​Name: Shakera Buchanan
Position: Clinical Intervention Specialist
What led you to your current position? At times I felt like the current position I am in almost fell in my lap. Prior to becoming a Clinician that serves children, youth, and families, I was a Case Manager that provided case management services to formerly homeless and homeless adults for over 12 years. It was not until I went to graduate school through an internship opportunity, where I discovered school- based mental health services. I quickly fell in love with working in this setting and with this population. After this experience, I knew that I wanted to become a school-based clinician and here I am now.
What inspires you to do this work? As a Black woman who is the product of the Oakland Unified School District, OUSD,  and a mother of two children who are students in the OUSD, I feel that I have a duty to give back to a community that has given so much to me. I am inspired by the teachers, administrators and school staff that I have witnessed fight hard, love hard and give so much for our kiddo’s even when it seems like so many  others have given up. I am inspired by the parents and caregivers that despite their limited resources, abilities, and provisions they continue to advocate and show up in support of their children’s education and social emotional growth. I am so inspired by our children that despite any hardships, struggles or oppositions they may face, they persevere with their education with a wholesome attitude. I am so happy that I get to not only witness this but be a part of it in some small way.
What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? Teamwork does make the dream work. I love our Coordination of Service Team, COST at Horace Mann Elementary School. All school staff and community partners come together and collaborate on best ways to support students and families and they execute this task so well. There have been many students and families who have greatly benefitted from this team’s coordinated efforts and actions.
Share your life motto or something unique about yourself: My favorite life motto is, This too shall pass. I have experienced many personal hardships in life, as a youth and as well as an adult. I know if I persevere, whatever it is will pass and I will be able to make it through.

Name: Justin Vizinau
Position: Student Support Assistant
What led you to your current position? Upon finishing my undergrad in psychology, my goal was/is to become a therapist/counselor so I started looking for opportunities that would introduce me into the field of work whether directly or indirectly. I always enjoyed working with youth since I was in high school volunteering as a coach for my school’s summer basketball camps. I really wanted to serve the underserved population of kids in my surrounding community so when I came across the SSA position at Seneca it all seemed like a perfect fit. In addition to working with underserved youth in the east bay area, I get to work closely on a team with counselors, teachers, and many more individuals.
What inspires you to do this work? It is a great feeling knowing that I have a chance at positively impacting the lives of those that I serve through my position. The kids that I work with are the future and what happens to them now can have an effect on what they achieve later in their lives, so being able to give them that much more of an opportunity for success is very special.
What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? Something important that I have learned while working as an SSA is that we can take away just as much from the clients as they take away from us. I have had the opportunity to both learn so much more about myself through this work and continue to build upon skills that are not only necessary to do this work, but that are great skills to have throughout life.
Share your life motto or something unique about yourself: I think one of the motto’s that I have recently began to use for my own life is “I’m just here to have a good time.” Whether it is with work, continuing my education, spending time with family and friends, or even doing everyday errands life should be a good time even when it seems tedious or frustrating. We have limited amount of time so why not try and enjoy the life we have, and this is the kind of energy I wish to bring to the kids I work with.

Name: Kelsey Corrales
Position: Unconditional Education Coach
What led you to your current position? After working as a classroom teacher, I realized that one of my favorite things about the position was the unique ability to create meaningful relationships with each student and to build a safe learning environment and close-knit classroom community. It seemed like stepping into the UE Coach role was a natural transition, as I could help to build these same things, just on a larger scale!
Fun Fact: I used to sing and would perform the National Anthem at local sporting events!
What does your average day look like? In the morning and at the end of the day, I facilitate CICO with a number of students. I also facilitate monthly and weekly meetings and spend a whole lot of time in classrooms. Sometimes I accompany classes on field trips, or I step in when teachers are absent. This year, I spent a lot of time getting to know staff and collaborating with community organizations that serve our students. Often, the school principal will ask me to do projects or run meetings, which keeps me on my toes!
Why do you do this work? It's funny because I told myself I would never be an educator like so many of my family members. However, no matter where I was or what job I had, I always made time to serve youth in some capacity. So, here I am, and I really enjoy what I do!
Working in the school setting allows me to have consistent time with each student. I love to celebrate the small successes, which means that I get to celebrate most days! How cool is that?! That's why I do this meaningful work!

