Youth Community Service Staff   

Leif Erickson has served as executive director for YCS since April 2004. He previously worked for almost 25 years in corporate marketing in Silicon Valley in the high tech and biotech industries. Leif began volunteering with YCS in 1995 as a parent supporter of youth programs. He enjoys building partnerships for YCS with such groups as the Palo Alto University Rotary Club, PTA Council, Palo Alto First Presbyterian Church, EPA Fellowship of Faith, EPA Youth and Young Adult Consortium, Built to Last Collaborative and Stanford student service organizations. Leif and his wife Sharon have two adult sons and one granddaughter.

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Judy worked for many years in the biotechnology industry in research before returning to graduate school to complete her doctorate degree in Educational Psychology at Stanford University. Judy's dissertation research focused on work places as learning communities and her current interest is evaluating the impact of service learning experiences on the development of community service self-efficacy in youth. As a California Department of Education regional lead for service learning, Judy thoroughly enjoys working with educators and community organizations on implementing service learning projects and/or programs.

Krystal grew up in East San Jose. She attended both Humboldt State University and San Jose State University where she majored in Natural Resource Planning and Interpretation and received a degree in Biology with a concentration in Natural Science and Education. Community service has always been an important activity in her life. She began volunteering at a young age and feels that her involvement in service really shaped the direction of her life. Krystal hopes that all youth can have the understanding that they can make a difference in their community.

Julia Williams was raised in East Palo Alto and serves as the Assistant Director of Service and Leadership for YCS. Julia graduated from Long Beach State with a degree in Criminal Justice. She has over 6 years of experience in curriculum and youth development. Prior to joining YCS, Julia worked for the Girl Scout Council of Greater Long Beach and numerous school districts throughout California.

Julia has dedicated herself to empowering youth, providing opportunities that deter youth from crime, and helping them to achieve successful and fulfilling lives.

Kristina was born and raised in Palo Alto and has a degree in Women's Studies from Humboldt State University. She got her start working with middle schoolers at a small transitional school in Humboldt County, where she did her first year of AmeriCorps. She loves being an AmeriCorps*VISTA member and enjoys doing service projects with youth. She is passionate about environmental and social issues, dancing, playing the drums, animals, and middle schoolers. She hopes to someday speak Spanish confidently and travel to many places.

Jenny is a recent graduate of the University of California Santa Cruz, where she majored in literature. While in college, she worked at the Santa Cruz New Teacher Center as a research assistant. This past September she joined Public Allies Silicon Valley and began working as the YCS Community Relations Coordinator, as well as Club Coordinator at JLS Middle School, Gunn and Palo Alto High Schools. Jenny is passionate about social justice, community development, fun, and art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

César Chávez Program Coordinators, East Palo Alto

Karla M. Gurley, Costaño/49ers Academy
Dupe Thomas, James Flood Magnet School
Mary D. Moran, César Chávez Academy
Latricia Simon, Edison McNair
E'Liza Smith, Belle Haven Community School
TBD, EPA Charter

Program Aides

Sharah Havlish, César Chávez Academy
Anthony Palavi, Costaño/49ers Academy

Freshman Leadership Corps

Coordinator, Federico Zuniga