program. Nguyen is a Paul and Daisy Soros for New Americans Fellow.
Tonika Ellison
Board Member
Tonika Ellison is a Program Specialist for Alameda County Social Services Agency. She has more than 20 years of county service working on behalf of economically disadvantaged families and individuals within the County’s critical safety-net programs such as CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal and General Assistance programs. Her career spans both the non-profit and government sectors from direct service to policy development and implementation. Tonika values living authentically, promoting inclusivity and life-long learning. Mother to an adult daughter, Tonika’s current role is mentor to the young adults in her life and a caretaker for aging and disabled loved ones. Tonika possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development from Cal State East Bay.
Kiah Killens
Board Member
Kiah started a non profit with her mother called Each One Teach One H.E.A.L. in 2020. The mission at Each One Teach One is to establish a human connection through valuing our shared experiences, authentic mentorship, character, and communal development. Her community work has equipped her with endless love, empathy, organizational skills, data programming skills, as well as curriculum development. She wholeheartedly loves to invest into the development of our youth. They are the future and will stand on our shoulders to be change agents of the new world. The love for her people and world peace are her biggest motivation.
Talia Jefferson
Board Member
Bio coming soon
Summer Naranjo
Board Member
Bio coming soon
Dr. Cookie Garrett
Board Member
Bio coming soon
Advisory Committee
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Bianca Mallory, The Allen Group, LLC
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Mouzam Nasiri, LendingClub
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Marion Fredman, Arts Consultant (Honorary Board Member)
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Diana Becton, District Attorney