Name: Todd Parker
Position: Unconditional Education Coach
What led you to your current position? Was looking for something, anything, that offered me interaction with young people with challenging personalities.
Quote: Everyone thinks they're GREAT with relationships, until they're not.
What does your average day look like? Prying myself from bed, drinking a cup of coffee like it's needed, listening to my personality playlist and eyeballing my many, many "to-do" lists. Eliminating at least one task from that list is a real accomplishment for me, especially within this current, virtual lifestyle.
Why do you do this work? Early enough in my career, I realized what made me successful connecting with young people. At its core, it was replicating the approach from the adults that resonated with me when I was younger. And with the hopes of making a real impact, to the students and adults around me, I choose to give my genuine self to others just like someone did for me.

Position: Clinical Intervention Specialist
What led you to your current position? I completed my Masters in Social Work degree in May of 2019 with a focus on working with family, youth, and children. Prior to my masters program, I worked in school-based programs and youth development doing direct work and program management for 5 years. With the completion of my masters degree, I was excited to hone my therapeutic skills, elevate my experience working in schools, and have the potential to impact a system.  The CIS position is perfect in allowing me to do just that.
Quote: “You cannot change society unless you take responsibility for it, unless you see yourself as belonging to it and responsible for changing it” – Grace Lee Boggs
What does your average day look like? My average day includes holding sessions with clients, connecting with teachers and administrators, researching different therapeutic activities to add to my toolbox, and moments of self-care.
Why do you do this work? I do this work because I believe that we all play a role in combating inequitable systems. I believe that we all have power and the right to self-determination. Lastly, I do this work because I know that caring adults can make a difference for young people of color to be seen, heard, and feel joy. 

Name: Jacqueline Rivera
Position: UE Coach in Seattle, WA
What led you to your current position? I have come to appreciate my own K-12 education experience as being immersed in identities and communities other than my own. I’ve always been a curious person and always enjoyed getting to know and work with all different types of people. I studied psychology with a minor in education and found that I wanted to serve a diverse community which eventually lead me to social work particularly, school social work. I’ve had the opportunity to work in schools for almost 10 years, been an in-home ABA therapist as well as an in-home crisis family therapist here in King County, WA that has reinforced my passion of work with youth and families. Being able to work as a UE Coach allows me to interact and navigate the different systems that impact our youth and families and I will be honest, being around elementary students keeps me on my toes! I love their unfiltered, passionate voices and it brings me joy to be around that type of energy. I can’t wait to be among students again.
Fun Fact: My hometown is where In-n-Out began. If you ask for extra sauce, you can see my city printed on the back.
What does your average day look like? My average day has been impacted by the global pandemic just like everyone else. My typical day currently consist of keeping the same schedule as I would if I were on-site at a school. I still interface with the staff via virtual meetings, continuing the work through spaces such as MTSS & Race and Equity committees and joining the counseling team in creating weekly social emotional content for learning. I am collaborating with educators at both my school sites in navigating the challenging inequities that have been magnified due to this pandemic.  I miss the students that I would see in the schools and try to join virtual meetings when available and appropriate. As a working parent, I am navigating what parenting looks like with a toddler who often joins my afternoon meetings and requests to say hello to my colleagues.
Why do you do this work? I see schools as a central community hub. Schools have access and potential to connect with students, family, community members, local businesses, local faith-based organizations, and service providers. This gives schools the opportunity to build their asset map of skills, resources and community-lead solutions. I do this work because of the potential that is every student and my anchor is always equity. When I work in schools, I see the school system as a symphony, each section playing its own part, each section with its own leader. Working alongside school administrators and leaders offers the opportunity to adjust, practice and impact systems of intervention across all streams so that we can fine-tune what may be at times a loud cacophony to a full-blown orchestra.
Further, as a staff of color, I do this work because the school system wasn’t built or didn’t have communities of color in mind. Every day is a chance to validate the experience of every individual, to acknowledge and name that the system and unfortunately perhaps even the school staff, has yet to reflect the population that walks through the doors. Every day is a chance to push back against the systems and to follow the lead of the communities we seek to serve.  

