Who We Are
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
Tangerine Brigham, Chair
Cassandra Benjamin, Vice Chair
Deborah Leland, Treasurer
Mia Green, Secretary
Jared Boldemann
Lianne Campodonico
Dana Kirby
Steven LaFrance
Alvin Nelson
Dan Reid
Anye Spivey
First Place for Youth Staff Directory
Sam Cobbs
Executive Director
510-272-0979 x.222
Deanne Pearn
Co-Founder
Chief Development Officer
510-272-0979 x.243
Andrew Niklaus
Chief Operating Officer
510-272-0979 x.241
Aron Sumii
Director of Talent
510-272-0979 x.229
Christy Saxton, Regional Executive Director - Northern California
510-272-0979 x.246
Renee Smith-Maddox, Regional Executive Director - Southern California
510-272-0979
Keith Rosenthal, Associate Director of Development and Community Relations
510-272-0979 x.308
My First Place Staff
Emily Gay, My First Place Regional Manager - Contra Costa & Solano Counties
925-771-3100 x.3109
Connie Handlin, My First Place Regional Manager - Alameda & San Francisco Counties
510-272-0979 x.249
Rachel Gonzales-Clark, Alameda County Program Services Coordinator
510-272-0979 x. 305
Kyle Lopes, San Francisco County Program Services Coordinator
510-272-0979 x. 252
Juliann Jun, Contra Costa County Program Services Coordinator
925-771-3100 x.3108
Jennifer Duncanson, Solano County Program Services Coordinator
707-430-4360
Elizabeth Wright, Housing Manager
510-272-0979 x. 247
Esteban Allard-Aldivieso, Housing Specialist
510-272-0979 x. 254
Alisha Petty, Solano County Program Specialist
707-430-4360
Janise Mitchell, Contra Costa County Program Specialist
925-957-2418 x.3102
Alexis Pope, Host Home (PATH) Youth Advocate
510-272-0979 x.258
Ariana Sanchez, AHA Coordinator
510-444-4655
Diana Kenlow, Youth Advocate
925-771-3100 x.3105
Joe Nuni, Community Housing Youth Advocate
510-444-4655
Melodie Einig, Youth Advocate
707-430-4361
Rachel Carlos, Youth Advocate
510-272-0979
Rachel Shonkwiler, Youth Advocate
925-771-3100 x. 3107
Shawn Johnson, Youth Advocate
510-272-0979 x. 314
Susan Harris, TAY Youth Advocate
707-430-4360
Tasha Walker, Youth Advocate
510-272-0979 x. 237
Tiffany Puckett, Youth Advocate
707-430-4360
First Foundation
Kat Black, First Foundation Coordinator
510-272-0979 x. 255
Breanna Tillman, First Foundation Youth Advocate
510-272-0979 x.233
First Steps
Adrienne Stephens-Jackson
510-272-0979 x. 306
Brioni Harris, Peer Educator
510-272-0979 x. 228
Chio Saetern, Peer Recruitor
925-771-3100 x.3101
Jeanette Quintero, Education and Employment Specialist
925-771-3100 x.3103
John Magrans, Education and Employment Specialist
510-272-0979 x.223
Kim Boynton, Education and Employment Coodinator
707-430-4360
Ly Franshaua Pipkins, Assessment and Training Specialist
510-272-0979 x. 244
Rokeeshia Anderson, Education and Employment Specialist
510-272-0979
Tawanda Gilbert, Community Resources Specialist
510-272-0979 x. 231
Tarik Scott, Manager of Employment and Education
510-272-0979 x. 259
Terri Larkins, Peer Educator
707-430-4360
Finance and Administration
Antoinique Hawkins, Administrative Assistant
510-272-0979 x. 317
Caressa Sanchez, Executive Assistant
510-272-0979 x. 236
Alysia Cox, Bookkeeper
510-272-0979 x. 298
Ana Karina Vazquez, Bookkeeper
510-272-0979 x. 294
Celia Manley, Program Support Specialist
510-272-0979 x. 238
Edward Lovas, Manager of Information Technology
510-272-0979 x. 256
Gabriel Orozco, Manager of Program Evaluation
510-272-0979 x. 296
Development
Claudia Miller, Regional Development Manager
510-272-0979 x. 299
Julia Donofrio, Development Associate
510-272-0979 x. 227
Mei-Hua Gee, Volunteer & Events Manager
510-272-0979 x. 295