Alex Armenta, Development Manager
Alex develops proposals for funding from foundations, corporations, and government grantmakers and works with program staff to monitor and report on grant-funded activities and outcomes. Prior to joining Juma’s team in May 2008, Alex had 12 years of experience in the nonprofit sector as a program director, evaluator, and grantmaker. Before entering the nonprofit sector, she worked as an English teacher, teacher trainer and translator while living in Mexico City. Alex is an avid reader, camper and hiker, and currently serves on the Board of Florence Crittenton Services.

, Individual Development Manager
Joining the Juma family in mid 2007, Tamika LaShawn Bennett has expertise in the following industries: non-profit; academia; social service; entertainment; banking; and construction management. She has specialization in youth/program development; management; analysis; evaluation; marketing; community mapping; program collaboration; event planning; and photography. With a BA in Theatre Directing from California State University of Hayward, Tamika is excited that her education and training in concert with her passion for working with people will be utilized-challenged-developed. Bringing over 13 years of social service experience to the Juma family. Tamika currently serves as the Youth Development Manager for the Oakland site. Duties include but are not limited to: case management and supervision. Tamika is a privileged parent of one (who I might add is the apple of her eye), and for whom she reserve her off time for exploring the world through an additional eyes. Member of a book club, lover of theatre, avid JAZZ concert attendee…Tamika's light is shining and sustains itself with love, patience, and compassion.

, Chief Operating Officer
Rajasvini directs all programs for social justice youth development, skill building and transitions to college and careers in Oakland and San Francisco and leads efforts to expand Juma's innovative youth matched savings program for use towards college and career goals to East Bay, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego. Vini has over 12 years of experience in international, non-profit, public and private sectors in areas of facilitation and training; program planning and design; management; research and analysis; strategy development and institutional change. A native of India, Vini received a master's degree in public affairs with a focus on technology and telecommunications policy from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and bachelor's degrees in Astrophysics and Interdisciplinary Studies (in Humanities and Social Sciences) from the University of California at Berkeley. She also serves on the international board of directors of Voluntary Services Overseas Canada and is the founder of an international social enterprise that supports youth vocational training in East Africa.

Erica Becks, Youth Development Manager
Erica arrived at Juma in May of 2008. She brings 10 years experience working with youth in various capacities including: counseling, mentoring, advocacy, and grassroots activism. She has 5 years professional experience working as a clinical social worker serving youth in the mental health sector. Her areas of professional interest include: cultural competency & diversity, disparity reduction strategies, program evaluation & analysis, work/life balance, social justice programming for disadvantaged/marginalized populations (particularly integrating mindfulness & social justice). Erica received her Masters in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley's School of Social Welfare and her Bachelors in Cultural Anthropology from Brown University. Her passions/interests include: ethnic dance, taking walks, travel, texas hold em poker, foreign & indie movies, eastern philosophy, wine tasting, and spending with family & friends.

Joshua Bloom, Assets Services Coordinator
Joshua received his Bachelors in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he became involved as a student-activist. He was the Organizing Director for a key campaign to obtain more funding for student initiated outreach efforts to low income students of color in California. From there, he began working with youth in Oakland and San Francisco in the areas of workforce development, counseling and advocacy. Joshua is a San Francisco native and takes a lot of pride in his experience with the diverse communities of the entire Bay Area. His passions include youth development, and hip-hop music.

, Assets Services Coordinator
This is Yvonne's first time on the west coast. Originally from New York City and a graduate of Middlebury College in political science, Yvonne previously worked in Boston as a housing advocate for the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. She has also served in Americorps, a site coordinator for a literacy project working with first and second graders in a Dorchester public school, and interned at a variety of other nonprofits including the DC Central Kitchen. In the coming year, she looks forward to building GROW, Juma’s newly launched statewide Individual Development Account (IDA) program.

, Youth Services Manager
Laney is a clinical social worker with more than 6 years of experience providing mental health services to children, families, and adolescents. After completing a BS in Psychology at UC San Diego, her passion for social justice led her to New York City, where she completed her Masters in Social Work at Columbia University. Laney enjoys outdoor pursuits, dance, yoga, and is actively engaged in the larger social work community.

, Enterprise Director
David joined Juma in 2005 as the Enterprise Director. Prior to Juma, David co-founded an Internet company focused on international trade. David has significant experience in structuring and negotiating business transactions including prior experience managing start-ups. David received his undergraduate degree with honors from Wesleyan University and earned his MBA from Columbia Business School.