Name: Mark Bingel-McKillips
Position: Therapist at Starr King Elementary/ Lead Clinician All-In SF
What led you to your current position? I’ve worked for Seneca for 18 years, starting first at the CTF in San Francisco then transitioning to SF Connections with the TBS and Therapy programs.  When the opportunity arose to join a school-based program, I knew it could be a great chance to make positive change in a different environment.  During this last school year, my position shifted from SF Connections to an All-In supported role.
Fun Fact: My first Seneca team building activity was going skydiving. 
What does your average day look like? This is a hard question to answer.  Since the start of the shelter in place, my job has shifted from a school-based position to supporting my Starr King caseload via telehealth when possible.  Additionally, I am working as the administration on-call for Seneca’s Rapid Response hotline for one day per week and serving as a wraparound clinician under the SF Connections Wraparound Program supporting a family that has recently reunified.
​​I’m also a father of a four-month-old baby boy and very rambunctious little girl who will turn three at the end of the month.  My wife, Sarah, also is working from home.  Our days have become a bit of a dance - going from Zoom meetings to sending emails, changing diapers, teaching ABC’s, writing docs, having a quick dance party, holding a telehealth session, making mac n’ cheese, putting in laundry, and going to another Zoom meeting.
Why do you do this work? I do this work for so many reasons, but the biggest will always be the opportunity to work with children and families to make their lives just a little be better.  We are change makers.  

Name: Tiana Dudley
Position: Unconditional Education Coach
What led you to your current position? I've worked at Seneca for about 10 years collectively with some breaks to have a few kids and then went off to a charter school for a few years. Eventually, I knew it was time to come back home! Thankfully there were people in All-in eager to welcome me back and luckily there was a UE coach position open that felt like a good fit. I'm so happy to be back!
Fun Fact: I'm also a U-Jam Instructor for 24hr Fitness and now on Zoom!
What does your average day look like? Well now my average day is spent at my kitchen table trying to juggle work while managing the distance learning of my 3 kids. We rotate computers so everyone can have their zoom meetings and I've added janitor, cafeteria staff, teacher, counselor, and referee to my resume lol. There is a lot of coffee and then wine involved depending on the hour. I try to start my day with yoga or get out of the house for a nice hike a few times a week.
Why do you do this work? I think it’s critical that all kids feel safe, valued, supported and happy at school.

Name: Geoffrey Nunez
Position: Behavioral Interventions Coach
What led you to your current position? Previously I was living in the Bay Area and working as part of the All-In program in Oakland. My incredibly talented wife received a job offer to be a graphic designer in Southern California so we packed up and moved. After joining the OC All-In team and worked as a BI with their program which is a hybrid of Wrap and UE, I wanted to get back to working in schools full time. Luckily for me, Sean came down with a UE program starting in LA. I love being a part of new programs so I jumped at the chance.
Fun Fact/Quote: I am a black belt in jiu jitsu and teach weekly (when things were actually open).
What does your average day look like? Pre-quarantine I taught/trained jiu jitsu every morning before work. Then I would have a nice long drive to the schools in LA where I was in and out of meetings and classrooms all day. On the weekend my wife and I went surfing.
Why do you do this work? I truly enjoy working alongside school staff. The people in the world of education spend so much time with the kids we work with and do so much of the shaping in their lives. I spent the first half of my time with Seneca working in community based programs (WRAP, TBS, TAY) and it felt like there was a whole part of a kid’s life I had limited access or knowledge around. Working in the school based programs has been the next step in developing my skills and has been a tremendous learning experience.

Name: Yvonne Rogers
Position: UE Coach
What led you to your current position? A desire to continue working with students.
Fun Fact: Seneca has the most incredible people where I have made many long lasting friendships. My son's donor is a retired Senecan. He got that Seneca Love!
What does your average day look like? Ha! Well, since we’re in Shelter in Place things look a lot different. We start with a morning work out, then I transition right into work. Zoom doesn't care if I haven't showered LOL. My son Marley does Zoom meetings with me and even has his own keyboard to help me write emails!
Why do you do this work? I started out my career with a strong desire to be a juvenile probation officer. But after 2 years of working at Juvenile Hall, I was depleted and hopeless. I would sit in staff meetings where we would spend hours discussing how many pieces of paper kids could have and then transition to talking about my favorite topic, Nutra Loaf - a disgusting blend of "nutrients" to serve the kids that were on "lock down" due to excessive behavior. When I left, I decided to switch careers and became a Collection Agent. I lasted 2 weeks! I quit with nothing lined up. Seneca Center then found me! My Uncle was on his daily walk when saw the "Now Hiring" sign at Seneca Foothill. He walked in and had a conversation with Melba! He brought me home an application (It was paper in those days) and I applied immediately. My first Seneca position was at the Group Homes and I fell in LOVE! I do this work because those babies helped me believe in hope!