As Executive Director, Ms. Snead provides expertise on the issues of youth development, juvenile justice, youth re-entry, mentoring as a violence prevention strategy, and gender-specific services for system-involved girls. She has appeared several local and national television and radio news shows and in print media on the issues of youth violence, mentoring and gender-specific services for girls in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. She regularly provides testimony and policy advocacy in support of statewide legislation addressing reentry, juvenile justice and positive youth development.

Prior to joining The Mentoring Center, Ms. Snead focused her work on criminal and juvenile justice issues, youth development and civil rights at the Urban Strategies Council, the Youth Law Center, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, and the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. Ms. Snead is a former deputy public defender, juvenile attorney and lecturer in juvenile justice and criminal law. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a master’s degree in public policy and a law degree.

Fanya joined The Mentoring Center family in 2000. She was fortunate to have worked with the Founding Executive Director, Martin Jacks. As the Operations Director, Fanya oversees the day-to-day aspects of the organization. Children and youth are her passion. The following quote sums up her feelings:

“Children don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

Micah joined joined The Mentoring Center as a participant in the Positive Minds Group when she was 12 years old. After three consistent years of attending the meetings, she was employed as a Youth Coordinator at the age of 15. The responsibility of the youth coordinating position at such a young age, created a sense of purpose and dedication to her community.

Micah has continued to work with youth in many capacities. Recently, she has returned to The Mentoring Center as the Lead Instructor at the EMERGE Academy.

She applies this quote to her life everyday:

“What you know, you owe!”
“Coach” Wilbur Jiggets, Jr.