Jonathan D’Souza, Development Associate
Jonathan D'souza joined the Juma Ventures team mid-January 2008 as the Development Associate. He graduated from U.C. Davis with a B.A. in English and Women & Gender Studies. During his time studying at Davis, he spent years honing his talents while working with many of the on campus community-based organizations. These groups included The U.C. Davis Cross Cultural Center, The U.C. Davis Women Center, The U.C. Davis LGBT Resource Center, as a re-establishing chair of U.C. Davis Queer Student Union, and an unnamed Programming Co-Chair of the first annual LGBT Western Regional Conference. He also had a short lived radio show on the local station, KDVS, which fostered his love of new and innovative music.

Amir El-Chidiac, Youth Development Coordinator
Amir received a BA in Women’s Studies from Portland State University and an MFA in Writing and Consciousness from the New College of California. Amir has ten years of experience working with diverse populations of youth in group homes, homeless shelters, drop in facilities and private care. Amir also facilitates creative writing workshops and anti-oppression trainings for both youth and adults.

Kenneth Faunteroy, DC Enterprise Manager
Kenneth is a native Washingtonian, and graduate of Tufts University with a Bachelors Degree in Quantitative Economics. He has experience in real estate development, renovation, property management, negotiation and marketing. Before moving into real estate he sharpened his skills at a local public charter school managing its marketing, contracting, public relations, facilities and business operations. His marketing expertise is matched with a passion for the real estate market and a focus on exceeding client expectations. His approach results in clients making profitable real estate investment decisions and having an enjoyable experience.

, Campaign and Marketing Manager
Ana is originally from Brazil and came to the United States to study marketing at the University of California, at Berkeley. Her first professional experience in the non-profit sector was in 2003 and it led her to pursue her second degree in Nonprofit Administration at the University of San Francisco. Ana lives in Berkeley and loves practicing yoga, traveling, and hiking in her leisure time.

, Youth Development Manager
Mesha is a native Mississippian who brings more than 11 years of direct service experience providing guidance/ counseling, special education advocacy, and workforce development services for low-income unrepresented minorities. She received her MS from University of West Alabama in counseling psychology and her BA from Mississippi State University in business administration. Mesha currently services as Youth Development Manger for Washington-DC location. She is currently in the final leg for completing her doctorate in education administration. Mesha is a reality show junkie, whose passions include photography, education advocacy, film and television, traveling abroad and print/commercial modeling. She considers herself to be an exercise enthusiast and a history buff. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

, Career Transition Coordinator
Hello everyone my name is Domingo and here are a few facts about me: My favorite movies Brave Heart and Pulp Fiction. Country of Origin: Nicaragua. Things I enjoy doing: Spending time my wife, with my family, and with my friends; Going to the movies, playing basketball, light-hiking, reading, and sleeping. Favorite sports teams: SF 49ers, Oakland A's, and San Jose Sharks and Detroit Pistons.

, Enterprise General Manager
Jeronimo joined Juma at the start of 2007, to manage day-to-day operations of the San Francisco ballparks. Jeronimo brings to Juma a background in business, sport and entertainment from employment with the Los Angeles Clippers Basketball Team, ABC/Kane Productions, and service as GM of a small artistic manufacturing company in the Sacramento Valley. Jeronimo received his undergraduate degree from UC Davis and earned his MA in Sports Management from University of San Francisco.

, Controller
Fira joined Juma in May 1996 and can lay honest claim to the title "Juma veteran." A native of Kiev, Russia, Fira earned her Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering and worked as an engineer in Russia before immigrating to the United States in 1994. She has since worked in Accounting in the private and nonprofit sectors and has overseen Juma’s financial operations for nearly 10 years. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two daughters.

, Education and Career Transitions Manager
Damon came to Juma from Upward Bound, where he spent 6 years working with youth to help them become the first in their families to attend college. Damon is a San Francisco native and has deep knowledge of the communities that Juma works in and the high schools our youth attend. Damon received his Bachelor's degree from the UC Santa Barbara.

Rafael Platas, Assistant Enterprise General Manager
Rafael is originally from Mexico and came to the United States to improve his International Business Administration Career. Rafael brings three years hospitality and sales experience to Juma Ventures, where he will work in day-to-day ballpark operations. Rafael earned his B.A Degree at University Anahuac in Mexico.

