Administrative
Yensing Sihapanya
Executive Director
Yensing is a native San Franciscan with extensive experience in and passion for family support, social justice, and community organizing. Prior to joining Family Connections Centers in 2012, she directed a residential shelter and programs for homeless families, oversaw programs providing educational services to incarcerated youths, and was the Deputy Director of an organization promoting the rights and well-being of LGBTQ families. Yensing is active on community and service agencies’ Boards and Committees including Co-chairing the San Francisco Family Resource Center Alliance, Chairing the San Francisco Child Care Planning & Advisory Council (CPAC), serving on the SFMTA Citizen Advisory Committee, and more.
“I work with an amazing team to oversee the strategic vision, programs, finances, fundraising, operations, partnerships, and the general running of the agency. I’m also really good at holding babies in our Tummy Time playgroup and decorating cookies at our community holiday party. My favorite part of my role is that I get to work with smart, dedicated, kind staff, Board, partners, and families. There is such shared tangible passion and work to ensure Family Connections offers high-quality, welcoming centers and programs that are responsive to the communities’ needs and accessible regardless of income, status, etc. I also enjoy working to develop a progressive, sustainable, strength-based model and environment for the staff, agency, and field.”
“When I’m not walking around the centers or at my computer, I’m probably hiking and pitching a tent in the mountains and forests. I’m also a frequent visitor at San Francisco’s many delicious neighborhood restaurants.”
“I love so many children’s books! I can sometimes be found in our lobbies reading children’s books during my lunch. I have a special place in my heart for the George and Martha series by James Marshall. These funny short stories (read one or ten in a seating) show that good friendships are so fun, sometimes hard and filled with silly misunderstandings, require communication and care for each other, and above all, are absolutely wonderful and make life better.”
Kevin Amann
Operations Director
Kevin grew up and attended college in Western New York. He fell in love with San Francisco during a family trip in his early teens. When he graduated college, he knew where he had to be. Kevin started his Bay Area work life in the restaurant business as a cook at the Cliff House restaurant but really longed for a job with more meaning. Eventually he landed in the field of In-Home Supportive Services, where he served that community for several years. In 2010, Kevin joined Family Connections, managing the agency’s multiple facilities, IT and admin systems. Kevin, having two small children at home, knew the challenges that San Francisco families faced and enjoy the work Family Connections does for children and families.
“In my role as Operations Director, I oversee maintaining and renovating the facilities, IT, administrative practices, health and safety practices, and other duties. I love being a member of the leadership team and the progressive culture that we have. Family Connections is an agency that is always moving forward, pushing to be better, and I really like playing a key role in propelling that engine.”
“Outside work, I am a musician and songwriter. I spend basically every hour outside of work with either my family or writing music or playing live with my band. I have written or co-written several albums and have played in most of the venues around the bay area and toured the west coast extensively.”
“My favorite children’s book is Becoming Me by Martin Boroson. I remember reading it to my daughter one evening and it really struck me. It’s very spiritual.”
Hannah Hanssens-Reed
Communications and Development Director
Hannah was born and raised in Philadelphia. She spent the early years of her career in Spain, teaching high school English and evening language classes for adults. Following her time in Spain, she taught English and visual arts programs in South America and Australia, before returning to school for her Master of Education. In her years working in schools and nonprofits, she has designed and led literacy education, taught farm and garden education, and overseen the outreach and partnerships for community-based arts programs. She currently serves as the Treasurer of the Portola Neighborhood Association. Hannah is passionate about creating inclusive and equitable learning spaces, ensuring children and families have access to essential resources, and deepening the support and partnerships between individuals and organizations in the Bay Area.
“My role with Family Connections is to celebrate the incredible work that happens in our centers and to help new families connect with the resources that we provide through marketing and design, written and visual communications, and outreach to neighbors and funders. I work to grow our partnerships and strengthen our community relationships in order to increase the visibility of and funding for FCC’s programs and services. I love supporting the Family Connections team to highlight upcoming events and workshops and share the stories from inside our classrooms and support groups. My favorite part of this role is working with our crew of teachers, family support coordinators, and administrative staff that are dedicated to meeting the needs of our community and ensuring our programs evolve and adapt to best support families.”
“Outside of work, I love activities that allow me to get messy with clay, paint, dough, or dirt. I enjoy spending my weekends venturing on hiking and backpacking trips or traveling somewhere new. I have an excessive collection of house plants, and you can usually find me sampling another Bay Area bakery, trying to catch a sunset from one of SF’s beautiful hills, or sitting at a pottery wheel.”
“As a kid, my favorite children’s book was The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater. I loved the bright paint splashes and the alligator home, but it was the story that highlights the importance of expressing your own wild personality that captivated me. As an adult, I still love reading children’s books, especially those with whimsical watercolor or paper cutout illustrations. Some of my favorites are Mo Willems’ series, Yuyi Morales’ books, and The Stinky Cheese Man.”
Tam To
Finance Director
Tam’s career working in accounting and finance has spanned four decades. After graduating from the California State University, she held a diverse range of positions, beginning her career at a commercial Insurance company. From there, she moved on to work for the government, Federal Deposit Insurance Agency (FDIC in banking), and Investment banking, before transitioning into nonprofit work in 2006. For the past fifteen years, she’s been supporting community nonprofits in San Francisco and government agencies, and has been with Family Connections Centers since 2017.
“My current role with FCC is Finance Director. Although my role is focused on numbers, payrolls, and budgets, my favorite time at this organization is spent meeting and greeting all the kids that come to our centers for Pre-K classes or afterschool programs (Homework Club). In addition to English, I speak and write Vietnamese fluently. There are so many wonderful memories that I have with the kids at FCC. They’re so near and dear to me. I love that the staff at FCC is so dedicated to the mission and works to support kids, families, and the community.”
