ASSOCIATE

Cecilia heads programs, recruitment and development as an Associate Director at Friends for Youth, a Bay Area agency that has perfected mentoring over the last 42 years. She brings over 10 years of experience in education and youth development, working with kids of all ages and all walks of life. Cecilia is passionate about social justice and supporting young people, their families and their wider communities. She is actively engaged on the Racial Equity Subcommittee for San Mateo County's Community Collaboration for Children’s Success initiative (CCCS) and leads the Racial Justice in Mentoring Workgroup for California Mentoring Partnership. Cecilia is a YCore Fellow Alum, and has helped Because Justice Matters, women and girls in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Sciences and a B.A. in Art from UC Berkeley. She has her Masters of Social Work from Columbia University, where she won the Hoffman Writing Award, the Tamer Fellowship and the Lowenstein Fellowship.

When not working, Cecilia enjoys making art, writing, reading, and loves animals, especially dogs. She also really enjoys the outdoors, activities and sports like frisbee (she was on the ultimate team at Cal), biking and spin. As of late, she is learning to golf and surf.

Cecilia is an Associate Clinical Social Worker and is interested in working with youth and families, couples -- and really anyone who needs someone in their corner. She is planning to learn more about pet therapy, art therapy, sex therapy, EMDR and hypno therapy modalities.