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.”

Born and raised in East Oakland, CA, Davon was first introduced to the system at the age of 10. From there, he spent the rest of his youth moving from group home to group home. At the age of 19, a younger cousin asked Davon why he was never around. At that moment, he knew there were more important things in life than what he had his focus on. Davon loves working and giving back to his community through The Mentoring Center.

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Nyisha Moncrease joined The Mentoring Center family in 2017. She serves as a Case Manager and Mentor for The Mentoring Center Intensive Youth Case Management Program.

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Nyisha graduated from Laney College in 2013 with an Associates Degree in Social Science. She has worked with several organizations including, Flourish Agenda “Camp Akili”, The Children’s Defense Fund “FREEDOM School”, Girls Inc of Alameda County and The Oakland Unified School District’s African American Female Excellence Program.

Nyisha Moncrease is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Pink Panther Sorority Inc. The Pink Panther Sorority Inc. is a community organization that works to support the development of healthy Self-Esteem, Sisterhood and Success Attainment for girls of color in the East Bay.

In 2018, Nyisha received the Alameda County African American Achievement Award from Supervisor Keith Carson for her Self-Esteem development work with Pink Panther Sorority Inc.

Nyisha has also worked as a Behavior Therapist for Juvo Behavioral Health. Providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for children who have autism or have high functioning behavioral needs.

“It is my personal mission to help each student find tangible tools that help them discover their personal love and belief in self. I believe the youth deserve to be supported by people who have their best interest at heart.”

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.