“My favorite way to spend my time outside of work is baking and cooking. They’re very therapeutic activities for me and, at the same time, I can share my baked goods and my specialty foods with family and friends.”
“The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is my forever and all-time favorite children’s book. I learned a lot from that book about the ways children see things as they are, without fuss or worries. As adults, we often get caught up in our daily living, stressed out and worrying too much about things that may or may not happen. We need to learn to see things as they are, taking a moment to enjoy the smell of coffee or the fragrance of flowers, and allowing nature to take its course.”
Camila Martinez-Granata
Engagement Manager
Camila is a first-generation Argentine-American born and raised in the Bay Area, and has spent much of her career amplifying voices that are often voiceless. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Global Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara, where she worked as a writer and editor at the school paper and played Division One Women’s Rugby. With roots in journalism and a fierce passion for storytelling, Camila’s work aims to shed light on issues minority communities face, their nuanced experiences, and their vibrant identities. Her career in the non-profit sector began in 2017, where she served at a community health center based in New York City. Her efforts focused on providing outreach, education, and visibility to assist underserved and marginalized communities in receiving low- or no-cost medical and support services.
“As Engagement Manager, my role is to amplify and support FCC’s mission in expanding care and services to families and children in the community. Through intentional outreach, strategic communications, and collaborating across the organization, I aim to drive growth and awareness to FCC and its programs. My favorite thing about working at FCC is being able to contribute to improving the lives of families who are often underserved. FCC’s mission doesn’t stop at providing early education, but takes an intersectional approach to serving the community.”
“When I’m not working, I often find myself consuming other stories through different mediums. If my nose isn’t buried in a book, I’m likely watching films, perusing art galleries, exploring new trails with my dog, or re-learning the piano. ”
“My favorite children’s book is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Bernard Sendak. To me, it embodies the sense of unabashed wildness and freedom that encapsulates childhood—and, I also happen to love the woods and creatures that appear a bit spooky at first glance, but are more than meets the eye. ”
Tong Nguyen
Administrative Manager
Tong was born in Vietnam and came to the U.S. in 1987, growing up around the East Bay in Oakland, Albany, Berkeley, Hayward, and San Leandro. Tong graduated from CSU East Bay with a BA in Communications and spent his early career with the City of Emeryville Community Services Department, working in their Before & After School Program. By the time he finished his work with the city, he was in charge of the Office Administration and the Aquatic Department as their Aquatic Coordinator. He continued his community outreach with a nonprofit in the Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco, providing early childhood development, school-age programs, summer programs, and family support services. He has over 20 years of experience in hotel management, human resources, accounting, youth development, and recreational programs within community and school-based settings. Tong is fluent in Vietnamese and provides additional support to Vietnamese-speaking families.
“I joined Family Connections in August 2021 as the Administrative Manager, working out of both the Portola and the Excelsior Centers. My role includes supporting the organization’s admissions process, recruitment, and administrative duties, and I assist with onboarding and staff development. I enjoy providing additional support for our families, helping to meet their needs, and ensuring a smooth process for enrollment and program attendance. I am honored to be a part of a team that supports the staff that works directly with families. My goal is to allocate more time for staff to focus on the quality of their programs by providing additional administrative support to the staff, and I support the well-being and safety of all visitors through my role with the Health & Safety Committee.”
“I enjoy spending my time outdoors when I am not at FCC. Some of my favorite outdoor activities include fishing, crabbing, camping, and biking. Another hobby I really enjoy doing is videography. I enjoy the whole creative aspect of filming, editing, and putting a storyline together.”
“One of my favorite books to read in elementary school was The Berenstain Bears‘ collection. I learned a lot of great lessons in those books, and they were always fun to read as a kid.”
Stephanie Lee
Custodian
Stephanie was born in Taiwan and has spent many years working with Family Connections Centers. She is fluent in both English and Mandarin, and has been part of the Portola community for many years.
“I am the custodian at the Portola center, working closely with staff and programs to maintain our spaces so they are safe and ready for the kids and families each day. All of my children have participated in the programs that Family Connections provides, and it’s amazing to be able to work where my kids have all learned! I love meeting other members of the neighborhood through this role, and there’s always endless support in this heartwarming community.”
“Outside of work, I love hiking, exercising, and gardening. I also love to take my dog on walks with my family and explore new places. I also love going back home to visit Taiwan with the rest of my family.”
“My favorite children’s book is Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss because of the fun rhymes.”
Early Care & Education
Tina Tam
Education Director
Tina is a San Francisco native, born and raised and now raising her own children in this beautiful city. She grew up attending the San Francisco schools and working primarily in the city, similar to most of the children and families that she works with. She is fluent in Cantonese and English, providing additional support to Cantonese-speaking families that participate in our programs.
“My role as Education Director ties in my educational background in Counseling Psychology and my past careers as a teacher and counselor to immigrant communities. I have been in my role with Family Connections for over a decade and continue to enjoy helping families connect with the resources they need to support their child’s educational path. I have the pleasure of working closely with teachers to create innovative and dynamic programs and curricula in early childhood and K-5 programs. I love that there is something new happening here every day. It brings me so much joy to see the children, caregivers, and teachers all working together, learning, and having a great time.”
“When not working, I enjoy exploring new places with my own children, taking long walks on the beach, and trying new restaurants with friends.”
“Kiss, Kiss, Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen is my favorite children’s book. The book is silly, fun, and uplifting. The ending is a surprise that puts a smile on your face and is likely to make you kiss your little one. It’s a great reminder that it’s always better to turn a frown or pout around to a smile.”
