Agency Partnerships

2016 Fellowships

City of Oakland (Public Works)

Oakland Public Works plans, builds and maintains Oakland’s physical and environmental infrastructure for the residents, businesses and visitors of the city, making it a sustainable and desirable place to live, work, invest and visit. Oakland Public Works provides top quality, professional, effective and timely services. They maintain their positive reputation and the community’s trust by focusing on relationships with customers and ourselves, and on customer service and satisfaction.

Mentors: Anil Comelo (Director of Human Resources) & Jason Mitchell (Assistant Director)

Fellow: Desmond Lungah 

City of Berkeley Mayor's Office (Educational Initiatives)

The Mayor’s office overseas various departments and initiatives for the City of Berkeley.  This placement is specifically overseeing the educational initiatives being taken in the City of Berkeley. 

Mentors: Tasha Henneman, Education and Health Policy Advisory

Fellow: Tshepo Ricki Kgositau

City of Oakland (Auditor’s Office)

The City of Oakland's Auditor’s Office works to protect Oakland’s taxpayers from waste, fraud and mismanagement by ensuring responsible, transparent financial practices. Their mission is to serve as a model performance-auditing organization that delivers in-depth, unbiased and meaningful results to the citizens of Oakland. They do this by identifying and auditing the areas of government most vulnerable to fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement. Furthermore, they respond to citizen complaints while working proactively to increase City Hall efficiency.

Mentors: Brenda Roberts (City Auditor) & Anil Comelo (Director of Human Resources)

Fellow: Siting Sha

City of Berkeley (Public Safety, Police, and Fire)

The Public Safety Communications Center for the City of Berkeley is located in the Ronald T. Tsukamoto Public Safety Building (PSB) and is the primary answering point for all 911 and non-emergency calls for the police and fire department. The center is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by a team of highly skilled and dedicated Public Safety Dispatchers who are eager to assist you and make your experience with the Berkeley Police and Fire departments a positive and helpful one.

Mentors: Police Captain Cynthia Harris & Sarah Reynoso (Director of Human Resources)

Fellow: Mishkat Edris

City of Berkeley (Planning Department)

The Department of City Planning is responsible for the planning and development of Berkeley—from homes additions to constructing new offices. They oversee Land Use Planning, Building & Safety, and Permit Service Center, and Toxics Management. 

Mentors: Carol Johnson (Acting Planning Director) & Sarah Reynoso (Director of Human Resources)

Fellow:  Jhono Bennett

Girls Inc.

Girls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold, providing more than 140,000 girls across the U.S. and Canada with life-changing experiences and solutions to the unique challenges girls face. The Girls Inc. Experience consists of people, an environment, and programming that, together, empower girls to succeed. Trained staff and volunteers build lasting, mentoring relationships in girls-only spaces that are physically and emotionally safe and where girls find a sisterhood of support with shared drive, mutual respect, and high expectations. Hands-on, research-based programs provide girls with the skills and knowledge to set goals, overcome obstacles, and improve academic performance.  Informed by girls and their families, Girls Inc. also works with policymakers to advocate for legislation and initiatives that increase opportunities for girls. At Girls Inc., girls grow up healthy, educated, and independent. 

Mentor: Nicki Guard (Volunteer Manager)

Fellows: Rabiatou Ahmadou and Heera Devi Komal Boodhun

City of Berkeley (Human Resources)

The Human Resources Department is responsible for administering the City's personnel merit system involving recruitment and examination of applicants for employment, occupational health and safety, employee benefits, workers' compensation, public liability coverage, employee training, employee relations and equal employment opportunity programs. Our task is to provide diverse and skilled applicant pools, classification and compensation administration, labor relations, human resources management tools, policies and procedures, and other support to City departments.

Mentor: Sarah Reynoso (Director of Human Resources)

Fellow: Chinelo Uchendu

City of Berkeley (Health, Housing & Community Resources)

The mission of the Housing and Community Services Department is to produce, preserve and support affordable housing in order to help meet the housing needs of Berkeley residents, especially those who are low-income, homeless, seniors, disabled or have special needs. This is achieved through its Housing and Community Services Department, rehabilitation programs, enforcement of the Berkeley Housing Code in housing units, and ongoing investigation of new housing and community development programs and financial opportunities. The Department promotes community development through administration of city contracts with a wide range of neighborhood based organizations that help people overcome poverty through housing, employment and training, childcare and youth, health, homeless and other needed services.  The Department also administers a subsidized transportation program for seniors and disabled persons.

Mentor: Paul Buddenhagen (Director of Health, Housing & Community Services)

Fellow: Catherine Nyambura

Alameda County (Social Services)

Their mission is to promote the economic social well being of individuals, families, neighborhoods and communities. The Alameda County Social Services Agency is comprised of 2,200 men and women working collectively and in partnership with community-based organizations, neighborhood groups and policy makers to serve the needs of the community.

