Who We Are
First Place for Youth staff at a 2010 planning retreat
First Place for Youth is a Bay Area-based nonprofit organization founded in 1998 to remedy the lack of services available to youth who are making the difficult transition from foster care to independent living.
First Place for Youth Board of Directors
Cassandra Benjamin, Chair
Steven LaFrance , Vice Chair
Dana Kirby, Secretary
Anye’ Spivey, Treasurer
Jared Boldemann
Michael Conn
Mia Green
Robin Johansen
Alvin Nelson
Karen Nelson
Dan Reid
Keith Shultz
First Place for Youth Staff Directory
Sam Cobbs
Chief Executive Officer
510-272-0979 x222
Andrew Niklaus
Chief Operating Officer
510-272-0979 x241
Deanne Pearn
Co-Founder
Chief Policy Officer
510-272-0979 x243
Denise Wells
Chief Financial Officer
510-272-0979
Christy Saxton
Regional Executive Director - Northern California
510-272-0979 x246
Mark Shattuck
Controller
510-272-0979 x297
Aron Sumii
Director of Talent
510-272-0979 x229
DEVELOPMENT
Julie Harris, Communications Manager
510-272-0979 x224
Andrea Miller, Development Associate
510-272-0979 x301
Claudia Miller, Director of Institutional Giving
510-272-0979 x299
MY FIRST PLACE
Martina Bakilana, Youth Advocate
510-272-0979 x300
Dionna Brown-Noguera, Housing Specialist
925-771-3100
C.C. Campbell-Rock, Youth Advocate
510-272-0979
Rachel Carlos, Youth Advocate
510-272-0979
Erica Conners, My First Place Regional Manager - San Francisco County
510-272-0979 x255
Jennifer Duncanson, Youth Advocate
707-430-4360
Catherine Edminster, Youth Advocate
510-272-0979
Melodie Einig, Youth Advocate
707-430-4360 x4361
Malka Goodman-Sills, Housing Specialist - Alameda & San Francisco Counties
510-272-0979 x254
Connie Handlin, My First Place Regional Manager - Alameda County
510-272-0979 x249
Susan Harris, TAY Youth Advocate
707-430-4360
Amy Hayes, Youth Advocate
510-272-0979 x248
Emily Jensen, My First Place Regional Manager - Solano County
707-430-4377
Julie Jun, My First Place Regional Manager - Contra Costa County
925-771-3100 x3108
Diana Kenlow, Youth Advocate
925-771-3100 x3105
Joe Nuni, Community Housing Youth Advocate
510-444-4655
Alisha Petty, Solano County Program Specialist
707-430-4360
Tiffany Puckett, Youth Advocate
707-430-4360
Chio Saetern, Peer Educator
925-771-3100
Mounir Tyler, Youth Advocate
510-272-0979
Emily Sheffield, Contra Costa County Program Specialist
925-771-3100 x3102
Beth Williams, Housing Manager
707-430-4371
STEPS TO SUCCESS / EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT
Melanie Diegel, Education & Employment Specialist
510-272-0979 x223
Susan Kimball, Education & Employment Specialist
707-386-4516
Jeanette Quintero, Education & Employment Specialist
925-771-3100 x3103
Erica Stowers, Education & Employment Specialist
707-430-4369
FIRST STEPS
Simone Harvey, Program Specialist
510-830-3630 x240
Christina Piranio, Community Services Manager
510-830-3630 x223
Folola Takapu, Community Outreach Specialist
510-830-3630
PROGRAM EVALUATION
Celia Manley, Evaluation Support Specialist
510-272-0979 x238
Gabriel Orozco, Manager of Program Evaluation
510-272-0979 x296
Gina Song, Data Support Specialist
510-272-0979 x221
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
Caressa Sanchez, Executive Assistant
510-272-0979 x236
Ana Karina Vazquez, Bookkeeper
510-272-0979 x294