Gia Turner
Education Manager
Gia grew up in the South Bay but has lived in San Francisco for over 20 years. In her career, she’s held positions as a teacher, a behavior specialist/manager, and an education consultant, and has worked in public and private education in the Bay Area. She received a B.A. in Psychology from UC Santa Cruz and an M.A. in Special Education with a credential in Early Childhood from San Francisco State University. Her passion lies in working with the teachers and families to best serve the children and their growth. Gia is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
“As the Education Manager for Family Connections, I am excited to support both our Pre-K program and Homework Club. I especially enjoy working with all the wonderful teachers we have here at FCC and the Education Director to ensure quality, engaging programs for children and families.”
“When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I like to go on hikes, to the beach, to concerts, and try different restaurants all over the Bay Area. I also enjoy reading and catching up on my K-dramas.”
“My favorite children’s book is The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I love many children’s books, but this is my all-time favorite because it describes unconditional love.”
Kristina Alvarez
Lead Teacher
Kristina was born and raised in San Francisco. As a child, she attended multiple Family Connections programs, beginning with First Steps and continuing through Homework Club. While in middle and high school, she returned to Family Connections to support the programs as a volunteer. After graduating in 2019 from City College with an Associate of Science, she returned to FCC as a teacher in the educational programs.
“I am the Lead Teacher in our K-5 Programs, Homework Club, and Summer Academic Enrichment. Before moving to the school-age programs, I also supported Pop N’ Play, our early childhood classes for 2.5-4-year-olds. As a child, I participated in Family Connections’ summer and school-year programs. I love how I can bring that first-hand perspective into the programs I lead and connect with kids and families with that shared experience. I enjoy creating a space and environment for children to express themselves through a wide range of outlets, such as dancing and art.”
“Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, spending time with family, going on car rides, and cooking.”
“I liked to read the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park as a child because we had similar goofy personalities.”
Susana Mariscal
Lead Teacher
Susana was born in Mexico and grew up in the Bay Area. She is a first-generation student and is bilingual in English and Spanish. Beginning in high school, Susana knew that she wanted to work with children and received her bachelor’s degree in human development. Following her college graduation, she worked as a teaching assistant at an elementary school and in special education. Most recently, she completed courses focused on early childhood education to learn more about working with young children, which led her to her work with Family Connections.
“I work in Family Connections’ Early Childhood Education programs, First Steps and Pop N’ Play. I love interacting with the children and seeing them learn something new. I also help in FCC’s school-age program, Homework Club. I enjoy being a part of a program that provides a safe space for children to be after school.”
“When I have free time, I love to spend it with my family and friends. I love exploring new places, whether that be new food spots, a new city, or a new state. I also enjoy getting lost in a good book.”
“My favorite children’s book is Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. I love this book because it was one of the first chapter books I ever read in elementary school.”
Yumi Ouyang
Lead Teacher
Yumi is a San Francisco native who has spent the majority of her life living in the Sunset District. Her first experience working with children was in high school. Yumi graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in family and consumer science with an emphasis on children and families. Since that moment, she has been on a journey to fulfill her dream of becoming an Early Childhood Educator.
“As a Lead Pre-K Teacher, my sole duty is to provide high-quality, enriching caregiving and education to children. I believe that young learners are competent individuals who need passionate teachers to help them discover their full potential! One of the most rewarding things about being a teacher is seeing children thrive and families satisfied under my care!”
“In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my family, listening to music, and going shopping. My family loves taking trips to different amusement parks. One of our favorite places to go is Disneyland. We also love trying different foods.”
“My favorite book has got to be You Are a Beautiful Beginning by Lina Laden because it teaches about self-love, community, and friendships! It’s a great book that all folks will enjoy reading!”
Maria Boukhalil
Teacher
Maria was born in Manila, Philippines and migrated to Daly City, California at the age of 10. Since she lived in a very diverse city and making friends who came from the Philippines, she never forgot how to read, write, and speak in her native language, Tagalog. Growing up in a large family with lots of little cousins, she was always playing the teacher at their get-togethers. She was also the babysitter for all of the children whenever needed. She believes this is where her passion to work with children started.
Maria began her employment journey in child development working as a Teacher’s Assistant at a Preschool in San Bruno. Soon after, she worked her way up to the position of a Teacher and later became a Program Director. During this time, she received her associate degree in liberal arts at Skyline College while taking Early Childhood Development classes. She also got married and raised 3 children (sometimes 4 children, including her husband) while balancing work and school all at the same time.
When she transferred to SFSU to study Business Management, Maria was given the opportunity to work full-time with school-aged children where she was employed for over 18 years. The wise saying, “it takes a village to raise a child” resonated with her as she built relationships with the school, families and children. A sense of community was nurtured as she continued to work with children, watching them grow up into young adults as the years went by. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts at the public schools, that program had to be closed.
With over 20 years of experience working in a childcare setting with children from different age groups and backgrounds, Maria is so excited to start this new chapter of her life with the Family Connections Centers and be part of a team who will help guide children to become healthy, loving, and caring adults and to be able to work with the many different families who are a part of our community at Family Connections Centers. Maria looks forward to utilizing her knowledge and skills while also continuing to learn from the staff, children and families at Family Connections Center!
“As a School Age Teacher at Family Connections, my role is to help guide and support our children to become happy, healthy, and well-rounded individuals. Making a difference in a child’s life and watching them grow to become a part of the community is the most rewarding thing about being a teacher.”
“Outside work, my favorite thing to do is spend time with my family, friends, and dog (Peanut). I enjoy eating out, shopping, and relaxing at home watching my K-dramas. I love to travel whenever I can with family and friends. I also love to dance, and Zumba is my go-to exercise.”