Monica Brooke Sheftel, Youth Development Coordinator
Monica was happy to join Juma at the beginning of 2008. She brings more than 4 years of experience empowering youth through mentorship, education, and community action projects. Monica completed her undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies with a minor in Education at UCLA. Upon graduating with her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Monica followed youth-driven movements for social justice to the Bay Area. She actively participates on the Board of Directors for Women and Youth Supporting Each Other (WYSE). Monica loves to play with rhythm, eat fresh food, and explore new places.

, Asset Services Manager
Maria brings over 12 years of nonprofit experience in the areas of immigrant and low-income family asset development, youth services, and human rights. Maria received her Bachelors degree at UC Berkeley and a Masters in International Relations at the University of the Philippines. Maria's passions include youth development, human rights concerns and travel.

, Chief Executive Officer
Marc is a community activist with 20 years of experience in youth development as a teacher, high school counselor, and non-profit administrator. Marc has experience in private and charter school design, curriculum development, program evaluation, non-profit program management, and grant development. His accomplishments include the development of a San Francisco African American private school and the design and directorship of the nation's first Upward Bound Visual and Performing Arts program.

Marc recently served as the Business Development Director for Walden House Inc. with management responsibilities for $40M in federal and state grants. Before becoming Juma's Chief Executive Officer Marc served as the agency's Associate Director for over a year. During this tenure Marc played an instrumental role in developing and implementing performance management and evaluation systems at Juma. Since taking leadership at Juma Marc has successfully scaled and replicated the Juma model nationwide. Juma operates eight social enterprises in four cities that employs 250 youth and generates over $1.3M in revenue.

Today Marc is a member of the Aspen Institute's Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy Group, advisory board member of the National Youth Employment Coalition, Fellow at the Full Circle Fund, member of the Social Enterprise Alliance, and advisory board member of American Forward. Marc holds a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles, as well as master's and doctorate degrees in Education from the University of San Francisco. He resides in West Oakland, CA with his wife and two sons.

, Assets Services Coordinator
Doris received her Bachelors in Child and Adolescent Development: Research and Public Policy from San Francisco State University. Her community involvement concerning the youth population encompasses policy research for San Francisco's Youth Law Center and mentoring female detained youth at San Francisco's Juvenile Hall through the Girls Justice Initiative. Doris provides key administrative, operational, policy and program support in the Asset Services Department as well as participation in Juma workshops and events.

, Office Associate
Alvin Yu joined Juma Ventures in March of 2007 as a high school Senior. After working at the ballparks as a vendor and cart employee for one season, Alvin first transitioned to the Youth Intern and then to the Office Associate Position at the Juma office. Currently a freshmen attending San Francisco State University, Alvin is looking to major in Sociology and minor in Business marketing/communications. Excited and pumped to continue his experience at Juma, Alvin looks forward to stick around Juma for further job opportunities.

, Enterprise Manager
Jesse joined Juma as the Enterprise Manager in 2007. Jesse's experience includes professional writing and editing, event management, sport marketing and multimedia, and the goal of merging sport business with youth and international development. He has also worked as a teacher, counselor, and youth sports coach in Atlanta, GA, where he graduated from Emory University, and the San Francisco Bay Area, where he was born and raised. Jesse will earn his M.A. in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco in May, 2008.

, Publicist
Leyla Farah is the founder and owner of Cause+Effect Public Relations, Inc. Prior to founding Cause+Effect, she served as the Vice President of Programming and Production for PlanetOut Inc., where she oversaw the daily publication of both news and feature stories for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender audiences around the world. Leyla also worked as an Account Executive with Stone Yamashita Partners, where she oversaw corporate strategy, branding and communications initiatives for Fortune 500 clients from Istanbul to Anaheim.

Leyla holds a JD from Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley, and a BA from the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon. She has served on the national Board of Governors for the Human Rights Campaign, and now volunteers her time with both the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Historical Society and openhouse. She and her partner live with their dog Millie in San Francisco.

, Publicist
Collins Spencer attended Howard University in Washington, D.C earning a BA in communications. After graduation, Collins continued his role as a writer and producer for Black Entertainment Television (BET). Six months later, Miller Brewing Company hired Collins as a spokesperson and communications specialist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Prior to launching Strategic Communications LLC in 2007, he worked at several major national and local media outlets. Before television news, Collins spent four years as a federal lobbyist on Capitol Hill. As a former national, local news broadcaster, corporate communications specialist, and federal lobbyist, Mr. Spencer has maximized his skills in this specialized area of PR and media relations. After years of being on the other side of the camera, Collins decided to launch Strategic Communications LLC, an Atlanta based Public Relations Firm, with the primary goal of providing each client with personal customized services.