Mentors: Thabani Nyoni & Hollis Williams

Fellows: Aishat Teniola Hussain and Busani Sibindi

City of Oakland (Fire Department)

The proud men and women of the Oakland Fire Department are committed to providing the highest quality and highest level of courteous and responsive services to the citizens of Oakland. This is accomplished by implementing comprehensive strategies and training in fire prevention, fire suppression, emergency medical services, and all risk mitigation, including: human-caused and natural disasters, emergency preparedness, 9-1-1 services and community-based fire services.

Mentor: Teresa Deloach Reed (Chief of Fire)

Fellow: Abdul Hameed Mustapha

Family Justice Center Alameda

The Alameda County Family Justice Center (ACFJC), envisioned by Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley, began as a simple concept; to create a 1-stop location that would provide effective, comprehensive services to victims of interpersonal violence in a collaborative and coordinated way. The ACFJC is a Division of the District Attorney’s Office and provides visitors with legal, health, and support services and the opportunity for physical and psychological safety, recovery and well-being.

Mentor: Stephen Murphy (Associate Director) 

Fellows: Samreen Abuidris, Nolubabalo Kwayimani, and Ntombikayise Nyoni

City of Oakland (Revenue Office)

The City of Oakland's Auditor’s Office works to protect Oakland’s taxpayers from waste, fraud and mismanagement by ensuring responsible, transparent financial practices. Their mission is to serve as a model performance-auditing organization that delivers in-depth, unbiased and meaningful results to the citizens of Oakland. They do this by identifying and auditing the areas of government most vulnerable to fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement. Furthermore, they respond to citizen complaints while working proactively to increase City Hall efficiency.

Mentor: Margaret O’Brien 

Fellow: Philip Kpakiwa

Berkeley Public Schools Fund

Their mission is to inspire and empower an extraordinary public education for every child. The Berkeley Public Schools Fund invests directly in teachers’ ideas and creativity with classroom and districtwide program grants and volunteer support in the classroom. Every year the Schools Fund awards approximately 300 classroom and districtwide grants, serving 10,000 students, 19 schools, and 550 teachers. Coupled with our volunteer program, the Schools Fund annually contributes $1.5 million in grants and in-kind donations. 

Mentor: Erin Rhoades (Executive Director)

Fellows: Alhasan Bah and Bernardus Harageib

City of Oakland (Library)

The Oakland Public Library is a part of the City of Oakland in California and has been in existence since 1878. Our locations currently include 16 branches, a Main Library, a Second Start Adult Literacy Program, the Tool Lending Library, and the African-American Museum and Library. We also offer many other special services for residents of Oakland and California. Your Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect and grow.

Mentor: Gerry Garzon (Director)

Fellow: Juelma Karine da Moeda Mendes

Berkeley Community Fund

The Berkeley Community Fund is an independent, tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, incorporated under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. They are governed by a diverse board of directors of distinguished civic leaders who have experience in business, law, government, philanthropy, academia, and community service. BCF has been working to improve the Berkeley community since 1991. They envision an economically and socially diverse city whose promising youth become engaged and global citizens.

Mentor: Joleen Ruffin (Executive Director) & Lynn Walker (College Success Coordinator)

Fellow: Samuel Wadzai

City of Berkeley (City Manager)

The mission of the City Manager's Office is to build and maintain, through sound management principles and community participation, an effective City government organization; to ensure the effective delivery of services; to provide the management direction and support for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of all city programs; and to ensure coordination and consistency in implementing policies and programs approved by the City Council. The City Manager also oversees several divisions and major programs within the City Manager's Office itself: Animal Care Services, Budget  Code Enforcement, Customer Service, Neighborhood Services,  Office of Economic Development, Police Review Commission.

Mentor: Jim Hynes (Assistant to the City Manager)

Fellow: Gleadae Harmon-Hoskins

City of Oakland (Clerk’s Office)

The Office of the City Clerk connects the citizens of Oakland and Oakland government and provides a direct link between City Council and City Staff in the preparation of agendas, documents and minutes. The Clerk performs numerous mandated functions including the administration of municipal elections and oversight of the City’s Records Management Program.

Mentor: LaTonda Simmons (City Clerk)

Fellow: Daniel Libati

World Institute on Disability 

Based in Berkeley, CA, the World Institute on Disability (WID) is a nonprofit that works to fully integrate people with disabilities into the communities around them in a variety of different ways. They spearhead initiatives in four main categories: health and wellness, employment and benefits, climate change and disaster prep, and international.

Mentor: Kat Zigmont (Global Initiative Assistant Director) & Charity Peets

Fellows: Temitope Okupe and Feri Gwata