“My favorite children’s book is We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen. I love this book because it brings back memories of my own children when they were little and how they would ask me to read this to them over and over again. Now, they can read to themselves and don’t need mom to read to them anymore, so seeing and reading this book always brings back fond memories.”
Irene Chhay
Teacher
Irene was born in San Francisco, grew up in the Portola district of the city, and has been a part of Family Connections Centers since childhood. She is deeply familiar with Family Connections’ programs and attended E.R. Taylor Elementary, where many of our Homework Club participants are enrolled. Her mother, a Cambodian immigrant, was looking for support for herself and her children and was recommended our organization. Irene attended Family Connections’ First Steps program as a toddler, while her brother was enrolled in our Pre-K. While in middle and high school, she continued to return to Family Connections as a volunteer at special events like Halloween, Lunar New Year, and Christmas celebrations. Irene recently graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development.
“As an Associate Teacher, I am part of many Family Connections’ programs, including Pre-K at both Portola and Excelsior, Homework Club for K-5, and family support programs. I spend the majority of my time teaching in Pre-K, which is one of the most fun age groups to work with because many of the children are experiencing things for the first time. I love being able to listen to my students’ stories and laugh with them! My favorite part of this role is working with a range of age groups. I also love being a part of and giving back to a community that I grew up in.”
“Outside of work, I love to spend my time trying out different recipes for baking or making drinks (coffee, boba, tea). I also love going out to different beaches, national parks, and flower fields with my mom and playing video games with my brother.”
“My favorite children’s book is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff. As a child, I loved reading this book because of its adorable illustrations and the funny results of giving a mouse a cookie!”
Teresa Palomares-Gray
Teacher
Teresa graduated from City College of San Francisco with an A.A. degree and an Award of Achievement in Child Development. She currently holds a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit and is working towards her bachelor’s degree in Child & Adolescent Development. Teresa has been teaching for many years, beginning in a Head Start Program in San Francisco.
“I joined Family Connections in October 2011 and love being able to work closely with children. As the preschool teacher, I get to help them adjust to their first classroom experiences away from their families and support their connection to learning. And it’s great to watch them explore new ideas, and share their successes and growth with families.”
“In my free time, I love spending time with my husband and daughter.”
“My favorite books to read were the Little House on the Prairie series, written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I grew up on a farm, so the stories and setting were familiar to me. I loved to feel like I could relate to the characters’ experiences.”
Raymond Tan
Teacher
Raymond is a lifelong San Franciscan. He grew up near Chinatown, before moving to the Portola neighborhood when he was in high school. His parents pushed for him to be bilingual from a very young age, and today he speaks both English and Cantonese fluently and understands a little Mandarin. Raymond studied Child Development at SF State, majoring in working with school-age youth and families. His first role working with youth was while in high school as an aide to a Chinese teacher. He enjoyed being around kids and loved being able to teach and impart some of his knowledge. Since then, he’s worked at various organizations serving youth, including Cameron House, Grattan Afterschool Program, and Wah Mei School.
“As a School-age Teacher in Homework Club, I help youth to complete their homework, and provide them with unique activities and experiences. You will see me in Pre-K classrooms, support groups, and in Homework Club helping out and engaging with the kids. I enjoy being able to make children laugh and help them through their struggles, whether it’s with homework or friendship. I love that I can share some of my knowledge, just as the adults in my life have guided me.
“Some of the ways that I like to spend my time outside of work are taking my car on drives and finding new places to eat. I love to spend time with friends over a good meal and chat and hang out. I also like being in nature, so I like to take walks at Land’s End and Ocean Beach and listen to some of my favorite music.”
Coming soon!
“As a kid, I loved reading the Captain Underpants series. It was one of my first introductions to the world of comics. I loved being able to read the “Flip-O-Rama” pages and would laugh about it with my friends.”
Elsa Wan
Teacher
Elsa has lived in San Francisco for over 13 years and began working at Family Connections Centers in 2018. She has taught and supported our education and literacy programs, including First Steps, Pop N Play, and Homework Club. She speaks Cantonese fluently, and works closely with our Cantonese-speaking family to help distribute information and resources.
“I am currently an Early Childhood Education teacher, supporting our First Steps and Pop N’ Play programs. I am fortunate to be able to teach in a nurturing and loving environment. I enjoy the programs because children can learn through new challenges and build confidence while playing. I love to play with the children and see their development and growth over time.”
“In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my family, listening to music, and going shopping. My family loves taking trips to different amusement parks. One of our favorite places to go is Disneyland. We also love trying different foods.”
“One of my favorite book series is Pete the Cat because it has some fun songs!”
Becky Guan
Teaching Assistant
Becky was born and raised in China and speaks Cantonese, Mandarin, and English fluently. After immigrating to the United States, Becky worked in different professions until getting married, having children, and becoming a full-time mother. She has a long connection to Family Connections as a previous program participant. When her children were younger, she attended events and activities, and her children graduated from FCC’s Pre-K. Becky had learned from friends that FCC provides different services for parents and children in the community, and chose to return to City College to study early childhood development with the encouragement of those same friends. Becky volunteered at her daughter’s school and completed her teacher certification in Early Childhood Education at City College of San Francisco before joining FCC.
“My main job as a Teaching Assistant is to support the teachers in preparing craft and other teaching materials and to ensure that every child has a safe and comfortable environment to enjoy every day. My favorite part is interacting with students and watching their progress throughout the semester, helping them develop the skills they need.”
“When I am not working, I enjoy hiking, shopping, traveling, gardening, and cooking different meals to share with my kids and family.”
“My favorite children’s book is Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? This book provides children with a rich visual experience through simple language and colorful illustrations, which helps them develop many skills in their early years. It also piques children’s curiosity and enhances memory and comprehension.”
