JBAY is growing and we are delighted to introduce the newest members of the JBAY family.
Linda Ramos is joining JBAY as an Education Project Manager. With over 24 years of experience, Linda has worked at every level of education: in K to 12, the community colleges, the California State University system and in the nonprofit sector. Throughout her career, she has brought her talents to make higher education possible for underserved students, including foster youth. Linda recently spearheaded efforts to design a support structure to address the needs of homeless students and students facing food insecurity at Cerritos College.
Linda will bring this experience and many others to JBAY, working with campuses and county child welfare agencies to remove barriers to higher education for youth who have been in foster care or experienced homelessness.
According to Deputy Director of Education Jessica Petrass Linda’s skills are a great compliment to the JBAY education team. “We are thrilled to have Linda as part of the team. She brings a tremendous amount of expertise in the field of education and child welfare that will help create solutions that will lead to lasting change in lives of the youth we serve.”
Also joining JBAY this month are Pat Dodson and Jim Gonzalez, who were elected to the JBAY Board of Directors in October. Pat worked as the Minority Staff Member on the Select Committee on Aging, Housing and Consumer Interests in the U.S. House of Representatives and later in the district for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She has served on numerous boards of directors, including Compassion & Choices, which successfully advocated for California’s landmark legislation to make improve end of life care.
Jim brings a lifetime commitment of service. He served as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and was the first elected official to author a City of Sanctuary ordinance. In addition to operating a successful political consultancy, he is a senior advisor to the Dolores Huerta Foundation and a recipient of the Mexican government’s highest civilian honor, The Ohtli Award.
JBAY Board President Rick Mariano is excited about the talent and commitment that both Pat and Jim bring to the organization, “JBAY is fortunate to have great people like Pat and Jim join the board of directors. Their experience will strengthen JBAY’s board and ensure the organization is well positioned to help California’s foster and homeless youth.”