Chhovy Lach
Teaching Assistant
Chhovy was born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and grew up there until she immigrated to the US in 1995. She is fluent in English and Khmer. After immigrating to the United States and having children of her own, she became interested in the field of child development. Ironically, as she dropped off her kids to school, a Family Connections staff member handed her a flyer and welcomed her to join their programs. She brought my kids to join Pre-K and the First Steps program and was recommended by other staff to take child development classes at City College. From then on, she would come in to the classrooms at FCC as a teacher.
“I am a teacher’s assistant. My favorite part of the role is interacting with the children. They make each day in the classroom feel different. I love being able to support and watch them develop their skills with their peers and teachers in the classroom.”
“When I am not working, I love hiking, going on nature walks, watching movies, cooking new recipes, and spending time with my children.”
“My favorite children’s book is The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. This is my favorite children’s book because it has really cute illustrations and I love that it has a special meaning of teaching children to be kind and share with others.”
Parent/Caregiver Support
Eleazar Martinez
Family Support Director
Eleazar grew up in the Bay Area, attending high school in Richmond, and spent school breaks in the Excelsior neighborhood of San Francisco, where his relatives reside. He received his BA in Chican@ Studies and Anthropology from UC Davis and his Master of Arts in Chican@ Studies from San Jose State University. Eleazar has over 10 years of experience working in the early childhood and education field with nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining Family Connections, he was the Community School Director at Coronado Elementary in Richmond, working in partnership with the school district and school site to coordinate services for underserved low-income students and families. Additionally, he has extensive experience in case management and supporting parent leadership development through his prior roles with Marin Child Care Council, YMCA of the East Bay, and Bay Area Community Resources. Eleazar is fluent in both English and Spanish and trained in the Protective Factors Framework.
“I joined Family Connections in 2020, at the start of the pandemic. In 2022, I transitioned to a larger leadership role as the Family Support Director, overseeing the wide range of programs that our Family Support team offers. I am the primary contact for our Excelsior center, working to expand the programs offered to families in the neighborhood. I currently manage, implement, and supervise these services, including our workshops, support groups, community events, outreach, parent volunteers, family advocacy, and case management. I also serve on FCC’s Outreach and Health & Safety Committees, developing strategies to reach new families and sustain a safe and welcoming environment for our programs. My favorite part of my role is being able to support our staff, the families we serve, and the diversity and richness of both centers.”
“Outside of work, I enjoy working out, going on a hike, or spending time with friends and family.”
“My favorite children’s book growing up was Frog and Toad because I loved the different adventures they always went on together. ”
Ally Duong
Family Support Manager
Ally was born and raised in Vietnam and lived there until she was 14 years old, when she moved to the U.S. She speaks Vietnamese and Cantonese at home, and those two languages represent who she is. Ally attended City College of San Francisco and majored in Child Development. Since she was a child, she has always wanted to be a teacher, and that job helped to open many doors in her life and lead her to the path she’s on now. Her work with Family Connections has included positions on both the Education and Family Support Teams, including roles in our Early Childhood Education classes and the Pre-K Teacher at Portola. Ally brings a wealth of knowledge, informed by her extensive history with the organization. She continues to connect families to resources and guide programs and events that support the families we serve.
“In my current role with Family Connections, I help provide support to all our families and the community by facilitating workshops, support groups, and case management services, working one-on-one with individuals and connecting them to resources. As a trilingual speaker of Vietnamese, Cantonese, and English, I support our Chinese and Vietnamese-speaking families. I like to work with parents and children and see how they grow together.”
“Outside of work, I like to cook and do gardening, and enjoy spending quality time with my family.”
“My favorite children’s book is If Animals Kissed Good Night. The book shows how a small, good night kiss can bond people and animals together and the importance of expressing feelings using actions.”
Kathia Castro
Family Support Manager
Kathia was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and raised in Washington State. She began her academic journey at Napa Valley College before transferring to UC Berkeley, where she earned a B.A. in Cognitive Science. Kathia’s career has spanned various work settings including a chocolate shop and human resources. She has actively volunteered with organizations dedicated to fostering safe, healthy families and providing free healthcare to low-income communities. Kathia is passionate about linguistics and self-advocacy. She is committed to advocating for child abuse prevention, equitable language access, and social justice in every role she undertakes.
“In my current role as Family Support Manager, I oversee and support our programs for parents and caregivers, including support groups, workshops, and community events that connect families with essential resources and each other. I provide dedicated support to our Spanish-speaking families and staff. Additionally, I lead our partnerships with the Kindergarten to College, Help A Mother Out Diaper Bank, and the Mayor’s Youth Employment and Education programs. My goal is to help parents and caregivers on their journeys of empowerment and success, and I enjoy the privilege of witnessing their growth. ”
“In my free time, I enjoy baking, reading, and making collages and I am currently teaching myself to sew and embroider. I love learning about reptiles, mushrooms, tropical plants, and the outdoors from my friends.”
“My favorite children’s book is A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman because it was gifted to me by my preschool teacher. The continuation of Corduroy the bear’s adventures and beautiful illustrations make this book so memorable.”
Yadira Ortega
Lead Family Support Coordinator
Yadira was born and raised in Guatemala. She attended City College of San Francisco, where she received both her Associate in Science and her certification in Child Development. Yadira has worked with children and families in a variety of settings, including teaching roles, supporting children’s development, as a doula, and as an advocate and support person for parents/caregivers. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and holds certifications as a Doula, Parenting Coach, and Montessori Assistant Teacher. Yadira has lived in San Francisco for more than 20 years and volunteers with organizations that help families and connect them with city resources. Her volunteer roles afford her the opportunity to expand her network within the region and give back to the community.
“Since 2006, I have supported the early childhood education and family support programs with Family Connections. I have been fortunate to hold a range of positions with FCC, including teaching in the K-5 programs, First Steps, Pop N’ Play, Next Steps, and Pre-K, as well as supporting families as the Latinx Support Group Lead, Parenting Teacher, and Family Support Coordinator. I love working directly with families because I can see the progress they make together and the growth in their ability to advocate for their children. I really enjoy putting workshops together because they are based on the feedback from families, and I know they will provide the education they need to thrive.”
“Outside of work, I love to go hiking and any activity that includes connecting with nature. My family and I love spending time together, playing board games, watching soccer games, and having barbecues in the backyard.”
“My favorite book is Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. because I know the colors and I can read it in different languages. I feel connected to the story and see how engaged the children and families are when I read this book.”
Javier Paredes
Lead Case Manager
Javier was born and raised in the Bay Area. As the oldest of seven children with a large family, he has always been surrounded by kids. Because of this, he loves working with youth and has focused his career on supporting children’s well-being.
In his first role, he worked as a behavior therapist for families, before transitioning to a role as a 1st grade teacher, where he worked for three years. Through his time as a teacher, he was able to see the ways that a child’s behavior stems from their home setting. This realization led to his interest in supporting both children and their families, which is how he discovered Family Connections Centers.
“Working as the Case Manager, I love having the opportunity to help families to heal. It’s important to me that people are able to find their individual voices and learn how to use them, which is a core part of my work at FCC.”
“Outside of work, I love hanging out with my family. Being part of a huge family makes every hangout fun. I also love to dance and make music.”
“My favorite book is The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. It taught me that there are two sides to every story and it’s better to listen to both sides and hear each point of view. It’s also a very funny book.”
Gary Yu
Lead Family Support Coordinator
Gary was born in Guangdong Province in China. In 2012, he moved to San Francisco and attended high school in the city. Gary attended UC Davis, graduating with a degree in Economics and a minor in Education. Following his college career, he spent two years working at Francisco Middle School as a paraeducator in special education. Before joining Family Connections, he worked as a Program Coordinator with Reading Partners, where he managed a reading center and provided reading intervention services to elementary-aged students. In addition to English, Gary speaks both Cantonese and Mandarin.
“As a Family Support Coordinator, I love to empower families with the knowledge they need to help their children thrive. I enjoy working with families on a one-on-one basis and getting to learn about their stories. My favorite workshops are those that focus on bilingual literacy development.”
“During my free time, I enjoy reading, running, and taking online classes for fun, such as psychology, computer science, child development, and literature.”
“As a kid, I loved reading the Doraemon manga series. My favorite children’s novel is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott because it taught me many life lessons, such as spending all your time playing without any work isn’t fun. In one chapter, the sisters didn’t have to work and spent the day playing, but they eventually got bored. I like all the characters especially, Jo, as she is independent and pursues her dream of being a writer despite being discouraged by many publishers.”
Hazel Kong
Case Manager
Hazel grew up in China and Hong Kong and speaks fluent Cantonese and Mandarin. She studied Accounting at City College of San Francisco before beginning her extensive career working in nonprofits across the Bay Area. She’s supported the Excelsior Wellness Center, Legal Assistance to the Elderly, Excelsior Works, Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth, and the Filipino Community Center, and held roles that included Lead Promotora, Office Manager, and Hotline Counselor.
“In my role with Family Connections, I conduct assessments that identify the strengths and needs of individuals and families and implement these findings into individual service plans. I help participants establish their objectives and provide them with case management services, information, and referrals. I work closely with them to provide the support and guidance they need to achieve their goals. I run weekly groups for Cantonese and Mandarin speakers, facilitate events and workshops, and provide translation and communication between families and staff. I enjoy working with diverse communities and families and want to see all participants and their children succeed.”
“In my free time, I enjoy traveling to explore different cultures and cities, gardening, taking pictures, shopping, and having a cup of coffee with friends.”
“My favorite children’s book is The Boy Who Cried Wolf, one of Aesop’s fables. The moral of the story is that lying has serious consequences and that it is important to tell the truth. This lesson is presented in an easy-to-understand manner for children and keeps them engaged throughout the story. I loved to read this book to my children when they were little. This book continues to serve as a valuable lesson to them.”
Guadalupe Cisneros
Family Support Coordinator
Guadalupe was born in San Francisco and raised in Puebla, Mexico until she was 9 years old. She attended Mills College and achieved her Bachelor’s Degree in Ethnic Studies with a concentration in Race, Sexuality, and Intersectionality, and an Associate’s Degree in Women’s Studies. Throughout her career and personal experience, Guadalupe has been involved with community engagement by participating, volunteering, interning, and working at organizations like Galería de la Raza, Oasis For Girls, the San Francisco Education Fund, and Good Samaritan Family Resource Center. She also identifies herself as a queer feminist Xicana and is fluent in Spanish.
“As a Family Support Coordinator at Family Connections, I enjoy interacting with families and learning about their experiences as it helps us to exchange knowledge with one another. My main role in this position is to provide one-on-one service navigation and connection support to families to help address their needs and protect the wellbeing of their children and themselves. I am also involved in facilitating support groups, parent education classes, and workshops as part of our other Family Support services for caregivers interested in group interaction.”
“During my free time, I like to spend time with my family and friends. I love going to brunch, dancing, listening to music, and staying at home to rest. When feeling creative, I also write poetry or journal to practice selfcare.”
“My favorite children’s book is Abuela by Arthur Dorros. My grandmother would support my mother by taking care of me while she worked, and like in the book, we would always go on adventures and field trips together. Her education, love, and care helped to shape who I am today.”
Laura Garcia
Family Support Coordinator
Laura was born in El Salvador and came to the United States at the age of 9. She went to City College of San Francisco where she completed her associate degree. Then she transferred to San Francisco State University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in public health. Laura is multilingual, speaking both English and Spanish. While she has held a variety of careers, she realized that helping people in the community has made a positive impact on her life, especially because she knows firsthand the impact a lack of resources has on marginalized communities. I have worked with various cultures and have volunteered in hospitals. Because of this, she is very excited to be part of the Family Connections team.
“At Family Connections Centers, I am the family support coordinator. I provide resources to families, caregivers and coordinate family support groups. I meet with clients one on one to provide them with the best assistance possible. What I appreciate the most about my job at Family Connections Centers is assisting low-income clients with anything they need. Knowing that I am making a difference in their lives provides me with great satisfaction.”
“Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family, friends and going to the gym. When I go on walks or hikes, I like listening to music.”
“My favorite children’s book is An Elephant and Piggie. I like this book it’s because it’s funny and it teaches encouraging lessons to children. I remember reading it to my nephew, and he enjoyed it.”
Joanne Leung
Family Support Coordinator
Joanne was born and grew up in Hong Kong, living there until moving to the Bay Area with her family at the age of 14. She lived in the Bay Area until college, when she moved to Sacramento. She attended UC Davis, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Linguistics. Her work experience includes roles in schools, clinics, and research labs but she’s spent the majority of her career working in education, child services, and patient care. She has a passion for making a positive impact on people’s lives. Joanne is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
“As a Family Support Coordinator, I will be supporting families to meet their needs and goals. Through one-on-one guidance, support groups, workshops, and events, I will build relationships and connect with families and the larger community to make sure they are well-supported and represented in the safe spaces we have created. My favorite part of this role will be hosting support groups and helping families to expand their social network. I am also looking forward to talking to families about self-care and mental health.”
“I like to spend quality time with my family and friends. Going shopping together, eating good food, going to concerts, and traveling are some of my favorite activities to do with my loved ones. When I am not hanging out with people, I like to spend my time alone baking, painting, or watching shows to relax.”
“One of my favorite children’s books is Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Snow White was the first Disney princess story I read, and it was my go-to bedtime story to read as a kid ever since. I love how, despite the fairytale aspect of it, it teaches people about kindness. The story also has great visuals and illustrations.”
Tram Phan
Family Support Coordinator
Tram was born and raised in Vietnam, moved to San Francisco when she was 16 years old, and has lived in the Bay Area ever since. She is a first-generation college student and earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology at UC Davis. While in college, Tram explored different career paths ranging from sleep research, customer care, to working in non-profits helping youth with disabilities, and academic preparation programs. Her non-profit experiences during college inspired her to continue working in the non-profit world, with the hope of helping more people access the resources they need.
“As a Family Support Coordinator, my role involves collaborating with others, from planning and organizing family events to supporting families that come to our centers. I mainly provide support to Vietnamese-speaking families, helping them navigate their children’s early childhood experiences. However, I especially enjoy all the interactions the kids give me when they are dropped off and picked up from preschool.”
“In my free time, I either enjoy reading a book or going on a long walk with my dog and an audiobook. I also love spending time with my one-year-old niece, and enjoy taking her for a coffee run or teaching her new songs.”
“My favorite children’s book is Little Red Riding Hood. Growing up, I heard about different folk and fairy tales, so I have always preferred reading them since I was a kid. In college, I took a course about fairy tales, and it made me love Little Red Riding Hood even more because I got to learn and write about it from a different perspective.”
Nicole Salazar
Family Support Coordinator
Nicole was born and raised in the Mission District of San Francisco, attending Buena Vista Horace Mann and Mission High School. The first language she learned was English, but thanks to the dual-language immersion school she went to, she now speaks, writes, and reads in fluent Spanish. Today, her primary language is Spanglish, as she feels most comfortable changing between languages as she articulates sentences. Nicole graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Education.
Throughout college, Nicole interned and volunteered for a range of local organizations. Most recently, she interned with Latino Task Force’s education department where she helped families enroll in SFUSD and supported their summer program for high schoolers, helping students with their college prep and resume building. Additionally, she served as a peer counselor for fellow college students, helping provide a safe space to discuss personal issues, and volunteered as a tutor at MLK Middle School in Berkeley through Stiles Hall.
Nicole brings with her a strong familiarity with and love of San Francisco, including experience attending parent-child interactive programs at our Portola Center as a 2-year-old child with her mom and brother.
“In my role as a Family Support Coordinator, I will provide resources and support by guiding families, connecting them to necessary services, and helping them achieve their goals. Additionally, I will facilitate support groups, parent education classes, and workshops to promote the well-being of both children and caregivers, while creating opportunities for community building and strengthening relationships.
“My favorite part of this role is being able to give back to the communities that opened their arms and shared resources with me and my family when I was young. Additionally, I enjoy getting to meet, help, and share laughs with all the families that walk into Family Connections.”
“I have been dancing since I was in 2nd grade doing Ballet Folklorico, Hip-Hop, Contemporary Ballet, and salsa, so I often spend time going to dance classes or even doing Just-Dance YouTube videos. I also led a Folklorico group as a Co-Artistic Director at UC Berkeley. We taught traditional Mexican dances and introduced dancers to the beautiful cultures of several states in Mexico.
“I also love to spend quality time with my family and friends in any way possible – hiking, watching movies, going shopping, doing karaoke, and more!”
“One of my favorite children’s book series is Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell. Besides the fact that the main character shares my nickname, I loved reading the series as a child because it taught me to embrace every aspect of who I am, rather than hiding the parts of myself I thought others might make fun of. It helped me realize that accepting my unique qualities—whether I was smart, creative, funny, or kind—would lead me to find friends who appreciated me for who I truly am.”
Lupe Alvarez
Program Assistant
Lupe was born and raised in San Francisco and lived in the Ingleside neighborhood for the first 5 years of her life before moving to the Portola District, where she still resides. Lupe has worked in a variety of settings over her career, including roles with the General Hospital Library, AAA (CSAA), as a hairstylist, in family welfare, and her two decades with Family Connections. She has extensive experience supporting the early childhood and administrative departments.
“I first connected with Family Connections as a parent in 1996, participating in their programs for families with my daughter [Kristina Alvarez, now a teacher with FCC]. In 2000, I began my career with FCC, first working in the child drop-in programs, Tuesday Tutorial Nights, and as the Chinese Saturday School Supervisor. I currently serve as the Program Assistant, where I provide administrative and financial support for our programs and manage the admissions documentation. I am bilingual in Spanish and English, which helps me to support our Spanish-speaking families. I work to welcome families, provide current information and news regarding our programs, and help refer families to our different programs. I love having the ability to assist families with our numerous programs and being able to witness families grow. Seeing the smiles on their faces brings me joy. I also love working with Family Connections’ amazing team of staff.”
“Outside of work, I love to spend my free time with my family and especially enjoy traveling and discovering new places to eat. My favorite activities are listening to music and taking photographs.”
“My favorite children’s books are the ones written by Dr. Seuss and the stories published by Disney.”
Kate Ramos
Program Associate
Kate was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Portola neighborhood of the city. She attended San Francisco State University and graduated with a B.S. in Public Health. During her time at SF State, she was interested in gaining experience related to her degree and connected to the community she grew up in. That led her to an internship at Family Connections focused on our health, early childhood education, and family support programs. Kate is bilingual in English and Tagalog.
“As a Program Associate, I will be the first person to greet the participants and clients when they visit our centers, helping them feel welcome in our space. I will also be assisting with early childhood programs and family support workshops. I look forward to guiding participants and clients onto the right path so they can access what they need for themselves and their children to succeed and be healthy. With this role, I also hope to build a bond of support and trust with the FCC staff and families.”
“My favorite way to spend my time outside of work is with family and friends. I enjoy reading, especially if I find a good book in the thriller/mystery genre.”
“My favorite children’s books are the Junie B. Jones series. In elementary school, I enjoyed reading this series because every book had a different storyline and a new lesson to learn.”
Animal Friends
Kiwi
Kiwi, the smaller of our two turtles, and his brother, Pickle, are both red-eared sliders. Over 16 years ago, teacher Irene adopted baby Kiwi and cared for him before he moved to his permanent home at our Portola center. He and his brother previously lived in our Pre-K classroom but now swim in a large tank in our lobby, greeting each of our visitors. Both Kiwi and his brother love to swim for hours, rest under the heat lamp, and feast on dried shrimp.
“My role is to welcome the little kids when they arrive at Family Connections. I love to come to the glass to say hi to everyone and show off my fast swimming. I keep my big brother company, especially when I go for a ride on his back.”
“Obviously, I love the Ninja Turtle comic books. Their super cool adventures in New York look like so much fun. I usually like to eat dry shrimp, but I would also like to try pizza one day.”
Pickle
Pickle, our largest turtle, is a teenage red-eared slider. He and his brother Kiwi were both born in Chinatown, have four other siblings, and have lived at our Portola center since 2008. Pickle can swim for hours with his strong flippers and loves to do laps around the tank. He and his brother, Kiwi, welcome guests in our lobby and keep things cool with the relaxing sound of the waterfall in their tank.
“I help care for the children that visit Family Connections’ Portola lobby, and especially love when the Pre-K class visits to feed me. I also keep the staff company and encourage everyone to go for a nice swim. It’s great exercise and keeps you healthy.”
“My favorite stories have always been the Franklin the Turtle books. Franklin teaches about new experiences, like going to school or camp. On all of his adventures, he has a lot of fun with his friends, like Kiwi and I do with each other. I also love The Foolish Tortoise by Eric Carle, because it taught me how important my protective shell is!”
Pepper
Pepper (and his sister Salt) came to us as the tiniest bunny of the litter from our partners at FACES SF preschool, where her mom and dad are. He is now a big, active, silly rabbit who loves to run around and take naps on soft hay. Pepper is a Holland Lop rabbit (with one white foot), and lives at our Excelsior center.
“I spend time sniffing and playing with the children, families, and staff at Excelsior. When people visit me, I teach everyone how to have more fun and help them relax. My sister, Salt, and I spend hours lounging together and snuggling. But I especially love huge jumps around the center. And anytime I see a table, I hop on top of it for a higher view!”
“I love the Max the Rabbit books. Like me, Max is very curious and energetic, and sometimes gets too excited. But both Max and I mean well and love having fun!”
Salt
Salt (and her brother Pepper) arrived at Family Connections as a teeny bunny from our partners at FACES SF preschool, where her mom and dad live. Salt is a Holland Lop rabbit and lives at our Excelsior center. She loves eating parsley and carrots and cuddling with her brother. Come by and say hi to her!
“I hang out with the children, families, and staff at the Excelsior center. I really enjoy it when the Pre-K kids bring me food, which helps them learn how to care for other creatures. I love cuddling with everyone and nibbling on my chew toys. While my brother hops around, my favorite thing to do is stretch my body out super long on the floor. I also play with my brother Pepper and keep him company.”
“There are a lot of books about rabbits for the kids in the room I call home. I really like the Peter Rabbit books, as Peter loves to play and also learns a lot from his family, like I do from my brother Pepper.”